A magician may perform close to a small audience, on the street for instance. She may perform tricks among a crowd or set up a small table. She may use a deck of cards, the most well-known trick being, perhaps, "pick a card, any card," in which the magician guesses the card. Most card decks are standard and not "trick" decks. The magician practices using movement and words to distract the reader and hide certain hand movements and card manipulation. Other props include personal objects from a guest, such as dollar bills, sponge balls, rubber-bands, pens and pencils, string or coins.
The platform magician stands atop a platform so a wider audience can see his performance. This type of show uses more structure than close-up magic, and props may be larger and a bit more elaborate. Classic props include a top hat, wand, long scarves, flowers, cups and sponge balls and perhaps animals.
Stage magic is performed exclusively in larger venues holding more audience members. The magician employs large props including large mechanisms, boxes that he or his assistant may slip into, fire and other special effects and even turntables. These shows are typically accompanied by dramatic music. These props may evolve into entire set pieces operated by unseen technicians backstage. Magicians like David Copperfield employ these props.
A magician's props are only as good as his ability to create an illusion for the audience. Magicians must have excellent sleight of hand, moving his hands all the time and misdirecting the audience with one hand while the other performs an unseen move. He uses misdirection in other ways to get the audience to look at one thing to distract them from the trick's mechanics. Magicians also use acting, verbal patter and occasionally, an audience plant.