Performances
Dai Vernon
Dai Vernon
Why watch
Known as "The Professor," his influence on close-up magic is hard to overstate. Look for his lectures and interviews as much as his performances.
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Performances
Watch the masters
The fastest way to get better at magic is to watch great magicians work. Each pick comes with a note on what to look for. Every link goes to the original source.
- Documentaries
Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay
Ricky Jay
Why watch
A documentary about one of the great sleight-of-hand artists and scholars of magic, and the old masters who taught him.
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Derren Brown
Derren Brown
Why watch
Mentalism presented as psychology. Notice how carefully he frames every effect so the audience accepts his explanation.
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Penn & Teller: Fool Us
Penn & Teller, with guest magicians
Why watch
Magicians from around the world try to fool two legends to their faces. A great way to see the range of modern magic, and to hear experts talk about method without giving it away.
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Fred Kaps
Fred Kaps
Why watch
The Dutch master of elegant, effortless-looking magic. Watch his timing and how relaxed his hands always look.
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Shin Lim on America's Got Talent
Shin Lim
Why watch
Silent, music-driven card magic, staged for television. A study in polish, choreography and visual effects.
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Juan Tamariz performances
Juan Tamariz
Why watch
Loud, joyful and impossibly clever. Watch how he controls a room, and how much of the magic happens in the audience's heads.
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Tommy Cooper
Tommy Cooper
Why watch
A beloved British comedy magician whose tricks "went wrong" on purpose. Proof that the character can matter more than the trick.
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We link to performances where their creators or rights holders published them. We don't re-host anyone's work, and we only embed video when the platform's official embed is allowed.