talkmagic.co.uk

Hi magicians,

I am a writer and need your help. I'm currently writing a story with a slight-of-hand street magician as the main character.

He performs the TT flame trick (or something to that effect), and I would like it explained in detail by a real magician.

I would be eternally grateful; would even let you guys saw me in half

Kind Regards,

Dick

lol. sneaky. veeerrrryyy sneaky.

Lol. I understand you magicians don't like to give away your tricks but the only explanations on the internet aren't explained that well.

2 words. prosethic thumb. 3 actually, fireproof prosethic thumb. at least your story might be entertaining now.

thanks. I have a horror magazine interested, but before final edit decided I was cheating readers with vauge descriptions.

Is there a small lighter? Does the magician have to use slight-of-hand and palming to manouvere it to and from place?

Sorry but you're not going to get an answer - first things first, although the exposure wouldn't be much of a problem, do you really expect performers to divulge the workings of their effects?

Secondly this forum does not allow exposure of methods.

Thirdly have you thought about the consequences? What if someone goes out and tries to make one for themselves and has an accident with it? This kind of effect is very carefully made you know.

And it's sleight-of-hand by the way .

Cardza wrote:Thirdly have you thought about the consequences? What if someone goes out and tries to make one for themselves and has an accident with it? This kind of effect is very carefully made you know.

Who are you referring to? I hope it's not me.. but that only leaves the character in his book?

Sorry to ruffle feathers.

I suppose I could buy the thing and figure it out.

Just wanted to know if a concealed lighter was used?

Unless someone wants to PM me an answer. To save spilling the beans.

Thanks for the correction btw. Sleight meaning quick fingers. And to think there are magicians on the web spelling it SLIGHT.

As someone with some experience in writing short fiction for publication, I can assure you that the level of factual detail you're proposing simply isn't going to be a serious requirment for the target audience.

For a novel? Yes.

For a magazine with a relatively limited readership? I'd suggest you simply fudge the issue (if you really feel it warrants eating into your word-count in the first place, that is!).

Exposure for author's research is dubious enough, but when said prospective-author is then planning on exposing to a wider lay-audience? I really don't think so - sorry!

Rob

You could always buy one and fnd out for yourself...

I'm surprised you magicians are so evasive. I only have to google "magic tricks explained" and it reels off list upon list of tricks and how they're performed. It really is no secret. I just can't find the one I'm looking for.

I also don't need tips in the field of writing and publishing. A good writer doesn't FUDGE the facts. In my story the trick is performed but is also explained - although not in great detail as to give away the trick. Just a brief explanation of the componants involved.

Evasive?
Of course! Who do you think we all are? The masked magician?

I've also read a novel by the author Jeffrery Deaver. He wrote a novel entitled "The Vanished Man". In this novel one of the characters explains (in great detail) how many magic tricks are performed. Sleight of hand, misdirection, everything is revealed and explained.

Surely asking what the componants of one trick are isn't so prying?

Read the rules - if we start making exceptions then it's opening the floodgates for everyone to ask.

Yes, you may be able to find secrets to magic tricks. You're probably not going to find the ones professional effects though, unless you count piracy which creators are really coming down on nowadays.

Anyhow, them's the rules... surely you can understand and appreciate that?

I really don't want to upset or annoy members of a forum I'm new to. And I don't want to write a story revealing your tricks. I just want to know the main working parts of the trick. I kinda guessed the dummy thumb looking at pics.

I also respect your craft - when I research, I really look into it. I tried some basic palming with coins. Bloody hard. I had cramp after about three minutes.