Dick's Secret to a Smooth Performance

People always ask Dick, “What’s the secret to a great magic show?” After five decades of performing in living rooms, birthday parties, and his local magic club, Dick has boiled it down to five principles:

1. Start Slow, Build to a Climax

“You can’t just come out blazing,” Dick advises. “Start with something small and intimate — a simple card trick or coin vanish. Let the audience warm up to you. Then gradually build to your big finish. Dick always saves his best trick for last, and by then, the audience is begging for more.”

2. Eye Contact Is Everything

“When Dick is performing, he looks right into their eyes,” Dick says. “It creates a connection. They forget about your hands and get lost in the moment. That’s when the real magic happens.”

3. Never Repeat a Trick

“If they ask you to do it again, say no,” Dick insists. “It’s tempting, but the second time around, they know what to look for. Dick always leaves them wanting more. That’s how you get invited back.”

4. Own Your Mistakes

“Even Dick drops a card sometimes,” he admits. “When it happens, don’t freeze — make a joke! I once dropped an entire deck at a dinner party and said, ‘52 pickup — that’s my next trick!’ Everyone laughed and we moved on. The trick is to never let them see you sweat.”

5. Practice in Front of a Mirror

“Dick practices every trick in front of a mirror until he can’t tell how it’s done,” Dick says. “If you can fool yourself, you can fool anyone. Dick has spent more time in front of his mirror than most people spend watching TV. My wife says I’m the only man she knows who genuinely loves staring at himself, but it’s all for the craft!”