Charming

• Snakes are unable to hear the same way humans do, but respond to the vibrations of the flute felt in the air. Standing upright is a somewhat natural position for a cobra, and they are trained to mimic the motions of their master, to create a dancing effect.
  
  

History

• The modern practice of snake charming likely originated in India, but is now practiced in other nations such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Thailand, Malaysia, and in North Africa.
  
  

Venom Removal

• Some snake charmers remove the venomous fangs from the mouth of their cobra, thus minimizing the risk for a bite, and a potentially deadly situation.
  
  

Cobras

• Humans are too large for a Cobra to swallow whole, so they tend to avoid attacking their master. Their method of attack is much slower and more predictable than other venomous snakes, making the job of a snake charmer not as dangerous as it seems.
  
  

Other Tricks

• Snake charmers often perform other entertaining and dangerous stunts as part of their street act, such as juggling, fire breathing, or sleight of hand.