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I think it’s fair to say many magicians cringe when they see a performer snap their fingers, chant a magic word, or make a magical gesture. But why do they do it? And why do television magicians sometimes do it too?

One of the questions I ask when I’m consulting for television is When is the magic happening? Some experienced magicians can tell me the precise moment that the magic is happening. Less experienced performers will look at me rather perplexed. Greenies will tell me the magic is happening when the method occurs — this is the wrong answer.

Magicians snap their fingers, recite magician words, and make magical gestures to improve the magic. But why does it improve the magic? Well, there are two key reasons…