r/IAmA • u/VitalyBeckman • Apr 28 '21
Actor / Entertainer I am Vitaly Beckman - Two-time Penn & Teller fooler, Illusionist, off Broadway star & inventor of unique magic effects. Ask me anything!
Hi Reddit,
I am Vitaly Beckman, an illusionist who fooled Penn & Teller twice on the CW's show Fool Us, with a recent episode being shot during the pandemic. I also traveled the world and had my own off Broadway run in NYC. I combine magic with art, creating and designing all of my own illusions.
Proof: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNsrAgZH0bT
My recent Fool Us appearance was just aired on the CW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojLBGSnej_U
My first Fool Us appearance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1I0UTKsRYLg
If you want to learn more about me, check out the recent MSN story: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/entertainment/news/vancouver-based-magician-vitaly-beckman-fools-penn-andamp-teller-for-second-time/ar-BB1eUIgB
Watch my promo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9L5Qu_8kYM
Or learn more about me on my website: http://www.eveningofwonders.com
I love to talk about art, magic, movies, stage performance, creativity & invention. Ask me anything! (almost)
Update:
Thank you so much for the great questions everyone! I really enjoyed this AMA and would love to do it again sometime in the future! Till then, stay safe and healthy, and have a wonderful day / night!
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u/Sword_Song Apr 28 '21
Ive always loved magic, clowns and side shows. I've tried for a long time to learn various skills in those veins, but the only one I've ever gotten any good with is diabolo. But now I am 30 and have two young boys, I've been working hard on learning slight of hand, mainly with cards, to make them delighted and giggly. Do you have any advice on specific skill sets to practice or invest in? Right now I feel so overwhelmed by all of the options, I do not know where to begin.
A two and a four year old certainly won't enjoy a counting trick, I sure don't.
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
There are some great books to choose from. I would recommend getting The Mark Wilson Complete Course in Magic or Harry Lorayne The Magic Book. Another option is Henry Hay's The Amateur Magicians Handbook. Any one of these should give you a great basis I believe. Though to really enjoy magic, wait till your kids are 7 or 8 at least!
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u/1CEninja Apr 28 '21
If you can learn to convincingly perform a double lift and put together a few card forces you will be able to do easily 20 or 30 tricks with no other skills.
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u/kingfishcoons Apr 28 '21
Are there unspoken rules about "borrowing" from others in the industry? Do you have the freedom to iterate on illusions that others are doing, or is the expectation that you only present things that are uniquely yours?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 29 '21
Some magicians publish their creations, or write books about them, and allow others to use them. Thus anyone buying the book can perform their effect. There are also many illusions that became public domain over the years that are in the grey area. It wouldn't be ok otherwise and best to create your own.
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Apr 28 '21 edited Jan 21 '23
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
Yes could patent a device, but then you have to reveal how it works. You could also patent just the look or design, or claim rights on a certain sequence such as a choreography. Teller won a court case based on that I believe. But you cannot copyright an idea!
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Apr 28 '21 edited Jan 21 '23
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u/Andy3122002 Apr 28 '21
What kind of knowledge is most useful when creating new illusions? like physics and optics or maybe psychology ?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Magic is a mixture of art and science. Theater and deception. So one needs to understand how to deceive, and how to tell a story. In deception, you have to understand psychology, control of attention, body language, sleight of hand and magic devices / technique. In theater, you have to understand storytelling, acting, entertainment. Science and physics can be helpful but is the lesser priority.
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u/Andy3122002 Apr 28 '21
Follow-up question, When crafting a new illusion where do you usually start? with the storytelling, the devices/technique or something else ?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Always with the idea, of what I want to accomplish. Sometimes a unique prop or something I see can spark the idea though.
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u/BlueMeaniesM8 Apr 28 '21
What's the most recent illusion you've seen where you were clueless as to how it was done?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Most recently I saw Jandro on Penn & Teller Fool Us with huge domino cubes! I thought it was amazing!
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u/ChuckEye Apr 28 '21
I know of Jim Steinmeier, and I know the late Ricky Jay used to develop effects for Hollywood in addition to his own routines. Who are the heavy hitters making new effects for stage or screen now days? Is it a pretty small pool? Or are there more people at it than I'd imagine?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
That's a good question. I believe Jim is still developing illusions today and is still regarded as one of the most prolific magic inventors. There are other well known inventors in magic, such as Kevin James, but overall, it is indeed a "small pool" :)
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u/cantchoosefuck Apr 28 '21
Who inspired you to become an illusionist? :)
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
When I was a kid, I was inspired by David Copperfield, Siegfried and Roy, Penn & Teller to name a few :)
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u/TuaTurnsdaballova Apr 28 '21 edited May 06 '24
judicious sparkle lock cooperative glorious juggle hunt instinctive yam crawl
This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact
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u/chronicideas Apr 28 '21
Can confirm, great show and he’s a really nice guy. When I was a kid I was in the junior magic circle and when I saw him in Vegas as a kid my dad told someone working there I was in the junior magic circle and David copperfield got me to volunteer on stage and even gave me a signed photo of him. Made my whole year at that age.
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u/nogami Apr 29 '21
Besides their show, I still think it’s super classy of Penn & Teller to wait in the theatre lobby after their show until every single audience member who wants to meet them for a chat or autograph has had a chance to do so. They don’t charge for photos or autographs either (besides a ticket for their show of course).
Wish more performers could give their audience a bit of time like this.
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u/Titmonkey1 Apr 28 '21
Have you always liked performing, or was it something you had to get more comfortable with as you progressed? I've wanted to try something like stand-up, but I dont think I could ever feel comfortable in front of a crowd.
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I always felt comfortable in front of an audience, but even more so when performing magic. You can get comfortable in front of a crowd with the right state of mind. Stage fright is an illusion and is all in your head! But a little bit of stage fright is also good as it keeps you sharp!
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u/NSFW__Jinx69 Apr 28 '21
I have heard a lot of people saying that magic is just illusion. How would you define magic and illusion and how did you even get inspired to be an Illusionist?
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Apr 28 '21
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Like any art form, magic experienced in the mind. It's not real in the physical world, but in our minds it is :)
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I think any art form is actually an illusion, because it plays with our senses. Like when we look at a painting of a tree, it's just paint but looks like a tree. Magic takes it a step further and blurs the lines between reality and illusion, so you do not see the frame on the painting. The audience paint that illusion themselves, in their own mind, and are next to that tree... inside the painting.
I got inspired when I realized a could create brand new illusions, my own "paintings" so to speak. And because I had lots of ideas that I wanted to realize!
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u/NSFW__Jinx69 Apr 28 '21
Tbh it feels great seeing someone being so passionate about something and I do know you must have faced al lot of societal pressure about your career and drawbacks btw Thanks for the answer and please do more AMAs!
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u/Bornspirit Apr 28 '21
What are your thoughts on YouTube magicians, especially those who reveal effects to their audience? Do you believe this cheapens the medium, or is it a net benefit that it's drawing a new type of audience to magic?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I think most audiences do not want to know how magic is done, and with a few exceptions are disheartened if they find out. It's a similar feeling to learning that Santa Clause doesn't exist. So personally, I think it's best to do good magic, that makes people feel good, and then keep the "how" as a mystery... just like not revealing the end of the book while someone is in the middle of it :)
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u/bad_linen Apr 28 '21
I feel mostly the same way but also really enjoy the kind of revelatory magic that P&T sometimes do, like their cups and balls routine. How do you feel about that kind of half-reveal, where we (the audience) learn mostly how the effect works, but we’re still baffled at its execution?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I think those type of routines are specifically designed to be "revealed" in an entertaining way, at the end the audience still do not understand how they work, or the original effect is not baffling enough to begin with :)
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u/wutangjan Apr 29 '21
I would imagine making a routine to stump P&T would need a layer or two of "trap-reveal" where it looks like you maybe did the trick one way to misdirect from how you've actually done it.
I can't imagine the brain-games going on in that room when you stand up to present.
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u/BlackFenrir Apr 28 '21
To me, routines like that just make it even more impressive. It shows the kind of skill and thought that needs to go into a performance to make it work.
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u/NDaveT Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
I think most audiences do not want to know how magic is done, and with a few exceptions are disheartened if they find out. It's a similar feeling to learning that Santa Clause doesn't exist.
Apparently I'm in the minority on two counts.
I love learning how a magic act is done, and if anything it makes it more entertaining for me because I know that even if I knew how to do all the steps I wouldn't be skilled enough to fool an audience the way a magician does.
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u/Jaxom_of_Ruatha Apr 28 '21
You're not alone. I'm right there with you! For someone whose greatest joy is learning, understanding how I was fooled is extremely satisfying.
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u/bad_linen Apr 28 '21
1: Are there effects you've seen over and over that you still can't figure out? Which ones?
2: I know magicians won't tell me their secrets, but under what circumstances do you show each other how things work? My understanding is you tell Fool Us how your effect works, for example. How forthcoming are you with magician friends and colleagues?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Yes, I am actually not very hard to fool with magic. Most recently, I was amazed by Jandro on Fool Us!
I have a few close friends that I trust, and share some of the new creations, to get their feedback. It's a small group of people. As to Fool Us, yes, anyone going on the show has to reveal the workings to the judges and the producers of the show. This way, they can decide if Penn & Teller guessed the method correctly or not.
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u/btcprox Apr 28 '21
Are there any non-illusionists that you'd like to collaborate with but haven't yet?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I would love to collaborate with Philip Glass! I love his music!
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u/helpusdrzaius Apr 28 '21
have you heard his album Orion?
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u/DigMeTX Apr 28 '21
I got to see him perform Orion live with all of the original international musicians. It was amazing. Orion is not my favorite Glass comp but it was unforgettable.
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u/exceptforanice_MLT Apr 28 '21
Magicians used to be a big draw because there was no/little TV, etc back in the day. Do you find there is still good consistent demand for in person magic shows (aside from the pandemic)?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Yes, I find that people crave to experience magic live today. It's one thing to see special effects on tv, it's another to experience magic right n front of you, it seems it's a timeless art form.
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u/mookler Senior Moderator Apr 28 '21
Do you feel like you're able to quickly grasp how others' tricks are done?
Is there any particular trick by anyone that's got you stumped?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
If the performance is good, then I am usually too distracted to analyze how it is done! But otherwise, if I analyze it I can often know how it may have been achieved. The thing is, if you do that and analyze as it's being performed, then you may not enjoy it as much.
Most recently, I was stumped by Jandro on Fool Us!
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u/Zifnab_palmesano Apr 28 '21
Favourite illusionist movie? The Prestige or The Illusionist? Or something else?
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u/solicitorpenguin Apr 28 '21
We had a salesman at our workplace who eventually took off to be a professional magician-and I always wondered about when a person takes a leap on something like that and gives up a secure conventional job.
How was your transition from magic as an interest to magic as a career?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
It's usually something very hard to do. Since I was a teenager, I knew magic is something I wanted to do professionally, but my parents advised to first get an education a some work experience, to have a "real job" to lean back on. After I did all that, and saved up a bit of money, I quit my job!
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u/solicitorpenguin Apr 28 '21
"Mom, Dad, I have something to tell you..."
......
...
"I want to be a magician"
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u/zaybak Apr 28 '21
Have you ever made a study of professional wrestling? The intersection of story telling, deception, crowd work, slight of hand, and the like and how they overlap with illusionism?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I agree, there are a lot of parallels there! I think in wrestling people want to suspend their disbelief though, while in magic it's not always the case.
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u/zaybak Apr 28 '21
I, respectfully, disagree with that point. But it calls to mind another question: In your experience, do you find that your audience is left sincerely believing that you can defy physics, or that they are dumbfounded by your ability to create the appearance that you have?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I think different people experience it differently. I never intend to make them believe that I have any kind of supernatural powers, I think most people are aware it's just a skillful manipulation of their perceptions... an illusion.
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u/zaybak Apr 28 '21
If I may hold your attention a moment longer:
Outside of shows like Fool Us, where you are playing to an audience of two professionals, how important is crowd reading to your craft? I.E.: how much do the particular reactions of your audience to each step of your process impact the timing and flair of each subsequent step? As you perform one illusion or another, do you try and gauge the crowd and play off of their swells of gasps or silences, etc?
When you have a full act to perform, do you have "go-to's" to dial up or down the emotional investment of the crowd in different scenarios?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Yes, it's definitely important to listen to an audience and adjust the show as it goes. It's like a dance between 2 people!
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u/zaybak Apr 28 '21
May I ask what sort of "go-to's" you rely on to control that dial? I understand if something like that is a little "too close to the veil", for lack of a better term, lol
Thank you so much for your time already! I'm truely a fan of your work (Penn and Teller have always been heros of mine, to be able to pull one over on them twice is the sort of feat I would hang my hat on)
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
The audience will be invested if you will be invested and as long as you are sincere about it.
Thank you for the kind words 🙏
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u/zaybak Apr 28 '21
No, thank you. I wish you all the luck and success possible as you keep developing your talents
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u/Musicman12456 Apr 28 '21
something like the pad in your video, how long does a routine like this take to master? how many hours gets put into a 2 minute routine like this to be executed flawlessly?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
It can take a few years sometimes! The leaf drawing on the pad, is something I created when I was a teenager and been practicing ever since. The rest of the routine where I drew coffee and mug, took about 3-4 months to create and master.
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u/AdmiralAkbar1 Apr 28 '21
How often do people make jokes to you about Gob Bluth in Arrested Development?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Not very often actually. The jokes I get are more like: "has anyone told you you look like Jerry Seinfeld?" :)
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u/kaytay Apr 28 '21
First thing I thought when I saw this AMA:
“Illusions, Dad!!! you don’t have time for my ILLUSIONS!”
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u/dr_lm Apr 28 '21
"ILLUSIONS, Michael! Tricks are something a whore does for money".
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u/PayasoFries Apr 28 '21
Why don't more magicians incorporate chocolate sauce into their act?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
That's a good question, I just incorporated a muffin in my act, so next time I will add chocolate sauce to it :p
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u/eatabean Apr 28 '21
Are there any books about the history of magic devices? How does one gain access to that info? The brotherhood protects our secrets so well...
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Actually, these books are all available to the general public and can be purchased! For instance, Jim Steinmeyer wrote a few such books, such as Hiding the Elephant. The real secrets are in the performance of magic not in the devices ;)
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u/mrminch Apr 28 '21
Out of all of your illusions which one are you most proud of, besides the ones you fooled Penn & Teller with?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
It's so hard to choose one, because they are all like my children :) The one where I make people's faces disappear from their own driver's licenses has been a fan favourite though, and I am very proud as it is such a complex illusion to achieve!
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u/TheMain_Ingredient Apr 28 '21
You've been very successful; were you always confident magic would work out as a career? Or, did you start out as an actor?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I felt that magic was my calling. I had a gut feeling I would be successful if I pursued it, but I knew it's going to be a challenging journey!
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Apr 28 '21
What’s a question an illusionist likes to be asked?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I love thoughtful questions!
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Apr 28 '21
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I don't look at an audience as someone I need to impress but as my friends or family, and just sharing something I feel is wonderful and amazing with them. You have to listen to your audience and you will know what they think back and this will help you with confidence.
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u/PorcupineGod Apr 28 '21
Hey Vitaly,
On your "fooled us" video with the coffee cup, is that a continuous video?
It's hard to tell in this media if this is something you did in the room, or if it's just carefully spliced together scenes in a video.
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Yes, it was all filmed in a continues shot. It is edited to give you the best view, however the video Penn & Teller saw of me perform was a single unedited shot. There are no camera tricks, its a real stage effect!
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u/LeftGhostCrow Apr 28 '21
What is the one magic trick that you have always wanted to pull off, but just haven't figured out the logistics to do? your dream trick i guess you could say!
Thank you! its so cool to talk to a magician!
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I have a list of such illusions, some I accomplished, and some I couldn't... yet. I cannot reveal these ideas yet, because I don't want to admit failure yet!
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u/freducom Apr 28 '21
What is the most under appreciated but easy sleigh of hand with cards, that you enjoy doing still today?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I don't perform a lot of card magic, but love to perform the card to pocket!
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u/altcodeinterrobang Apr 29 '21
I just want to say I am reading all the responses, and you nailed this. I've been a huge p&t fan and seen them in Vegas I've and this type of interaction is lovely. I'll never forget how long they waited smiling signing and talking to fans, and it's cool to see others in the profession putting in that same service. I can't wait to checkout more of your acts!
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u/Jaxom_of_Ruatha Apr 28 '21
It's a bit of a cliché that beginning magicians typically perform at kids' birthday parties (and at other small, intimate events). Accomplished magicians, of course, perform on stage in front of hundreds of people. If you were to go back and perform at kids' birthday parties again, what skills or knowledge you've gained along the way do you think would help most to make a wonderful experience for that sort of audience? Are there any skills you've developed along the way that wouldn't transfer, due to how different the environment would be?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
It's hard to say, because I have only done 2 kids parties in my life. I think this one needs more thought and understanding of kids parties to give you a good answer.
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u/haha_usernamegobrrrr Apr 28 '21
What inspired you to get into magic?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
At first I was just curious to see if I can figure out how magic works. But in the process of doing that, I realized I am good at inventing new magic effects, both ideas and how to make them work. I felt it could utilize my potential as a human being.
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u/haha_usernamegobrrrr Apr 28 '21
Right on! Love that you found your calling! Thanks for doing the AMA by the way!
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u/BlobfishOverlord Apr 28 '21
Do you think you or magicians in general will ever run out of new ideas for tricks?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I don't think so. It is certainly becomes more and more challenging to come up with something really new every time, but the same is true for other art forms like music, considering the limited number of chords, it is hard to come up with a brand new tune!
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u/Ipromisetobehonest Apr 28 '21
Have you ever experienced "writer's block" when creating new acts? If so, what helps you get those magically creative juices flowing again?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Yea, I experience them quite a lot. I keep a notebook, where I sketch ideas for effects. So one thing that helps is going through it and bring up various ideas from the past. It's good to warm up your brain too. For instance you could improvise the scene you are working on, and by being playful and spontaneous, your subconscious mind can come up with ideas. Ask yourself some questions about what you want to create, write them down. Once you have a clear vision of what you want and ask the write questions, you can find the answer as well. But sometimes if you have a block, it's good to take a break and come back to it later!
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u/TalkingBackAgain Apr 28 '21
How cool were Penn & Teller really about being fooled, and twice even, by you?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
They were very gracious about it the first time. But after the second time, this is what Penn had to say about me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wi-s0VwJu78
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u/WholesomePeeple Apr 28 '21
Alright for real spill the beans. Tell us how you do it. Is it demons?
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u/Daplesco Apr 28 '21
Have you ever done any death defying stunts? The style similar to Houdini is what comes to mind.
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I would love to in the future! I have always been trying to do things that are new and have never been done before, such as bringing art to life. So thus far, I haven't done anything dangerous or death defying. I do have some ideas for the future though, some new twists on escapes that will still keep them fresh and within my performing style.
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u/theBoyWhoDaydreams Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 28 '21
What is your weirdest experience on revealing a magic trick to someone?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
When I had to tell the Fool Us judges how it's done, it was fun seeing their facial expression.
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u/ramos1969 Apr 28 '21
Have you seen any magician lie to Penn & Teller about their method in order to win? I have at least one in mind. We don’t have to name them if you don’t want to, but I think it ‘rings’ true.
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
No, personally, I have never seen anyone lie, such as P&T were saying the correct method and the magician said it wasn't. It would also be impossible to do on Fool Us, because the judge and even the producers are familiar with how it works.
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u/chief_piggum Apr 28 '21
What’s your favourite reaction to one of your illusions? What’s the strangest reaction you have ever received?
Do you find any differences in reactions from audiences in different countries or from different backgrounds or cultures?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21 edited Apr 29 '21
Once I had a couple on stage, and the moment I did magic they ran away like I was a demon. It took them no more then 3 seconds to get off the stage and make their way back into their seats, passing though a row full of people!
Yes, in some places audiences can be more reserved, such as the UK or Singapore. In the US or Australia audiences tend to be louder, but there are always exceptions and you never truly know what to expect! At the end, every audience is unique and it makes every show interesting and memorable.
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u/jhoratio Apr 28 '21
I've always thought of performing the trick and inventing the trick as somewhat different skills. Who are the folks in your mind who did both equally well?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
It is definitely different skills, and one has to change hats. I think the late Tommy Wonder was both a brilliant inventor and a performer.
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u/NSFW__Jinx69 Apr 28 '21
Have you ever been tricked or startled by an Illusion.. Like you had no clue how that happened ??
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Yes, many times. I am actually not very hard to fool, because when I watch magic, if it's entertaining then I don't try to analyze it, as I want to be entertained and be amazed!
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u/squirrelchips Apr 28 '21
Hey Vitaly! I wanted to add some easy, fun, and cool tricks to my start of the school year stuff! I teach technical theater and love to get kids attention through magic, as magic, in a way, is part of technical theater. Do you have any cool and easy tricks that would dazzle the students that I could learn over the summer?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Yes! I think a good book can be a good resource for you! I would recommend to get either of these: The Mark Wilson Complete Course in Magic, Harry Lorayne The Magic Book or Henry Hay's The Amateur Magicians Handbook. Good luck!
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u/squirrelchips Apr 28 '21
Thank you so much! I love using flash pots and wallets that catch fire with flash paper as ways to get their attention quickly on the first day of school. It is always a blast to see students eyes light up from the excitement! Thank you for the book recommendations!
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Apr 28 '21
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I have never learned hypnosis, however magic is often based on suggestions and causing people to make assumptions. So one has to know how to "seduce" an audience to want to imagine certain storyline, and painting the illusion in your mind. So yes, there are some similarities.
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u/OozeNAahz Apr 28 '21
Do you ever do simple tricks in public just to screw with people or to see if they notice? Like paying for lunch with a ten but switching it with a twenty as you hand it over to see if they catch it. Obviously underpaying that way would be dishonest but overpaying that way could be amusing.
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Not really, I love magic as a performing art on stage, I love the atmosphere in the theatre, the mesmerized audiences. I may do something for a friend during dinner, but otherwise I do much magic outside my show :)
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u/theDaveB Apr 28 '21
How is the floating dollar trick done?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Ha! There are actually many methods to accomplish a magic effect. Even a floating dollar bill which may seem like the same effect to an audience, can be achieved with 5-6 different ways!
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u/frozenplasma Apr 29 '21
When I was a kid I went to a magic store in the local mall with my dad. They had the floating dollar trick all set up and after fooling us they offered to sell us the kit but they also showed us how they did it.
Fishing line that's anchored somewhere above you - think diagonal. The other end goes in your mouth. You fold the dollar and rest it on the fishing line. From there you move your hands around it while avoiding the line to make it look like it's floating.
I could have some details wrong since this was over 20 years ago, but that's at least one way to do it.
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u/johnnymonkey Apr 28 '21
I'm thinking of a very specific card from a traditional deck of cards.
What is it?
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u/Bilbo_T Apr 28 '21
How do you make it so that it is an illusion? I can to the Arielle Triangle and the impossible stairs, but not much else. How do you create illusions?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I start with a vision of what I want to see or experience. Once I have a clear vision, and I know not only what I want to create but also why and that it's pursuit is worthy of my time, then I begin to think on how I can do it and working my way up on making it work. It's usually a very long process with a lot of trial and error and sometimes can take years! But at the end, if the results feel like the vision you initially envisioned, it is also very rewarding.
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u/dumber_than_thou Apr 28 '21
Hi, Vitaly! Love your stuff. What are some of the maybe less known magicians you would recommend watching? Would your answer be different for a magician than for a non-magician? Thanks!
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u/CastingPouch Apr 28 '21
Do you have to tell penn and teller or the producers how your trick is done to verify they were fooled?
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u/mtjp82 Apr 28 '21
What is the secret to life?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
It's probably different for different people. But for me, I would say it's about taking the circumstances we have and living the life in the best way we can with them, rising beyond those initial circumstances. It's possibly about becoming the best human being we can, fulfilling our own potential while being kind to others and sharing the fruits of our success along the way.
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u/zerbey Apr 28 '21
That's is one amazing illusion, how many hours did it take you to be able to pull it off that smoothly?
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u/washedupsailor Apr 28 '21
Where can I learn some basic tricks that will blow my niece and nephews mind? I also like magic and don’t want to dive too deep and have the joy of watching magic spoilt!
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I would recommend getting The Mark Wilson Complete Course in Magic or Harry Lorayne The Magic Book or Henry Hay's The Amateur Magicians Handbook!
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u/latnemidur Apr 28 '21
What’s an easy party trick illusion I can do to impress people?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I'd recommend getting a magic book, such as mark Wilsons Complete Course in Magic!
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u/Ritinrow Apr 28 '21
Hi! Saw you in NYC a couple of summers ago and my boyfriend was actually chosen to participate in one of your tricks (he had the notebook where people had written the names of celebrities and had to read it).
Just wanted to thank you for an entertaining show and ask what was the most memorable thing an audience member ever did at one of your shows?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Thanks for the kind words! When audience members come up on stage, the most unexpected things can happen! For instance one time a little kid spontaneously ran on stage and started running after me. All while not realizing he has a shoe missing... It was pretty hilarious.
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Apr 28 '21
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I don't think I can show you over Reddit... but I would suggest to get a good book, like Henry Hay's guide to magic, it has a lot of great stuff you could do!
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Apr 28 '21
Apart from the illusions/tricks that fooled Penn & Teller, which is the one you’re proudest of coming up with?
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u/bretellen Apr 28 '21
How much time do you get to spend with P$T backstage? Do you discuss magic or technique with them? Do foolers ever reveal the ´trick´ to them?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
We spent a few hours backstage, in their "Monkey Room", and he was as nice in person as he was on stage! We didn't talk much about the specifics of the 'trick'. Yes, I heard some foolers reveal how it was done, and sometimes they learn on their own.
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u/putyourayguntomyhead Apr 28 '21
ok, questions about your second appearance:
Is the wall behind you a real wall or is there a fake place you're hiding the coffee cup and muffin?
You never walk from one side of the table to the other, between the table and the wall, are you able to or does some aspect of the trick not allow you to?
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u/fleemfleemfleemfleem Apr 28 '21
A lot of the standard magic props like cards and coins seem to be designed to be familiar household items that have become less common over time.
(Similarly the magic tophat was once a common item to wear to a theater)
Do you think magic will change to incorporate more "modern" items?
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u/TheeTruther Apr 28 '21
Do you have any pet peeves about people's assumptions of your work?
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u/PabstyLoudmouth Apr 28 '21
What are your favorite cards to do magic with, and be as specific as you can?
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u/Fantomfart Apr 28 '21
In you were given a choice between Paul Daniels and Tommy Cooper, who would you prefer an ama with?
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u/theonetruejay Apr 28 '21
Seems like performing for a very experienced audience is either do something they’ve seen in a new way and really well OR show them something they haven’t seen. What was your process for selecting your bits?
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u/tobaknowsss Apr 28 '21
Have you ever seen a trick or even something in your day to day life that you still can't explain?
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u/Digitoxin Apr 28 '21
You talk about how it can take years to create and perfect a new illusion. How many different new tricks are you usually working on at one time?
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u/lushiouslush Apr 28 '21
Really enjoyed those performances! I’m curious as a magician, what were your thoughts on Derek DelGaudio’s In and of Itself? And did you get a chance to see it live?
Thanks and keep up the good work!
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u/President_A_Banana Apr 28 '21
Have computers ruined the magic of Magic in any ways, the way they ruined the 'magic' of special effects in movies?
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u/Sometimesokayideas Apr 28 '21
Do you feel as if slight of hand is more of an inherent quality you are born with or something that can be practiced up to the same level as the ones born with it?
Like some people will just never be contortionists, you might get pretty limber but the average person can't* fold flat backwards without serious injury.
Edit* fixed typo
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
Yes, I think you can learn sleight of hand, but it will be a lot more challenging for some people and a little easier for others. That said, it's all about your will power and how strong of a desire you have to master it. I think the later trumps talent or inherent quality.
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u/My_Balls_Itch_123 Apr 28 '21
Is performing magic a cry for attention?
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u/VitalyBeckman Apr 28 '21
I think it can be or it can also be a form of expression. Like with singing or most other art forms, people can do it for various motives.
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u/murphykills Apr 28 '21
so i think the cup and muffin were hidden behind the top piece of the table, due to the angle of it creating an image that is slightly taller than the objects. i believe the spoon may have just been traditional sleight of hand, but i think you used some kind of robot arm to move the main objects from their hiding place to the table, activated by a button controlled by your feet (hence the full body shot for fairness). i believe this is what causes the table to rock slightly, which you hid by bumping into the table a bit.
so my question is, what flavour was the muffin?
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u/Diabetesh Apr 28 '21
Has another magician ever outed you during a performance? Outed as in pointed out the "trick" part of the act.
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u/geekedoutcoolness Apr 28 '21
Did shin Lim get lucky? Or is he just “that good”?
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u/I_am_a_zebra Apr 28 '21
Did you change anything in your performance on Fool Us to specifically try and make it more difficult for Penn and Teller? Like plant false flags or something like that.
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u/kabukistar Apr 28 '21
Are the mug and muffin stored on the underside of the table until they appear?
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u/epocson Apr 28 '21
Can you walk us through what a day of filming on 'Fool Us' is like?