The Vocabulary of Stage Magic

Popular Culture · 10 questions

A quiz on basic terms and effects in stage magic.

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1. In stage magic, what kind of item does the term “prop” describe?

   1. Lighting equipment
   2. Stage scenery
   3. Stage costume
   4. Physical performance object
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   D) Physical performance object

2. A magician redirects the audience’s attention to conceal a secret move. What is this technique called?

   1. Misdirection
   2. Sleight of hand
   3. Forcing
   4. Switch
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   A) Misdirection

3. What is the effect called when two objects appear to have exchanged places?

   1. Transposition
   2. Transformation
   3. Vanish
   4. Production
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   A) Transposition

4. What technique makes a spectator appear to freely choose a predetermined card?

   1. Vanish
   2. Forcing
   3. Production
   4. Switch
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   B) Forcing

5. What skill does “sleight of hand” refer to in magic?

   1. Change of lighting arrangement
   2. Concealed manual manipulation
   3. Guidance of a spectator’s choice
   4. Use of stage machinery
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   B) Concealed manual manipulation

6. What is the effect called when an object appears to disappear before the audience?

   1. Transposition
   2. Transformation
   3. Vanish
   4. Production
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   C) Vanish

7. What concealment technique does “palming” describe?

   1. Concealment in a clothing pocket
   2. Concealment in stage scenery
   3. Concealment in the palm
   4. Concealment beneath another object
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   C) Concealment in the palm

8. What is the effect called when an object appears to materialize before the audience?

   1. Transposition
   2. Transformation
   3. Vanish
   4. Production
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   D) Production

9. What is an object specially prepared to make a magic method possible called?

   1. Gimmick
   2. Costume
   3. Prop
   4. Stage scenery
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   A) Gimmick

10. If a coin used in a trick is secretly replaced with another coin, what is the action called?

    1. Forcing
    2. Vanish
    3. Switch
    4. Production
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    C) Switch