The MAGIC of The Steelgraves, Almodarr's Grand Illusion...

CLOSE-UP and STROLLING MAGIC

Markus Almodarr Steelgrave, Multi-Award-Winning Sleight-of-Hand Close-Up Magician:

First Place, 2006 New England Magic Competition, Worcester, MA
3rd Place, 2007, Midwest Magic Jubilee, St. Louis, MO

Above, left:  Markus performs magic at a private Renaissance themed event in Maine
Above, right:  Markus baffles adults and young teens on New Year's Eve at the Mt. Washington Resort in New Hampshire

Making magic happen immediately before your guests' eyes, or right in their hands, is the very essence of "close-up magic".
A very different art form from stage magic, close-up magic is a winning part of the agenda if you are planning a banquet,
grand opening, annual meeting, bar/bat mitzvah, wedding reception, Project Graduation, or entertainment for your
restaurant or resort...virtually anywhere that people congregate.

Close-up or strolling magic by Markus (Almodarr) is an ideal ice-breaker among people who may not know each other well, providing a common focus and generating conversation.  With close-up magic, Markus might set up a small table, and perform for small groups at a time; or with strolling magic, Markus will literally stroll from group to group or guest to guest, performing minor miracles with simple objects he carries with him.  Eventually everyone becomes involved, experiencing and sharing the jaw-dropping effect of magic happening right "up close".  People turn to each other in amazement, laugh, and make a connection as they exclaim, "Did you see what he just did?!"

"Thank you!  Thank you!  We are so grateful to you for lending  your incredible talent
to our recent York Hospital event....This 'Laughter is the Best Medicine'
 Comedy Benefit was a huge success and judging from the positive feedback we've been receiving,
everyone had a fantastic time.  The only complaints I've had from people so far is that their sides
hurt too much from laughing!  Our guests were delighted with your extraordinary magical abilities.
We all appreciated your sense of humor and it  was a pleasure to work with you!...
Thanks to your support, approximately $10,000 was raised to benefit our Cancer program....
I look forward to working with you and Angelique on some other fun projects in the future."
                                                                --KC Christensen-Lang, Former Dir. of Development, York Hospital, York, ME        

Markus strolls among the guests at a fundraiser for York Hospital, entitled "Laughter is the Best Medicine".
Although wearing top hat and tails in this shot (for a stage performance later as part of the event), Markus
can perform his magic dressed in casual, business, or formal attire...depending upon your event.

There are no large illusions here; close-up magic by its very nature is CLOSE-UP:  intimate and personal, elegant in its simplicity and hugely entertaining.  Markus' skill with sleight-of-hand is phenomenal; his close-up magic is not just a battery of
"pick a card" tricks, but an entire repertoire of stunning visual "illusions" created with a variety of ordinary objects--
napkins, drinking straws, table salt, rope, coins, paper money, and many other items...most importantly, his effects
are presented with humor, enthusiasm, wit, and a knack for truly ENTERTAINING the crowd.  Your guests will remember
and talk about their magical experience for a long time afterwards!

"I am writing to recommend Almodarr the Magician.  We first saw him perform
in Maine, where he brought bits of magic from table to table in a small restaurant.
He had wonderful presence and was greatly entertaining. It made us think he would
be a great addition to my son's bar mitzvah.  We invited him to wave his wand
over the children's tables during our luncheon.  He was reliable, courteous and on time.
The kids delighted in his tricks.  He also spent time afterwards with some of the children
who were not involved with dancing and music. Almodarr was unobtrusive
regarding the gestalt of the day, but added fun and sparks for the children." 
                                                             --G. R., Chestnut Hill, MA (also booked for their second son's bar mitzvah in 2007)


Left:  Markus (Almodarr) at the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas in the mid-1990s


If your event includes a social hour, close-up strolling magic by Markus is the perfect accompaniment.  His magic will liven up the festivities while your guests arrive and begin to mingle; they will be thoroughly entertained and in a great frame of mind to enjoy the rest of the evening.  Does your restaurant have long waiting lines on certain nights?  Close-up magic by Markus is a perfect way to keep your patrons from leaving and going elsewhere!  The wait will fly by as he dazzles them with magic.  (Conversely, if you have slow nights, advertising that your establishment offers magical entertainment will bring in more patrons on those nights.)  Other events calling for something less formal than a staged magic performance might be a bar/bat mitzvah, wedding reception, family get-together, corporate function, grand opening, trade show (sell your product or company message through magic!), Project Graduation (fill a few hours of the evening with something cool the grads will remember for years!)...the possibilities are infinite.


"Almodarr has appeared at TJ's for over 6 years.  He entertains the customers
with a variety of tricks, whether it be card tricks or sleight of hand or making an
animal out of a balloon.  Whatever the case may be, he is very patient with the children
(young and old), courteous and acts in a professional manner at all times.
He has increased our customer count by about 20% on Wednesday nights.
I highly recommend Almodarr if you are trying to increase your traffic flow on
a slow evening.  You will be very satisfied (as I have been) with his wit and his magic."
                                                    --L. Chantigny, Owner, TJ's Restaurant, Biddeford, ME

Markus has performed his awesome close-up magic coast to coast over the course of his 36 year professional career--
from numerous establishments in Maine, to upscale resorts in NH and MA, to major corporations, to the MGM Grand Hotel
in Las Vegas, to restaurants and sports arenas in San Diego and Los Angeles.  Friendly and energetic,
Markus is a charismatic magical entertainer who puts the power to amaze right into his spectators' hands.

The Magic Circle, London, UK
The International Brotherhood of Magicians
The Society of American Magicians
(Past President, Assembly #174, Portland, ME--current member, Assembly #16, Worcester, MA)
The International Magicians Society



Rates for close-up and strolling magic are hourly; close-up magic can be combined with a stage magic show for a truly incomparable entertainment package for your event.  Call or e-mail for current rates and package prices.
Let Markus "bring the magic to you!"

Based in Southern Maine, Markus is available to perform throughout New England and beyond.

E-MAIL

207-247-2361 (office)                207-590-7989 (mobile)

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