Different Types Of Magic

There are several different types of magic, each with a different tradition and skill set. Some of the most popular options include stage magic, prop magic, close up magic, escapist and mentalist. Choosing a style that is right for you is important from the outset. Even though some of the different types of magic can overlap, experts in this field put great stock in treating them as completely separate traditions, with completely different skill sets for their performance.

Stage Magic

Stage magic is perhaps the most popular type of magic. This is the most showy and most well recognized approach and usually relies on props to achieve the effects. Close up magic is also known as sleight of hand, and involves being right up and close to the mark you are trying to impress. Sleight of hand is often seen as the most challenging form of magic, but keep in mind that most audience members consider this the least impressive to watch.

Prop Magic

Prop Magic can be close up or stage magic (although stage magic is almost always prop magic). This usually uses an automated gimmick or trick that requires very little interaction from the magician itself, allowing the illusionist to focus on the art and entertainment and not disguising the trick from the eyes of the audience.

Mentalism

Mentalism is one of the more controversial aspects of magic. Mentalism uses what is known as hot and cold reading to create phony psychic abilities. Even though this is a trick, like all other magic, some mentalists claim they actually have otherworldly powers. This claim is known as “laying it on strong” or “acting strong” and is looked down on as manipulative and even in some cases is considered an act of fraud in the magician community.

Escapism

Escapism was made popular by Houdini. It basically consists of escaping from locks, cages and the like. The most infamous escape was immortalized in the Houdini movie, where Houdini is shown to die in the water torture chamber. In real life this never happened- he died after a show, not during an act. Of course, the truth of that is far less dramatic and is usually ignored when other magicians attempt “The Act that Killed Houdini.”