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But, to continue to define the discussion, I don't think comedy/parlour magic is what I'm referring to. When I think of most stage magic, I think of the stuff largely set to music. Are people really still stoked by watching a tiny woman climb into an enormous box and then see some poor tiger appear after spinning the thing around three times?

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Well, I think that's the whole problem. You're making a pretty big generalization there. It seems that you don't have a problem with stage magic, but rather the magic that you seen some performers do on stage. I agree that the examples that you provided really aren't very good. I've never liked the big illusions and stuff with all the props. I've always found them to be kind of cliche. But that's the thing, it's THOSE examples of stage magic that are so cheesy(to you and me), not stage magic itself. The stage is my favorite venue for performing, and it's also my favorite to watch, if it's done well. I recommend checking out the stage work of Nate Staniforth on his DVD "Magician". THAT'S the kind of stuff I like.

As for masters in both stage and close up, Tommy WOnder is one of the prime examples. I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned him yet.