An Impractical Guide to Casual Magic

Magic has an interesting dynamic between those who do it professionally and those who do it as a hobby. Firstly, the majority of the people interested in magic are hobbyists and don't actively pursue a career as a professional performer. Secondly, when you look at the magic marketplace, most ads talk about professional-level routines and road-tested ideas.

Another aspect of this is how many magicians learn the performance of magic from professional magicians. Meaning their presentations, jokes, and methods were developed by someone other than themselves. So, you could be having a completely ordinary conversation with a friend, next thing you know, they are telling you that the deck of cards is whispering the name of your card into your ear.

When I was in my early twenties, I gave up my desire to be a professional magician. Instead, I took jobs as a writer and consultant. I even hold down a day job in finance. But I never gave up the hobby of magic - although the way I perform now is much different than how I used to.

This is mainly because I saw opportunities and advantages in performing in coffee shops, living rooms, and dinner tables. I found that with the right techniques, presentations, and patience - my magic could feel more impressive to my audience. So, I have pursued that for the last seven years.

While it would be impossible to go over all the things I've found in that time, I have struck on what I consider to be the big three ideas central to my magic. I can't promise they will change your magic, but they have changed mine!

The Big Three:

1. Consider the Plot.

I spend a lot of time reading and writing short stories. In a short story, the characters are important, but the plot and the structure are king. Casual close-up magic is essentially the same.

Anytime I have a trick I think is worth showing, I spend time thinking about what story I could tell with it and how to structure the story. Not every story needs to be the hero's journey, but you need to have a why. Why did you learn this effect? Why are you showing it to them? Why this environment?

Think of it this way: you don't want to perform at them. You want them to be engaged and want to see the trick. A story of why you are doing it can give them something to latch onto. I work as a writer and consultant, so grabbing a friend's opinion on a trick is a common theme. I've also been known to make completely ridiculous stories involving CIA mind control devices. Obviously, it's played as a joke - but it's better than telling them I've trained the jacks to be acrobats.

If you are going to carry cards with different celebrities on them, you need to be able to answer the question - why? Because having those in your life just to do a magic trick feels a bit weird. But if you are training for a memory competition and you use those to practice - it's still odd, but there's a reason for them to exist in your life. And if they ask if you're really training for the memory competition, you tell them no, it was just for the trick. Or commit to the bit and actually start training.

You can play this as small or as large as you want. Some tricks can have simple plots. One of my favorites is creating something for a magic competition. Some can have complex plots. I have a trick I started in 2022 that hasn't ended yet.

What I'm advocating is thinking of how magic exists in your life so you can better showcase it to people. They know you're lying anyway. So tell a better (more fun) lie.

1. Practicality is Dumb

This is a fairly provocative statement, especially considering that I often think about the practicality of effects in social situations. When Rory first shared with me his brilliant lottery prediction, I instantly knew it could be improved for casual settings; in those performance scenarios you must end clean. So, my solution was to include the waitstaff as spectators when you perform at a restaurant.

This effect performed the way I want to do it best must be done at the end of the meal at a restaurant. So, in some ways, the trick became less practical in my hands.

But a lot of magic in my hands becomes less practical. I think our magic deserves to breathe a little. Yes, being able to bust out a miracle at the drop of a hat is great - but most magic isn't miracle-worthy. So forgo maic that claims to take up no pocket space and instantly resets. Instead, plan ahead.

Teller has talked about putting more effort into magic. Nate Staniforth writes about whether we would make a trick 10% better by making it 300x harder. Andy (The Jerx), who I'm obviously influenced by, seems to relish making mundane effects much better by making them less practical.

So, get over the urge to make everything easy. Instead, improve your magic by making it less practical.

1. Get a Hobby

I love magic. I have spent more time and money on it than I would ever be willing to admit to any person I’m attracted to. But magic can be very insular, and I think that's why we can be almost too self-referential. I love Triumph. It is the best card trick in the world. But I’m telling you, the person at the bar doesn’t care about Dia Vernon. No one is going to sell their souls to find out how you did your card at any number. You will need to expand your horizons.

Get a subscription to MasterClass. Take a boxing class. Learn to cook. Read about history. Be engaged with life. Because when you engage in life outside of magic, you will come up with better plots for your magic.

I’m learning to bake. So, my mind instantly starts thinking of ways to let that interest impact my magic. Cooking a meal as a prediction is pretty cool. Now imagine doing it as a “magician in trouble” effect. You predicted a cake, but they ended up picking pizza. Well, outside the front door is a pizza that just magically appeared. (Digital Force Bag and DoorDash are right next to each other on my phone.)

When you have a deeper interest in life, your magic will naturally gravitate towards more meaningful presentations. Your magic, by extension, will take on different textures and colors. It won't feel like you just learned this trick or made it up. It will feel like part of the world you have created for yourself. This will ultimately lead to a deeper and richer experience for your audience.

In other words...

How can you make your magic reflect you and the world you live in?

Conclusion

While at a party, a friend asked why I didn't introduce myself as a magician. I told them that I didn't connect with that title at this point in my life. Magic is a hobby in the same way that reading and cooking are hobbies.

His wife noted that I get to surprise people with magic, the same way I surprise them when I cook. When something is a hobby, people don't expect you to put a great deal of effort into it. So when you do - you can give them something special.

I have more to say about casual magic, but for now, I'll leave you with these three big ideas. Engage with life, tell better lies, and make your magic less practical.