Discover the Enduring Classic: The Amateur Magician's Handbook (Digital Download)

For generations, Henry Hay's 'The Amateur Magician's Handbook' has stood as the definitive guide for aspiring and seasoned conjurers alike. Now available as a convenient digital download (PDF), this fourth edition, thoroughly revised and expanded, continues its legacy as an essential resource. Praised even by illusionist David Copperfield during a TV special, this book has ignited a love for magic in thousands, many of whom are now recognized performers. Introduced by Milbourne Christopher and featuring insights from The Amazing Randi on leveraging video for self-coaching, this handbook is more comprehensive than ever.

Mastering the Art of Illusion

This edition meticulously teaches, with unparalleled clarity and hundreds of illustrative diagrams, every skill and secret a wizard needs. From classic feats like pulling rabbits from hats and turning handkerchiefs green, to dissolving knots, pouring drinks from seemingly empty jars, dealing yourself all the aces, and finding silver dollars in thin air, you'll gain a robust repertoire. The instruction is brisk yet careful, ensuring both understanding and flawless execution of each illusion.

Beyond the Trick: The Psychology of Performance

'The Amateur Magician's Handbook' truly distinguishes itself by delving deeper than just the mechanics of tricks. It reveals 'how' and 'why' magic captivates as entertainment. You'll learn to understand spectator psychology, recognizing how audiences think and, crucially, how you, the performer, must think and feel to transform baffling tricks into genuinely pleasing experiences. This invaluable insight elevates your performance from mere deception to true artistry.

Specialized Skills and Professional Growth

A comprehensive new section dedicates itself to the challenging yet highly rewarding — and potentially profitable — art of entertaining children. This guide equips you with the unique techniques required to charm and mystify young audiences. Furthermore, the final sections expand beyond individual tricks to cover crucial aspects of conjuring, including comedy, pantomime, and the effective use of music in your act. An extensive bio-bibliography not only honors past masters but also highlights today's up-and-coming talents, providing inspiration and context.

Turning Passion into Profit

Finally, author Henry Hay offers pragmatic guidance on how to make magic work for you financially. 'If I hear of someone's studying 'The Amateur Magician's Handbook' and then climbing out of the amateur class by getting paid for a show,' Henry Hay states, 'I shall be satisfied.' This book isn't just about learning tricks; it's about building a foundation for a lifelong passion, whether for personal enjoyment or professional advancement.

Original Specs

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For more than a generation The Amateur Magician's Handbook has been the acknowledged classic text for conjurers， both beginners and advanced. Even David Copperfield recommended it during one of his TV specials. Literally thousands of magicians found their love for magic through this book. Several of these magicians are today recognized performers. This fourth edition， expanded as well as thoroughly revised， and introduced by Milbourne Christopher， includes a section where the Amazing Randi contributes his experience using video for self-coaching.

This new edition teaches， briskly yet carefully， with hundreds of illustrations， all the skills and secrets of the wizard's repertoire： reading minds， pulling rabbits from hats， turning red handkerchiefs green， dissolving konts， pouring drinks from empty jars， dealing yourself all the aces， finding silver dollars in the air， to name a few.

The Amateur Magician's Handbook stands alone in showing how and why magic works as entertainment： how spectators think and how you must think， and feel， to make puzzling tricks pleasing.

A comprehensive new section covers the difficult but rewarding (and potentially profitable) art of entertaining children.

The final sections tell you what you need to know about conjuring beyond the tricks： comedy; pantomime; music. An extensive bio-bibliography includes not only the great conjurers of the past but also the up-and-coming conjurers of today.

Lastly， author Henry Hay offers guidance on making magic make money for you. "If I hear of someone's studying The Amateur Magician's Handbook and then climbing out of the amateur class by getting paid for a show，" says Henry Hay， "I shall be satisfied."

Table of Contents

1st edition 1950; 4th edition 1982; 424 pages

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