Juan Tamariz, the godfather of close-up card magic(nytimes.com)
nytimes.com
Juan Tamariz, the godfather of close-up card magic
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/02/magazine/juan-tamariz-magic.html
69 comments
https://archive.is/eq15t
>But in Spain, Tamariz is an icon, less like Blaine or David Copperfield and more like Kermit the Frog.
As a spaniard, I think this is a great way to put it.
It's not that we consider him a clown, or aren't aware how extraordinarily skilled he is. It's just that he's got such a one-off charismatic personality that your mind ends up classifying him as something separate from reality.
There's no need to set a stage or act like he's an otherworldly being. Tamariz just strolls by looking like he's just out of bed, casually defies physics laws, says goodbye and walks away, because he's Tamariz; in the same way that the Roadrunner can keep running through the drawing of a road because he's the roadrunner.
It's just the nature of things.
As a spaniard, I think this is a great way to put it.
It's not that we consider him a clown, or aren't aware how extraordinarily skilled he is. It's just that he's got such a one-off charismatic personality that your mind ends up classifying him as something separate from reality.
There's no need to set a stage or act like he's an otherworldly being. Tamariz just strolls by looking like he's just out of bed, casually defies physics laws, says goodbye and walks away, because he's Tamariz; in the same way that the Roadrunner can keep running through the drawing of a road because he's the roadrunner.
It's just the nature of things.
The comparison with Kermit is, for people of certain age, very natural. We first knew both of them at the same time. And Tamariz used to appear in TV for children. Not only he performed awesome tricks, he also made us laugh with his explosive style. Instant connection with children.
The comparison to roadrunner is an awesome one for someone not familiar with Tamariz
Tamariz comes on stage as a child’s idea of a wizard: someone eccentric, whimsical and somewhat messy who is constantly doing amazing things without much apparent thought or planning.
Great way to see it. The man should be an honorific Sesame Street character. Is as close to a real life muppet as you can find.
If you like Juan Tamariz, have a look at some of Dani DaOrtiz routines, another Spanish magician heavily influenced by Tamariz.
This one from 2022 for Penn and Teller is amazing: https://youtu.be/5_KcQt0z-eE
This one from 2022 for Penn and Teller is amazing: https://youtu.be/5_KcQt0z-eE
I am a student of Dani DaOrtiz, and have traveled to Spain to train with him. Planning to do it again this year.
Wins the thread. You lucky dog! This is like having Michael Jordan as your basketball coach..
He's a brilliant man, and I am extremely happy to devote my life to try to understand as much as possible, and implement it. There is so much nuance, and detail, and it extends through all of life, not just magic.
Thank you. I agree. I am happy as well to call him my friend.
Thank you. I agree. I am happy as well to call him my friend.
> and it extends through all of life, not just magic
A form of entertainment, playing with deception. Deception's expected in the act, but not, perhaps, in other parts of life. I hope you share a strong ethics.
My kind play with words. I wish we shared a stronger ethics.
A form of entertainment, playing with deception. Deception's expected in the act, but not, perhaps, in other parts of life. I hope you share a strong ethics.
My kind play with words. I wish we shared a stronger ethics.
I think you didn't understand what I was trying to convey.
At a surface level, magic is a form of entertainment that plays with deception.
The Spanish school of magic (which is what we're discussing) deeply relies on psychology, that has nothing to do with deception.
It involves the fundamental aspects about how humans behave. That is useful in all aspects of life, and has nothing to do with deception.
At a surface level, magic is a form of entertainment that plays with deception.
The Spanish school of magic (which is what we're discussing) deeply relies on psychology, that has nothing to do with deception.
It involves the fundamental aspects about how humans behave. That is useful in all aspects of life, and has nothing to do with deception.
> This one from 2022 for Penn and Teller is amazing
For some reason I'm not very interested in magic and I don't especially like being fooled. But this... this is well beyond anything I have ever seen. So thanks for that.
For some reason I'm not very interested in magic and I don't especially like being fooled. But this... this is well beyond anything I have ever seen. So thanks for that.
I was wondering about that, actually. I am interested in magic, very much, and I have seen tons and tons. I also felt like it was beyond anything I have ever seen, and wondered if it would be noticeably different to people who haven't seen as much as I have.
You might like Penn doing a rope trick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvz_JKqJiP8
If you like rope tricks, I'd guess Mac King is pretty close to the best around.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmI9uwYzH9o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmI9uwYzH9o
I usually can't stand magicians, but absolutely loved this.
Fun fact (from penn jilettes podcast):
At the point where he’s tearing up a card, it’s chosen at random and he’s just taking the <2% risk that it won’t ruin the trick
At the point where he’s tearing up a card, it’s chosen at random and he’s just taking the <2% risk that it won’t ruin the trick
fun follow up fact: if it is the card, I can guarantee he has an alternate ending so it will never ruin it - it will only change it. Tamariz is a master of the "outs" (as magicians call them).
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Hrm.. I am not so sure about this. Of course he would do something, but it wouldn't be a traditional out. It's a much more complex topic when it involves Dani.
That's still an out to normal people. But yeah, i get that it will be a next level out for sure.
But like, it wouldn't be. I'm sorry though, I'm not willing to explain it fully.
I get what you're saying though. I get why you're saying it.
I get what you're saying though. I get why you're saying it.
And I get why you won't explain it further here too... ha
That makes me happy, because it can seem like a dismissive comment, but I promise it's not. :)
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It certainly isn't random. He's showing the chosen card at the top of the face up deck moments before. If you watch at 0.25x very carefully, you can see what happens next.
He's very good at what he does, and it's hard to spot in real time. Amazing card scanning, too.
(start around https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_KcQt0z-eE&t=229s )
He's very good at what he does, and it's hard to spot in real time. Amazing card scanning, too.
(start around https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_KcQt0z-eE&t=229s )
The question is what does he do at the end if Alyson Hannigan picks the card that he saw himself tear up.
Alyson couldn't have picked the card that was torn up, because she selected a card from the deck after the card was destroyed; https://youtu.be/5_KcQt0z-eE?t=332 is around when she's given cards to select from.
On the other hand, Penn was asked to name a card which was then shown, an alternate card destroyed, and the named card shown again. If a further name a card was attempted on the 51-card deck, you'd have the chance of naming the destroyed card.
On the other hand, Penn was asked to name a card which was then shown, an alternate card destroyed, and the named card shown again. If a further name a card was attempted on the 51-card deck, you'd have the chance of naming the destroyed card.
> It certainly isn't random.
It's random in the context of the trick, it's not like he specifically chose that card because he knew he could avoid it later
It's random in the context of the trick, it's not like he specifically chose that card because he knew he could avoid it later
Juan has a great book on his card system that I think Dani is using for this routine (or at least a modification of it). Years ago I spent some time learning it and I think it's one of those things that only gets more impressive when you understand the methodology. It takes so much practice to present a routine as casually as Dani does in this.
Many magic tricks, particularly close-up acts, are of the sort that knowing how it works only makes someone good at them even more impressive. I saw Ricky Jay once, and I know he must be doing false shuffles and switches, but his motions are so natural and consistent that I was just more impressed, not less.
Dani has his own system, he doesn't use Juan's, but of course Juan's is great.
Pretty good, but this one by Javi Benitez can't even be slowed down on YouTube to figure out what he's doing. Its mind blowing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLB5oOq76c8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLB5oOq76c8
Talk the talk, count the cards, do the math, end with sleight of hands. This is extremely amazing.
Right after the guy to his left said 21, Dani made a cut, so Dani knew exactly where the middle of the three cards he gave Alyson was, because he knew how many cards he gave to the two guys on his left and the other guy on his right. Dani made sure Alyson never shuffled her cards and only reversed the order when she put them one by one in the deck.
Right after the guy to his left said 21, Dani made a cut, so Dani knew exactly where the middle of the three cards he gave Alyson was, because he knew how many cards he gave to the two guys on his left and the other guy on his right. Dani made sure Alyson never shuffled her cards and only reversed the order when she put them one by one in the deck.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you’ll probably also enjoy Joshua Jay’s book How Magicians Think. Among other things, he describes the experience of spending a few days visiting Tamariz.
There’s a significant number of magicians worldwide that have learned Spanish just to spend time around Spain and around other Spanish magicians.
There’s a significant number of magicians worldwide that have learned Spanish just to spend time around Spain and around other Spanish magicians.
To add to this, Juan Tamariz paved the road for other great (and arguably better) spanish magicians to follow him, and it's worth watching them to see how different and amazing Spanish magic is. To name a few check Dani DaOrtiz, Mario Lopez, Rúbi Ferez, and Juan Colas on Youtube and Instagram.
As a Spaniard I had of course heard of Tamariz, but I had no idea there was an Spanish "scene", so to speak.
Are you also spaniard or just into the topic?
Are you also spaniard or just into the topic?
The Spanish “scene” has been around for a while! I have a friend who moved to Spain in the 90s to study under Ascanio. After Ascanio, Tamariz and the late Gabi Pareras seem to have the biggest influences, but Gabi was not well known outside of Spain (until his later years). Only got to see him once in London.
Tamariz is still a big influence in the magic scene of course, but DaOrtiz and his Villa Kaps seem to be expanding the circle at a faster pace for the next generation.
(Not Spanish, from Puerto Rico now living in the US, and very much into the topic. =) )
Tamariz is still a big influence in the magic scene of course, but DaOrtiz and his Villa Kaps seem to be expanding the circle at a faster pace for the next generation.
(Not Spanish, from Puerto Rico now living in the US, and very much into the topic. =) )
Yes, Villa Kaps is a beautiful and wonderful place to study magic.
I'm from your next door neighbour, Portugal.
But I think that anyone that studies magic quickly realizes how amazing the Spanish scene is.
Don't forget Woody Aragon! :-)
And Luis Olmedo - 2022 FISM winner! Great act.
Plus many more.
Plus many more.
I have not learned Spanish, but I do travel to Spain to work with Spanish Magicians, so this is quite true.
If you can read Spanish, I suggest you "El cerebro ilusionista: el cerebro detrás de la magia" (The magician brain: the brain behind the magic). It explains you the link between neuroscience and magic tricks.
If you are learning Spanish, technical/science books share lot of Romance origin words which already exist in English, so half of the road it's paved to begin your learning path.
If you are learning Spanish, technical/science books share lot of Romance origin words which already exist in English, so half of the road it's paved to begin your learning path.
No video?
Found this one: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=alfwdvQaLIE
New to me but I'm a fan.
Found this one: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=alfwdvQaLIE
New to me but I'm a fan.
He makes the people around him feel like children again, so amazed by the magic. Incredible talent. The closest analogue I can find is Tommy Cooper, who had the same kind of act making you think that he really just can't do it only to come away with your mind utterly blown by how he totally owned you and wondering how far back it all started.
I turned down an opportunity to see TC live...boring, TV etc.
A friend thtat went told me that the show 'started', Tommy came out - and for 20 minutes did nothing.
Nothing.
And the audience was howling, and crying, with laughter.
And then all night.
Friends comment: TV did not do any justice at all to to the man (except, the tv execs could see his genius), as everything was 'rushed'. When something went 'wrong', live, he had time to react to the situation. The reaction had people on the floor and unable to breathe - for minutes, and minutes, and minutes.
By the way - it took my friend about 20 minutes just to explain nothing happened for twenty minutes, he was laughing so hard.
Friends comment: TV did not do any justice at all to to the man (except, the tv execs could see his genius), as everything was 'rushed'. When something went 'wrong', live, he had time to react to the situation. The reaction had people on the floor and unable to breathe - for minutes, and minutes, and minutes.
By the way - it took my friend about 20 minutes just to explain nothing happened for twenty minutes, he was laughing so hard.
Tommy Cooper was severely underestimated by lots of people. His death must have been the strangest thing ever. Alcohol really got the better of him, rumor has it he was quite traumatized from time spent in the army.
"The trick with the egg..."
"The trick with the egg..."
He is what I imagine a wizard would be like.
This one is also amazing. So clean..
https://youtu.be/tW_8iwB96BQ
Magic is a foreign world to me, but through acquaintances I had the pleasure of getting to know a close-up magician named Armando Lucero, who (I'm told) is considered one of the best in the world. I was invited to see him at the Magic Castle and it blew me away. It really was a childlike experience. But one of the most amazing tricks was a time some years later when I was traveling in another city, rented a car and drove around aimlessly till I found myself at a strip mall coffeehouse, and sat down with some coffee. At some point I turned around and sitting at the table behind me was Armando, wearing black, by himself with a coffee, a strip of felt and a deck of cards on the table. Practicing. It was an incredible coincidence. And I got a personal show.
The thing that really strikes me about this article is how the magician's philosophy of his art is so similar to what I've heard Armando wax poetic about: He studies neuroscience and psychology, has contributed to brain imaging studies, and seems irrepressibly fascinated with learning about complex subjects... not so much in the service of magic as out of a staggering intellectual curiosity. Magic is just his ideal vehicle for synthesizing that knowledge. It's unbelievably impressive, like watching someone who's thinking in the Assembly Language of the human brain.
The thing that really strikes me about this article is how the magician's philosophy of his art is so similar to what I've heard Armando wax poetic about: He studies neuroscience and psychology, has contributed to brain imaging studies, and seems irrepressibly fascinated with learning about complex subjects... not so much in the service of magic as out of a staggering intellectual curiosity. Magic is just his ideal vehicle for synthesizing that knowledge. It's unbelievably impressive, like watching someone who's thinking in the Assembly Language of the human brain.
His student Dani Daortiz is amazing to watch.
https://youtu.be/5_KcQt0z-eE
The explanation of this 10 minute act using a non-gimmicked deck of cards is 3 hours long. https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/card-magic/dani-daortiz-fo...
The explanation of this 10 minute act using a non-gimmicked deck of cards is 3 hours long. https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/card-magic/dani-daortiz-fo...
NY Times. I gave them money for a subscription. I'm fine with that. What I found to be just enough of a deal breaker is the ads remain as a subscriber.
Of course the ads remain, they are for their subscribers. Non subscribers don't even see the article let alone the ads.
...let alone the trackers.
Anyway, thanks for being a $upporter.
Anyway, thanks for being a $upporter.
I had the occasion to see him at a little place in Madrid specialised on magic shows a couple of decades ago ("La Cripta Magica"). He was already a legend by then after years and years of TV apparitions here in Spain.
After the show, he went down the stage, set up a table in the middle of the venue and asked people to gather around him for a couple of more tricks --obviously this was also part of the show. Those days smoking cigarettes was allowed, and he managed to put some cigarette ashes inside the closed hand of my girlfriend while doing his thing. I was at, what, one meter from him, and knew he was doing something that was not related to the card trick but couldn't for the life of me guess what it would be. He doesn't stop talking, joking, guides your eye to where he wants it to be, throws decoy tricks to make you thing you got him, but then the trick is somewhere else... also a very nice and charming chap.
If someone deserves to be called a "magician" it's him!
After the show, he went down the stage, set up a table in the middle of the venue and asked people to gather around him for a couple of more tricks --obviously this was also part of the show. Those days smoking cigarettes was allowed, and he managed to put some cigarette ashes inside the closed hand of my girlfriend while doing his thing. I was at, what, one meter from him, and knew he was doing something that was not related to the card trick but couldn't for the life of me guess what it would be. He doesn't stop talking, joking, guides your eye to where he wants it to be, throws decoy tricks to make you thing you got him, but then the trick is somewhere else... also a very nice and charming chap.
If someone deserves to be called a "magician" it's him!
I'm pretty sure that Erdnase or Dai Vernon would be the true godfather of card magic.
Even though the phrase "the godfather of ..." suggests otherwise, it's really not a competition or an attempt to determine the exact origin of "close-up card magic", it's just acknowledging the fact that Juan Tamariz has contributed a lot to the art form.
That, however, doesn't diminish Dai Vernon's or Erdnase's contributions, but yeah, not a competition.
That, however, doesn't diminish Dai Vernon's or Erdnase's contributions, but yeah, not a competition.
If we're going with "contributed a lot", then there are a tons of great card magicians to mention: H.N. Hofzinser (the real father of card magic), Richard Turner, Cardini, Charlie Miller, Jimmy Grippo, Rene Lavand, Bill Malone, Juliana Chen, Michael Vincent, and Shin Lim (off the top of my head -- I'm sure I'm missing someone)
Sure, but rattling off a bunch of names doesn't really say anything about what they've contributed and what impact it had. This piece is specifically celebrating Juan Tamariz and his contributions to close-up card magic.
I don't see why we can't celebrate someone for doing something without having to mention everyone else who's also done something. No one is diminishing their contributions but they're not the topic of the article. If you want to write an article about them, I'm sure someone would be happy to publish it.
I don't see why we can't celebrate someone for doing something without having to mention everyone else who's also done something. No one is diminishing their contributions but they're not the topic of the article. If you want to write an article about them, I'm sure someone would be happy to publish it.
Richard Turner.