What Is Close-up Magic?
By Dan Gifford, Sat Dec 10th
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Close-up magic is magical entertainment that happens right infront of you, magic you can not only see but feel and touch.This intimacy is what makes it so different from other types ofmagic. An expert close-up magician will involve and interactwith the audience far more than a stage magician (or any otherform of entertainer for that matter).
Most close-up magicians use common props such as playing cards,coins, sponge balls and rope. And all magicians perform the samebasic magical effects with these props, making them appear,disappear, change, levitate, break and restore, and penetrateother objects. What is amazing about close-up magic is that ithappens so close to you, sometimes while you are holding theprops!
There are many standard close-up magic effects and standardroutines used to present them. For example, the 'Ambitious Card'where a chosen card repeatedly rises to the top position in adeck of
cards without any shuffling or cutting, or the 'SpongeBalls' where the balls move invisibly between the magician'shands and those of the spectator's. In fact, these routines arefreely available if you care to look. Anyone can search theinternet and buy books and DVDs on close-up magic, or even theprops and standard routines.
What really sets one close-up magician apart from another is howthey present their magic. In fact, presentation is the key - itis what makes close-up magic entertaining. A really good,professional magician will be creative and present their magicin an original and entertaining way. Sometimes humorous,sometimes mysterious, sometimes just plain weird and freaky. Themagic becomes a vehicle for the personality and ideas of theperformer.
This is what makes close-up magic great entertainment. Aninteresting, strange and funny person demonstrates theimpossible, weird and wonderful, right under your nose!
About the author:Dan Gifford is a professional magician and entertainerfrom Leicester, England. Dan performs close-up magic throughoutthe UK at parties, weddings, corporate events and trade shows.Contact Dan via his website at www.dangifford.com
