Understanding Prestidigitation and the Science Behind Magic

Magic is much more than a hobby for Vitelli, whom isAdditionally, one of the essential rules of the technique
considered to be the next Houdini. While he once wasis to act naturally and be oneself. Acting innocent is
interested in magic, Vitelli has moved past the noviceone of the key principles in effective illusions and magic
hobby and studied the science of illusion. He is apresentations. Hand gestures and body posture can
double-threat in the community because of hisreveal quite a bit of information.
understanding of the human psyche. He has the innateAnother application of the technique involves the
ability to understand how the human mind operates. Hehuman mind and that one's hand is quicker than the
cannot read the minds of his audience, however; heeye." Psychologically speaking, the technique only
can use their minds to his advantage while on theworks if the human mind can be misdirected by natural
stage.choreography. To accomplish this, Vitelli moves his
One of the many techniques he uses is the processhands where he wants the audience to focus their
of prestidigitation, which means "sleight of hand." This isattention to. Skewing the events in the eye of the
the process illusionists use to manipulate objects,viewer is the hardest part of performing such complex
including coins and cards, secretly and without thetricks and illusions.
audience finding out. It is a technique that is used byWhile audience members sometimes believe Vitelli is
Vitelli and others during their acts. The meaning of theusing gimmicks, apparatuses, or other items, the truth is
word literally translates to dexterity and deceptivenesshe is only using his mind. While other items may be on
and the saying originates from the Old Norse language.stage, none of them are tampered with or altered.
The most common application of sleight of hand isTasks may be performed without the audience seeing
during up close performances in which the illusionist isthem, but that is the beauty of the prestidigitation
three or four meters away. Vitelli utilizes suchtechnique.
technique to add meaning to his presentations.