Why Magicians Should Use Confederates

I was 19 and was at an open mic to perform some magic. I went on stage and did a simple mentalism routine that absolutely stunned the audience. I'm honestly really proud of that routine, and when I need to perform for a crowd, it is still my go-to. 

After the performance, another magician at the open mic started to enquire about the method. I told him I'd give him the method if he could get me a beer. He brought me the cheapest beer on tap, and I told him the method. His face sank. He looked like I cheated him. He wanted something clever, and all I had for him was a simple word: "confederate." 

I've noticed that reaction a lot from that method. I can get the displeasure of learning that the method is as simple as having someone in on the trick with you - sometimes, it's the best method. But like any method, it must be used sparingly. 

But what's shocking is how often you can use one in casual settings. You can turn a good trick into a great one - and a great one into a complete miracle. All you need is a little help from your friends. 

Don't Fear the Confederate:

I am a big fan of leaving every method on the table when creating magic. Because once you start limiting yourself by stating you won't use preshow, you wont use billets, you refuse to use gimmicks - you are only limiting the effects you can achieve. Sometimes, creating in those constraints can help you be more creative and resourceful, but it does hinder what you can actually achieve.

Like any method in magic, it is important to use it when it is appropriate and actually enhances the overall effect. We also need to attempt to cover our trail and make sure that it can't be traced back as a Confederate. Back at that stage, my friend used a visual code to feed me information so the Confederate was never seen.

This is when I started exploring the notion of a confederate who never takes an active role in magic but helps accomplish it nonetheless. While professionals have used these for centuries, I think the hobbyist doesn't understand just how strong they can be. Sometimes, they can be rather snobby about even suggesting it as a method. I think that

The Invisible Man:

Oftentimes, when we are performing magic, we are the center of attention. This allows for a confederate to operate in secrecy. They can load objects into impossible locations, and they can gain and feed us information. But they can also take part in a performance in small and forgettable ways.

What this allows is for a more complete performance without ever needing any undue attention on them!

Who to Use and How To Use Them: 

One of the biggest questions I get asked when discussing this topic is who should you use. This entirely depends on what trick I'm doing and who I'm doing it for. The main idea is that they are a background character in the story your audience will inevitably tell to others. So here are my three favorite groups!

Waitstaff

What's that phrase? Money talks? Based on my experience, it also helps to read minds, load dollar bills under plates, and much more. I often frequent the same restaurants. I'll get acquainted with the staff. I'll take a friend to that restaurant, find my waiter, and ask them to help me with a trick. For their help, they will be given a tip before the meal even concludes.

Imagine handing a deck to a waitperson, having them turn a card around in the deck, and bringing the deck back. You have a friend do the same with another deck. The cards in each deck match. How? A ten-dollar bill that says, "Just pick the 10 of clubs," given to the waitperson and a force for your friend. 

If you ever want me to get really excited about causal magic, just ask me about magic tricks involving waitstaff.

Your Skeptical Friend 

Every friend group has them. For some of you, it may be your significant other. For me, it was a guy named John. He was a great friend, but he hated getting fooled by magic, which sometimes translated to him trying to busy me out. 

My regular advice for situations like this is to simply not perform for people like that. I stand by that advice. But you can also defuse the tension by allowing them to take part in the magic as a secret accomplice. 

Whenever I have a gimmick that can't be inspected or if the trick would feel more impossible if it was a borrowed object, I give it to John. He'd inspect it and say it was normal. I would give him a set of keys or something at the beginning of the night and borrow that object from him later to do the trick. 

 It's diabolical! 

Your Magic Friends 

I'm lucky enough to have friends inside the Magic community. I'm even more fortunate that they will be my secret assistant for some magic tricks. Unfortunately, in my beautiful state of Kentucky, I don't have any friends in the magic scene, but that hasn't stopped me. 

My current favorite thing to do is to erase their contact information in my phone and force their phone number through a toxic force or any other way to force digits; they then somehow reveal information they shouldn't be able to know as a type of coincidence effect. It is a lot of fun.

Also, for those who like doing some homework: how can you combine a magician's confederate with an object to an impossible location?

Side note: be your own confederate!

Sometimes, if you are clever enough, you can be your own confederate. It's kinda rare to be able to do this, but once you find an effect where you are, you will instantly know how strong this can be.

A while back, Rory told you about his trick steno. I was lucky enough to know about the method for the last few years. I played with it for a few days and then realized that this effect allows the magician to not be the magician.

So, as a bonus to this section, here is my handling of Steno.

Firstly, I have multiple books set for the trick and leave them on the coffee table. I'll mention that I met this weird person who knows things they shouldn't. I ask if they would like to see what I'm talking about. 

I text my "psychic" friend and ask if they would be willing to do a trick for us.  They will text back "yes." At this point, I tell them we need them to concentrate on a random word. So they will need to pick a book and then a page - that way, the thought is random. During this explanation to my friends, I have secretly called my confederate. They will just listen to the call and find out which book and page number to use. I make sure to say both in my clearest voice to avoid confusion. Once they have the information, they will hang up and send the prediction text. Once they have the word, we read the text, and they have accurately predicted it.

While I'm not performing the effect, I do get to curate a really interesting situation for them. It has created some great moments

Final Thoughts:

One of my mentors told me:

"All methods are on the table. Just pick the best one."

This is not an argument to use confederates every chance you get. This is to point out that with careful thinking and planning, the method is just as valuable as any other. I've been fooled by the use of confederates in the last few years. The same can not be said with a double lift.