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