Favourite magic effects (magic tricks).

[Yadda]

Note: This isn't about methods and secrets, just effects, i.e. what appears to be happening (in the mind of the spectator) rather than what is actually happening.

I'll kick things off with an effect with cards called "any card at any number" (ACAAN).

In card magic there are lots of variations on this theme (and lots of different methods of achieving them) but the basic premise is that one spectator names a card and a different spectator names a number. When the cards are dealt out, the position of the chosen card corresponds with the chosen number.

It blew my mind when I first saw it performed and some versions still blow my mind to this day.

(Edit: added a video of a performance.)

So GD, what are some of your favourites?

(I'm fully aware that I might regret asking this. )

 

[Feek]

Paging @fiveub

Paul Daniels doing the chop cup is hard to be beaten.

 

[Yadda]

Paging @fiveub

Paul Daniels doing the chop cup is hard to be beaten.

*snip*

That's an absolute classic, Feek. PD's chop cup routine is one of my all-time favourites too.

 

[dowie]

Paul Daniels doing the chop cup is hard to be beaten.

Ah used to love watching Paul Daniels as a kid, got his magic trick box set for Christmas.

Anyway always been a fan of Derren Brown, this trick was quite neat:

 

[Dirk Diggler]

If you're talking about effect on the recipient then Derren Brown's racetrack thing was great.

 

[Malevolence]

 

[Yadda]

I'll add another, this time a coin routine: Coins across.

An age-old effect where coins appear to travel, one at a time, from one hand to the other. Simple, direct and powerful.

Here's one version that I particularly like, performed by Tyler Rabbit (he follows it with another great routine which is also well worth watching).

 

[dowie]

Ah that racecourse Derren Brown episode was fun.

If we're looking at some close up magic as per the coins above then this egg one on BGT was quite a nice little routine, you can see whats coming but it's a really nicely done trick:

 

[iamdjdz]

Levitation. Like David Blaina stuff, only ever seen it on TV but its pretty cool and I'd love to see someone do a convincing levitation illusion in real life.

 

[PermaChanged]

Paul Gertner's version of the cups and balls always impresses me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx3spZi1FjM

 

[opstrat]

very old video but still one of the greatest.

i think magic is more about the performance than the actual trick

 

[Ugley_Matt]

very old video but still one of the greatest.

i think magic is more about the performance than the actual trick

You have to be very very very good to make it look as bad as he did. Same as Les Dawson playing the piano.

 

[Ugley_Matt]

Levitation. Like David Blaina stuff, only ever seen it on TV but its pretty cool and I'd love to see someone do a convincing levitation illusion in real life.

Its really easy and you can do it yourself with a friend, its all about where you place the viewer.

 

[Siliconslave]

if were talking cup and ball Penn and Tellers with clear cups is fantastic for the performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8osRaFTtgHo

 

[HecFam]

One of my favourites, just really impressive handling!

 

[Yadda]

Another firm favourite of mine are effects based around techniques used by card cheats. The premise is, again, very simple but the effects appear very magical to me.

 

[Ugley_Matt]

I love Penn and Tellers reaction to this, you can tell they just love magic.

https://youtu.be/JNSd-UFEsL4?t=420

 

[Diddums]

The best trick is making the pencil disappear.

 

[fiveub]

Paging @fiveub

Paul Daniels doing the chop cup is hard to be beaten.

This is definitely one of my favourite videos, that's for sure.

 

[wolfie138]

best one i've seen is Simon Drake, hard to describe but he's onstage w/ a masked demon and then gets covered up and carried away etc and the demon takes the mask off and it's him. both have been on stage the whole time.