Why start simple: Beginner tricks like coin vanishes or floating pencils help you build confidence while learning the basics of misdirection and performance. Core magician skill: Sleight of hand is ...

To help pay for his undergraduate education, Elias Garcia-Pelegrin had an unusual summer job: cruise ship magician. “I was that guy who comes out at dinnertime and does random magic for you,” he says.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Magicians use a lot of psychology to trick you during a performance. (Getty Images) (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The exploits of any ...