"This book became the guiding light on my journey to making my show mine and unique, one that could connect with every age, all at once. It gave me the tools I needed to make a show that was not only entertaining, but something I could be truly proud of performing."
- From the Foreword by Jon Armstrong
Back in 2013, Christopher T. Magician marked his territory as one of the sharpest minds in kid show entertainment with this, his debut book on performing magic for children. Since then, he’s notched up titles like Just for Fun, A Show for All Seasons, and Be More Funny. Each of Christopher's tomes has been celebrated for its creativity and innovative approach, leading him to lecture and enlighten eager audiences worldwide on how to entertain both kids and grown-ups alike.
Now, in this celebratory tenth anniversary edition of Beyond Look, Don't See, the book that kicked it all off, Christopher couldn’t just slap a new foreword on it (though having the incredible Jon Armstrong write the foreword is a solid feather in his cap). No, true to form, Christopher took this chance to revisit the classic and give it a proper polish for the modern day (because who doesn’t love a makeover?).
Inside these pages, Christopher dives back into his performance techniques, adding fresh thoughts and insights he’s gathered over the past decade. The 24 techniques, including Say Anything, Misplaced Magic, Premature Magic, Wrong Rhymes, Mis-Made, and a fair few more, have all been given a facelift, thanks to his ten years of experience since the first edition.
Where the original book showcased 25 fully-scripted routines to illustrate each technique, this shiny new edition boasts 48 routines—41 of which are brand-spanking new and have been meticulously honed over the last ten years.
Routine highlights include:
"Pop-Tart 2.0." One of Christopher's all-time faves, this routine has been a mainstay in his shows for a whopping twenty years. Watch as the magician tears a Pop-Tart to shreds, leaving one piece aside, only for the rest to be miraculously restored, with the torn bit fitting perfectly back in place. Expect non-stop giggles from the kids and a few baffled adults (they might need a moment).
"To Catch a Monkey." Christopher gives Eric Lewis's Comedy Comeback Card a cheeky revamp with animal pictures while demonstrating how he feeds monkeys at the zoo. Watch the kids roar with laughter as the wrong animal (a chicken, naturally) keeps popping up instead of the elusive monkey.
"Professor's Lesson." This clever twist on the classic Professor's Nightmare makes for a cracking opener for family and adult audiences alike. The impressive magic combined with a pseudo-explanation leaves everyone—young and old—laughing and scratching their heads.
Christopher also throws in a bunch of Spotlight chapters, where he shares his musings on the kid show art form, including:
"The Sequel Show." Here, Christopher reveals his secrets for keeping clients happy when you need to whip up a fresh show for the same audience.
"No String-of-Tricks." Many magic shows play out as a mere string of tricks. Christopher dishes out some straightforward tweaks magicians can make to turn their performance into a satisfying spectacle.
"Routine Start List." One of Christopher's pride and joys—once you’ve crafted a kid show routine filled with hilarious antics (using the techniques in this book, of course), this list helps you kick things off with ease.
In this new edition, not a single page escaped Christopher’s sharpened pen. Fans of the original will be chuffed to discover that he’s actually crammed an entire second book into the first! At a hefty 822 pages, you’ll find a whopping 352 extra pages to devour, learn from, and use to become the best family show performer you can possibly be!
