Close-Up Magic - A definition

Cards, coins, cups and balls, balls, thimbles and any other generally hand-sized tricks ar called close-up magic. Generally, magicians will specialize in one or the other of these different subfields; card people rarely socialize with coin people.

The Shell Game

Preparation: You will need three identical shells: store-bought shells, bottle caps, walnut shells, or some such, and two identical coins. Glue a dark hair with a dab of clear glue onto one coin.

Make sure to perform this trick on a dark surface. Place the prepped coin under one of the shells. Turn your back to the audience and ask a spectator to mix up the shells. The hair should protrude, revealing which cap the coin is under. (The hair should be difficult to see.)

After showing where the coin was hiding, drop it into your pocket, with the other plain coin, leaving the shells on the table. If they ask to see the coin, show them the plain one. If they ask you to perform the trick again...refuse. A performer never shows the same trick to an audience more than once.

How Many Card Tricks

There are lots of good card tricks, but some magicians insist on trying to do all of them at once. Three good card tricks at a time are plenty.

Table-Hopping

As a magician, if you can convince restauranteurs and bar-owners to allow you to perform in their respective places of business you'll usually be asked to return.
Remember, many diners don't wish to have their meals or conversations interrupted. Use your intuition. If a table doesn't look like it's “in the mood” avoid it.

´The Challenge´ Jumping Rubber Band

Place a rubber band around the base of your index and middle fingers of your left hand, and an additional rubber band around the tips of your left hand, starting with your index finger, and twisting once between each finger. Then, fold your hand into a fist, inserting the tips of the fingers (as in the basic jumping Rubber Band) into the band which is to jump. Straighten out your fingers, and the band will jump as before.

Street Magic

Street Performing

An excellent venue for magic, if you have the personality and if your city's ordinances allow it. I've always been impressed with street magicians since they are really on the front line and cutting edge of magic. As in Walk-Around magic, the street performer must carry his act with him and has to perform completely surrounded.

The tips are good...at least as good as you are. I've known street performers who can pull in $300 per very long day.

The worst obstacles one can encounter doing magic outdoors are hecklers, show-offs and know-it-alls. Of course you'll encounter this type of miscreant and misanthrope anywhere, but it seems that street performers attract an undue percentage of them. If you feel like you want a challenge to your magic ability and truly enjoy magic, you might want to stretch yourself in this way.

Traditionally, good tricks for street performers include the "Chinese Linking Rings," "Cups and Balls" and "Hopping Halves."

If you are a gifted juggler, you might consider throwing (excuse the pun) some routines in the middle of your act to attract attention and to better
entertain your audience.


See street performers in action

Linking Paper Clips

Linking paper clips-Fold a dollar bill into thirds, so that when folded there is a fold on the left first, and then a fold on the right. Take a few paperclips and place one around the first and second folds, an then place the other clips around the second and third folds. If you pull the upper corners away from you in a quick motion, the paper clips will link and drop to the floor.

Basic Jumping Rubber Band

Place the rubber band around the base of your index and middle fingers of your left hand. If the band is too loose, put it around twice. (Experiment with the tension.) The back of your hand is toward the audience, and your palm faces you. Close your left hand into a fist, at the same time use the index finger of your right hand to "point out what you´re doing" while secretly stretching the band down so that all four left fingers can be inserted into the rubber band. Now straighten out your fingers and the band will automatically jump to a new position around your left ring and little finger.