Most magicians learn tricks. But only a few learn how to create a real magic act—an act with rhythm, build-up, and its own identity.

An act that feels like a performance, and not simply a technical demonstration.

That is exactly what Robin Deville has managed to build.

Winner of The One at the Blackpool Magic Convention 2025, French Magic Champion, FFAP French Close-Up Champion 2019, and laureate of the FISM European Championship of Magic 2024—Robin is today among the most interesting creative minds of his generation.

But behind those titles lies, above all, years of pondering a single essential question: how does a truly magical act come to be?

And it is precisely that process that he shares in this book.

Behind the Scenes of a Magic Act

In *Creation of a Magic Act*, Robin takes you behind the scenes of creating a complete act. You’ll discover how to approach an act from the audience’s perspective, how to structure a magical sequence, and how to turn a rough idea into a memorable moment on stage.

Robin also explains the mistakes magicians most often make when building a routine—and how to avoid them. But above all, he shows you how to find your own style.

A laboratory for creativity

The book also includes a fascinating exercise series: COPYCAT.

During the lockdown, Robin challenged himself to create mini-acts inspired by the styles of great magicians such as Yann Frisch, Boris Wild, Juan Tamariz, Pierric, and Dani DaOrtiz. The goal was not to copy them, but to understand how the creativity of great artists works. A brilliant method for developing your own magical vision.

The case study: an award-winning act

Robin then describes, step by step, the entire creation of his act Dr. Blue & Mr. Red, developed for competitions and refined over the years.

You’ll discover the entire process: the initial ideas, the wrong turns, the artistic choices, the structure of the act, and the subtle details that transform a concept into a coherent and unforgettable performance.

A rare glimpse into the real creation of an award-winning act.

Fully developed routines

To illustrate his creative process, Robin also shares several routines he uses during his performances:

• Coins Through the Table — three coins pass through the table one by one, using ordinary coins and without gimmicks.
• Sandwich Chercheur — a clever and exceptionally direct sandwich routine.
• Instant Sandwich — a fast and visual version of the classic.
• Investigator Sticker — an original routine built around a sticker.
• Gambler VS Magician — a magical duel full of surprises and twists.

Each routine is explained not only technically, but also from the perspective of act structure and performance.

Much more than a trick book

Creation of a Magic Act is not just another magic book. It is a deep dive into the creative process of a modern magician who has spent years turning ideas into performances that leave a lasting impression on their audience.

If you want to go beyond individual tricks… if you want to understand how to develop a true magical signature… then this book can completely change your perspective on magic.

And we can’t wait to see what acts you create after reading it.

Table of Contents

Forewords — 6

Introduction — 8

I. The Magical Act

• Getting Started — 12
• Close-Up Workshop and Its Specifics — 14
• Methodology (and Mistakes to Avoid) — 20
• Making Your Act Memorable — 28
• Summary — 31

II. Copycat: Style Exercises

• Problem Statement — 35
• “À la Frisch” (Episode 1) — 36
• “À la Wild” (Episode 2) — 38
• “À la Lavand” (episode 3) — 42
• “À la Mancha” (episode 4) — 48
• “À la Pierric” (episode 5) — 51
• “À la Gomez” (Episode 6) — 54
• Evaluation — 55

III. Case Study: Dr. Blue & Mr. Red

• A blank page? — 58
• Guideline — 60
• Let’s start over! — 62
• False good ideas — 66
• Final Decisions — 70
• Props — 75
• The One — 78

IV. Routines

• Coins Through the Table — 96
• Sandwich Chercheur — 102
• Instant Sandwich — 110
• Investigator Sticker — 114
• Gambler vs. Magician — 118

Conclusion and Acknowledgments — 124

Sources — 126

Highlights

By Robin Deville, multi-award-winning magician

French Magic Champion, FFAP French Close-Up Champion 2019, and laureate of the FISM European Championship of Magic 2024.

A method for creating a truly magical act

Discover how to transform loose ideas and tricks into a coherent, memorable, and personal performance.

Fully developed routines to understand the process

Various routines are explained step by step to concretely illustrate the creative process.

A rare glimpse into the creativity of a modern magician

Learn to think differently about magic and develop your own artistic signature.