Vanishing Inc.
Stage by Stage by John Graham and Vanishing Inc. isn’t just another book on magic — it’s your backstage pass to crafting a stage show that’ll leave audiences gobsmacked. John’s poured his life into perfecting his craft, and now he’s ready to spill the beans on his hard-earned wisdom. Inside, you’ll find a roadmap for making the leap from close-up magic to the grand stage without tripping over your own feet.
The scope of this tome is nothing short of staggering. It’s a delightful mix of essays and routines, beautifully illustrated, guiding you through the process of honing a polished, professional performance.
You’ll discover the ins and outs of putting together a stage show, from transforming your existing close-up tricks for larger audiences to managing your props like a seasoned pro. Plus, you’ll learn how to create a modular show — the kind that lets you swap tricks in and out quicker than you can say “abracadabra.”
The level of detail is astonishing. You’ll get an insider’s view of every step in planning, performing, and refining your act. We’re talking about everything: the tricks, the transitions, how to outline a show, and even how to organise your setlists. John lays bare the changes he’s made throughout his career and — spoiler alert — he tells you why he made them.
No matter your performance style or experience level, Stage by Stage has something for you. If you’re a close-up magician itching to step onto the platform, you’ll want this book like a kid wants cake.
Within Stage by Stage, you’ll find over a dozen complete routines, including a stunning ring-on-string effect that ends with a borrowed ring popping up in a sealed envelope, and John’s zippy take on a classic Paul Harris trick that spells out a spectator’s thought-of name across playing cards.
And let’s not forget the standout effect “Buffalo John,” which is practically a 25-minute act in itself. Your audiences will be in stitches during this madcap journey inspired by Harry Anderson. Most importantly, you’ll see how more than 25 years of performance experience can be distilled into creating a killer routine.
The world’s top magicians can’t stop raving about Stage by Stage. Here’s what some of them had to say:
"John Graham has done what I thought was impossible. He has written a book that spells out in an orderly way how to put together a stand-up comedy magic act. I mean really, actually, truly, step-by-step how you can go from a person who performs a few good close-up magic tricks for a couple of friends to a person who can present a full, kick-ass stage magic show for hundreds of strangers...If you want to do a stand-up sleight-of-hand magic show, I believe you can do no better than make this extraordinary book your bible."-
Mac King
"John Graham is the real deal when it comes to working for real people in the real world. I know how hard it is to bring your magic to the stage. This book will save you years of trial and error."-
David Blaine
"This is an amazing book about magic, full of all the things that magic books never dare to explain. Yes, the tricks are wonderful, but the author has also given us the "what," "where," "when," and "why" of magic. Did I leave out "who?" It's John Graham's book, Stage by Stage, and it's hard to imagine anyone in magic not benefitting from his insights."-
Jim Steinmeyer
"Even seasoned performers will find a great amount of valuable information within these pages. The author explains much more than the mere mechanics of the tricks. He goes into the details that make his material work in the real world, from managing the props to how the tricks play in relation to the routines before and after...I had the privilege of using "Name-Dropper" before it was published, and it instantly became one of my show's highlights. You can easily create an entire show from the material in this book, with tricks like "Final Sale," where a random audience member guesses the cost of your jacket; another favorite is "Now and Later," an effect where you appear to lasso a randomly chosen playing card. I find the method to be as beautiful as the effect."-
Asi Wind
