What do you think before you perform as a close up magician?

The close up magician really does decide when and where they are going to perform. Obviously they are booked for an event but the short shows they give will happen when and where they decide. This is very different from the stage magician who will perform at an allotted time in a particular arena.

So when I work as a close up magician my thought goes into solving the problem of how I am going to get their attention quickly. After all they have not come to see me. They probably don’t even know that I am there. When you are booked as a close up magician very often you are kept as a surprise. 

So the close up magician has to find a way of introducing themselves, explaining who they are and performing for a short time without being overbearing. This requires experience and time to perfect.

The Close up Magician has problems that the stage performer doesn’t have. The cabaret magician knows where and when they will perform and often the set up helps them to gain and keep the attention of an audience. In the busy banquet hall there are many variables that can interrupt and often destroy a performance by a close up magician.

The magician has to look around the room and predict what will happen to avoid being disturbed during the performance. Waiters serving wine or food can be a real disruption as can the raffle or a speech. With experience the magician can predict these things and avoid them.