Hi there

I am not sure if this is the right place to post a question, I am thinking to join a close up contest next year,

what are the things I need to know ? WHat are the major things judge look at it ?

Does it has to be a routine ? or just effects ?


Thank you so much for help.



Mike

Ech competition has its own rules, but always perform a routine, not just effects, one after another. Good luck.

My guidelines for entering a Close-Up contest.

Never do close-up in a close-up contest. Every close-up contest that I have won, I've won by doing platform or parlour effects. If you must do close-up then perform it as if it was a platform or parlour effect. Too many novice close-up contestants play to the people sitting at the table or he first row of the audience. A definite no-no in my book. Play to the back of the room. Even if the people sitting in the back can't see what you're doing they'll know what you're doing if you present it properly.

I can't speak for other judges. But when I judge a contest be it close-up or stage, I'm looking for originality, presentation and presence. I'll score an original presentation (even if it's a standard effect) performed by someone who takes control over their performing space over some knuckle buster presenting technically flawless sleights but who can't perform their way out of a paper sack.

You should present a routine with a beginning a middle and an end. It should either be one trick or three for theatrical reasons which are too long to go into here. Read Burger on this.

Never do a marketed effect as is. Always put your unique spin on the effect. Make it yours. Over the years I've seen multiple people doing Tabaray's rope routine move for move just like they learned it off of the DVD. This is like repainting the Mona Lisa. You might be very good at it but you'll never win a prize in an art show by doing it. Never do "just effects". But then that goes for the performance of all magic and not just contests.

Never set out to fool an audience of magician's. It's a fools errand. Even if you're successful in doing so they will never admit it. Work at entertaining them instead

For a while, I took out the killer sleights and concentrated on originality.

These days I do both. For the ring 129 MOY, I used stuff from Curtis K's wonderful Palms of Steel, but also put me into it.

Harmonica and a disposible razor for magic wands, and for the finale produced electric hair clippers instead of a jumbo coin.

Hmmm should I be a 3rd rate copy or 1st rate me?

Harris
still 2 old to know it all

Mike,

Each organization has their own spin on the rules. Start with the organization that is holding the competition (ie...IBM, SAM, FISM, Magic Circles, etc....)

Mike -

Contact Oscar Munoz who is in charge of the IBM contests for the rules and entry forms for the IBM contests. Oscar's email is oscarmunoz@mac.com . I am sure Oscar will be happy to try and answer your questions.

Bill

I've found this to be very true in the organization I belong to also.
It kinda contradicts the whole thing, but it is probably better than
not to approach your close up magic this way anyway...