A Checklist for Magic Spectator Freedom

It happens to every magician, especially with the routines we know best, to end up saying or doing certain things automatically, without really thinking about them. And while on One Ahead we’ve already written about the importance of being present during our performances, it’s also true that this is one of the hardest things to do—far more difficult than refining your double lift or your classic pass.

It’s hard to believe that every magician who snaps their fingers before showing that a card has changed is truly convinced this is the best way to underline the magic; more often, it’s an automatic reflex, a cliché we resort to easily and without effort.

Similar situations can occur at any point in a routine, even right from the start. Another widespread example is handing the deck to the spectator and saying, “make sure it’s a normal deck.” Countless great names in magic have pointed out time and again that it’s better not to do this, so as not to create doubt when there is no reason for it in the first place.

To gain more control over these elements, it’s useful to write yourself a script—or at least jot down some key phrases while leaving room for improvisation in the rest of the routine. Scripting, however, requires a lot of effort, and it’s something rarely taught in the products of big magic companies.

So, we can find strategies that not only help us stay more present, but also make the most of every opportunity within the routine we’re using.

The method we’ll share is drawn from choices made by top magicians around the world. In a simple, direct way, it helps us improve aspects we usually take for granted. We’ll call it the freedom checklist.

This method increases our awareness of where and what the spectators’ choices are, and allows us to quickly improve the structure of any routine.