Stage by Stage by John Graham

Stage by Stage from John Graham and Vanishing Inc. is the ultimate guide to creating your own stage magic show. John has dedicated his entire career to perfecting his stage show and is finally ready to share a lifetime's worth of learning with you. Within these pages you'll find a roadmap for transitioning from close-up magic to parlor or stage magic.

The breadth of this book is astounding. It's a remarkable blend of essays and routines, accompanied by gorgeous illustrations, that walks you through developing a polished, professional act.

You'll learn everything you need to know about creating a stage show, from converting the magic you already do to play for larger crowds to the importance of prop management, and even how to create a modular show that allows you to easily swap certain tricks in and out as needed.

The detail is unrivaled. You'll get an exclusive look at every step of the process for planning, performing and perfecting your act. Everything from the tricks to the transitions between them, as well as how to outline a show and organize your setlists. John even dives into the changes he's made over the years and, most importantly, WHY he made them.

There is something for every type of performer and every skill level in Stage by Stage. But, if you're a close-up magician that has always wanted to make the jump to platform or stage magic, then this is essential reading.

Throughout Stage by Stage, you'll find more than a dozen complete routines including everything from an amazing ring on string effect that culminates in a borrowed ring appearing in a sealed envelope to John's super commercial take on a classic Paul Harris effect that ends with a spectator's thought-of name spelled out across the backs of the playing cards.

You'll also learn the ins and outs of a standout effect known as "Buffalo John" which is essentially a 25-minute act of its own. Your audiences will be falling out of their chairs laughing during this wild adventure inspired by a Harry Anderson routine. Most importantly, you'll get to see how more than 25-years of performance can be infused into creating the best possible routine.