The first definition of street magic refers to a traditional form of magic performance - that of busking. In this, the magician draws an audience from passers by and performs an entire act for them. In exchange, the magician seeks remuneration either by having a receptacle for tips available throughout the act or by "passing the hat" at the end of the performance.
Street magic most often consists of sleight of hand, card magic, and occasionally mentalism, though the ability to draw and hold an audience is frequently cited by practitioners as a skill of greater importance than the illusions themselves.
The term "street magic" is often incorrectly used by beginners in magic, who think it is some new form of magic or a "paradigm shift" originated by David Blaine when he debuted in his first "Street Magic" television special. In reality, it is simply a rebranded form of busking when performed for pay or simply close-up magic performed outdoors when not done for pay.
This style of "street magic" is associated with David Blaine and more recently, Criss Angel and was largely developed to play well on television.
Many magicians respect Blaine's choice of material and give him credit for creating an image of the contemporary magician distinct from other magicians in recent television history, such as David Copperfield or Doug Henning. Many magicians, such as Jamy Ian Swiss, however, dispute whether any such category as guerrilla magic even exists, since it is primarily associated with only one performer.
One of the main questions about the phenomenon is the performer's actual purpose. "Street magic" has not mainly appeared because of some urban trend, but simply that new magicians who perform usual tricks outdoors call it "street magic". If there are "stage magic", "parlor magic" and close-up, it is mainly because these three are highly different kinds of magic, and because magicians are getting paid to perform it.
Street magic most often consists of sleight of hand, card magic, and occasionally mentalism, though the ability to draw and hold an audience is frequently cited by practitioners as a skill of greater importance than the illusions themselves.
The term "street magic" is often incorrectly used by beginners in magic, who think it is some new form of magic or a "paradigm shift" originated by David Blaine when he debuted in his first "Street Magic" television special. In reality, it is simply a rebranded form of busking when performed for pay or simply close-up magic performed outdoors when not done for pay.
This style of "street magic" is associated with David Blaine and more recently, Criss Angel and was largely developed to play well on television.
Many magicians respect Blaine's choice of material and give him credit for creating an image of the contemporary magician distinct from other magicians in recent television history, such as David Copperfield or Doug Henning. Many magicians, such as Jamy Ian Swiss, however, dispute whether any such category as guerrilla magic even exists, since it is primarily associated with only one performer.
One of the main questions about the phenomenon is the performer's actual purpose. "Street magic" has not mainly appeared because of some urban trend, but simply that new magicians who perform usual tricks outdoors call it "street magic". If there are "stage magic", "parlor magic" and close-up, it is mainly because these three are highly different kinds of magic, and because magicians are getting paid to perform it.
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