A Taxonomy of Magicians

A simple classification system for the different ways to engage with magic as a hobby, career or art form.

Why do some individuals devote their lives to performing magic while others simply enjoy watching it? Magic attracts a captivating mix of people—some relish the thrill of entertaining an audience, others are drawn to its rich history, and some merely appreciate the mystery without ever learning a trick themselves. Inspired by Mark Leveridge’s article “Passive or Active—What Sort of Magician Are You?”, this taxonomy examines how people engage with the magical arts.

Before you read my interpretation of Mark’s ideas, you might prefer to read his article first.

---

In his thought-provoking article, Mark Leveridge explores the fundamental divide between those who actively perform magic and those who simply enjoy it from the sidelines. As a lifelong performer himself, Mark initially questioned the purpose of learning magic’s secrets without putting them into practice. However, he recognised that the magical arts attract many different types of enthusiasts—from dedicated historians who cherish magical artefacts to loyal club members who never perform but contribute to the community in other ways.

While Leveridge’s binary classification of “active” versus “passive” engagement provides a helpful starting point, the reality encompasses a richer spectrum of involvement. The following taxonomy builds upon his insight to explore the various ways people engage with the magical arts, from professional performers to casual spectators.

The three broad types of people involved in magic are performers, enthusiasts, and spectators. Within each of these categories are several sub-types.

Update: On reflection, I should have called this “A Taxonomy of Engagement with Magic”, as the framework includes spectators as a category. While you could argue that the people we perform for make the magic with us, labelling them as magicians is a bit of a stretch. Oh well!

I've also added some more sub-types:

• ✂️ The Crafty Conjurer – A magician who builds their own props and gimmicks using DIY methods, arts-and-crafts skills, and everyday materials to create unique magical effects.
• 📷 The Camera Conjurer – Performs magic primarily for social media, relying on camera-friendly tricks that may not translate well to live audiences.
• 🛒 The Demonstrator – Specialises in showcasing and selling magic tricks, often performing short, sales-driven routines in magic shops, conventions, or online.
• 😴 The Dullusionist – A technically skilled magician who captivates fellow magicians but bores lay audiences with lifeless, overcomplicated performances.
• 💡 The Trick Creator – Develops original magic tricks, sleights, and effects for others to perform, often publishing or privately sharing their innovations within the magic community.
• 🛠 The Propsmith – Constructs custom props, gimmicks, and stage illusions for professional magicians, using engineering and craftsmanship to bring magic to life.

1. Performers: Those Who Actively Perform Magic for an Audience 🎩

These magicians turn knowledge into action, seeking to amaze and entertain. There are eight sub-types:

• 🎩 The Professional – Magic is their career, whether on stage, at private events, or on television. (Example: A full-time performer earning a living entirely from magic shows.)
• 🪄 The Part-Time Pro – Performs part-time, often balancing magic with another job. (Example: A teacher who performs magic shows at children’s parties.)
• ❤ The Dedicated Amateur – Loves the craft but performs purely for enjoyment, often at clubs, small events, or among friends. (Example: A club member who regularly performs at meetings.)
• 👋 The Social Sorcerer – Knows a handful of tricks and enjoys being the centre of attention at parties but doesn’t pursue magic as a structured hobby. (Example: A layperson who pulls out a card trick at family gatherings.)
• ✂️ The Crafty Conjurer – A performing magician who prefers to make their own props using arts and crafts, DIY techniques, and household materials rather than buying pre-made gimmicks. Whether assembling custom card gaffs, modifying everyday objects for tricks, or constructing stage illusions from scratch, they take pride in their homemade magic creations. (Example: A magician who builds their own chop cup from a coffee mug, creates paper-folding gimmicks, or rigs up clever mechanical effects in their garage.)
• 📷 The Camera Conjurer (AKA 📱 The Smartphone Sorcerer) – Performs almost exclusively for social media, crafting tricks that look stunning on camera but may not translate well to live performance. Often relies on camera angles, editing, or trendy visual effects to enhance tricks. (Example: A TikTok magician whose routines are designed to go viral but might not hold up in real-world conditions.)
• 🛒 The Demonstrator – Specialises in showcasing tricks to sell them, whether to laypeople or fellow magicians. Often found at magic shops, conventions, or online stores, they excel at making tricks look easy and enticing. However, their performances are usually short, sales-driven, and may lack true artistic depth. (Example: A magic shop employee who performs the same self-working magic trick hundreds of times in an attempt to sell it to beginners.)
• 😴 The Dullusionist (AKA 💤 The Snoozician) - More abra ca-drab-ra than magical; this magician guarantees more yawns than gasps, often incredibly skilled but painfully dull to the general public. Performs primarily for fellow magicians, usually focusing on technical mastery, underground methods, or fooling other experts rather than entertaining the general public. Their routines may impress insiders but fail to engage or entertain lay audiences. (Example: A magician specialising in complex sleight-of-hand that mystifies other magicians but leaves regular spectators bored and disengaged.)

Six of the most successful magicians of the 20th Century: Max Malini, Dai Vernon, Harry Houdini, Ed Marlo, Al Baker and Larry Jennings.

In the photo above, you can see six of my favourite magicians. They were all successful conjurers, but only three were professional magicians. Do you know which three? (Scroll to the bottom of the post to find out.)

2. Enthusiasts: Those Who Engage with Magic Deeply but Rarely (Or Never) Perform

Their fascination with magic lies in its history, secrets, or theory rather than in performance. There are eight sub-types:

• 📜 The Historian – Researches magic’s origins, performers, and cultural impact. (Example: Someone excited about discovering an old magic prop or artefact.)
• 🕵️‍♂️ The Collector – Acquires books, props, and memorabilia but rarely (if ever) performs. (Example: Someone with a shelf full of antique magic props they never use.)
• 🎓 The Scholar – Studies the psychology, misdirection, and philosophy of magic, often writing or lecturing about the art. (Examples: A theorist who examines why certain tricks are more deceptive than others.)
• 🧑‍🏫 The Teacher – Focuses on teaching magic to others, either through books, courses, or live instruction. They may be professional magicians, but their primary passion is education rather than performance. (Example: A magician who runs workshops, writes instructional books, or lectures at magic clubs, e.g., Roberto Giobbi or Jeff McBride.)
• 👋 The Club Regular – A longtime club member who never performs but loves the social side of magic, such as attending lectures, meetings, and conventions. (Example: The club member who has paid subs for decades but never steps up to perform.)
• 🤫 The Secret Seeker – Loves learning tricks, buying magic products, and watching tutorials but never actually performs. (Example: Someone with a vast collection of magic books and gimmicks but no desire to step in front of an audience.)
• 💡 The Trick Creator – Invents original magic tricks, sleights, and methods, often publishing their work in books, magazines, or as commercial releases for other magicians to perform. Some creators work in secrecy, sharing their ideas only with a select few, while others gain recognition through innovative contributions to the magic community. (Example: A magician who devises new card sleights, mentalism effects, or stage illusions but rarely, if ever, performs them for an audience.) 
• 🛠 The Propsmith – Crafts custom tricks, props, gaffs, gimmicks, and grand illusions for professional magicians, often working behind the scenes in workshops or special effects studios. They specialise in engineering deceptive mechanisms, designing durable stage illusions, or producing precision-made gimmicks for sleight-of-hand artists. Some work anonymously, while others receive recognition through magic publications or product releases. (Example: A craftsman who constructs floating tables, trick decks, coin gaffs, or mechanical stage illusions for top performers but never steps into the spotlight themselves.)

Many magicians embody multiple sub-types. Juan Tamariz, for example, is both a scholar—studying misdirection and psychology—and a professional who has enjoyed a long and successful television career.

Ricky Jay. Photo Credit: David Shankbone via Wikipedia.

Similarly, Ricky Jay was a professional magician renowned for his expertise in the history of magic and his collection of rare books on the subject (a historian, collector and professional). David Copperfield, the world’s most successful and wealthiest professional magician, also possesses the world’s most extensive collection of magic memorabilia. 

Eugene Burger in 2003. Photo Credit: Michael Caplan via The I.B.M. Blog & Articles. 

Additionally, Eugene Burger balanced his professional performances at restaurants, bars, and private parties with his roles as a philosophy professor and magic teacher.

3. Spectators: Those Who Love (or Hate) Magic Purely as an Audience Member ❤

They enjoy the mystery and entertainment of magic but have no interest in learning or performing it. There are four sub-types:

• 🤩 The Devoted Fan – Follows famous magicians, watches live performances, and discusses magic with passion. (Example: Someone who never misses a TV magic special, such as Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and attends every magic show in their local area.)
• 🛋️ The Armchair Conjurer – Loves watching magic but has no interest in learning how it works, like a football fan who never plays. (Example: Someone who enjoys magic shows but never goes beyond passive enjoyment.)
• 😮 The Casual Viewer – Occasionally enjoys magic but doesn’t seek it out. (Example: Someone who enjoys a magic act at a wedding but wouldn’t buy tickets for a show.)
• 😡 The Legerdemain Loather – Actively dislikes magic, finding it irritating, deceptive, or even insulting to their intelligence. Research suggests this group tends to have low openness to experience, a high need for certainty, and dominant social traits. (Example: Someone who interrupts tricks to explain them, heckles magicians, or views magic as a challenge rather than entertainment.)

Conclusion

This classification system is beneficial as it emphasises the various legitimate ways individuals can engage with magic—whether as a hobby, career, or art form. For instance, if you prefer learning about the history of magic or simply enjoy collecting and practising magic tricks, there is no need to pressure yourself into performing just to be considered a “real” magician.

So, which type do you identify with the most? While it is possible to resonate with multiple types, you likely have a dominant or preferred way of engaging with magic. I embody a blend of dedicated amateur, historian, teacher, and scholar. However, my dominant type is probably the scholar—does that make me any less of a magician? No, I don’t think so.

Reflecting on your dominant type may inspire you to engage with magic in a different way. For instance, the idea of becoming a part-time professional and earning some additional income through magic is enticing and is something I might consider exploring further down the line.

From dedicated performers to passionate historians to casual viewers, each group contributes to the rich tapestry of the magical arts community. While some channel their knowledge into performance, others derive fulfilment from collecting, studying, or simply appreciating the art form. This diversity of engagement helps keep magic vibrant and ensures its continual evolution as both an art form and a unique source of entertainment.

Which category best describes you? Do you see yourself in one, or do you straddle multiple types? Let me know in the comments—I’d love to hear how magic fits into your life!

---

💡 Answer

• Professional Magicians: Max Malini, Al Baker, Dai Vernon, Harry Houdini
• Dedicated Amateurs: Ed Marlo (tool and die maker), Larry Jennings (sailor, engineer, and plumber)

Note: For a long time, I believed that Vernon was an amateur magician who earned his living by cutting silhouettes of tourists rather than performing magic professionally. In truth, Dai Vernon was undeniably a professional magician, despite the common belief that he was primarily an inventor and teacher of magic. However, his career was certainly unconventional. He performed extensively throughout his lifetime, working in New York nightclubs during the 1920s and 1930s, touring with the USO during the Second World War, and becoming an early cruise ship entertainer until he was in his mid-sixties. He also regularly performed at the Magic Castle well into his seventies. In the 1940s, Vernon established the modern magic lecture tour, earning the equivalent of $1,000 per lecture in the 1970s—his lectures were as much performances as they were educational workshops. His famous assertion that he “never worked a day in his life” was more of a character-driven quip than a reality, as he earned his living by performing and sharing magic for decades (alongside the rare and delicate art of silhouette cutting).

Thanks to David Ben—Canadian magician, author and magic historian—for setting me straight on this matter!