Closely Guarded Secrets - Second Edition Ebook

A Practical Resource for Magicians Looking to Strengthen Their Repertoire and Thinking

This ebook is intended for magicians who have a working knowledge of card magic and sleight-of-hand and are looking to deepen their understanding of structure, presentation, and audience psychology. Most of the material is best suited for intermediate to advanced performers, though a few routines, such as The Trick Lance Burton Showed Me and A Trick with the Bedwell Control, can be successfully tackled by less experienced magicians willing to put in the practice.

What’s Inside:
Closely Guarded Secrets is a collection of professionally tested routines developed over many years of real-world performance, particularly during Michael Close’s residency at the Houdini Lounge in Las Vegas. The routines are detailed with an emphasis on not just the how, but the why, offering insights into motivation, pacing, and clarity.

Included are standout effects such as:

• The Luckiest Cards in Las Vegas – A three-phase memdeck routine designed to be strong and practical. It includes Michael’s thoughts on stack selection (e.g., Aronson vs. Tamariz), strategies for balancing calculation and memorization, and tips on how to create routines that feel examinable even when they’re not. This routine alone provides a solid framework for anyone exploring memdeck work in performance.

• The Cheating Lessons – A multi-phase routine that introduces core sleights (like the Cull, Palm, and Bottom Deal) through a gambling demonstration format. A great example of how to blend technique with engaging narrative.

• The Famous Detective Collectors and The Shuffles Routine – Both rooted in classic plots, these routines offer layered methods and thoughtful presentations that illustrate the effectiveness of clarity and control.

• Sideswiped Meets the Bammo Card Walloper – A creative hybrid that takes two separate effects and fuses them into a streamlined performance piece.

• Presentation for Dean Dill’s Box and Gary Plants’s Magnetized Cards – Strong, close-up routines enhanced by Michael’s theatrical framing, making each more than just a demonstration of a prop.

You will receive this ebook in both PDF and EPUB formats. The PDF includes high-resolution photographs and links to unlisted YouTube videos that demonstrate critical sleights and performance moments. This allows learners to benefit from text-based instruction while using video to better grasp timing and movement.

Michael Close’s teaching style is clear and direct. Each effect is broken down in a way that encourages thoughtful performance, and routines are backed with the kind of real-world polish that only comes from hundreds of performances. You won’t find filler material—only routines that have earned their place in his working repertoire.

If you’re ready to move beyond simply learning tricks and want to start understanding how to craft memorable performances, Closely Guarded Secrets offers a wealth of material and insight.

Chapters in this ebook:

So...
Introduction
The Trick that Lance Burton Showed Me
Presentation of Plant’s Magnetized Cards
The Luckiest Cards in Las Vegas
On Venue and Evolution
The Shuffles Routine
The Cheating Lessons
On Sleights
The Dumbest Casino in the World
The Famous Detective Collectors Magic For Magicians
The Trick with Four Bottoms
A Trick with the Bedwell Control
Pipedreams
Sideswiped Meets Bammo Deck Walloper
Presentation for Dean Dill’s Box

• Text provides the information 
• Photographs clarify the text
• Video shows the perfected sleights

Read Dustin Stinett's Review (From Genii Magazine)

Performance from Closely Guarded Secrets: