Learning Objectives:
- Understand the principles of effective routine construction
- Learn to combine individual techniques into flowing performances
- Master three complete routines using skills from previous modules
- Develop confidence in performing structured magical experiences
Individual sleights are like words—useful on their own, but truly powerful when combined into sentences and stories. A routine is a complete magical experience that takes your audience on a journey from normalcy through impossibility and back to a new understanding of what's possible.
The difference between showing tricks and performing routines is the difference between being a technician and being an artist. Tricks demonstrate skill; routines create experiences. When you master routine construction, you transform from someone who does magic to someone who creates magical moments.
A well-constructed routine has emotional impact, logical flow, and builds to a satisfying conclusion. It tells a story where the magic serves the narrative, not the other way around.
Every effective routine follows a basic structure that mirrors how humans naturally process stories and experiences:
The opening establishes the "normal" world before magic intrudes. It introduces the props, sets expectations, and creates the baseline against which the impossible will be measured.
Key Elements:
- Clear display of props in their normal state
- Establishment of fair conditions
- Engagement with the audience
- Setting of expectations
Example Opening:
"I have here an ordinary coin—you can see it's completely normal. In fact, let me let you examine it to make sure there's nothing unusual about it..."
The development is where magic begins to happen, but in stages. Each phase should be slightly more impossible than the last, building toward the climax.
Progression Principles:
- Start with small impossibilities
- Each phase should top the previous one
- Maintain logical connection between phases
- Build audience investment in the outcome
Example Development:
"Watch as the coin begins to behave strangely... first it seems to jump from hand to hand... then it starts to multiply... and finally..."
The climax is the moment of greatest impossibility—the point where the audience's understanding of reality is most challenged.
Climax Characteristics:
- Clearly impossible by any normal explanation
- Visually striking and memorable
- Emotionally satisfying
- Leaves the audience with a sense of wonder
The resolution brings the routine to a satisfying close, often returning props to their normal state while leaving the audience with the memory of impossibility.
Resolution Functions:
- Provides closure to the magical narrative
- Allows audience to process what they've experienced
- Sets up for the next routine or natural ending
- Leaves lasting impression
Each routine should have one central magical theme or effect. While you might use multiple techniques, they should all serve the same magical goal.
Examples of Unified Effects:
- A coin that defies the laws of physics
- A card that has a mind of its own
- Objects that teleport from place to place
Avoiding Confusion:
Don't try to show too many different types of magic in one routine. A coin routine should be about coins, not coins and cards and rings and scarves.
Each phase of your routine should follow logically from the previous one. The audience should feel like each step is a natural continuation of the story.
Good Progression Example:
- Show a normal coin
- Make it vanish
- Make it reappear in an impossible location
- Make it multiply into several coins
- Make all the coins vanish except one
Poor Progression Example:
- Show a coin
- Do a card trick
- Make the coin change color
- Guess someone's birthday
- Make a rubber band jump
Like any good story, your routine should have an emotional journey. The audience should feel increasing wonder, building to a peak of astonishment.
Emotional Stages:
- Curiosity: "What's going to happen?"
- Surprise: "That's impossible!"
- Amazement: "How did you do that?"
- Wonder: "Magic is real!"
This routine combines techniques from Modules 3 and 5 into a complete magical experience.
A coin visibly travels from your right hand to your left hand, then vanishes completely, only to reappear in an impossible location.
- French Drop (Module 3)
- Classic Palm (Module 3)
- Basic misdirection (Module 5)
- Presentation skills (Module 5)
Phase 1: The Setup
"I'd like to show you something impossible with this ordinary coin. As you can see, it's completely normal—nothing special about it at all."
Display the coin clearly, let someone examine it if desired
Phase 2: The First Impossibility
"Watch carefully as I place the coin in my right hand... but somehow, it travels instantly to my left hand."
Perform the French Drop, apparently placing the coin in your right hand while secretly retaining it in your left. Open your right hand to show it empty, then produce the coin from your left hand
Phase 3: The Vanish
"But that's just the beginning. Watch as the coin completely disappears from existence."
Openly place the coin in your left hand, then use the Classic Palm to secretly retain it while showing your left hand empty
Phase 4: The Impossible Reappearance
"The coin hasn't really vanished—it's just traveled to an impossible place. Check your pocket."
Direct them to check their pocket, or produce it from behind their ear, or any other impossible location
Timing: Each phase should build naturally from the previous one. Don't rush—let each impossibility sink in before moving to the next.
Misdirection: Use eye contact and gesture to direct attention. When you want them to look at your right hand, look at your right hand yourself.
Presentation: Speak with confidence and wonder. Your amazement at the magic should be genuine and infectious.
Recovery: If something goes wrong, stay calm and continue. Often the audience won't notice small mistakes if you don't draw attention to them.
This routine showcases the Double Lift and basic card controls in a classic magical narrative.
A selected card repeatedly rises to the top of the deck, no matter how many times it's placed in the middle.
- Double Lift (Module 4)
- Basic card control (Module 4)
- Overhand shuffle control (Module 4)
- Presentation and misdirection (Module 5)
Phase 1: The Selection
"Please select any card from the deck. Look at it, remember it, and place it back on top."
Have them select a card, note what it is, and place it on top of the deck
Phase 2: The First Rise
"I'll place your card in the middle of the deck, but watch what happens..."
Use a Double Lift to show the top card (which appears to be their card), then place the double card in the middle. Snap your fingers and turn over the top card to show their card has returned
Phase 3: The Deeper Burial
"Let me try placing it even deeper in the deck..."
Again use the Double Lift, but this time place the cards deeper in the deck. Show that their card has returned to the top again
Phase 4: The Impossible Rise
"This time, I'll let you place the card anywhere you want in the deck."
For the finale, actually let them place their card in the middle, then use your card control skills to bring it back to the top for the final revelation
Card Control: The key to this routine is maintaining control of their selected card. Practice your shuffles and controls until they're invisible.
Double Lift Timing: The Double Lift must look identical to turning over a single card. Practice until the timing and motion are perfect.
Audience Management: Let them feel involved in the process. Their participation makes the magic more meaningful.
Escalation: Each phase should seem more impossible than the last. The final phase, where they place the card themselves, should be the most convincing.
This routine combines coin handling with presentation to create a visually striking effect.
Four coins placed under four cards mysteriously gather under one card, leaving the other three cards covering nothing.
- Classic Palm (Module 3)
- Finger Palm (Module 3)
- Misdirection techniques (Module 5)
- Smooth coin handling
Phase 1: The Setup
"I have four coins and four cards. I'll place one coin under each card, like this."
Openly place one coin under each of four face-down cards, arranged in a square pattern
Phase 2: The First Gathering
"Watch as the coins begin to gather together. The first coin travels from here to here."
Secretly palm one coin while apparently leaving it under its card, then add it to the pile under another card
Phase 3: The Second Gathering
"The second coin follows the first."
Repeat the process, secretly moving another coin to the growing pile
Phase 4: The Final Gathering
"And now all four coins are together under one card."
Lift the cards to show three empty spaces and all four coins under the fourth card
Smooth Handling: The secret moves must be completely invisible. Practice until palming and loading coins becomes automatic.
Misdirection: Use the lifting and replacing of cards to provide cover for your secret moves.
Presentation: Build suspense with each phase. The audience should feel the magic building toward the final revelation.
Clean Ending: Make sure the final revelation is clear and unmistakable. All four coins should be clearly visible under the final card.
Watch professional magicians perform routines and analyze their structure:
- What's the central effect?
- How do they build from simple to complex?
- What's the emotional journey?
- How do they handle transitions between phases?
Take any two techniques you know and create a routine that connects them:
- What story could link these techniques?
- How can one technique set up the other?
- What would be a satisfying conclusion?
Practice your routines with different timing:
- Perform them quickly
- Perform them slowly
- Find the optimal pace for each phase
- Notice how timing affects impact
Perform your routines for different people and note:
- Which phases get the strongest reactions?
- Where do people seem confused?
- What questions do they ask?
- How can you improve based on their responses?
Too Many Effects: Trying to cram too much magic into one routine. Better to do one thing perfectly than many things poorly.
No Logical Flow: Jumping between unrelated effects without connection or transition.
Weak Endings: Building up well but ending with a whimper instead of a bang.
Poor Pacing: Rushing through without letting the magic sink in, or dragging on too long.
Inconsistent Character: Changing your presentation style mid-routine.
Start Small: Begin by performing for one person, then gradually work up to larger groups.
Know Your Material: Practice until you could perform your routines in your sleep.
Prepare for Problems: Have plans for what to do if things go wrong.
Focus on the Experience: Remember that you're creating wonder, not just demonstrating skill.
Accept Imperfection: Even professional magicians make mistakes. The key is how you handle them.
Master the Three Routines: Practice the Traveling Coin, Ambitious Card, and Four Coin Assembly until you can perform them smoothly and confidently.
Develop Your Presentations: Write out the patter for each routine and practice delivering it naturally.
Test with Real Audiences: Perform each routine for friends or family and gather feedback.
Create Your Own Routine: Using techniques from previous modules, construct an original routine following the principles in this module.
Complete routines transform individual techniques into magical experiences. By understanding the principles of routine construction—unity of effect, logical progression, and emotional arc—you can create performances that engage audiences and create lasting memories.
The key insight is that routines are stories told through magic. The techniques serve the story, not the other way around. When you master this concept, you move from being someone who knows tricks to someone who creates magical experiences.
Remember: a perfect routine performed with confidence will always be more impressive than a collection of perfect techniques performed without structure or meaning. Focus on creating complete, satisfying magical journeys for your audiences.
Ready to continue? Continue to Module 7: Intermediate Coin Techniques →