For our ninth installment of our "Magic Theory Blog Series" we revisit some great tips and thoughts from Liderc in on the topics of "Blocking" and "Staging." Essential reading!

Find the original forum thread here: Blocking and Staging.

Blocking
I Don't Feel proper importance is put on 'Blocking.' 'Blocking' can be utilized as a great technique for covering sleights as well as suspicious moments.
'Blocking' shouldn't be seen as 'Blocking;' it should have just as much motivation as everything else you do in magic.
If you're doing a routine where you need to get something in your Right Pocket, then you should have the spectator on your far right 'Assist' you as you can then focus your attention on him/her, which blocks your 'Right Side.'
So it wouldn't look like you're 'Blocking' or 'Covering,' because you're just paying attention to your 'helper.'
Compare that to having 'anyone' assist you, and then turning to the 'Far Right' to block without any motivation for doing so.

Natural Blockers
Sometimes you can use your environment to aid in your 'Blocking.' If you're sitting at a table you can use the 'Table' as a blocker to do a 'half pass' or some other 'Sleight.'
With Proper motivation of course, as you don't want to seem 'Suspicious' putting the deck lower than the table.
There are other 'Situational Blockers' that you can find by just being aware of your environment.
Staging
'Staging' is just as important for 'Close Up and Parlor' as it is for actual 'Stage Work.'
Know your routine. Know the 'Angles.' Know what needs to be 'Blocked.' Know which way you have to 'Face.' Know the best 'Angles' to accomplish something so  it won't seem 'suspicious' or where you might flash. Know the best 'Direction' for each routine.
Then when it comes to 'Performance Time' it becomes 'Fluid In Motion.' As you already 'Know' what needs to happen, it becomes 'Smoother.'
The more 'Natural' you can make it look, and less like a 'Staged Routine,' then the 'Higher Experience' it will be for everyone.
Having this knowledge also makes it easier to adapt to any situation.

Thoughts from V: I also like the idea of adding "Psychological" or "Mental" Blockers. These are things you say or do to throw your audience off track. They can be totally irrelevant or unimportant to your actual method, but by giving them importance and significance in your routine, you block the actual method.