Close-up magic (also known as table magic or micromagic) is magic performed in an intimate setting usually no more than 3 meters (10 feet) from one's audience and is usually performed while sitting at a table. Sleight-of-hand, also known as prestidigitation ("quick fingers") or ''léger de main'' (Fr., "lightness of hand"), is the set of techniques used by a magician to secretly manipulate objects. Coins and playing cards are the most commonly used objects, but any small item can be used such as dice, bottle caps, sugar cubes, sponge balls, pebbles, pens, and cups and balls. A magician may use more than one kind of object in a single trick. Close-up magicians may also enhance their performance by combining magic with other elements, such as card flourishes. While magic uses misdirection to produce an illusion, these flourishes are more straightforward displays of skill, comparable to juggling. Another form of micromagic is micromentalism, mentalism performed in an intimate session. This form of mentalism involves examples of telekinesis, extrasensory perception, precognition and

telepathy Telepathy () is the purported vicarious transmission of information from one person's mind to another's without using any known human sensory channels or physical interaction. The term was first coined in 1882 by the classical scholar Frederic W ...

. Most cold reading takes place in such an intimate session, as do most theatrical séances.

Famous performers

* Jewel Aich *

Jay Alexander Jay Alexander (born April 10, 1968) is an American magician and comedian known as a corporate and society entertainer. He has appeared on ''The Today Show'', '' Good Morning America'' and MTV, and also on many local morning shows. In the ''S ...

* Michael Ammar *

Tony Andruzzi Tony Andruzzi (born May 22, 1925 in Cheyenne, Wyoming – died December 22, 1991 in Chicago, Illinois) was the name adopted by professional magician Tom S. Palmer from the age of 45 to the end of his life. Changing Names Born to Fay and Tom McG ...

Keith Barry Keith Patrick Barry (born 2 October 1976) is an Irish mentalist, hypnotist, magician and activist for the elderly. Early life Born in Williamstown, Waterford, Ireland, Keith's interest in magic began at the age of 5 with a Paul Daniel's mag ...

Herbert L. Becker Herbert Lawrence Becker (born 1951) is an American former magician, escapologist, stunt performer, author, and businessman. As a magician, Becker performed as ''Kardeen''. Biography Early life Herbert Lawrence Becker was born in Hollywood, F ...

Ariann Black Ariann Black (also spelled Arian Black earlier in her career) is a magician based in Las Vegas, Nevada. She has headlined her own show in Vegas and appeared on a number of national and international television shows. She is known in the magic worl ...

* David Blaine *

J.B. Bobo J. B. Bobo (11 February 1910 in Texarkana, Texas – 12 September 1996) was a magician most known for his work and writing in the arena of coin magic Coin magic is the manipulating of coins to entertain audiences. Money Magic, pp. 175-221. Beca ...

* Derren Brown * Matthias Buchinger * Charles Cameron * Canuplin * John Carney * John Cassidy * Milbourne Christopher * Ali Cook *

Paul Curry Paul Curry (August 19, 1917–February 19, 1986) was the vice-president of the Blue Cross Insurance Company of New York, and a famous amateur magician who became well known in the magic community for inventing highly-original card magic. Ma ...

* Steve Dacri * Paul Daniels * Daryl * Lewis Davenport * Dedi * Persi Diaconis *

Dean Dill Dean Dill (born 8 March 1947) was a magician and effects designer who lived and worked in Glendale, California, USA. He appeared on ''The Tonight Show ''The Tonight Show'' is an American late-night talk show that has aired on NBC since 1954 ...

* Derek Dingle *

Simon Drake Simon Drake (born Simon Alexander; 1 March 1957) is an English magician based in London. He is best known for the television series ''The Secret Cabaret'' made for Britain's Channel 4. Early life Born in London, Drake is the son of a GP. Dr ...

* Geoffrey Durham * Tim Ellis *

Alex Elmsley Alex Elmsley (2 March 1929 – 8 January 2006) was a Scottish magician and computer programmer. He was notable for his invention of the ''Ghost Count'' or '' Elmsley Count'', creating mathematical card tricks, and for publishing on the mathemati ...

* S. W. Erdnase *

Fakir of Ava Isaiah Harris Hughes (25 December 1813 – 24 May 1891), better known as the Fakir of Ava, was a 19th-century stage magician, the teacher of Harry Kellar. Biography Hughes was born in Essex, England, but moved to the United States and became ...

(Isaiah Harris Hughes) * Martin Gardner *

Paul Gertner Paul Gertner is an American close-up magician from Pittsburgh. He is best known in the magic world for his ''Steel and Silver'' book and set of DVDs. Magic career Paul Gertner's interest in magic began as a child, borrowing library books on th ...

Walter B. Gibson Walter Brown Gibson (September 12, 1897 – December 6, 1985) was an Americans, American writer and professional magic (illusion), magician, best known for his work on the pulp magazine, pulp fiction character ''The Shadow''. Gibson, under the ...

Andi Gladwin Andi Gladwin (May 10, 1983) is a British magician, speaker, and publisher. He has appeared on television (ITV's The Next Great Magician, Next Great Magician, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, The Big Breakfast, Lance Burton's Young Magician Showcase, Maste ...

Horace Goldin Horace Goldin (December 17, 1873August 21, 1939) was a stage magician who was noted for his rapid presentation style and who achieved international fame with his versions of the sawing a woman in half illusion. Early life Goldin was of Polish ...

* Lennart Green *Brother John Hamman * Paul Harris * Ryan Hayashi *

Whit Haydn Whit "Pop" Haydn (born July 19, 1949 as Whitney Wesley Hadden in Clarksville, Tennessee) is an American magician, and the winner of seven performing awards (for performances in showrooms at the Magic Castle) from the Academy of Magical Arts. ...

Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser Johann Nepomuk Hofzinser (19 June 1806 – 11 March 1875) was an Austrian-Hungarian magician and illusionist. He used the moniker "Dr. Hofzinser" as a stage name after retiring in 1865. Ottokar Fischer spread the story that upon his death in 1875 ...

* Burling Hull *

Scott Interrante Scott Arbuthnot (born August 4, 1961) is an American magician who specializes in escape-artist feats and grand illusions. He is a third-generation magician. At 17, Scott answered an audition posting for the movie '' Ragtime'' and got the job to r ...

Joshua Jay Joshua Jay (born October 30, 1981) is a magician, author, and lecturer. He has performed in over 100 countries, and he was awarded the top prize at the World Magic Seminar in 1998. He fooled Penn and Teller on their hit show, ''Fool Us','' and ...

* Ricky Jay * Larry Jennings * Barry Jones *

Richard Jones Richard Jones may refer to: Arts and entertainment *F. Richard Jones (1893–1930), American filmmaker *Dick Clair (Richard Jones, 1931–1988), American producer, actor and TV writer *Richard Jones (The Feeling), British bass guitarist *Richard J ...

* Charles Jordan *

Fred Kaps Fred Kaps (official name Abraham Pieter Adrianus Bongers; 8 June 1926 – 23 July 1980) was a Dutch magician, famous for being the only magician to become FISM Grand Prix world champion three times.

(Abraham Pieter Adrianus Bongers) *

Gustavus Katterfelto Gustavus Katterfelto (or Katerfelto) (c. 1743–1799) was a Prussian conjurer, scientific lecturer, and quack. Career Christian William Anthony Katterfelto (known as Gustavus) arrived at Hull in September 1776 and traveled around Britain until ...

Igor Kio Igor Emilievich Kio (né Igor Emilievich Hirschfeld-Renard) (13 March 1944 – 30 August 2006) was a Russian illusionist with the Russian State Circus (Росгосцирк). Born Igor Emilievich Hirschfeld-Renard, He was the son of the legendary m ...

(Igor Emilievich Renard Kio) * Kostya Kimlat *

Al Koran Al Koran (1914–1972), real name Edward Doe, was a British mentalist, author and inventor. He invented the ''Ring Flite'' and popularised a version of the Bagshawe deck which became known as the Koran deck. Life and career Edward Doe was born in ...

(Edward Doe) * Duane Laflin * René Lavand * Tom London * Harry Lorayne *

Simon Lovell Simon Lovell (born 1957) is an English comedy magician, actor, and card sharp, who specialises in magic using playing cards. Career Lovell was a regular performer in ''Monday Night Magic'', an off-Broadway show featuring magicians and relate ...

* Stuart Macleod * Gérard Majax (Gérard Fater) * Max Malini (Max Katz Breit) * Leon Mandrake *

Matt Marcy Matt Marcy (born 1976, Los Angeles, California) is an American comedian-magician known for his original, comedy illusions. In 1997 he was named by the Academy of Magical Arts (The Magic Castle) as its top ranking young magician when he was just 20 ...

* Ed Marlo * Doug McKenzie *

Lisa Menna Lisa Menna (born July 23, 1964) is a magician and activist. Called the most influential female magician of the 20th century by BBC World Service The BBC World Service is an international broadcasting, international broadcaster owned and ope ...

Drummond Money-Coutts Drummond William Thomas Money-Coutts (born 1986), also known as DMC, is an English magician, and the heir apparent to the Latymer Barony.Complete Peerage, "Latimer or Latymer (Nevill), Vol VII, pp. 479–486, and supplement Vol XIV His first p ...

* Stephen Mulhern * Oscar Munoz * David Nixon *

Lance Norris Lance Norris (born August 9, 1962) is an American actor/writer/director/stand-up comic/critic/mentalist. Life and career Norris was born in Des Moines, Iowa, and attended Emerson College and Whitman College. Norris contributed to morning shows ...

* Alain Nu * Shoot Ogawa * Okito (Tobias Bamberg) * Darwin Ortiz *

Johnny Ace Palmer Johnny Ace Palmer is an American micromagic, close-up magician. He is famous within the worldwide magical community for his prodigious sleight-of-hand abilities. Early life Palmer was born in Warren, Ohio, in 1960 and attended Lakeview High School ...

Scott Penrose Scott Penrose (born 1969 in Essex) is an English magician and magic consultant and is the son of magician John Penrose. Penrose is a former President of The Magic Circle having been proposed for the post by Paul Daniels. He is Honorary Vice Pres ...

Jacob Philadelphia Jacob Philadelphia was a magician, physicist, mechanic, juggler, astrologer, alchemist, and Kabbalist. Biography He is believed to have been born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 14, 1735 as ''Jacob Meyer''. Dr Christopher Witt, the a ...

(Jacob Meyer) * Franz Polgar *

Fay Presto Fay Presto (born 17 May 1948) is the stage name of Letitia Winter, a British magician and member of The Inner Magic Circle known for her close-up magic. Career Winter's first job was as a lab assistant at an atomic energy research company, an ...

* Dominic Reyes * Étienne-Gaspard Robert *

Brian Role Brian (sometimes spelled Bryan (given name), Bryan in English) is a male given name of Irish language, Irish and Breton language, Breton origin, as well as a surname of Occitan language, Occitan origin. It is common in the English-speaking world. ...

* David Roth * Jerry Sadowitz * Jay Sankey * Ian Saville * John Scarne (Orlando Carmelo Scarnecchia) *

Howie Schwarzman Howard Schwarzman (November 20, 1927 – July 21, 2020, New York City) was an American magician, card manipulator, sleight of hand expert, and trick inventor. Considered a "living legend" in the Eastern United States magician community, he was ...

Alan Shaxon Alan Shaxon (28 December 1933 – 27 October 2012) was a professional magician and a former president of The Magic Circle. He specialised in cabaret performances and was billed as one of England's foremost magicians. The Magic Circle gave Shaxo ...

(Alan Arthur Howson) * Michael Skinner * Tony Slydini *

Thomas Solomon Thomas Solomon (born 1969 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is an American escape artist and magician. Early life As a boy he was fascinated with mechanical devices. Around the age of thirteen, he was apprenticed to a local locksmith in his hometown of ...

* David Stone * Tom Stone * Sylvester the Jester * Cyril Takayama * Juan Tamariz * Harlan Tarbell *

Teller Teller or telling may refer to: People * Teller (surname) * Teller (magician), one half of the duo Penn & Teller Places * Teller, Alaska, United States ** Teller Airport * Teller County, Colorado, United States Other uses * 5006 Teller, a minor ...

* Neil Tobin * Richard Turner * Dai Vernon * Michael Vincent *

Val Walker Valentine Augustus Walker (15 February 1890 – 17 March 1969) (also known as Val A Walker and Val Enson) was an English magician, escape artist and illusion designer. He was born in Moseley, Birmingham to Joseph Walker, a landscape gardener, and ...

* Roy Walton * Orson Welles * Gregory Wilson * Tommy Wonder *

Herb Zarrow Herbert Gershen Zarrow (November 4, 1925 – May 11, 2008) was an American magician influential in the profession for his inventions of unique sleight of hand and card tricks. The inventor of the Zarrow shuffle, his skills were held in the highe ...

* Paul Zenon

Micro magic tricks

The Best Coin Fold The Best Coin Fold is the title of a magic trick (effect) which appeared in Jean Hugard's book, ''Close Up Magic'', published in 1938. A coin fold is an effect that involves the appearance of a magician Magician or The Magician may refer to: ...

* Cups and balls * Ambitious card *

Card warp Card Warp is a card illusion that was created by magician Roy Walton. ''Card Warp'' has many variations in presentation and effect. ''Card Warp'' starts out with the illusionist showing two cards. He then folds one card horizontally and the oth ...

Floating match on card The floating match is a magic trick Magic, which encompasses the subgenres of illusion, stage magic, and close up magic, among others, is a performing art in which audiences are entertained by tricks, effects, or illusions of seemingly imposs ...

French drop The French drop, also known as ''"Le Tourniquet"'', is a sleight of hand Sleight of hand (also known as prestidigitation or ''legerdemain'' ()) refers to fine motor skills when used by performing artists in different art forms to entertain or ...

* Palming * Retention of vision vanish *

Hummer card A levitation illusion is one in which a magician appears to defy gravity by making an object or person float in the air. The subject may appear to levitate unassisted, or it may be performed with the aid of another object (such as a silver ball fl ...

* The Four Burglars *

Scotch and soda Scotch and soda is a mixed drink consisting of Scotch whisky and carbonated water, soda water or other sparkling water. There is no fixed ratio of the ingredients: the amount of water can vary according to taste from a splash to several times th ...

Detachable thumb The detachable thumb (unknown originator) is a close-up illusion. Effect The performer appears to remove the end of his own thumb; moving it back and forth along his hand or lifting it up. Method There is no particular secret to this illusio ...

Thumb tip A thumb tip is a magician's prop designed to fit over and appear to be the magician's thumb used for vanishing, producing, or switching small objects. A classic effect is to have a silk handkerchief or other small object pressed into the top o ...

Glorpy Glorpy, sometimes known as the Haunted Handkerchief, is a close-up magic trick. The effect is that a ghost or spirit is captured in a folded handkerchief that then makes the handkerchief move. This effect is also used in demonstrations of spiri ...

*Healed and sealed * Zarrow shuffle *

Card manipulation Card manipulation is the branch of magic that deals with creating effects using sleight of hand techniques involving playing cards. Card manipulation is often used in magical performances, especially in close-up, parlor, and street magic. Some ...

References

{{Magic and Illusion Magic (illusion)