I only know of coins and cards, is there anything else?

Rubber band magic - Dan Harlan has some videos.

Copperfield did Crazy Man's Handcuffs on TV.
Cups and Balls is pretty good.
Sponge magic, silks, thimbles.

Jeff Mcbride has some good material in this area.

Thanks a lot. What is Crazy Man's Handcuffs? Can you supply a description for me?

Crazy Man's Handcuffs is a penetrating rubberband. Get Dan Harlan's Vol. 1, "Rubberband Magic with Mark Fitzgerald's Back Together".
:magicrabbit:

Check out "The Art of Close-up Magic" by Lewis Gannson. This is a two volume set of books that brags there are no card tricks included. Though some of the tricks in the set are awfully close to card tricks, they include tons of classic close-up magic. With these books and a little bit of willingness to work, you would have a lifetime of material.

Thanks,
Richard Green

You should consider the Tarbell Course in Magic. It covers all the different aspects of magic and gives you a solid foundation on which to build.

If you do a search on "Tarbell" you should find lots of other reasons for choosing it.

Harry Lorayne's "The Magic Book" is a great introduction to impromptu close-up magic (the best in my opinion). He teaches a few important sleights in great detail. And not all cards and coins.

You should also check out Martin Gardner's Encyclopedia Of Impromptu Magic, although this does assume a certain basic knowledge of magic.

And Gregory Wilson has a good set of videos (2) on impromptu magic called "On The Spot".

Look into magic that is good for children if you want to start making money off of magic. Put together about a 45 minute show of children's magic. Here's some of my show:

Confusing Crayons
Stiff Rope
Vanishing Crayons & Coloring Book
Change Bag with Zipper
Rainbow Ropes
Hat Tears
Insurance Policy

Some of these tricks will also work good for a cooporate party, but do some close-up for older people.

Hello:

Here are some of my favorite items that are NOT coins and cards....since I am a coin and card guy that should tell you how much I like these items. Check out:

Dragon Thread
Ring Leader
Easy to Master Thread Miracles by Ammar

Really first rate material. Best,
Brad Burt

I would check out "Jay Sankey" stuff, both effects and videos. Sankey does do a lot of cards and coins, but also a lot of different stuff, like magic with rings, money (bills), rubberbands, coffee creamers, balloons, the list goes on. What a creative guy.

Adding to the Rubber-Band Magic - I just love the "Stargazer", everyone is duly impressed with the little show, but the ending kicker knocks 'em out.

Ouelette's "Close Up Illusions" might be of some help.

The 'Magic Book' by Harry Lorayne is great, and it has lots of valuable information/concepts about close-up magic within its pages. And on top of that Harry Lorayne has a superb writing style, extremely lucid.

Get it now as it's great.

Socrates

'Nothing can bring you peace but yourself' - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Misled is a killer close-up effect. As performed by Copperfield, a pencil penetrates a borrowed bill, then seemingly melts through it. Both the pencil and the bill can be borrowed!

I've used this one for years and have got incredible responses.

Both Simon Lovels, Simon Says and Paul Harris's, Art of Astonishment are great books. Although they contain many card tricks, there is some veriation.