Monday 28th May, 2018 | 7:30PM | MagicBox
NMC MEMBERS FREE
This new lecture by Jamy Ian Swiss will cover the gamut of close-up sleight-of-hand magic. This lecture is absolutely full of amazing card magic, from original card-in-impossible location plots (and a fresh new handling of the Card on Ceiling); to apparent displays of extraordinary skill that don’t demand as much as they appear; and a simple but mystifying and commercial memorized deck routine.
Then comes the non-card magic; including an impromptu cup-and-ball routine with an original and amazing new climax; a practical mentalism routine that turns any peek into an engaging four-effect routine; and coin magic that includes a lesson in pure misdirection, and an amazing no-gaff vanish of four coins.
According to the post-modern magic duo, Penn & Teller, Jamy Ian Swiss is “James Bond with a deck of cards for a pistol!” Swiss has appeared internationally for presenters ranging from Fortune 500 companies to the Smithsonian Institution. His U.S. television appearances include CBS “48 Hours,” PBS “Nova,” “The Today Show,” and repeat appearances on “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson.”
Internationally renowned for his skills as a close-up magician, Swiss has also performed his stage show of mind-reading and mentalism, “Heavy Mental,” for audiences of thousands across the United States. As a speaker, Swiss has addressed subjects including creativity, risk management, information design, user experience and other aspects of corporate and creative concern to firms as diverse as Publicis, Schlumberger, Evernote, Adobe, Intuit, Evernote, Electronic Arts, Shufflemaster and more; and also serves as on-stage host for a diverse range of business conferences.
Swiss was the book reviewer for “Genii” magazine for 18 years, and is the author of several books including “The Art of Magic” (the companion to the PBS documentary); two collections of essays: “Devious Standards” and “Shattering Illusions”; and he collaborated with Edward Tufte on a chapter in the book “Visual Explanations.” He has produced and written for television including Penn & Teller’s “Sin City Spectacular” series, and Marco Tempest’s “The Virtual Magician;” and he is a co-producer of New York’s longest-running Off-Broadway magic show, “Monday Night Magic,” now in its 18th consecutive year.
A regular performer at the Magic Castle since 1987, Swiss has also lectured to magicians in more than 30 states and 13 countries. A renowned “skeptic” and pro-science advocate and activist, Swiss is a founder of the National Capital Area Skeptics [
In a lengthy profile, “New Yorker” magazine declared, “Swiss is widely thought to have one of the most masterly sleight-of-hand techniques in the world today!”
- A full-time pro who has appeared at nightclubs, comedy clubs, colleges and universities, casino hotels, cruise ships, banquets, trade shows and corporate events; resident Magic Bartender at the notorious “Inn of Magic” near Washington, D.C.
- Producer of Monday Night Magic in New York City.
- Featured on the PBS documentary “The Art of Magic,” and co-author of the companion book of the same title.
- Twice featured on the cover of GENII magazine, and GENII book reviewer since 1994.
- Published work in The New York Magic Symposium Collection IV, the Mendoza Portfolio, the Magical Arts Journal, Magic Manuscript, Apocalypse, Labyrinth, etc.
- Edited and contributed the introduction to the critically acclaimed book, Theatrical Close-Up, by Peter Samelson.
- Lectures and repeat appearances at the Magic Castle, Hollywood.
- Lectures in 30 states, Canada, 11 European countries and 3 tours of Japan, including television appearances in England and Japan.
- Created and starred in the theatrical séance, Things That Go Bump In The Night.
- Creative consultant to Penn & Teller’s How To Play With Your Food; comedy writer and chief magic consultant for Penn & Teller’s Sin City Spectacular on the FX cable network.
The Jamy Ian Swiss Lecture has already received rave reviews in appearances throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. Yogi Magic Club dubbed him “The Beast of the East.” In 1988, Karrel Fox wrote in Linking Ring: “…The most KNOWLEDGEABLE, CLEVER and ENTERTAINING close-up guy I’ve seen in a long time.”
This exciting lecture is packed with practical material from a professional’s working repertoire – filled with real-life information about performance of magic – all delivered in Jamy’s powerful, potent, and unprecedented style!
More rave reviews…
“The Beast of the East…Jamy dazzled the pop-eyed assembly with some of the most superb high tech card work ever displayed in these parts!…Jamy’s unbridled enthusiasm for the art of magic was extraordinary in its intensity, and served as an undeniable inspiration to all…”YOGI MAGIC CLUB, Baltimore, Md.
“Jamy proved himself to be a first rate performer and one of the top ten lecturers I’ve had the pleasure to learn from in the last twenty years. All of his material is top flight, and there’s something for everyone regardless of experience. If a magic club neglects booking him for a lecture, they’ve missed the boat.”DEL COPLEY, Columbus, Ohio
“His sleights were beautiful…Great effects, lots of humor and sound advice marked this excellent lecture. Don’t miss it when Jamy Ian Swiss passes your way.”RING 244, Long Island, N.Y.
“Jamy eloquently and energetically presented the best learning experience I have witnessed by a visiting lecturer…His missionary zeal and conviction will force even long time performers to reevaluate their performances and improve their presentations.”ASSEMBLY 47, Rochester, N.Y.
“…this engaging and talented performer stresses presentation. He featured coin magic and miracles with cards, making superb use of the classic force and manipulative effects…. Other effects superbly demonstrated were …his brilliant “Ring and Pencil (Animated Ring).” PARENT ASSEMBLY 1, NYC, N.Y.
“…the dynamic lecture presented by Jamy Ian Swiss, a charismatic, highly talented young man…(his) talent is prodigious…Everything was meticulously explained…the lecture dealt with thread work in a way I have not seen so clearly presented before – and that includes both Finn Jon and Michael Ammar! …a great performance and a super afternoon of pure magic.” FERGUS ROY in ABRA