You bought playing cards to do magic, but you may be wondering if you need any other tools. This article introduces the tools used in close-up magic other than playing cards.
Pad (Mat)
Many magicians put a pad on the table when performing magic. If playing cards or coins are placed directly on the table when performing magic, cards and other objects may slip or make noise. A pad is used to prevent it. The surface of a pad is covered with cloth, which makes cards and other objects much easier to handle. It also reduces the sound of heavy objects such as coins.
Some techniques are difficult to perform without pads, but sometimes pads are not used when performing magic while standing, such as table hopping. If you mainly perform magic on tables, you may buy a pad.
Coins
There are many close-up magic tricks that use coins. You can buy coins such as American half dollars sold in magic shops, or you can use coins which you have around you. In this case, use 500 yen coins as much as possible. Smaller coins are easier to hide, but less visible and less easy to handle.
Everyday items
There are also some close-up magic tricks that use everyday items. Playing cards and coins are also everyday items, but these are not included below.
Banknotes
Banknotes are also sometimes used in magic, although not as much as coins. The size of the banknotes varies slightly according to the amount of money, but this has little effect on the performance. Folded or wrinkled notes are often less likely to reveal the trick than clean new notes.
Rubber bands
Sometimes they are used as one of the tools for magic tricks, but there are also magic tricks that use rubber bands as the main tool. You can use ordinary rubber bands on the market, but you should avoid ones that are too easy to break.
Pens
Sometimes they are used as tools for magic, but there are also magic tricks that use pens as the main tool. If they are too thick or have a special shape, they are difficult to use. A marker pen can be used for magic using a pen, as a wand or as a tool for signing.
Magic tools on the market
Magic tools are sometimes sold in variety stores and toy shops. Many of them are designed for people without any magic experience to perform easily. The disadvantage is that most of them have a secret or trick in the tool itself, so it is difficult to hand it to the spectator and check it out. There are some, such as Tenyo's Dynamic Coins, whose tricks are difficult to reveal even if they are handed over to be checked.
Conclusion
If you are just starting out in magic, it is enough to just buy playing cards. There is no problem to buy a pad after you have started practising a little while. If you want to do magic with your technique and not so much with gimmicks, you don't need to buy magic tools on the market. If you don't want to practise difficult techniques but still want to do magic, you can start with magic tools available on the market.
