We’re Living in a Golden Age of Close-Up Magic
For our next trick, we explain why professional magicians are having a major moment.
Magician Noah Levine at Tannen’s magic shop in New York this January.
Photographer: Evelyn Freja for Bloomberg Businessweek
Andrew Spencer was already planning a trip to New York City when the email arrived. Spanish magician Dani DaOrtiz — the Dani DaOrtiz, probably the best magician on the planet — was coming to perform six shows at Brooklyn magic venue 69 Atlantic in November. Spencer, a 45-year-old software engineer, turned to his girlfriend and tried to sell her on a day trip from Boulder, Colorado. “I will get you on the flight, I will get you back,” he urged. “Someone will come take care of the dogs. I want you to come see Dani!”
In the end, she didn’t — but there was no shortage of people eager to grab that seat. When the venue announced a seventh show, it sold out in 30 seconds. “Taylor Swift-level fanaticism,” says Hal Schulman, 69 Atlantic’s theater manager.