The Art of Close-Up Magic

Nowadays we call it Street Magic.  Street magic is really close up magic, but it’s been made so popular by magicians such as David Blaine who literally performs his magic “on the street”, that close-up magic has taken on this new name.  So what is close-up magic, and why is it so popular?

Close-up magic is any magic trick that you can do right in front of someone.  No further away than a yard.  And usually much closer than that, like right in someone’s face.  And the reason it’s so popular is that because of the spectator being right on top of the trick, and most of the time they are even involved in the trick, or at least an item that belongs to them, the magic appears miraculous!

On a big stage, there is a part of us that could believe that a magic trick is because of a “special effect”.  But in close-up magic, there is no explanation, no special effect, no assistant, no fancy props or gimmicks.  It’s just you and the coin, or you and the card, etc.  A good close-up magician can really perform the impossible.  And in the intimate setting, or one-on-one setting, the spectator feels special.  Like the trick is being done just for them.  No wonder why it’s so popular.

All magicians who are starting out can do themselves a service to start mastering close-up before anything else.  This requires the magician to get very good at all the skills necessary to being a successful magician; misdirection, sleight of hand, creative patter, generating rapport, and using everyday props to make the magic happen.

And who knows, you may fall so in love with close-up magic that you decide to make a career out of it.  Many magicians have.  Why not you?

Tagged as: Art Magic, Career, Close Up Magic, Close Up Magician, Creative, David Blaine, Face, Gimmicks, Love Magic, Magic Street, Magic Trick, Magicians, Patter, Props, Reason, Sleight Of Hand, Spectator, Street Magic