As well as close up magic I often perform my comedy cabaret act after dinner act for corporate clients, in comedy clubs, burlesque/cabaret nights and plenty of other places.
Many people think that close up magic is more difficult than stand up magic as you are a lot closer to the action and therefore must be harder to misdirect. This isn’t true. As you are closer to the magician, it’s actually easier to direct your attention as the magician can speak to you directly and if the magician speaks to you your first reaction is to look at him and away from where he wants you to look. You can’t do this in front of 200 people quite so easily.
Cabaret has a different appeal and most magicians I know tend to copy and steal material they have seen others do so what you are left with is a watered down version of someone else’s act. Here is 3 minutes 20 seconds of my act – you’ll see it get’s plenty of laughs, it’s great for getting volunteers up to help with the magic in front of a crowd and it’s 100% original