This is the opposite of the what tricks bore you thread. What tricks, even if you know exactly how they are done, still mesmerize you? Some of the sleights and controls amaze me even if I have seen the tutorials over and over again. Something as an excellent double lift still amazes me.

Just about anything on a Harry Lorayne video. His showmanship and unforgettable demeanour embody the very essence of misdirection and covering small actions with big ones. Even when I know the trick, to watch Harry's bold and almost hypomanic presentation, his "messy" shuffles that are anything but, his riveting and occasionally querulous engagement of the spectators, is to be amazed. His economical technique is so effortless and well-concealed by everything he puts out there that I cannot tell for sure what his hands are up to even though I know full well what is going on under the hood.

I enjoy any well performed sponge ball routines. Sponges are not only my favorite to perform, but also my favorite to watch and act as a participant for.

My little guy and I have supported our local magic shop--shout out to Jeff Pinsky at The Browser's Den in Toronto--in acquiring several magic kits of varying quality (and a bit of overlap). There are some neat tricks, even if the props are toy-like and all Asian-made. But we do have two decent sets of sponge balls and some info on routines for beginners. As a youngster reading Hay's Amateur Magician's Handbook I was fascinated by billiard balls, but had no idea then where to get the gear or if my boyish hands could handle them. Sponge balls seem to be a modern analogue and I was delighted to find out they were such a thing.

And the cups and balls never cease to amaze! On of our sets has an attractively looking set of cups of good size if one ever wants to produce small potatoes or tangerines or the like.

And one other--even though I know much now about IT and IET and ITRs and loops and the like, close-up levitation work always makes me smile. Yeah, I KNOW it's not defying physics for real, but today's gear for this work is getting so good and the illusion in skilled hands is so effective it really looks like magic. Moreover, it is something that a beginner like me with modest investment can get into right away!

For me, the classic is rings. I love a good performance.

The first thing that I really enjoy watching is sleight of hand. And I don't Nan watching a trick involving it, but just burning somebody's hands and still not catching a pass, or watching somebody do a vanish, whether it be coin, spongeball, cigarette or anything really.

The other thing I love watching is pickpocket routines. The amount of misdirection and the ease with which they do it makes me giggle like a little boy

At the core of things is the ability to create an illusion in your own mind, communicate that in a physical way, and have another person echo that illusion in their mind. That is the magical part -- and should never be lost from familiarity of method. I always appreciate that someone cares enough to perform a magic effect for me.

Cups & Balls. Watching Pop Haydn do the Classics, Multiplying Billiard Balls, Color Changing Scarf, etc. Truly magical, and inspiring!

Doug

I still enjoy watching cups and balls as well. Plus, the performer really makes the difference. I'll watch Tommy Wonder all day. And I'm still kicking my self for missing a chance to see Michael Close last year. I was going to attend a gathering but decided against it. He wasn't on the schedule when I saw it!

Lately it's been Cups and Balls for me, too. I like to see what kind of innovation different people bring to it. I recently saw routines by Mario Morris and Suzanne the Magician, two very different approaches that left two very big impressions on me.

For me, it's Cups and Balls done really really well, as well as a good sponge routine. Something about this old tricks that just look so good and impossible when done well.

For me, dove magic done with body loads and card work with back palming, split fans, etc are my favorite things to watch.

I am surprised by the many cups and balls responses. I'll have to revisit that. I have seen Harry L do his overhand shuffle and the timing is just amazing. It just looks like nothing funny is going on.

I love being misdirected close up. I really want to meet with some great magicians to appreciate this close up for real.

The most magical thing I've ever seen was a spoon bend by Dee Christopher. He'd just lectured on it, so I knew exactly how he did it and had seen it from the audience. But later that night, he showed me up close, less than 3 feet from my eyes. I'll never forget it - it was beautiful

For me it's a good comedy magic routine, or someone who can just hold an audience in the palm of their hand. Harry Anderson can do that well.

KJ

"Numero Uno" by Harry Lorayne.

Cups & balls, especially Kent Gunn's "Fun Shop Cups and Balls" routine, simply wonderful.

Anything by Pop Haydn.

Roy,

I love sponge balls, too. For a time, I was shooting video of all of my shows. I was changing the theme and the presentation, though not necessarily the effects. I watched myself performing the sponge balls, and I fooled myself. I could not believe how good it looked from the audience's perspective. I never considered my retention vanish as anything to write home about, but I was pleasantly surprised how good it looked from the other side.

I might also add, that when I am performing sponge balls for a smaller crowd, I make them appear using a drawer box. I know how the drawer box works, but it amazes me every time. I love it.

Bobby

The Homing card routine by Fred Kaps.. Maybe I've watch it over 20 times on YouTube and I still enjoy and admire the handling and the acting of the great Fred Kaps!!!

The Amazing Johnathan. Hilarious!