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