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The Making of The Millionaire’s Magician..

The Making of The Millionaire’s Magician..

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From Jonathan Fields…  "Last year, I stumbled upon a fascinating article in The New York Times about Steve Cohen, a magician who offered exclusive shows out of a suite at the Waldorf Astoria and was flown around the world to give private shows for heads of state, captains of industry and celebs.The story struck me because here was a guy making a serious living doing something very cool that most others would consider a hobby or a side-job. He’s a classic example of a Career Renegade.So, I made a note to reach out to Steve to interview him. And, through an odd twist of fate (aka the Universe speaking up), we ended up being brought together in a completely different way and working together.“

"But, I’ve always wanted to share a lot more detail about how Steve transformed himself into the wildly successful Millionaire’s Magician and launched his now famous magic show in NYC.As we all know, getting information from a magician is no easy feat (the old “never reveal your secrets” thing), but in the interview that follows, Steve was incredibly candid about his business journey. And his story is rich with lessons not just for magician’s, but for anyone starting any business built around a passion, especially one considered by many to be more of a hobby than a serious income.Enjoy…”

http://www.jonathanfields.com/the-making-of-the-millionaires-magician/

(Be sure to sign up for Jonathan’s blog updates while you’re there.. it’s great)

The Ten Best Close-Up Magicians..

The Ten Best Close-Up Magicians..

By Wayne Kawamoto…. Anytime there’s a list of the “best magicians,” it’s always the stage and television performers who are recognized. But what about close-up? With this in mind and after lots of thought, here’s my list of the top ten close-up magicians.To start, what was my criteria? I attempted to identify close-up magicians who entertain in the real world and not just for other magicians. This mostly rules out the finger flingers who mainly impress other magicians and don’t necessarily entertain the lay public. I wanted truly commercial performers who regularly do the trade shows, corporate events and restaurants – the bread and butter of the close-up world.I easily compiled a list of 20 performers and ultimately whittled it down to my top ten. Here they are, in order, and why each magician is on my list.

Abracadabra: The 10 Best Magicians in the World..

Abracadabra: The 10 Best Magicians in the World..

When you go to a magic show in Las Vegas, the City of Illusions, you’re likely to encounter some of the best magicians in the world. Not only is this city home to famous illusionists, mentalists, and comic magicians, but it’s also the host to several magic conventions.

Some people consider a magician to be a strange career choice, although we encountered several even more bizarre options in our previously published article, the 9 weirdest jobs in the world. But even such odd jobs have their masters, as is the case with magic entertainers. While some left their mark in the magic world as mind-blowing mentalists, others mastered the art of pick-pocketing. Some became famous by building on their theatrics, and others paired up to create a double-action show.Today, the array of magicians has increased significantly, but while some of the names on this list might be familiar from TV shows, there are several world class tricksters that shy away from the limelight. So, from Guinness World Records, to mind games and metal chains, let’s talk about the best magicians in the world.

(Magic News note: This list is actually more about the most popular magicians in the world than the best magicians… Where’s Ricky Jay? Where’s Lennart Green ?  You get my point…)

Read more at http://www.insidermonkey.com/blog/abracadabra-the-10-best-magicians-in-the-world-335927/#vvvzvHo4ltExY51L.99

This Is Your Brain on Magic..

This Is Your Brain on Magic..

Psychologists and neuroscientists have an unlikely ally in their quest to understand human nature: professional magicians.

“I’m going to flip through here and I want you to glance at a card in the middle,” Jay Olson tells his volunteer, offering the deck of cards in his hands. “Not the bottom one—that’s kind of simple for me—but one in the middle. Okay?”

She okays. He flips; she glances.

Olson, a graduate student in psychiatry at McGill University, puts the cards back in their box and hands it to her. “So which one did you choose?” The 10 of hearts, she tells him. “The 10 of hearts,” he repeats. “Great. So now if you could just examine the outside of the box to make sure it’s normal”—she does—“and then take that box and just close it right inside your hands.”

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/02/this-is-your-brain-on-magic/385468/