Thank you Guys! Keep Listing!! and don't forget to write WHY

Regards,

Alejandro.

I saw Vito Lupo perform recently and he blew me away!
He has a very charismatic stage character and is extremely creative. It is clear that he has taken acting lessons. Also, offstage, he is a very personable guy and quite down to earth.

My vote goes to,

Alec Sobel - he is really funny and interesting to watch.

Mike brings up a good point in that some of the people that we admire we admire for more then just the magic. We admire them for being creative and for developing characters on stage that we can identify with. These folks give more to their audiences and raise magic up a level.

Kyle

I just saw Topas at the SAM and it has to be one of the best magic shows, not just act, I have ever seen.

I worked on the same convention with him in 1987 when he first came over and was unknown. He has continued to grow and grow in his presentation and performance.

He is a very likable person whose personality jumps across the footlights. With three people, he did a 90 minute show that was second to none. The pacing, the magic, the comedy, blocking were second to none. I would recommend, if you can ever see his full show, to go for it.

Jeff McBride is another favorite for the reasons just stated. Lance Burton does classic magic and never lets the wall come up between him and the audience.

There are so many, many very good acts out there and all have their strengths and weaknesses. But I always look at how they play for laypeople as opposed to magicians. That is the real test of a great performer.

I must agree with Richard in that Topas was incredible and an amazing performer and thinker. I had seen his shows on video and Tv before but I have never seen his full show or had the pleasure of hearing him lecture.

After seeing both at the convention, I am just absolutely amazed by this man. His creative thinking is just incredible and he gives and puts so much into every act and routine he does.

I can safely say that in his 1 hour and 20 minte show, there was not 1 effect or routine that was not completely original and extremely creative.

He consistently brought to the stage routines that were clever, thought out and just purely entertaining.

Kyle

He was the best MC at the past FISM.

Mac King is excellent! He has (or had last year) the best value in Vegas. He also does a show that accomodates a 12 and up crowd. In Vegas, that is not common.

I would have to say Rick Thomas for his GREAT magic. I think he doesn't get as much credit for his show as he should. I am sure anyone who has seen the show would agree it is one of the greatest shows around today.

McBride--> He is astonishing. Theatrical. Genial.
Tommy Wonder--> I love the simplicity of his act.
Topaz--> a lot of creativity.

Jeff McBride - Great magical thinker and a big help in all magic aspects.

Lance Burton - An unbelievable dove act and a class act all in his own.

Tony Clark - For his creative thinking and energy.

The Pendragons - For their fast work and the way it flows from one effect to the other.

Michael Ammar - One of the greatest thinkers for today's magician.

All of these performers have been a great influence to me! They give me inspiration to perform MAGIC!

Goldfinger and Dove - For their fantastic use of music. He and Dove absolutely work as one unit so beautifully. And every piece of music fits his act to perfection.

Tomsoni & Company - For their perfect timing and their ability to work together as a unit.

Early David Copperfield - His use of music and the incorporaton of various effects to tell a story resulted in the most memorable routines I have ever experienced. What happened Dave?

And each of them have/had the ability to reach out and touch their audiences. They are worthy mentors.

I agree that David Copperfield was the best in the early days. He was the first illusionist I ever saw, so he acted as a prototype for me. I was disappointed by most illusionists afterwards ...

I also like Tommy Wonder and Johnny Thompson for being nice and wise guys.

Greg Wilson and Carl Andrews for doing streamlined magic and being magical brothers.

Martin Lewis for being very British.

And many more ...

Topper Martyn, his knowledge in magic and his great persona was simply great.

Tommy Cooper, again a great person on stage his style changed a whole generation of commedians and magicians doing commedy.

Shimmada for his elegans on and off stage as well as for his thinking in routining and his awesome manipulation skills.

Tommy Wonder, the stage act is great and he has thought of every detail from music and tricks to costume.

Salvano, the master of misdiraction and manipulation in a very laid-back but elegant style.

I like Viktor Voitko from Ukraine.

- Lance Burton
- Amos Levkovitch
- Tony Clark
- James Dimare
- Arno
- Lance Burton
- Amos Levkovitch
- Tony Clark
- James Dimare
- Dave Womach

I would agree with Kyle on Topaz. I saw Topaz at the SAM convention. He was truly an artist at work. In fact if you were there, thee 5-10 minutes he did in his show on just hand exercises were awesome! I Challenge all of you to have that flexibility with your hands. His creativity was second to none. I would add James Dimmere for his style and a dove act that is a masterpiece. Obviously, McBride for all the reasons every one else has mentioned.

Well, this is my first post, LOL. Where to start.

Im not new to the art of magic, but I'm still very young and eager to make the art of magic my profession, when I finish studying IT in two years, as magic is and has been my love since I was very young. I am a card manipulator, and am not much of a fan for gimmicks. I would like to do some charity shows in my country (South Africa) some time as not only will I gain confidence but also experience, in the near future.


Now back to the thread.
Best Stage Magicians in my opinion, listed alphabetically:

Cardini
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The master of manipulation. Amazing dexterity, most original persona, routines and exceptional creativity of which have rarely been seen to be met.

David Copperfield
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Amazing illusionist. A very entertaining and creative thinker. His manipulation was also very good. His comedy and encorporation of it into his magic is also very creative and entertaining.

Jeff McBride
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For his devotion to the art of magic, creative line of thought, and routines of which are aboslutely exceptional. In addition, he is very entertaining, aesthetical, and his persona which is also of paramount importance and that of which includes his study of that of mime and other arts.

Lance Burton
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Extraordinary dove act, entertaining, excellent manipulator, quite creative and devoted to the art of magic. Comedy is has been very creativly thought and implemented.

Peter Marvey
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Absolutly amazing manipulator and use of music, very nice persona and quite a creative thinker. His shows and routines are very impressive.

Rick Thomas
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Very entertaining, interesting themes and creative. Impressive on stage and very interactive with the audience.

Tommy Wonder
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Very good routines, interesting philosophy, creative persona, amazing performer, very obedient and entertaining with his magic and portrayal to the audience.

Tonk Clark
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His stage persona is artistic. His stage magic is entertaining, creative and have appealing themes. He is a very good manipulator and devoted to the art of magic.

Jeff McBride- wonderful, elegant magic from a man who loves what he is doing.
Michael Ammar- He puts thinks so clearly, making everything easy to follow both in presentation and instruction.
Tony Clark- pure class, so elegant.
Dan Sperry- Entertaining and original magic.
Lance Burton- For putting great magic on the map.
There are many more I would love to list but hey its getting late and I'm lazy.
Bye
Nick

I'll go with:
Cardini
Jeff McBride
Lance Burton
Maybe Norbert Ferre!