Why Do Magicians Use Rabbits – Fully Answered
Sometimes I get asked where my rabbit is. I did some research and found out why magicians use rabbits:
Magicians use rabbits because rabbits are cute, rabbits are easy to handle, rabbits are the perfect size, rabbits are compressible, rabbits stay still when hidden, rabbits are quiet, rabbits are good-natured, and rabbits make great pets.
You will learn how and why rabbits got associated with magicians and what they mean today. Plus you will learn all about the Magician’s Top Hat.
Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat – Penn & Teller
Here is a performance by Penn and Teller on the Jimmy Fallon show. They produce a rabbit out of a hat starting at 2:55. Jimmy Fallon gets fooled big time, wait until you see his face. The trick is so well done, so well executed, so amazing.
Why Magicians Use Rabbits
There is no question rabbits are cute. They have soft fur, big round eyes, velvet ears, a little nose that twitches, and they are small and cuddly. Every time we see a rabbit we all say “Awwwww.”
Whether or not a magic trick fools the kids, the cute white fluffy rabbit always gets a great response. Rabbits are lovable, friendly and adorable. Kids always want to pet a cute bunny.
Rabbits are very compressible. They fold up small because most of their size is fur. When they are produced their large ears open and their feet hang down and kick. This makes rabbits look much bigger than they actually are and much larger than the space they came from.
The magician’s color of choice for rabbits is white. White is a positive color and is associated with purity. White represents innocence and is perfect for kids. Most important, white rabbits contrast well with black tuxedo jackets and the black or red curtains of a theater.
Other than being super cute and lovable, rabbits are the perfect size. A magician can perform with a rabbit close up or on stage. They fit snuggly into magicians boxes. Anything bigger than a rabbit becomes hard to hide and conceal. Anything smaller than a rabbit is hard to see on stage.
Rabbits are easy to grip and pull out of a tight space, almost like a handle. They stay pretty still when hidden which make it a smooth process to lift the rabbit up and produce during a show.
Another important point is that rabbits are easily portable and don’t take up too much room. A magician has to consider getting the rabbit to and from the show.
Magicians Have Used Other Animals
Magicians through the years have tried performing magic with all different types of animals. Birds are pretty common in magician’s acts. They stay pretty still when hidden yet flap all over the place when produced.
Here is a list of other animals magicians have used in their acts:
- Hamsters
- Mice
- Snakes
- Cockroaches
- Birds
- Ducks
- Dogs
- Cats
- Donkeys
- Horses
- Lions
- Tigers
- Elephants
Why Do Magicians Pull Rabbits Out of Hats
Producing a rabbit is an unbelievable and extremely memorable magic trick. In the 1800s top hats were popular and commonly worn, which made them easy to find. Magicians worked out methods for producing rabbits in very baffling ways.
Producing any object from nowhere is very impressive. When you produce a live animal it becomes even more impressive.
Petting the Magician’s Rabbit
Magicians started out mostly performing at circuses, fairs, and festivals. They would produce the rabbit and then management would charge extra money for the kids to pet the rabbit.
It was an up-sell for the show producers and a way to make more money. Sort of like selling tee shirts at concerts. It is a very smart idea because all kids want to pet the rabbit.
History of Rabbits Out of Hats
The earliest known magicians pulling rabbits out of hats were in the early 1800s. A magician would show a top hat seemingly empty and then reach in and pull out a live rabbit. It was a very impressive trick.
During this time rabbits were very readily available. Everybody lived on farms. Rabbits were used for their fur and rabbit stew. Today rabbits are still available and easy to find at most pet stores.
Magician’s Top Hat
Back in the 19th century, when the rise of magic and entertainment in Europe began, top hats were common. Many men wore top hats, especially performers, like magicians.
The size of a top hat is perfect for producing a rabbit. A magician would use his own top hat or borrow one from someone in the audience.
The reason you don’t commonly see rabbits produced from top hats today is because men no longer wear them.
Rabbits and top hats still remain a universally recognized symbol of magic, yet nowadays magicians produce rabbits from pans of fire and colorful boxes.
Rabbits Are Losing Popularity
Magicians are using rabbits less and less in their magic shows. Owning and caring for a rabbit is a big responsibility both onstage and offstage.
In addition some animal rights activist groups are questioning the safety and “caring for” of rabbits used in magic tricks.
Many magicians, myself included, don’t want to deal with the hassles that come with using live animals.
Pulling a Rabbit Out of a Hat Definition
to pull a rabbit out of the hat:
- to do something, unexpected, and seemingly impossible
- to do something very clever and unexpected that solves a problem
- to produce something surprising, in a way that has no obvious explanation, as if done by magic
Pulling rabbits out of those top hats sure made an impact. It was so amazing and wondrous it created a whole new phrase in the English language. It is an expression that we all say and understand, an internationally accepted phrase that has become part of pop culture.
- “You really pulled a rabbit out of the hat by passing chemistry without ever going to class.”
- “Point game, you’re down by 3, my ball, you’ll need to pull a rabbit out of a hat to win this one.”
Magician Rabbit Tricks
Pulling a rabbit out of a hat uses a real rabbit. There are some other magic tricks involving the appearance and disappearance of live rabbits. Most of these tricks use special boxes and magic props.
Flash Pan Production
One popular production uses a metal pan. Magician shows it empty, closes it, lights it on fire, and when the lid is lifted, a rabbit appears.
Sponge Bunnies
There is a very famous close up magic trick called sponge bunnies. It is a great trick and also plays on the cute factor of little bunnies.
Run Rabbit Run
This trick is a classic kids show magic trick used by many magicians today. No real rabbit is used. This trick is a stage trick and uses a big prop, which is easily seen and perfect for larger audience.
Generally it is performed on stage or at the front of the room. The trick is a good substitute when the magician does not have a real rabbit.
Conclusion
All things considered, when picking a live animal to put in your show, rabbits are the best choice for magicians. They are cute, cuddly, and compact.
Producing a rabbit out of a hat is a wonderful piece of magic and will always leave your audience spellbound.
