| Close-up magic is magical entertainment that | | | | 'Sponge Balls' where the balls move invisibly |
| happens right in front of you, magic you can not | | | | between the magician's hands and those of the |
| only see but feel and touch. This intimacy is what | | | | spectator's. In fact, these routines are freely |
| makes it so different from other types of magic. | | | | available if you care to look. Anyone can search |
| An expert close-up magician will involve and | | | | the internet and buy books and DVDs on close-up |
| interact with the audience far more than a stage | | | | magic, or even the props and standard routines. |
| magician (or any other form of entertainer for | | | | What really sets one close-up magician apart from |
| that matter). | | | | another is how they present their magic. In fact, |
| Most close-up magicians use common props such | | | | presentation is the key - it is what makes |
| as playing cards, coins, sponge balls and rope. And | | | | close-up magic entertaining. A really good, |
| all magicians perform the same basic magical | | | | professional magician will be creative and present |
| effects with these props, making them appear, | | | | their magic in an original and entertaining way. |
| disappear, change, levitate, break and restore, and | | | | Sometimes humorous, sometimes mysterious, |
| penetrate other objects. What is amazing about | | | | sometimes just plain weird and freaky. The magic |
| close-up magic is that it happens so close to you, | | | | becomes a vehicle for the personality and ideas |
| sometimes while you are holding the props! | | | | of the performer. |
| There are many standard close-up magic effects | | | | This is what makes close-up magic great |
| and standard routines used to present them. For | | | | entertainment. An interesting, strange and funny |
| example, the 'Ambitious Card' where a chosen | | | | person demonstrates the impossible, weird and |
| card repeatedly rises to the top position in a deck | | | | wonderful, right under your nose! |
| of cards without any shuffling or cutting, or the | | | | |