Genii Magazine, The Conjurors' Magazine

11/20/2025

It’s a very merry issue! We have a special package this month, featuring the magic of legendary magician Tim Conover. Noah Levine worked with publishers of the highly anticipated Conover books (released by Vanishing Inc. Magic at the end of November) and friends of Tim Conover to give you a first-hand look at what made this magician so very special. Head over to GeniiMagic.com where you will find a terrific interview with Eric Mead , essays by Jamy Ian Swiss and Bob Kohler; and excerpts from the books including Sockless Coins and Three Bent Spoons. (AND we also have rare video footage of Tim Conover demonstrating how to do the Sockless Coins!)

We also drop into Budapest and get a behind-the-scenes look from Toby Halbrooks at how a first-ever magic department was both created and tasked with making real magic for the new movie Now You See Me, Now You Don’t. What’s a magic department? Toby fills us in.

What are you waiting for? This issue is stocked up on tons of great magic, news, and reviews!

Head to GeniiMagic.com to find it all.

Cover photo image courtesy of Shari Rosenberg

11/20/2025

Jeff Prace is back with Best in Show, and takes us into the secret workshop at Primal Gimcrack where Craig Ousterling manufactures beautifully crafted close-up magic props. Come over to Genii Magic and find out more about Craig’s wonderful methods!

Coins turned into magic by Craig Ousterling

11/20/2025

How do you handle the moment when things go sideways? It’s always an interesting question in the world of magic—and in the November 2025 Genii, Alex Boyce and tackle this topic from their points of view of performing “silently”… that is with out dialouge to fall back on. How do they handle it? What’s their mindset? How do they keep their cool when it gets awful hot in the room? Check out Genii Magic to get their takes on how they move forward.

Connecting with small touches of presentation

11/18/2025

“Once we’ve met our perfect audience, we can’t understand, in later performances, why all of them can’t be ‘that crowd’ we long for. The idea is to go and find these people instead of waiting to bump into them again by accident.” Visit Genii Magic and read Alba Magia's essay on how she advises on how you can get your perfect audience.

Why can’t every crowd be just like “that crowd”?

11/14/2025

When Piero Venesia set out to create his version of the Needle Swallowing, he was frustrated that most iterations don’t make much sense. As a demonstration of skill—tying a series of needles onto a length of string inside your stomach—it’s not very convincing.

So Piero worked with his friend and collaborator Andrea Rizzolini to research a more logical presentation. Together they landed on the Tailor Act, which positions Piero beside a sewing table and gives him a reason to put a needle in his mouth.

"I’m a strong believer that creative teamwork is an incredibly prolific way to create art, and it’s something that is usually overlooked with FISM-winning acts,” Piero told Genii. The Tailor Act won 2nd place in Parlour Magic at FISM International this year.

Photos by Carol Renee Mudra (MAF Studio)

A tailor accidentally swallows his needle and discovers he enjoys the taste.

11/13/2025

Happy Birthday to Gibecière! The Conjuring Arts Research Center's journal—edited by Stephen Minch and Max Prtichard—has just celebrated it’s 20th year. Not sure what we’re talking about here? Well, Michael Claxton l gives an excellent overview of what this journal is and what it is important to magic scholarship. You can read all about it on Genii Magic, where you will also find Michaels’ review of the latest edition, Vol. 20, No. 2.

The journal of magic history celebrates 20 years, with the latest review.

11/12/2025

“The natural progression of a magic play does not lie in how magic can fit within theater, but rather, how you can use theater to push magic further.” In the November 2025 Genii, Annanya George talks about collaborating with an improv comedian to create a show, where one of them “plays dead.” It’s an interesting take on how to build a magic show, without using magic to bring it all together.

Photo courtesy of Annanya George

Taking of a snapshot of a project in motion

11/11/2025

Renown comic book writer Mark Waid comments on how magic fed his childhood curiosity and how storytelling, as obvious as it may sound, can play a vital role in elevating a magic performance. Who’s his favorite performer? Check out Genii Magic and find out!

Photo by Brandy Menefee

The comic book writer finds some inspiration in his magic

11/10/2025

This intimate theater hidden away inside a curio shop in Brooklyn, New York, is full of secrets. World-class magicians arrive weekly, delighting audiences with a wide-range of performance styles, elevating the 69 Atlantic audience’s expectation of what is great magic. Better visit Genii Magic so you can find out who’s coming soon, and how to get tickets!

An intimate theater hidden away inside of Art of Play, a curio shop in Brooklyn, New York.

11/08/2025

Did you catch the video of John Gaughan presenting Isis on television in 1989? Visit Genii Magic and see Isis knock it out of the park with her uncanny ability to play any tune requested on the zither! Clockwork, tubes, pegs, wires, “very early batteries”… A fun and fascinating look at a treasure from The Chamber of Secrets.

Learn more from The Chamber of Secrets on Genii Magic: https://www.geniimagic.com/the-chamber-of-secrets-isis/

11/07/2025

A beautiful, but false, automaton, with an extraordinary story. Here’s how she found her way to The Chamber of Secrets. John Gaughan wheels out a terrific treasure from the Chamber this month. She’s got quite a story—and musical talent to match. Be sure to visit Genii Magic to see the intricate details of Isis, and you will also find a video of John Gaughan presenting Isis on a television show in 1989.

A beautiful, but false, automaton, with an extraordinary story. Here’s how she found her way to The Chamber of Secrets.

11/06/2025

“Vernon was not only a tremendous sleight-of-hand artist, teacher, and performer, but in the case of Doug Henning, he was also a pretty accurate prognosticator. In an early column from 1972, Vernon wrote of his student: ‘It will be a long row to hoe, but he is making a living at magic now and is a very dedicated man. I predict that if he keeps up with his present schedule of study and dedication, Doug Henning will be a great success in magic, and he will help magic itself consequently.’”

Read Shawn McMaster's lovely reminiscence of two of the biggest names in magic and their magical encounter at The Magic Castle in the 1970s.

The Professor and his student, Doug Henning