You’ve always wanted to learn magic. But you don’t know where to start, or how to perform tricks. Penn And Teller Masterclass is just for you.
You’ve been searching for easy magic tricks that will wow your friends and family. You want to expand your repertoire and create miracles in a flash.
I know learning magic is hard, but this course makes it simple. Learn from two master magicians with over four decades of experience. You’ll walk away with the powerful tricks that can be done anywhere.
Since my childhood, I have always been fascinated by the way magicians make things disappear, bring out rabbits and pigeons from an empty hat, pull out money from ears, etc. Though as I grew up I came to the realization that Magic is not about any magical superpowers but about the tricks and psychology of the audience.
However, good magic tricks never fail to amaze people and I always wanted to learn them out of my personal interest. So when I first heard that legendary magician duo Penn And Teller are going to teach the art of Magic on MasterClass, I made up my mind to enroll in this MasterClass.
The course is called Penn And Teller Teach the Art of Magic and to be honest, they really teach magic tricks as an art form and not something which requires some superpower.
In this article, I am going to give you an honest (no tricks, promise!) Penn And Teller MasterClass Review. I hope this review helps you make the right decision.
Learning Magic Tricks From The Masters Comes With Life Lessons Too.
One thing I can assure that you believe in magic or not but if you enroll in this MasterClass you will definitely learn more about human nature and human psychology, how you can trick the minds of people, and of course why even after so many years we believe in magic tricks and why these tricks never fail to amaze us.
Penn And Teller have been doing magic and performing their tricks across the world for over half a century, so it is not just about magic, it is about lessons, wisdom, and a deep understanding of human nature.
What Is The MasterClass?
The masterClass was the brainchild of David Rogier and Aaron Rasmussen which came into existence in 2015. The idea behind MasterClass is that everyone should have access to genius people in the respective fields and learn from these experts, and that is something that differentiates MasterClass from other E-learning platforms.
On MasterClass you can learn Music from Reba McEntire, culinary art and cooking from Gordon Ramsay and Thomas Keller, Negotiation from Chriss Voss, Tennis from Serena Williams, etc. On MasterClass you will find 100+ courses in 11 different categories.
You can learn acting, cooking, film-making, writing, arts & design, sports, business skills, magic tricks, and many other skills on MasterClass and take your interest one step ahead.
Who Are Penn And Teller?
Penn And Teller are a legendary magician duo who have been performing and entertaining their audience with their magic tricks since the 1980s.
They have performed on stages from Broadway to Las Vegas which was then followed by appearances on shows like Saturday Night Live and over twenty appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman.
Since then they have had many national tours, successful Broadway runs, hundreds of Television appearances including their own TV Specials like Bullshit! And Fool Us! They have written three books on Magic and have a popular magic kit called “fool everybody.”
All these successful years with Magic are testimony that whatever you will learn from this course is nothing short of Magic!
What Magic Does This MasterClass Promise?
The course workbook on the first page says that, If you’ve never done magic in your life, this is a good place to start.” This means that the course is an entrance point to the world of magic where you will learn the fundamentals and gain practical insights into performing tricks and illusions in front of your friends, family, and colleagues and amaze them.
Apart from magic tricks Penn And Teller also tell you that this course will also help you understand human behavior which you will understand as you go through the course.
Penn & Teller takes you through psychology, art, philosophy and tries to teach you their craft in the most lucid yet interesting way, it is full of wisdom and magic. Penn And Teller are great teachers of magic, throughout the course they make you feel like they want to master the tricks and teach you with enthusiasm and energy.
penn and teller magic lesson Benefits:
– Learning magic has never been easier.
– Join forces with the world’s best magicians, to learn together, step by step.
– Master a variety of simple tricks you can perform anytime, anywhere
– The complete package of mind-blowing magic tricks.
– Learn how to tell a story and influence your audience.
– Get everything you need to hone your magic tricks and confidence
– Learn how to do magic at home – with no special props, magic books, or hired assistants.
– And learn about the psychology of magical performance and building a personal audience.
– Discover how to make your magic tricks even more impressive than before!
– Master an impressive collection of creative magic tricks. Each trick is a unique performance that’s full of surprises and action.
– Understand how to get the most out of your performances in any setting. Now you can perform with confidence, even when it’s challenging!
– Receive the benefits of online learning as you study from a trained professional, easily on your device.
What Is Included In The Penn And Teller MasterClass Review: The Tricks And The Lessons
The Penn And Teller MasterClass on Magic available on the MasterClass platform is 2 hrs 53 mins long and contains 17 lessons on different types of magic, different aspects of performing magic, and covers all the fundamentals of magic that you may require to get started.
Here is the list of all the lessons which you will find in Penn And Teller’s MasterClass on the art of Magic:
- Introduction
- Sleight of Hand: The French Drop
- Cup and Balls
- What is Magic?
- Misdirection
- Coin Magic
- Magic VS. Lying
- Mentalist or Crook?
- Card Magic
- Exploiting the Best of the Human Brain
- Rope Tricks
- Principles of Performing
- Cause and Effect
- the Joy of Magic
- Bonus Chapter 1: Advanced Student Coaching
- Bonus Chapter 2: Piff the Magic Dragon
- Bonus Chapter 3: Penn and Teller Live
As you can clearly see in the above-mentioned list that this MasterClass covers so many different types of Magic ranging from Card tricks to Cup and balls, Misdirection, coins, sleight of hands, and a lot more.
It also comes with three Bonus chapters which will take you to the advanced level of magic tricks, tell you how to perform an act, how to interact with the audience, and finally become a good magician.
What I Loved About This MasterClass On Magic:
1. Well Structured And Creates Value
I can say that I have learned a lot from this MasterClass on magic by Penn And Teller. The course is very well structured and covers all the fundamentals of Magic, performing tricks, understanding the audience, handling props, and doing proper hand movements.
All these things are very important for a perfect magic trick and Penn And Teller makes sure that you learn and master them.
The class is also filled with many tips to perform the trick really with conviction and confidence. The way Penn And Teller teach you different tricks, you get inspired and fascinated by the sheer enthusiasm which they portray in their videos.
2. Great Delivery And Teaching
The way Penn And Teller deliver their course content you feel really connected with them, they try to draw you towards them and make you learn everything in depth.
When they perform their tricks it looks so effortless. Penn And Teller are amazing performers and their experience of five decades has made them great communicators as well.
The magic lies in the way they communicate with you and makes you focus on the trick only and nothing else, yes, that is something that makes the course even more fascinating. They tell you the logic behind every magic.
The cherry on the cake is the amazing production by MasterClass, the quality of audio and video is superior which makes the learning process more convenient and smooth.
3. The Course Whole-Heartedly Welcomes The Newcomers
Penn And Teller Teach the Art of Magic is made for beginners who are interested in magic, who love magic, who are fascinated by the joy that magic brings into the lives of people.
This MasterClass as I said is the pass to enter the world of magic and Penn And Teller makes sure that you get the best entry. Penn & Teller encourages people to learn magic, they try to tell the importance of magic and how it touches all walks of human existence.
On the technical part, Penn And Teller make sure that every trick they teach reaches the audience in the most simple manner possible and they try to break down every step and show how to perform a complete act.
4. The MasterClass Full Of Magic And Joy
I love MasterClass for the very reason that you get to learn from masters and experts. I have learned a lot of practical things from different MasterClass, I enjoyed all of them more or less but, this MasterClass was different.
I enjoyed it, I learned something which I thought I would never learn, and most importantly it brought so much joy and fun to me. Magic has the ability to touch people’s lives, it does not just entertain them like movies, music, and dance, it amazes them, it makes them believe that anything is possible.
So, after learning tricks from Penn And Teller on this MasterClass, I performed a few small tricks in a family gathering and they were amazed, they were overjoyed and looking at their surprised and happy faces, the money I paid for MasterClass was worth every penny!
5. A Fine Balance Between Theory, Practical And The Magic
There are many things in this MasterClass on which you can try your hands-on. Magic practice matters a lot for smooth hand movements and perfect acts and Penn And Teller makes sure that you learn that and become a master.
However, Penn And Teller provide you with good theory too to improvise on your tricks and tell you what needs to be taken care of while performing an Act. Hence there is a good balance of practice, theory, and of course Magic is something which you will find throughout.
Things Which Can Be Improved In Penn And Teller Masterclass
1. The Workbook Has Little To Add To Your Learning
In contrast to other MasterClass workbooks which are great, simple, and helps to extend your knowledge and provide a theoretical base, however, Penn And Teller MasterClass workbook does little to extend your knowledge, it does not contain anything extra or does not leave much scope to learn more tricks.
It is just the written format of whatever you learn in the video lessons. Workbooks do not contain anything extra which you can perform or try or do hands-on by yourself.
2. Short Course
Was it a short course or I felt that? I was hooked on the course till the end that I didn’t realize that it is over. The Penn And Teller’s MasterClass is just 2 hrs 53 min long and when you are learning such amazing tricks, you don’t want it to end, not so soon!
3. Weak Community Engagement
Communities and forums form a major part of learning and interacting with other students and like-minded people to showcase their own creation, raise the query, discuss new ideas, etc.
Unfortunately, you may not find a lively community in Penn And Teller’s MasterClass which is in contrast to other courses on MasterClass where you find a lively community and like-minded people speaking their own experiences and allows quality learning.
Is There Any Benefit Of Knowing The Magic Tricks?
Before learning magic, I used to see it with a very narrow mind and felt like it is just another way to entertain people. But, after learning magic tricks from Penn And Teller I have become more respectful towards the art form and have realized that magic is a very diverse branch and draws upon every walks of human life like Science, Engineering, illusions, Mathematics, acting, comedy, Dance, and Music.
It is also the best field where you can learn more about human behavior and human nature than any book will ever teach you. The benefits of learning magic are it helps you to connect with people, makes you more observant of your surroundings, and helps you focus more on small things.
What Did I Learn From This Magical MasterClass?
I would be honest, before enrolling in this MasterClass I knew nothing about this art form, knew nothing about magic, in fact, I looked at magic with a very narrow view however, after completing this amazing MasterClass by legendary Penn And Teller, my view has broadened and I have understood that magic is more than just disappearing things into thin air.
After completing this MasterClass I have more fundamental knowledge about tricks and illusions, I am improving at proper handling of different props and hand movements used to perform a trick, have understood that every moment of inactivity has its own importance and a lot more.
Apart from these things I have also learned many life lessons which were experienced by Penn And Teller over the last 50 years of their magical career.
How much is Penn and Teller MasterClass?
After reading this review and my own experience of this course, if you also feel that Magic is something that interests you, you can enroll for Penn And Teller’s MasterClass, it will cost you $180 which is $15 per month.
This annual subscription gives you complete access to all the MasterClass courses for one year and you can learn everything that interests you from the world’s best instructors right on your mobile screen or on your TV.
If you think it is like an investment, then trust me the Return on this Investment is massive. You get to learn whatever you want from the experts in their field, at your own pace and embark on a journey that will satisfy your urge to learn and get started with something truly MAGICAL!
Now, you can also share it with your friends as Masterclass Gift and make their life more interesting and skillful.
Is Penn And Teller MasterClass Worth It?
The Penn and Teller MasterClass is worth it if you are fascinated by magic tricks and are curious to know how that mind-blowing trick was performed. It is also worth it if you want to know more about Human Behaviour and psychology, it won’t disappoint you.
Also, if you want to impress your friends and family with some crazy tricks, then it is worth every penny, and take your magic act one step ahead.
This MasterClass may not be for you have little or no interest in magic, well to learn anything your interest in that field is an important aspect. Also, if you expect Penn And Teller to reveal secrets to some of their biggest and most famous magic tricks, then you might get disappointed.
Also, this MasterClass is not for you if you have already graduated from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Is Penn Or Teller Better?
Teller is unquestionably a brilliant illusionist. Penn frequently mentions this fact in their performances; he loves to play on the concept that he’s the big dumb one who entertains the crowd while Teller performs all of the difficult sleights of hand. They are both talented in separate areas, which is why they make such an excellent team.
Is Penn And Teller Masterclass Content Unique?
Penn and Teller’s programs are available on Youtube, Netflix, and other streaming platforms. But keep in mind that these are designed to entertain rather than to teach magic.
On YouTube, there are also many clips (in which Teller does not talk) in which the duo does a single trick and teach them.
However, MasterClass does give unique content in terms of a comprehensive program that is expressly designed to teach the principles of literally hundreds of magic tricks, and with Teller speaking for the first time.
Final Verdict! Why I Recommend
Penn And Teller MasterClass is perhaps the best course on the art of magic which is available on the internet. It covers almost every fundamental of performing a magic trick in the most simple yet interesting manner.
Penn And Teller make sure that every trick they try to teach you, you perfect in them so that there is no margin of error when you perform them in front of your audience (which is really important).
Magic is more than tricks and it tells you more about human psychology and behavior and in this MasterClass, Penn And Teller try to satisfy your curiosity by teaching you more about human psychology as well to make sure that you understand your audience well and can connect with them easily.
The course structure is easy to follow and understand, it is made to teach people the fundamentals of magic if not the biggest tricks ever performed by Penn & Teller, it is made for you to enter the world of magic which is full of entertainment, excitement, and fascinating.
So, If you are convinced then what are you waiting for? Go get your pass to the world of magic from none other than Penn & Teller.
That’s all from my side on Penn And Teller Teaches the Art of Magic Review.
Penn And Teller Masterclass FAQs:
Can you get the MasterClass by Penn and Teller for free?
No, Penn And Teller Masterclass are not free, you’ve to buy a masterclass subscription of $180/yr which unlocks all your courses for a year.
Who is this MasterClass for?
This is for anyone who wants to learn great magic tricks from world-renowned Magicians.
Does MasterClass ever go on sale?
Yes, masterclass offer discounts on special occasions like Black Friday, Cyber Monday, or new year’s eve.
Is MasterClass worth the money?
$180 is a good deal when you consider you have access to over 100 programs with video lessons, workbooks, and discussion forums. So, yes, I believe MasterClass is well worth the investment.
Does Penn Teller teach magic?
Penn & Teller teach you the fundamentals of magic, such as deception and mentalism. Whether you’re interested in magic or not, you’ll benefit from this course, so it’s well worth your time.
Penn & Teller MasterClass: What Other Thinks:
To assess the opinions of others who had attended this course, I looked at the comments on Reddit and on the Penn and Teller MasterClass video on Youtube.
The majority of the Reddit responses were supportive, and this one sums it up best:
People’s Reaction On Penn And Teller Masterclass Reddit & Youtube:
All Reviews: 758
Positive: 645
Negative: 113
85% Score
I just got passed the first few videos and really it’s just a pleasure to see Teller speak haha.
I think as magicians we’re always going to our Gregory Wilsons or our Harry Loraynes. We forget that P&T have a plethora of working magic knowledge that spans over 5 decades since they haven’t really published any learning material. I think the community as a whole has plenty of knuckle busting moves to last 4 life times but not enough of the pure psychology and theory.
They dissect their hilarious cups and balls routine in this masterclass and it really is great to listen to Teller explain the French drop and load. Being reminded of the subtle mechanics to make this effect work got that part of my brain churning again. If you practice magic a lot, there are a lot of moves that fall to the background (sometimes before they’re actually mastered). Seeing this simple lesson is making me think a lot more about everything I practice.
Looking forward to getting deeper and learning more the psychological approach they take.
– Reddit Comment
I have to say: I love masterclass. Space exploration, gourmet cooking, electric guitar and now: magic!
In my opinion, masterclass is only worth the money if you buy the all access. If you can afford to drop the 90 on P&T’s masterclass, I recommend doubling down and just getting the whole service. It’s truly incredible.
On to P&T …
They start with French drip and psychology behind sleight of hand. To watch Teller do the French Drop is really incredible. They mix it into a cup and ball routine with one cup and it’s really quite nice.
There’s some good psychology and performance etiquette. There’s some history and a few guest stars.
The card techniques are incredibly basic, but watching the Great Tomsonj do the Whispering Queen was a pleasure.
You’ll learn a key card technique and magician’s choice. They don’t spend a great deal of time on cards.
There’s a bit on rope magic. There’s a bit on coins. A lot on joy, philosophy and performance.
If you want a bunch of moves, you won’t be happy with this. If you love them or love magic, you’ll be very happy with this.
Also, Masterclass is expanding a lot lately. I hope they add more magicians in the future!
-Reddit Comment
Some Negative Opinions By Peoples:
I watched the promo video with interest. It looks great, but perhaps geared towards a complete magic novice…?
I don’t think I need to spend a bunch of money to learn what misdirection is and how to do a cut-and-restored rope trick.
That was my impression, at least. I’ll be curious to hear from someone who has bought it.
– Reddit Comment
Penn And Teller Masterclass Alternatives:
This is the only MasterClass on Magic available on the MasterClass platform. However, you may find alternatives to Penn And Teller MasterClass on the other E-learning platforms to learn Magic tricks.
You may find many courses on Udemy on Magic but they only focus on only one type of tricks like you may find courses related to tricks using cards and are very narrow in their subject matter and are not taught by the Masters like Penn And Teller.
You may also find many videos and shows by Penn And Teller on Netflix and Youtube but they don’t teach you the tricks, they are just for entertainment purposes and you don’t get to learn the secrets behind those tricks.
So if you are really fascinated by the world of Magic and want to learn practical, theory, and many other different aspects of Magic then Penn And Teller’s MasterClass is something which is made for you.
