What would a magician be without their traditional deck of cards? But beware, not all decks of cards are created equal. We won't be talking about trick decks here, but rather ordinary decks that can already enable you to perform a great number of magic tricks. The most widespread brand among magicians is undoubtedly Bicycle, which has established itself as the leader in this market. Originally prevalent in the United States on poker tables, this brand of playing cards has progressively established itself in French-speaking countries as well, so much so that Bicycle decks can now be found in supermarkets.
The Bicycle brand actually belongs to a larger company: USPCC (United States Playing Card Company). This company (now managed by Cartamundi) produces Bicycle decks as well as many other brands of almost the same quality. This is the case, for example, with Tally-Ho decks. Bee decks are also produced by the firm, and are often used in cheating demonstrations due to their lack of a white border on their back.
Other brands have their own playing cards that are also excellent for practicing magic, such as Aviator, the legendary Jerry Nuggets (if you have money to spare!) or Phoenix cards (which are more intended for magicians). Ultimately, no matter which brand you choose, your decision won't be a bad one if you pick from any of these brands to start.
Sponge Balls
Among magician's accessories, sponge balls hold a special place. Popularized by Albert Goshman, these sponge balls delight children... and adults alike! Make one of these balls disappear only for it to reappear instantly in the spectator's own hand, or duplicate them before the audience's eyes. At one time, you could find the "original sponge balls" that Albert Goshman used, which seems more difficult today. The quality seems to have decreased, and the balls offered for sale are now more "rigid" and less pliable than the old ones. This will not prevent a beginner from practicing this classic close-up effect, especially since the investment is truly minimal to acquire a set of sponge balls.
Since their introduction, the world of magic has embraced sponge balls, and you can now find them in absolutely all colors, and even in different shapes, to the delight of magicians who develop routines based on them. Thus, you can acquire foam rabbits, hearts, or fake food items made from this material.
Recently, Gabriel Gascon, a talented young magician, has managed to revitalize this discipline which, it's true, was starting to show its age. He has found new techniques, designed new routines, with this accessory. No excuse, then, not to try out sponge balls yourself, available in all your good magic stores!
Coins
For beginner magicians who want to get into coin magic, there are also classics to have. One might think that euro coins are sufficient for practicing magic, which is true to a certain extent. It is obviously always good to master techniques with everyday coins, but it is important to know that in the world of magic, the coins used are often half-dollars. You can find them for a modest sum in any magic shop. These coins have the particularity of no longer being in circulation, but having a size that is perfect for the various techniques you can perform (especially for palming).
In another realm, Chinese coins are also widely used, especially for performing routines where these coins (which have a hole in their center) are threaded onto a red ribbon. Different techniques and routines exist for this trick, notably from the Spanish school (Rubi Ferez, Mario Lopez, ...). This is known as the CCC (Chinese Coin Challenge). These coins are almost the same size as the previously mentioned half-dollars.
Flash Paper
A magic accessory often used, even if it is more of a consumable, is flash paper. This allows you to make any small object appear in a flash of light between your hands. Made of a highly flammable substance, this paper must be handled with great caution, and only by adults.
Thumb Tip
A great magic classic that allows you to perform many tricks! Among beginner magic accessories, the thumb tip reigns supreme. For example, you can perform the classic trick of a handkerchief placed in the fist that disappears before reappearing at the magician's command. Many other effects can be achieved with this accessory, so much so that books and DVDs are dedicated to its use (40 entretiens avec notre faupouce or FP l'arme absolue). Since its appearance (which is not new), the thumb tip has undergone many improvements and other accessories have been based on this principle. This is the case, for example, with Dlite, which allows light to appear at your fingertips, nail writers which are essential tools in mentalism, and other gimmicks.
Loops
In magic accessories, loops, popularized by Yigal Mesika, are a benchmark in the field of invisible thread. They allow for many effects, notably making a bill levitate between your hands, but also creating a haunted deck. As a reminder, the effect is as follows: a card is chosen and then replaced in the deck, which is placed on the table. The magician concentrates, and then, visibly, the deck splits in two at a single card: the chosen card.
