I have two different approaches on performing magic. The first one is when I play magic as a comedy routine, here the actual magic effect is secondary to the big surprise laugh or applause. The second is in the more normal surroundings of close up magic where I am entertaining them with STRONG magic.

I try and visualize what a real magician would do to achieve the same effect. I had to admit a real magician wouldn’t walk around a restaurant making sponge balls appear out of someone’s ear!!

I had to look at what I was doing there then and I realized that entertainment is the key element otherwise there is no reason for my waltzing around doing card effects to the unsuspecting punters.

The routines are the mere fabric for the bigger picture of entertaining them, placing a cloak of mystery over them, allowing the audience to participate in a moment of magic, a moment where reality and disbelief merge.

I leave a table or show knowing that I have tried to get the bigger picture through, where all the parts of the performance merge to make a lasting impression on the audience and they leave knowing they have participated in something special.

I BELIEVE IT IS IMPORTANT TO START WITH SOME SORT OF REASON OR MEANING FOR YOUR PERFORMANCE WHETHER IT IS TO SHOW ONE ROUTINE OR ON A BIGGER SCALE WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO PORTRAY OR GIVE TO THE PUBLIC BY BEING A MAGICIAN.

Ask yourself why are you there? , What is the meaning for this and you will see it will help give you a better focus point when performing your magic.

So after all that heavy theory lets get into some of the more nuts and bolts stuff in magic!

I have found vanishing an object can be enhanced by time misdirection. Once again it is the same point of not rushing the routine. I feel the magic can be enhanced by not revealing that the object has vanished too soon.

For instance if the coin has been toppited then you can stretch out the disappearance so that the audience cannot recap where and when it could have vanished. This way the magic of the moment can be enhanced.

This can be taken further to the actual point of opening the hand to show it empty.

I find it is far better to place time misdirection between the placing of the coin in my hand and the actual revelation. French magician David Stone counts to three before opening his hand. Find the time frame that fits your style of presentation.

By slowing down and accentuating the actual vanish the public are less likely to look for it in the other hand. Further subtleties like rubbing or fiddling with the" invisible "coin before vanishing it, will also enhance the effect.

A clumsy paw like opening of the hand is the normal way when one first starts but by placing a bit of style or finesse you get a much better feeling that magic is occurring.

If you believe that YOU are actually making the coin disappear it will be projected onto the audience and thereby enhance the presentation.

A training idea I have done is to take a Bacon Kips biscuit or Salticrax (use any coin shaped biscuit) and to place it in the left hand and then proceed to crush it into fine pieces. I then try and repeat this action with the real coin.

I have been hired in a TV advert to do this very thing. They required me to toss an invisible coin into a bucket and decided a magician would be able to do it the best!!

It was the easiest job I have ever done and I made a load of real money doing it!

I read in my early days to practice palming a coin while going about your daily business. I found this of great help in FORGETTING about the coin in your hand. This will enhance the naturalness of your handling. Also you will then be able to handle other objects with ease while palming the coin, further enhancing the illusion of empty and natural handling.

Hitler said, " Good liars would make good magicians" I personally disagree with this harsh statement but I do believe we have to actually convince ourselves that we are real magicians.

A subtler form of lying to ourselves!!

They say our subconscious does not know the difference between reality and fantasy hence the reason why violence on TV is detrimental for under developed minds of children.

It makes sense then to train your subconscious to believe in a different reality thus making your outward movements of your hands and basic mannerisms more natural.

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