As it was International Women's Day yesterday, I wrote an article on the lack of close-up women in magic:

Magic Needs More Women Up Close!

I see this as a big problem that needs addressing. Anyone here have any ideas how this could be encouraged?

Marty

It is because most Women are smarter than Men!

They have seen thousands of Card Tricks, and choose to do something with a greater 'Entertainment Value'! IMHO

Maybe, if less men would do close up, that would encourage more women to do close up!

I'm all for Women up close!

Maybe the large number of men doing close-up is a factor, but there are lots of male stage magicians too. I'm curious why close-up isn't as appealing to women, especially when you consider women are often better suited to the kind of social situations close-up performers find themselves in (yeah, I know this is a gross generalisation).

Marty

P.S. Close-up doesn't always have to involve card tricks.

There is more to Close-Up Magic than Card Tricks (not that there's anything wrong with Card Tricks).

Unless you have a mentor it is hard to break into Close-Up Magic.

I've seen several Women Clowns come in and ask for "No Skill Required" Magic at a Magic Shop.

When people approach Magic from the Clown direction there is less pressure to amaze with the Magic than in Close-Up Circles. I think one of the main avenues for Women to enter Magic is through Clowning which leads more towards Stage.

I have heard that the Close-Up Magic Community was less than welcoming to Women in the past but I have never experienced this myself. In fact Men have been very welcoming to me and other Women I've known in Close-Up.

I do think that, in general, Women suffer from low expectations in Close-Up Magic Circles.
I've had some men register real surprise that I was good enough to amaze them even though I had decades of experience beyond theirs. They meant no offense but it did seem odd.

There is a ranking testing that men tend to do when meeting other Close-Up Magicians and some Women may feel put off by that (so are some men).

Over time I see more and more Women entering Close-Up Magic as they see it as a real possibility.

While I hate some of the effects of Youtube on Magic I do think it has recruited some people who would never have made the connections to enter Close-Up Magic before.
Now if they can overcome the hurtles of the poor teaching on Youtube we'll be in business.

-Mary Mowder