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.