Magic supplies in Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming

Casper's paid bookings lean towards energy-company dinners, ranch weddings, service-club banquets and bars downtown, and those adult crowds respond strongly to mind reading, because it feels personal rather than like a puzzle. Mentalism also travels well in a state where you may drive two hours to a gig: a few small objects cover a whole set. Forcing dice, a PK ring and a pocket-size Listening Dice Box take up less room than a deck case. The mentalism collection has more, with performance rights only.

Anyone who has tried a card trick outdoors in Casper knows the wind decides when it ends. For fairs, rodeo weekends and patio events, plastic decks hold their shape and don't blow away as easily as paper; our guide to plastic versus paper playing cards goes through the trade-offs. The Waterproof Performer Deck handles sweat and spilled drinks too. Indoors, a Svengali deck remains the quickest route to a strong card routine. See the card magic collection.

Without a local club, structure has to come from you. Choose one effect, learn it from the instructions and a good book, and perform it for friends until you stop thinking about the method. Film yourself; the camera is a ruthless critic. Our magic tips for beginners lists the habits worth building before you have anyone to copy, and how to become a magician is honest about how long it takes.

When a working magician plays Casper, go and watch, and take notes on how they handle volunteers. Then start from the beginner collection.

We found no magic shop in Casper or anywhere in Natrona County. Toy aisles and party stores have trick kits, which rarely survive a second performance. The nearest specialist counters are out of state.

So most magicians in central Wyoming buy online. That makes the listing matter: ours say what is in the box, whether instructions come with it and how much practice an effect needs. If an unopened item isn't what you wanted, it can come back within 30 days of delivery.

Wyoming's magicians are spread thin, and the work follows the towns along I-25 and I-80. Cheyenne is the state's largest city and the nearest with a page of its own here; across the line, Fort Collins and Billings are the next big markets. Casper performers routinely take corporate bookings in Lander, Riverton and Gillette. Light props that pack into a carry-on case earn their keep. See magic in Wyoming.

The Ford Wyoming Center, opened in April 1982 and city-owned, seats about 8,000 for concerts, rodeo, family shows and trade fairs; it is where large touring acts land in central Wyoming. Most local magic happens in far smaller spaces, from CitiWerks downtown to hotel conference rooms. If you are working towards a stand-up or parlour act, props that read at distance, such as the Linking Rings — Set of Four or the Appearing Cane — Metal, are a better start than more card tricks. Browse the stage magic collection.

We post to every address in Casper and the rest of Natrona County, Mills, Evansville and Bar Nunn included, on the same terms as anywhere in the US. Most of the range comes from our supplier and we don't quote a delivery date, so order well before a booking. See shipping and returns and refunds.