David Munns performing a magic routine at the Revue & Rendezvous, 2023. Photo by Jon Cardwell

David Munns is an artist, magician, performer, and writer. His involvement with Spare Tyre goes back nearly 20 years with such performances as I'm an Artist, Let me In! and The Art Room, and more recently in the Revue & Rendezvous. He has been a Spare Tyre Associate Artist from 2019, and 2025 has seen him become a Supported Artist through our development of an original script with him (watch this space!). David has always had a keen interest in magic and especially the history of magic through time. We're delighted that David has written a guest blog about the upcoming World Championship of Magic–FISM 2025.

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My thoughts on the current trends in magic

By David Munns

With FISM 2025 (International Federation of Magic Societies) just around the corner in TORINI ITALI in July I would like to share my thoughts on current trends in the art of magic and where things might be heading. So let’s not blab any longer and go straight to.... 

Nuvo Magic 

The concept behind Nuvo Magic is in point of fact not new at all. Storytelling has been a key part of our art since the beginning. Think of the work of the brilliant Eugene Burger. Even in the 19th Century Maskelyne and Devant presented their magic plays at the Egyptian Hall, like Will, the Witch & the Watch. Even though I agree with Alex Romanoff of The Art of Impossible that ‘not all magicians are good actors’. This is a trend to keep an eye on and it could go places. After all, playing a character to enhance their performance has always been a key part of magic. Was it not Robert-Houdin who said ‘a magician is an actor playing the part of the wizard'?

Mentalism 

In the last 20 years the art of Mentalism has come on leaps and bounds with the likes of such performers as Ian Keable, Max Maven, Richard Osterlind, and Derren Brown. Can it go any farther than it already has? 

Manipulation 

Manipulators, until quite recently, haven’t had much attention paid to them. The art has had an explosion of creativity in the last few years, the like of which we have not seen since the days of Cardini (aka Richard Pitchford). 

Acts today combine elements of quick change and one manipulator even talks to his audience. How much further can this go...it’ll be fun finding out! 

David prepping for a performance, 2023. Photo by Spare Tyre

Street magic is and always has been the grass roots of magic

David Munns

Online magic 

This type of Virtual Performance on platforms like Zoom and Snap Chat came into their own during those dread lock downs, it hasn’t entirely gone away. But it did become a well spring for some creativity especially the type of interactive magic that was pioneered on TV by Max Maven and Jim SteinmeyerAlex Pandrea did an entire illusion show and streamed it live to cinemas. And now FISM is acknowledging with its own award category at this years contest. Online performers are getting recognition at last....about time too. Well done,Chris Ramsay, for this may be the future of magic.  

Grand Illusion 

I must apologise for those who use the old paradigm of the female assistant which still persists in some illusion acts (what you thinking, guys, this is 2025!). Luckily, none of them won the grand prize at FISM last year, and those who have more artistic creativity are gaining the upper hand.  

Street Magic 

Street magic is and always has been the grass roots of magic. It will never die as long as there are streets. The Cups and Balls will always draw a crowd bring. The oldest trick in the book and Cards will always have an appeal.  

Comedy Magic 

All magic has an element of comedy, so comedy magic is something of a contradiction, but there have been some pretty fine comedic performers. Wizardly Bunglers like: 

Carl Ballentine 

Tommy Cooper 

Terry Herbert 

Lisa Menna 

Mandy Muden 

Fay Presto 

Laughter will be an essential part of magical performance and will continue to do so.