Beard Book by Rune Klan

Created by: Rune Klan

Beard Book is a whimsical and visually striking close-up magic trick where a notepad of cartoon beards transforms into a real beard on the performer. This trick combines elements of comedy and visual magic, making it a unique addition to any magician's repertoire. It's particularly effective as a closer or a humorous interlude in performances, appealing to a wide range of audiences with its playful premise and surprising transformation.

Key features

Visual and comedic magic trick
Transforms cartoon beards into a real beard on the performer
Great for close-up or stand-up performances
Can be customized with different beard styles for variety
Includes a notepad with cartoon beards and a method for the transformation

Pros

Highly visual and entertaining
Easy to perform with minimal setup
Appeals to a wide audience with its humor
Can be adapted into various routines or acts

Cons

May require practice to perfect the transformation timing
Limited to performers who can or are willing to wear a beard

Effect

The Beard Book is a whimsical and visually engaging trick where the magician presents a notepad filled with cartoon drawings of different facial hair styles. The spectator is invited to choose a beard from the book. When the magician lifts the notepad, the chosen beard magically appears on their own face, creating a hilarious and impossible transformation.

Full Details

The Beard Book is a creation by Rune Klan, featured in his book Rune's World. The trick involves a specially prepared notepad that displays various cartoon-style beards. The magician flips through the pages, showing different facial hair options, and the spectator selects one. In a surprising moment, the magician lifts the book, and the chosen beard appears on their face in real life.

The method is clever yet straightforward, making it practical for performance. The trick plays on visual comedy and misdirection, ensuring strong reactions from audiences.

Who Should Consider the Trick

Comedy magicians looking for a lighthearted, interactive piece.
Close-up and walk-around performers who want a quick, visual gag.
Stage performers who can incorporate it into a larger act (Roddy McGhie used it as a closer in his Magic Castle act).
Creators who enjoy modifying and expanding on existing tricks (Roddy added a "wanted poster" gag to enhance the effect).

Difficulty

The Beard Book is easy to perform, requiring minimal sleight of hand. The main challenge is in the presentation—selling the humor and timing the reveal for maximum impact. Roddy McGhie notes that letting the spectator interact with the book (e.g., opening it themselves) adds an extra layer of astonishment.

What Magicians Say

Roddy McGhie used the Beard Book in his Magic Castle act, pairing it with a "wanted poster" gag for a strong finish. He praises its simplicity and visual appeal, calling it "funny and different."
The trick is compared to the Coloring Book but with a fresh twist, making it stand out as a unique piece of magic.
McGhie highlights its versatility, noting it works well in both close-up and stage settings.

The Beard Book is a perfect choice for magicians who want a quick, visual, and laughter-inducing trick that leaves a lasting impression.

What people are saying about Beard Book

AlakazamMagicUK says...

The Beard Book by Rune Klan is just funny and different and visual and just clever. It's such a laugh and it's so clever. It's basically the coloring book, but Rune Klan takes things that we know about magic and just makes them so funny and clever and different.

Roddy McGhie says...

A notepad of cartoon beards transforms into a real beard on the performer. Roddy used it in his Magic Castle act, pairing it with a 'wanted poster' gag for a hilarious closer.