Coming Oct. 10: 2018 Close-Up Magic Competition

It's time for some more magic!

The 2018 Close-Up Magic Competition is just around the corner — Wednesday, Oct. 10. Come on out to support your fellow magicians as they present their best material in a formal, close-up setting... think Close-Up Room at the Magic Castle (without the cover charge).

And be sure to bring your friends and family because magic is always better when there are more people to enjoy it! Your guests can be fellow magicians or, preferably, non-magicians who love magic.

The performances start at 7:30 p.m. sharp! We'll be at our usual location at Yu-Ai Kai Senior Center, 588 North 4th Street, San Jose, CA.

Sign up to perform.

Whether you're a past winner, a brand-new entrant, or something in between, now's your chance to share your routines and show off your skills. This is a great, low-stress way to hone your act and get feedback. Remember: The goal is to do your best and not focus on winning. Just have fun!

If you're thinking of competing, please keep in mind the following information:
  • Close-up is defined as an act presented in a formal performing area with a table. There will be 2-3 rows of seating.
  • But remember that we don't have raked seating, so don't expect people in the 2nd or 3rd row to be able to see the top of the table.
  • All paid members are allowed to compete, including past winners. If you're new to the club, you have to attend at least three meetings this year to become a member. 
  • If you've won in the past, you must perform a different act.
  • Acts should be around 6 minutes long, so start timing yourself. (Depending on the number of participants, this number may be larger or smaller.)
  • Check out all the competition rules.

Meeting Report: September 12, 2018: Walk-Around Competition

The annual Ring 216 Walkaround Magic competition was held at the September meeting. The magicians who put themselves on the line were Dan Chan, Mitch Kothe, Fred Lee, Don Fickles, Meriam Al-Sultan, Luke Adams, and Suyash Joshi. The several first-time competitors deserve special commendation for stepping up to the challenge. The scoring by both magicians and muggles was close, but the final tallies revealed these winners:

First Place: Dan Chan
Second Place: Luke Adams
Third Place: Fred Lee
People’s Choice: Luke Adams