Best 2005 magician? What are your thoughts on this based on personal preferences.

Far too many top magicians out there to name a single one of 2005, especially without any specific criteria to choose by. Tons of pros and so many top amateurs who I never saw or met. If you man public impact, well that pretty well limits it to only a couple who did mostly some TV work in this last year. If you mean by performance, audience size or show size, that also limits it to only a few, since big shows are far and few between now. If you mean technical skill, well that is just about any magician in the world, since they are all better than me. So here's to 2005 the year of all the magicians being the top magician!

I think Daniel Garcia emerged full force into the magic scene in 2005 as one of the best of today. I was quite impressed by him.

To broad of a question.

Even the Academy notes categories.

Best Close-up Magician and the Five Contenders are:...
Best Card Magician and the Five Contenders are:...
Best Stage Magician and the Five Contenders are:...
Best Illusionist Magician and the Five Contenders are:...
Best Comedy Magician and the Five Contenders are:...
Best Street Magician and the Five Contenders are:...
Best Magic DVD for 2005 and the Five Contenders are:...
Best Author (Book) and the Five Contenders are:...

At least this way, there is no one that stands above the rest. This forum is divided into many areas and most are in close-up, mentalist, street magician category.

A Children's Magician wouldn't have a chance, but there are some good one's out there.

Just Being a Contender is an honor.

Best Children Magician of 2005 and the Five Contenders are:

• 1. Trixie Bond (A Complete Birthday Party Show and Lecture)
  
• 2. Barry Mitchell (As "MM" Magnet Man - Comedy Show for Children)
  
• 3. Mike Bent (How to Add Comedy Routines in Your Shows)
  
• 4. Bruce Amato (How to Perform School Show with an Educational Theme)
  
• 5. Dave Risley (How to Entertaining Daycare and Preschoolers)
  

(Based on performances at KIDabra International 2005)

Criss Angel

The one who I noticed most this year was Cyril. Probably because of all the clips and things that turned up on the net. But I really like a lot of his magic.

Vandy

Who are magicians here anyway?

I'd say Roy Horn. There's some REAL magic.

I'll second Roy Horn. I can't wait for his return to the stage.

Cyril and Criss Angel both kept magic hot and contemporary for the public.

Osterlind had a great year in terms of impact on the magic community

Tommy Brooks

I would like Congratulate Kostya Kimlat on being featured on the January 2006
Cover of MAGIC Magazine" Many years ago this very young Magician came to
New York from Florida to visit me and another Magician (Polaris)
Kostya, Polaris and I spent a day together hanging out and talking about Magic,
Kostya is a very nice guy, and now that I am in Florida he has been going around the world
Doing Magic, This past week he was at the Magic Castle.

http://kmagic.com/index.htm

http://www.magiccastle.com/schedule/index.cfm

All the best to you Kostya!!!



Maro

Derren Brown - for getting the public in the UK talking and enjoying magic rather than just bashing magicians all the time.

Sorry - technically it's mentalism and many people consider it to be different, but I still think Derren is the greatest magician/mentalist of 2005. I think the public in the UK would agree with me aswell.

I think that Daniel Garcia is the magician of the year because he came out with Torn and the Daniel Garcia Project. Criss Angel runs a close second because he has really emerged into the public eye.

Cyril Takayama. His magic is just mind-boggling. I vote him for the best street magician.

In my opinion there can be no number one magician, there are just too many diffrent types of magic and magicians I admire.

Daniel Garcia was great.

Erik Mana.......

MasterMind duo of specials was great..... he compensated for any hint of Blainy-ness by doing one stage routine and MANY of the close-up sequences were filmed before invited audiences indoors.

Mana says he really loves Absolute Magic by Derren Brown, and it is evident as the first episode features a lot of light stuff, some sleight of hand - coin tricks, some card tricks including a combination of mental and visual (he makes the cards disappear and reappear in startling places in his JK MindPower Deck routine) but in the 2nd special, he risks taking it to a darker and supernatural tone. Even performing an incredible tribute to the RINGU/RING horror movies. As Brown recommends to establish rapport at the very start by doing lighter stuff (such as watch steals or playful pickpocketing) then ending with dark and disturbing material such as Brown's presentation of the floating ring. Not necessarily dark that ring routine, but HEAVY nonetheless.

Erik Mana closes MasterMind with a commentary that gives hope and optimism to everyone...