Here's a question that is purely a thing of curiosity for me. Although I have done everything but large stage illusions and birds...pretty much. I have a very narrow range of performing situations I actually like.

I all times favorite venue was working a cocktail part at an unmoveable station, my custom made Creekmore table. Over the counter in a magic shop. Stand up for small parties.

I hate going table to table. I hate roaming about. I would make the worst cold call sales person that ever lived. I don't like large stages with it's distance from the audience. I've done it. Did it a lot at one time. I just don't like it.

Just curious? Best,

My favorite type of performance is my talking stand-up cabaret/nightclub/banquet act.

Formal close up at a table.

I like best to be on a stage at a fair or festival with one or 2 large illusions and the rest club and parlor size stuff.
Bob.

Proscenium Arch stage all the way!

As a croupier I am accustomed to being seated at the card table, dealing with eight or so players. Also as a poker player I am used to sitting at the card table chatting and telling stories to players etc. Because I am familiarized with that, as an amateur card guy, I feel more comfortable and prefer to be seated at a table performing with cards. As magic fan though I think my favourite type is stage magic. Mind you I like all good magic I guess.

My absolute favorite performance location would be a black-box style theater. Its fairly intimate but you're still the center of attention and can perform larger effects. The only real problem is the angles, but if you're a talking act like I am, it's not too bad. I can see manipulators having problems with it, though, but it's what I like best.

Festival, 4 spectators standing.

My favorite is parlor sized inside of a house. I do like parlor in schools too. But in the house the children and I are a lot closer. It feels more like being a friend to them.

Thank you all! I have no idea why I have always found this interesting. I had a friend, Dan McKeon. Brilliant stage guy. Birds, etc. He hated close-up for the exact reason that I loved it, and I hate stage magic for the exact reason that he loved it.

Dan didn't like being in close contact with the audience. I didn't like the distance! He felt more in control on stage producing birds, etc. I always felt slightly out of control.

Best,

Stage / Parlor / Kid Shows are my favorite. I think table hoping is lots of hard work, not my favorite venue. Call me lazy, I admire the close up guys who thrive on it.

David

I love to work out of my pockets in a cocktail or dinner party setting. It's a relaxed atmosphere, and really a treat for the spectators, as most have never experienced "close up" magic.

I love to perform, though I don't actively pursue gigs like I did in the past. I don't have a preference for one venue over the other. I do like performing my manipulation act, so I suppose by default I'd have to set my site on the parlor/stage. There was a time that I hated doing walk-around magic. Anytime I can make a strong connection with an audience, large or small, I love it.

As an audience member I don't like restaurant table hoppers ... buzz off. I'm a curmudgeon when the waiters, managers and the like who interrupt my company and conversation with cheesy rote phrases. If however if I choose to go to a venue where entertainment is a theme of the establishment, then they can have at us at will.

Yep. If I were performing nowadays, that would be it for me. A second choice would be the 30's and 40's style night-club setting.