Unbelievable facts
Every famous illusionist has secrets hidden in his hat or sleeve. However, in order to become a famous magician and gain universal recognition, you need to go a long, thorny path.
Creating the perfect illusion requires sophisticated technique, exceptional dexterity and organizational skills. Welcome to the world of magic!
About magic
Rabbits are not pets
Queensland, Australia, does not allow rabbits to be pets. It is only allowed to keep them at home if you prove that you are really an illusionist.
Otherwise, you will face a $45,500 fine.
German Illusionists Association
The largest organization of magicians in Germany has about 3,000 members and strictly monitors the rules and standards of this profession. In order to get into it, you must pass the so-called magic exam.
Every year, the association organizes German magic championships. Each time the Wizard of the Year is chosen at this championship.
Spells
It is assumed that spells have a certain magical effect and are subject to those who have magical powers. They can be found in ancient literary documents.
For example, the Merseburg spells date back to the 8th century, and the “Abracadabra” spell, first mentioned in the 3rd century, was designed to prevent misfortunes and illnesses and meant a challenge good spirits.
Terms
Is there a difference between magicians, wizards and illusionists? The answer is, of course, there is.
Illusionists work on stage with props and behind each of their tricks there is an explanation. At the same time, magic and magic involve the intervention of supernatural forces.
The largest federation of magicians
There are a lot of different associations of illusionists in the world. The largest of these is the International Federation of Magic Communities, which has more than 60,000 followers from 55 countries.
Every three years, the Federation organizes world championships in the art of magic, where representatives from different countries compete in several categories.
The Sorcerer's Apprentice
While there are no official training courses for magicians, sorcerers and illusionists, there are some private schools that offer basic training for those who want to immerse themselves in the magic the world.
Sometimes illusionists reveal their secrets at conferences and seminars dedicated to this art. Some even sell their own tricks in specialty stores. However, it can take a long time for beginners to hone their skills, because the best way to learn something is to practice and practice again.
Something's not right
In 1956, an illusionist performed a trick of sawing a man live and was assisted by his wife. The moment he cut it into two parts, the recording ended abruptly.
Compassionate viewers thought that something went wrong and the illusionist actually sawed his wife, but it turned out that screen time was simply over.
Read also: 10 interesting tricks for kids
Mysterious magician
The Chinese emperor Qin once sent his personal magician to search for the elixir of life. The magician sailed off the coast of China, taking with him the “victim” of 6,000 boys and girls.
He went looking for it but never came back. It is said that a magician settled in Japan and became emperor.
Magic tricks
Sawing a person in half
This is one of the most famous illusions in the world. It was first introduced to the public in 1921 in the United States.
The trick is that the assistant — usually female — is placed in a closed box, sawn into two parts, and then put them back together and the person leaves the box safe and sound. Illusionists around the world include sawing a person in their list of magic tricks and play on the classic version, bringing freshness and new ideas to it.
Online magic
It sounds really weird, but online magic does exist. The modern internet has everything you could imagine. Including various online magic tricks that do not require the presence of a magician on the other side of the screen.
Usually these are various illusions and card tricks. At one time, the Esmeralda Crystal Ball trick appeared on the Internet, which immediately went viral. Many people were so naive that they thought their computers had magical powers.
Their belief in this was shattered when a page dedicated to revealing the secret of this trick appeared on the Internet.
The secrets of illusionists
The secret is at the heart of the trick
The most mysterious tricks in the world undoubtedly belong to the realm of magic and wizardry. If an illusionist reveals all his secrets, he will no longer be attractive to people, they will lose interest in him, and he will be left with no means of livelihood.
That is why members of the German Association of Magicians are very reluctant to reveal their secrets.
Risky tricks
Despite the fact that most of what happens on stage is an illusion, magical performances do not always end successfully. There are cases when illusionists walked around right during the show.
The highest mortality rate is among illusionists who practice numbers related to escaping from boxes of water, fire, etc. Several magicians died trying to catch a bullet. Magic can also be very dangerous.
The best magicians
The biggest show
The Ehrlich brothers are the real stars of the magical community in Germany. In the summer of 2016, their own show full of magic and illusions took place at one of Frankfurt's stadiums. It was watched by 38,503 people!
This is undoubtedly a world record. These brothers are Germany's most famous magicians and have been nominated three times for the Illusionist of the Year Award.
Unfair disqualification
In 1988, an illusionist named Lennart Green competed in the World Magician Championship. His performance was so flawless that the judges considered him a fraud and disqualified him.
Three years later, Green returned to the World Cup and, by allowing the referees to shuffle the cards on their own, proved his honesty. He was awarded an honorary first place.
Sleight of hand — and no fraud
In 2006, after his performance, famous illusionist David Copperfield was walking home with his two assistants. At some point, two armed teenagers jumped out of a parked car and ordered David and his assistants to turn out their pockets.
They clearly didn't understand who was in front of them. Frightened assistants laid out their phones and money, and David, using sleight of hand and trained skills, hid the property so that the wretched robbers saw only empty, twisted pockets.
The one who fooled Houdini
The famous illusionist Harry Houdini boasted that seeing the card trick three times would easily reveal his secret. However, Professor and illusionist Dye Vernon challenged him.
After Houdini failed to figure out the secret of the trick on his seventh attempt, Vernon was christened “The One Who Lied to Houdini”.
The best illusionists
Wealth
Creating illusions can bring magicians a lot of money. The richest magician in the world is David Copperfield, who has an estimated net worth of $800 million. To date, he has sold over 35 million tickets to his shows.
In 2015, Forbes magazine named him one of the world's richest celebrities. David Copperfield also owns a chain of resort islands in the Bahamas.
Other successful magicians include Penn and Teller, Siegfried and Roy, Lance Burton, and David Blaine.
Black magic
Where it is practiced
If we look for a connection between black magic and religion, black magic is mainly practiced in Hinduism. Sorcerers who practice black magic often associate themselves with Hindu deities.
Effects
The consequences of black magic can be different — from changes in behavior, to a sharp and serious deterioration in health for no apparent reason, as well as the appearance of certain mental disorders.
In the most severe cases, plants in a person who has undergone black magic may die and his nails may turn black.
Scientific explanation
Despite the fact that at first glance it may seem that there are supernatural powers behind black magic, in fact, this is not the case. Its effects have a very scientific explanation.
It has been proven that negative energy can affect people's physical and psychological state.
Zombie
Zombie stories first appeared in Haiti when bokors (black magicians) poisoned their victims with a special neurotoxin derived from puffer fish venom. At the same time, lethargy, lethargy and a keen perception of the world around us appeared.
The sorcerers used illusions and visual effects to enhance the effect of the toxin. At the same time, the person was in a completely unbalanced state, so it was very easy to control him.
Famous illusionists
World stars
Everyone who enjoys illusions, magic tricks with animals and magic tricks cannot help but know the German-American duo Siegfried and Roy. Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn earned worldwide fame for their magic shows with lions and white tigers at the end of the 20th century.
To date, their show in Las Vegas is considered to be the most expensive and challenging show in the world. In 2003, while performing, Roy was seriously injured, but recovered and returned to the stage 10 days later. Shortly thereafter, the duo ended their careers.
Wartime
The hereditary British illusionist Jasper Maskeline became famous during World War II. He ended up in a division called the Wizard Team. Along with Jasper, this division employed the best magicians and crooks who easily deceive people.
It was not so easy to get the go-ahead to create such a group — Maskeline had to create an illusion when a projection of a German cruiser appeared on the Thames. He used his model and mirrors for this trick.
Jasper used his skills to create illusions and camouflage to deceive the enemy.