“By my definition, magic is not magic unless it fools the spectator. Bob Chesbro’s magic is good — it has fooled and surprised me many times.”
— Jerry Andrus
“In my opinion, Bob Chesbro’s approach to magic is refreshing.”
— Roger Klause
Bob Chesbro has written a book explaining some of his wonderful pet close-up effects — tricks he performs in his own repertoire. Each effect is fully explained, offering remarkable insight into routines Chesbro performs regularly for lay audiences. Magicians who have seen these effects performed have long wondered how they were accomplished.
The material in The Tipnician uses readily available props and focuses on clarity, structure, and strong magical moments rather than knuckle-busting technique.
The Tipnician contains close-up effects for card workers, coin workers, and cigarette magicians. Some routines rely on simple sleights, while others are based on clever construction and subtle principles.
Included is a take on Jarrow’s Destroyed and Restored Cigarette — accomplished without sleight of hand. A cigarette is thoroughly smashed and then impossibly restored.
In another effect, tobacco is sprinkled onto a playing card, a cigarette paper is rolled into a ball, and the card is folded. When unfolded, the cigarette is found restored — strong, clean, and visually magical.
Additional effects include cigarettes vanishing from the hands and reappearing elsewhere, paper and bill vanishes, and strong coin magic including vanishes, transpositions, and clever reappearances.
Chesbro’s card magic is unusual and novel. One effect involves an indifferent card folded to the size of a monocle, only to be revealed as the spectator’s selection. Another miracle has a selected card clipped inside a hat and revealed under impossible conditions.
Coin workers will find exceptionally clean routines, including:
These routines are practical, deceptive, and designed for real-world performance.
The Tipnician is a no-nonsense book with every effect described in complete detail. It is packed with usable material and is highly recommended for any serious close-up worker.
