How to Prepare to Do Magic Card Tricks

You can't start performing card tricks without some preparation beforehand. If you don't prepare, your act will definitely fail and you may feel embarrassed that you attempted card tricks unrehearsed. Once you get your act ready, you can look for bookings to do tricks for a public audience.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Learn tricks from an expert magician. If you know a magician, ask about working with him to learn some of his card tricks. Many magicians enjoy showing off their skills while others may resist sharing their trade secrets.

2. Buy your card trick supplies. Once you start learning card tricks, you'll know the type of decks you need to buy to complete your act. Beginner magicians usually invest in a regular deck of cards, a stripper deck and a Svengali deck.

3. Practice your tricks over and over again. You can prepare to do tricks by practicing often. Practice your showmanship as well.

4. Develop an act. Devise an act that builds up to your best card trick. Alter your act if necessary by getting rid of card tricks that don't work for you.

5. Perform a dry run before the actual show. Once you get a booking, practice your entire act before getting on the stage. The time that you take to prepare shows in your performance.

Tips & Warnings

• If you don't learn card tricks from an actual magician, study tricks online and through card trick books. Web videos showing how a card trick is done are particularly helpful.
• You need to time your card tricks, so that your act flows well without too much downtime for the audience.