BlackDog's Rules of Magic Rules

Magic Rules

The Basic Rules of Magic

There are some basic rules of magic. Break any one of them and you ruin the mystery of the magic. Worse, you lose the time it took you to practice the trick to perfection.

1. Don't EVER tell the secret.

If you do a trick well, people will ask you how you did it. Just say "I never tell my secrets, sorry." Most likely, they won't persist. If they do, just say, "I am sorry, I can't tell. There is a code magicians must follow, and that is Rule Number One!"

Sometimes you can take the pressure off by performing another trick. Resist the urge to give in and tell the secret. The fun in magic lies in the secret. Tell the secret and the mystery and fun is lost, along with all of your hard work.

The one exception to this rule is helping someone truly interested in learning magic. Never hesistate to share secrets with fellow magicians, including people just getting started in magic.

2. Don't force your magic on your audience.

You should only perform when asked. Test your audience with one trick. Don't assault someone by showing them trick after trick after trick.

3. Leave your audience wanting more.

Don't overstay your welcome. Some people like magic more than others. And, remember, the best things come in small packages.

4. Learning one trick perfectly is better than learning 100 tricks poorly.

The memory of one well-performed trick will stick in your audience's memory better than lots of medicore tricks.

5. Practice, practice, practice!

Practice each magic trick to absolute perfection. Then practice some more. Don't perform a trick you don't know perfectly in front of an audience. It may take hours, days, and sometimes even weeks or months to perfect a complicated trick. Do not compromise. There's nothing more embarrassing than having to say "oops" when a trick fails.

So, those are the basic rules. You'll amaze your family and astound your friends. And -- you'll have a great time!

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