What is the difference between a sleight of hand and a magic trick?

Sleight of hand and magic tricks are often used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference between the two terms. Both involve the use of deception and illusion, but the means of achieving that deception are different.

Sleight of hand refers to the manual dexterity and skill used to manipulate objects, often in the context of close-up magic. Magicians who specialize in sleight of hand rely on their ability to create illusions through the use of misdirection, palming, and other techniques that fool the audience into thinking they have seen something that did not actually happen.

Magic tricks, on the other hand, are more broad in their scope and can involve any number of techniques and props. A magic trick may use sleight of hand, but it can also rely on larger props or illusions that are not possible through manual manipulation alone. Magic tricks can be performed on a larger scale, such as in a stage show, and can involve multiple performers, whereas sleight of hand is typically performed in a more intimate setting, such as a table-side performance.

Overall, while both sleight of hand and magic tricks involve the art of deception and illusion, sleight of hand is a more specific technique within the broader field of magic performance.