A sleight of hand or a puff of smoke can go a long way when trying to wow an audience with magic. Not many moments can astound the mind like a magic trick, unless you play a slot machine and win, which is probably why magic is so interesting to people.
It may be surprising to find out that many magicians rely on machines to help them with their tricks or to create a mood that fosters a sense of mystery. You might remember the Wizard of Oz and the memorable character who created an elaborate illusion using machines. This is no different from what some conjurers use to create their magic tricks.
One machine that has been proven useful in creating a magical atmosphere is the smoke chamber machine. This clear chamber fills up with enough smoke to make whatever is inside the chamber impossible to see. The conjurer appears inside the chamber once the smoke is released.
The shattered mirror machine helps create the illusion that the mirror has been broken. The magician usually has an audience member check the mirror to tell the rest of the people that the mirror is real. The magician cloaks the mirror and smashes it with a hammer. Glass falls on the cloth right under the mirror. The conjurer removes the cloth to show that the mirror is broken and then puts the cloth back on it. At this point, the illusionist picks up the glass with the cloak and makes it disappear. Everyone is astonished to see that the mirror is back together when the magician removes the cloak from the mirror.
Perhaps one of the most recognizable machines is the smoke machine, which helps the illusionist hide props (or trap doors) but also helps establish the overall mood of the stage. Most smoke machine systems come with more than one machine to help the magician control just how much smoke is present during a particular trick. Too much smoke can make it hard for the audience to see the illusion or might make them think the magician is hiding a little too much.
Some magicians have to switch between mystery to something a little more whimsical during the show. At this point, the smoke machine might not be adequate, but the snow/bubble machine might be helpful to change the mood of the room. The snow/bubble machine can be switch between the two to help establish a different mood or to help distract the audience while the magician performs the real trick. Bubbles are good for whimsical tricks whereas snow can be helpful to tell a little story to set up the next trick.
It is clear to see that magicians from all over the world are using machines to help them perform some of their most amazing tricks. Of course, the point is not to highlight the use of machines but rather to create the sense of magic. A good magician can make the audience forget that technology or tricks are.
