Hi All,

My favorite close-up workers:

Cards: Earl Nelson, Bill Malone, and the late Michael Skinner.

Coins: David Roth, John Carney and Chris Korn

Close-up in general: John Carney, Chad Long, and again the late Michael Skinner

IMO, Michael Skinner was the greatest close-up worker of all time. His touch with specially cards was unmatched. Even though, Earl Nelson comes very close. Earl's touch with cards is the best in the world today.

David Roth is for me the greatest coin work of all time. Really no one comes close. His routines are FAR above everything else, that other coin magicians comes out with. The way he contructs his routines, are unmatched by any other coin magician. John Carney comes very close, but still behind IMO. Roth also does every sleight he uses, better than anyone else. This includes the classic palm, finger palm, retention vanish, shutle pass, etc.

Who is your favorite close-up magicians?

Daniel

I like loads...hmmm.

Darwin ortiz,David roth,Michael vincent to name a couple.

These are the ones who interested me most in sleight of hand magic.

Del Ray; Eugene Burger.

Steve

Mine are mostly DEAD, now ... ever see Albert Goshman's Coins/Saltshakers ???

Haven't seen Earl Nelson in a long time, but when I have, he was all technique and no presentation skills, rather boring for a lay audience, only us 'fellow finger flingers' would ever consider him 'above average'... and, yeah, we MISTAKENLY would label him GREAT... due to our 'warped viewpoint.'

Al was NOT 'flawless' in his execution... but FANTASTIC with his audiences... I saw him many times, saw him on 'off nights', and even shortly before he passed away, when I could recognize that he was 'hurting'... but his AUDIENCE always loved him, and was generally ASTOUNDED by him...

You perhaps should reconsider, make this TWO 'lists', one for 'Magicians we wish we could emulate', and the other for 'Magicians that NON-Magicians LOVE'... SADLY, the two are often NOT the same !!!

With Cards has to be Rene Lavand. His shows are perfectly built.

Everything contributes to a unique experience, the lights, the music, his demeanor, his patter, his use of the pause and his flawless technique, constitutes the highest level of artistic performance.

Bill Malone and Doc Eason need to be regarded as top close-up workers when it comes to non-magician audiences. Not to say they don't impress their peers when doing lectures or conventions because they certainly do! These two guys not only perform outstanding magic laced with top notch skill and presentation but more importantly have the type of personalities that click with their audiences. Both Doc and Bill could keep a crowd entertained even if they didn't do a single trick,something we should all consider before we book our next big gig at Hamburger World.

I like Michael Close. He is very funny and his routines are very original, entertaining and very commercial.

-Zack

Matthew.

I completely agree with you. A lot of hardcore sleight of hand magicians are extremely boring. Seems like all they have spent time on, is their sleight of hand. And many probably have.

There are many magicians, who aint that good in the sleight of hand area, who are awesome performers.
Doc Eason and Tommy wonder are two exsamples of that

I don't agree on Earl Nelson tho. He is sure a lot different than most performers. Im sure his audience don't laugh much during his performances. But the same could be said about Michael Skinner, who is concidered by many the greatest close-up worker of all time.

Daniel

I don't know about Eason but Tommy Wonder not being good at sleight of hand? I think you may not have seen Tommy wonder then. Ever see his cups and balls, the card in box etc....? If he is not good at sleight of hand then neihter was Vernon, Kaps, Skinner, Or Bill Malone, John Carney, Roger Klause etc.......

Ok now for My favorite close up magicians.


At the very top of the list, Michael Skinner. The rest in no order.

Roger Klause, Bill Malone, John Carney, Paul Gertner, plus others.

Randy:

If you think Tommy Wonder is good at sleight of hand, you are yet to see a real good sleight of hand magician. I think everyone else would agree on that..
To compare his sleight of hand to the likes of, Skinner, Malone, carney and roger klause is crazy. They are way way above Tommy Wonder in that area.

Daniel

Ok Maybe that is a good point. But of course for one to say either way if he is good or not is just a matter of opinion. I mayhave sounded like I had forgotten that in My original post if so I am sorry for that.

Re reading Magic Daniel's last post I think many would take issue with his saying that Wonder is not a good sleight of hand magician. Sure compare him to some others and maybe he can or can't hold up to them but I think it is a real dissservice to say Tommy wonder is not good at sleight of hand.

I guess it depends on how you view "sleight of hand." As Matthew the Magnificent mentioned, Earl Nelson is, technically, nearly flawless. From a presentational point of view, however, he can be a bit lackluster. I think sleight of hand is comprised of (at least) two components: mechanics and (mis)direction/timing. Tommy Wonder may not be the best mechanic, but his sense of timing, (mis)direction, and understanding of the other principles that make magic work are superb. As a result, I'd rate his sleight of hand up there with the very best.

I completely agree with trenchant. Tommy Wonder is a wonderful, wonderful Performer. His understanding of magic theory is as good as it gets. Noone is better in that area.
But, as a pure sleight of hand magician, Tommy is far from the best. I think he would agree on that himself. If some of the names I mentioned above, is a 10 on the 1-10 scale, I would give Tommy Wonder a 6-7.

Now, magic is a lot more than sleight of hand, like Trench mentioned. Its really all about detroying a lay audience, and that Tommy Wonder does superb!

Daniel