If you’re David Copperfield (who just officially became a billionaire) you won’t have to worry about the high prices of props in stage magic, but for those of us with smaller wallets it’s always a good idea to look out for stage magic illusions on sale.
Stage magic is an expensive hobby. Everyone who performs stage magic knows this; it’s one of the reasons there are much more card magicians than stage magicians- it’s so much easier to just pick up a pack of cards for 5 bucks than invest in a floating table for 100.
So I had a search around the web for the best places to buy stage magic at the lowest prices and these shops came out on top. I’ve also included a couple of the best value products from each shop to give you an idea of what deals are on.
Without further ado, here are the best online markets to buy stage magic illusions on sale today and my personal reviews of their magic!
Number 1 Shop: Malloy Modern Magic
This shop I actually came across by complete accident, but as it turns out they have some of the best stage magic illusions out there available to buy. This is one of the most reputable and reliable producers of stage magic illusions on the web, and they have personally made products for top-level magicians like Criss Angel.
The site might not be flashy but that’s because all the effort goes into creating quality props and equipment. Prices might be higher than elsewhere, but wouldn’t you rather pay $100 more and have a piece of kit for ten years longer than the cheap equivalent? I know I would.
I don’t know about you, but I was struggling to find sites that actually dealt in full scale illusions rather than just lighter pieces, so I was super relieved to find this site that has plenty of selection for great stage magic illusions. These are not cheap joke tricks but real sets and machines used by the professionals. Here are a few of their offers: (all the following tricks available at Malloy Modern Magic)
Master Prediction System
Malloy Modern Magic are actually one of the few shops that stock the real Master Prediction System; chances are any others on the market are cheap knockoffs that don’t work.
This trick is used on the biggest stages of all because it is one of the greatest prediction devices ever created; I’ll explain exactly why just now.
The magician displays a locked box hanging off the ground, impossible to get to without the spectators noticing.
The magician then selects random members of the audience and lets them call out names of anything they want- it could be the name of their dog, a celebrity or a city but the important part is that it is a completely free choice and the magician had no way of knowing what they would say beforehand.
The names are written on a board and shown to the audience so there is no chance they will forget them.
The magician explains that he had a dream the night before in which he heard a few names over and over again and felt impressed to write them down when he woke up. He then put them into envelope, sealed it up, put it in a container and locked the whole thing in a steel box, which has been on display the entire time and no one has touched.
He slowly unlocks the box and pulls out the container, which contains a sealed envelope inside.
Opening the envelope reveals a single slip of paper with the exact names the audience selected written on it. No switches are involved- in fact, you can let an audience member open up the envelope if you want!
This trick is the holy grail of on stage predictions and you can see it used by Criss Angel to Oprah Winfrey and Collins Key on America’s Got Talent if you go check it out on the Malloy Modern Magic site!
The Fire Cage
This is a neat little appearance trick in which the magician lights a fire inside a cage, covers the cage for a split-second with a cloth, and pulls the cloth away to reveal a person or animal in place of the fire. Here is a video showing you exactly what this illusion looks like:
The Lean
Almost everyone has heard of Michael Jackson’s famous anti-gravity dance move in Smooth Criminal, but did you know you can learn ‘the Lean’ and use it in magic? This is actually an easy trick to perform; it can be done completely surrounded and doesn’t need any assistance to pull off.
You can even perform this stunt outdoors!
Production Cage (for doves or other animals)
This is one of my personal favorites in stage magic, probably because it reminds me of the first time my mind was truly blown by Canadian magician Darcy Oake. Dove magic is difficult, but it goes hand in hand with stage magic so if any of you are looking to learn magic with birds, you are going to need this key piece of kit.
You show the audience a regular empty bird cage on a table, and slowly cover it with a cloth. With a snap of your fingers you whip away the cloth to reveal live birds sat in the previously empty cage.
This trick absolutely destroys audiences and it’s no wonder; it looks incredible.
Alternatively, you don’t have to just use this production cage for birds; you could use it for rabbits, stuffed toys or flowers. There is no end to what you could use this for; you might vanish a card and have it reappear inside a box inside the cage.
The sky is the limit!
Here is a great video of Darcy Oake doing some brilliant stage magic with birds that might give you an idea of the kind of effects you could create with this trick.
All of these products and more are available at Modern Malloy Magic!
==> Don’t wait! Check them out here! <==
Number 2 Shop: Amazon
It’s hardly a surprise Amazon features on this list; the online retail giant has been going from strength to strength lately and magic tricks are just one of many products to now feature on their list of great deals.
A lot of classic magic illusions can be found on Amazon, and although you may not find everything you need they have more than enough to keep most stage magicians happy! There are also some great stage illusions at low prices right now that I will cover below.
Here are some of their best deals:
The Floating Table
The floating table is a classic of stage magic. The magician usually uses it as an opener as he slowly emerges on stage trying desperately to stop a table floating to the ceiling like it’s some kind of helium balloon!
A truly mystifying trick known only to stage magicians (the rest of us can’t afford it!) this trick is guaranteed to impress audiences and set you up as a great performer.
Here is a video of a magician performing this startling effect.
Even when you understand the mechanics of it, this trick still fools you purely because of how good it looks.
The Appearing Dove Cage
You hold a cloth over a table and let the audience observe that there is absolutely nothing under the cloth, before slowly lifting the cloth up to reveal a bird cage that has appeared out of nowhere. You can then use this cage for dove magic or any other animals. This is a really handy piece of kit for stage magic!
Now I know what you’re thinking – enough showing off, just show us where the deals are at! Well, here you are.
Amazon is currently running a deal where you can get BOTH the floating table and the appearing dove cage in one. Instead of paying a thousand dollars per product, you can get both of them for under $500! Out of all the stage magic deals I found, this deal seems to be one of the best. Make sure you do your research before you place any orders though!
Alternatively, if you are only interested in getting the floating table you can find that on Amazon too.
Number 3 Shop: Merchant of Magic
The Merchant of Magic is an online retailer specific to magic tricks, which means you’re more likely to find more relevant stage magic illusions on sale than on an all-purpose site like Amazon. In fact, this site is one of the best places to find stage magic tricks at low prices on the net, and even their non-sale range has great products at great prices.
The website is easy to use and well-organised with huge stock and what feels like unlimited magic!
As it turns out, they actually have a sale running right now with up to $250 reductions! Here are a few of their best deals running at the moment.
The Dancing Wand
The dancing wand (or dancing cane, as referred to by some) is a classic of stage magic in which the magician takes a 30” magic wand and lets it dance around him in the air to the bewilderment of the audience.
This trick usually costs in the range of $50 to $100, but Merchant of Magic are selling it for only $30. And what’s more, it’s down to $22.20 in the sale! A great bargain for a great trick.
==> Buy it here! <==
Juggling Clubs
Who said juggling clubs weren’t magical? Anyone who has ever watched a magician or circus performer send a few clubs whirling into the air (maybe even on fire) and catching them whilst balanced on a tightrope will tell you that juggling clubs are magical.
That being said, as a stage magician you may think juggling is not your forte. But take a look at this incredible performance by Penn that demonstrates just how limitless the possibilities of a juggling act can be. This is actually one of my favorite acts by him, and it’s not hard to see why when you watch it.
If you can’t juggle at the moment, consider buying some clubs and learning- it’s a really great skillset to gain as a stage magician. Merchant of Magic are currently running a sale on juggling clubs that knock them down from $41 to $26 which is a really good deal, considering that you’re getting both clubs and DVD instructions for almost half the price it should be!
==> Buy some juggling clubs here! <==
Ring in Gumball Machine by Buzz Lawrence
Note: Of all the stage magic illusions available, this had the biggest price drop at almost $300 difference!
This product should only be considered if you are already a stage magician; the price is pretty high for amateurs. However, the effect is well worth it. The effect involves a gumball machine (you’ve probably seen them hundreds of times without thinking they could be used for magic) made by the same company as thousands of others across the country, giving it a real legitimate feel (because it IS legitimate).
Performed by Dynamo himself on his hit show, Magician Impossible, this trick involves taking a spectators ring (or any similar sized object) and vanishing it. Next, the magician makes a coin appear from thin air. He asks the spectator to insert this coin into the gumball machine. Sure enough, the vanished ring is dispensed from the machine to their astonishment!
This set might not be what you were imagining when you started looking for stage magic illusions to buy, but it plays well on both the big stage and close up, and is a great set to add to your repertoire while it’s on sale.
At almost $300 off this a great buy. Here’s what others have said about this product-
==> Buy it while you can here! <==
What if you’re looking for instructional material or DVDs?
Merchant of Magic also have some great DVD sets available, such as a 3 part course in bettering your stage magic by Jeff Mcbride- one of the best stage magicians of them all.
There’s 3 of his DVDs available at the moment, so make sure to grab them while you can! Not only does Jeff talk you through each trick, he also explains the psychology and philosophy behind performing them at the same time.
Number 4 Shop: Penguin Magic
Penguin magic is the Amazon of the magic world, and has a huge number of stage magic illusions on sale 24/7. I’m planning to write a longer article about what Penguin Magic offers in the future, so keep an eye out for that!
For now I’ll suffice it to say that not only do they stock some of the most popular stage magic illusions, they have live lectures full of advice and tricks by professional stage magicians like David Williamson available at incredible prices!
Well, that just about covers it for today. I hope you found some good tricks and stage magic illusions on sale that were what you were looking for! If you have any questions, comments or feedback feel free to leave it in the comment section below and I will get back to you within 24 hours!
This is a really interesting article, I didn’t know much about the equipment needed for illusions. Some of the prices seem quite high. I appreciate professionals need high quality equipment but for those just starting out is there much of a second hand market?
This is a great question Amy- I might go back and add the answer to the article because it is an important point you raise. The fact of the matter is that a lot of these props are often used for dangerous stunts, where people’s personal safety can be put in jeopardy; buying second hand could end up being very risky. When you pay for a new prop, you are ensuring that it is completely safe at the same time. So I guess your answer is sure, feel free to look for second hand props on lighter acts such as the dancing cane, but when it comes to illusions that put either your health, an assistant’s or an animal’s health in danger, it is always best to buy new and pay the heftier price. Better safe than sorry!
What an interesting post! I have always been amazed with magic and I love to be fooled. The magic trick with the birds was spectacular.
These products are amazing and I have never seen them advertised for sale, outside of the cheap magic trick boxes that give you a whole host of small tricks. This was fascinating.
The use of videos was a great help as well. You did a wonderful job of explaining them, but there is nothing like seeing them in action.
My thoughts exactly Bo! The dove act was one of those videos that really ‘hooked’ me into magic and I still love watching them back. Yes, it’s more common for cheaper and easier tricks to be sold but if you know what you’re looking for these can be great products to look into. Glad I could help!
Hi. Thanks for a great article. As a little girl, I always loved the trick where the magician stuck the knife in the box with the lady in it, cutting her in half. I don’t know the name of it, but as a kid, I was in awe the first time I saw it!
It didn’t wear it’s magic off on me until I was about 12, when I learned the secret. Then the magic wore off. I think these magic tricks intrigue us until we’re about 12 years old. LOL Great post.
Hi, thanks for your comment! Magic has that effect on us, but I think just because you might learn that ‘magic’ isn’t real doesn’t mean you can’t be fooled the heck out of!
Hey Benji!
This is an awesome and well researched write up!
Really giving us readers all the information to make an informed decision! Man….the dancing wand trick is amazing!
I wanna try that one out! Can’t go wrong for $22 bucks!.
I can see my nephews screaming!….they are still amazed at the coloring book….they figured out how it works though lol…
Great write up man….this is what people need to make their purchase decisions!
Ravi
Glad you enjoyed! The dancing wand trick is seriously cool, but I would recommend using it a distance!