You might need to submit twice to pass CAPTCHA verification. Our community thrives on mutual respect and common sense. We strongly encourage sharing secrets to foster growth and advance the art of magic. If you have a confidential request, you can always send it to us directly.
Creative Problems - Christian Engblom
Creating new effects requires a high level of problem-solving skills. In a 2011 EMC Magic Conference, Christian Engblom, a renowned magician known for inventing the Anti-Faro card trick, stated that inventing effects is like problem-solving. To develop a new effect, one must first identify a problem and understand it, as that forms the foundation of creating a new trick. Once, Christian was performing a rubber band trick and a senior magician remarked that it would be great if the trick could be ended in a way that would allow the rubber band to be examined. Christian took that as a challenge and spent the next six months coming up with a solution. When he finally presented it to the senior magician, he was amazed and asked how he had done it. Christian replied, "Well, you're the one who said it possible." To which the senior magician replied, "No, I meant it was something I wish it could be done. The key is, when we believe that a solution exists, we will eventually find it. We must have a strong conviction that there is a solution to whatever we are working on.
The most challenging aspect of creating a new effect is identifying the problem. Since inventing effects is essentially problem-solving, the question is: How do we discover problems? They can be hard to find. One way to uncover issues with an effect is through feedback. Getting comments from a colleague or spectator can be very valuable in pointing out what the trick is missing or lacking. For example, if a spectator asks to examine a gimmicked item after a trick, it indicates that there is a problem and it's time to start searching for a solution.
Feedback and ideas from colleagues and friends can be incredibly valuable in the inventing process. They may not only provide suggestions for techniques, but also point out missing elements in your routine. For instance, if someone suggests that your routine lacks a proper ending, take that as an opportunity to work on resolving that problem.
When starting out, you may focus on adapting and performing existing routines and tricks. As you gain more experience, you will begin to create your own material. This process will help you understand what works for you and what limitations you have.
These limitations will lead to a set of problems you will have to work to solve for them to fit your show and personality. This journey allows you to discover new effects along the way. Another way to identify problems is through challenging yourself. As previously discussed in this book, limiting yourself can be beneficial for finding new effects. For example, if you specialize in card tricks, could you make it possible for the cards to be mixed and shuffled? Collaborating with colleagues in a brainstorming session can accelerate the process of inventing a solution and make it more enjoyable. Remember, it's important to find enjoyment in problem-solving because it can lead to greater motivation and creativity in finding solutions and can also make the process of addressing and overcoming challenges more fulfilling.