As a close up magician which tricks do you have with you?

Close up Magicians sometimes carry props so that they can do an impromptu performance. There is a school of thought which suggests that if you can’t perform a trick at a moment’s notice then you really aren’t a close up magician at all.

This is not how I live my life. Although I make my living as a close up magician I really don’t live it every day. When I first started I was practicing maybe four to five hours a day but now there are many other things which need to be attended to. Once you run a professional business you find that the close up magic itself has to take a back seat. 

For those of celebrity status I think the situation is different. Those people of stature are dependent on the public to support their profile and lifestyle. Those members of the public who meet the celebrity will be disappointed if they don’t behave in the way they expect. For a close up magician this really is not a problem as fame is rarer. Tj Entertain all-around the uk as a Professional Uk magician.

Although I make my living as a close up magician I feel somewhat uncomfortable performing in social situations. I know there are magicians who are genuinely obsessed with their art and will take every opportunity to perform or try out the newest gadget.

Many good books have been written on impromptu magic. In fact the classic mentalist trick revolving around the alphabet and grey animals, known by most professional magicians does not require any props at all. So essentially there is no need to carry anything.

Since turning professional as a close up magician I have found myself performing less and less when not working. However I still love conventions and meeting magicians to exchange techniques and moves.

What is the biggest challenge for a close up magician?

I was asked this question for a magazine interview some years ago and I remember my answer was “Getting the work!” I think it is even more relevant today. Due to the recession most industries have become more competitive and the work of a close up magician is no exception.

The reality is that close up magic is relatively easy to become competent at. It is very hard to become good and almost impossible to become world class. However a competent magician can wow an audience who do not see much magic. So becoming good enough to work is rarely the problem.

As I have said in other essays the close up magician can progress very quickly due to the number of repeat performances that can be achieved in a night. Anything from ten to thirty performances of a given trick are possible at the right event.

                                                                     

This kind of practice with short performances in quick succession really leads to great improvement in a short time. I have been fortunate to work at The Magic Castle in Hollywood many times. This is a members club for magic fans and you have the luxury of performing four times a night for a week. The quick turnaround gives you a chance to regroup and identify problems and rectify them. Long gaps between performances mean that you forget and don’t get a chance to reinforce the changes.

So getting to the required standard is not the main problem of the professional close up magician. The real challenge lies in getting the work. So it is sad, but true, to say that a competent magician with good marketing skills will do better than a more skilled magician without the ability to publicise their act.

Hiring Entertainers, Magicians and Puppet Shows for your Event’s Party

The Magic Circle Stage Competition is also open to the public and takes place every two years. The young magicians meet on Saturdays after which there is a public show which many parents and friends attend.

Membership is through examination and takes place on a Monday night before the general meeting. It is a nerve racking affair for those who decide to participate but members are genuinely friendly and enthusiastic when it is clear that the candidate has worked hard.

                                                                               

Magician Berkshire join as members of the Magic Circle and then are elevated through the ranks until they are awarded memberships of the Inner Magic Circle, this is by order of the president and only 200 or so members hold this honour at any one time.

For further information about the club do visit their website www.themagiccircle.co.uk

One mistake table Magician Berkshire make is that they believe they are being judged on their work rate and not on the level of their performance. Most magicians are unaware that they are being talked about throughout the evening and this is what the booker is listening to.

Guests who witness a performance while eating are unlikely to have concentrated during your performance and their feedback will be indifferent. Better to wait and give them a performance they will remember.

It is best to talk to the booker at the time of signing the contract or on the day before you start work. Explain that food is a distraction and that you try and avoid it if you can. Once they understand why