By Steve Cohen • Foreword by Guillermo del Toro

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Featuring original photography and rare memorabilia, alongside a Foreword by Guillermo del Toro and text by Steve Cohen, Confronting Magic celebrates twenty years of Chamber Magic and the variety of guests that the lively, intimate show has attracted and stunned. Here we see stills and props from Cohen’s most praise-worthy tricks, including “Think-a-Drink” and the jaw-dropping Bullet Catch. At other times, the camera is turned to the audience, inviting readers to step into the magician’s shoes and see what he sees – the laughter and the outbursts; the silence and the hand-wringing; the collapsing-onto-your-neighbor’s-shoulder and the wide-eyed disbelief. These jubilant reactions illustrate just why audiences return to Cohen’s parlor again and again – music can make you dance; comedy can make you laugh; but only magic can make you wonder.

208 pages • hardcover with silk screen cover

REGULAR EDITION – $60

SIGNED EDITION PACKAGE – $125

Signed Edition is autographed, with Paul Stuart custom pocket square

assouline.com or our online shop: chambermagic.com/store

“What Steve Cohen does is flat-out impossible. Don’t believe me? Then go see him, and don’t believe him yourself.” – Peter Sagal, NPR host

“Steve Cohen presents a handsomely-balanced program of intimate magic in a legendary setting. It’s a pleasure to see an audience gasp in amazement over and over again.” – Teller

“Steve is the only magician to take his show to an elite and highly-select audience. It is a true one-off: an intimate caprice of parlor diversion by an enthralling and consummate master.” – Derren Brown

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While that dream has yet to come true (and I’m willing to wait), I was giddy to find this photo capturing Barack and Michelle Obama in the same private suite where I used to perform Chamber Magic!

The photo above is from the official White House website (now archived) and the caption read:

Sept. 21, 2011 “The First Lady reacts to something the President whispered to her at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in between events related to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.”  — Official White House Photo by Pete Souza

Here is a photo I took in exactly the same spot, in the same room, one week later. Notice the chairs all set up for my show in the living room:

The Obamas’ whispering photo reminded me of a picture I took with Warren Buffett after a private show in Omaha, Nebraska. I’ll never reveal the secret he shared…!

My performance suite at the Waldorf Astoria New York was room 35H, in the Waldorf Towers, down the hall from the Presidential Suite. On October 4, 1965, Pope Paul VI met President Lyndon Johnson in that same room. Also pictured is First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson.

Pope Paul was visiting New York to address the United Nations. It marked the first visit of the head of the Roman Catholic Church to the United States.

Here are some performance photos of me in that same room, suite 35H. Notice the same fireplace, and the same oil painting on the rear wall.

The Waldorf Astoria New York is closed but these wonderful memories remain. I was inspired to post this — albeit years later — since it corresponds with the current United Nations General Assembly being held in midtown Manhattan. When I came across the Obama photos, it reminded me of that formative stage in my life.

Looking back on my old showroom at the Waldorf, it seems so intimate and dainty. At that time, I never could have imagined that Chamber Magic would graduate to its grand showroom at the Lotte New York Palace (see below). I love my new venue even more, and am thrilled at the solid partnership with The Palace. We will be releasing 2020 tickets soon, in anticipation of the 20th Anniversary show. I look forward to meeting you at The Palace sometime in the near future!

The post Barack And Michelle in my showroom at the Waldorf Astoria appeared first on Chamber Magic.

It is a genuine honor to be included in this fine company of magicians, all of whom I greatly respect. 

While it is common in other performing arts (e.g. music and dance) to have benefactors directly support the growth of worthy artists, in the field of magic this is virtually non-existent. I admire Allan Slaight’s commitment to inspiring magical artists so that we may create even more robust works.

A big thank you to David Ben and Julie Eng for inviting Allan Slaight and his family to my Chamber Magic show, when we produced a one-week run at the Luminato Festival in Toronto. That was a wonderful opportunity to meet Allan, and I am delighted that both he and the selection committee regarded my performance highly enough to bestow the Sharing Wonder award upon me this year.

Thank you for inspiring me to inspire others!

The post Recipient of 2019 Allan Slaight “Sharing Wonder” Award appeared first on Chamber Magic.

The 5000th Chamber Magic^® show is coming up, and Mayor Bill de Blasio is declaring October 6th “Chamber Magic Day” in the City of New York!

We are planning a special night around this landmark event, and there are only few seats remaining.

5000th Chamber Magic^® show

Friday, October 6, 9PM

Limited availability – Check Tickets Here

In coordination with the Lotte New York Palace, guests will be invited to a post-show reception in the Gold Room, where my delicious and potent signature cocktail, appropriately named the “Think-a-Drink,” will be served from silver teakettles.

Celebrity cake designer Ron Ben-Israel –the Manolo Blahnik of wedding cakes– is creating a delicious magic-themed cake that is going to make your eyes explode. But not your waistline. (Now that’s magic…!)

And I’ll be performing new magic tricks that are sure to keep you up at night.

Seventeen years ago, I began Chamber Magic^® on a dream and a shoestring budget. Now it’s ranked as the #7 show on TripAdvisor among all Shows & Concerts in New York City. (#8 is Radio City Music Hall, #9 is the Metropolitan Opera. And Hamilton is #15.)

More than 500,000 people have attended at the Waldorf Astoria, and now at The Palace.

I’m truly living out my childhood dream, and I’d love to share it with you.

Book your tickets now to see the show in my stunning new showroom.

Tickets are available at: www.chambermagic.com

I look forward to seeing you at show #5000! Or 5001, 5002, 5003…

-Steve Cohen

The post The 5000th Chamber Magic^® show – October 6, 2017! appeared first on Chamber Magic.

When I started “Chamber Magic^®“ 16 years ago, my goal was to help raise public respect toward magic as a performing art. I wanted people to consider going to a magic show instead of the opera, or the ballet. It is highly gratifying to see that my vision has been recognized by so many others. Take a look at this line-up:

The top 10 Theater & Concerts in NYC:

1. Lion King

2. Wicked

3. Jersey Boys

4. Kinky Boots

5. Beautiful – The Carole King Musical

6. The Phantom of the Opera

7. Steve Cohen’s Chamber Magic^®

8. Radio City Music Hall

9. Metropolitan Opera

10. Les Miserables

I’m incredibly grateful to my fans for all of your support. I pour my heart into this show each week, and care about every person who walks through my door. Thank you, too, to the Lotte New York Palace for being the greatest supporter of my work. Here’s to many years of success!

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• I have been playing at the Waldorf Astoria New York for 16 years. Over 500,000 guests have visited the show.

• Chamber Magic is ranked on TripAdvisor as the #8 show in NYC, including all Broadway productions (for reference, Hamilton is #15).

• The Waldorf Astoria will be closing on March 1, 2017 for 3+ years of renovations. The hotel was purchased in 2014 by Anbang Insurance Group, a Chinese holding company, for nearly $2 billion. They intend to gut renovate the hotel, converting the upper floors into ultra-luxury condominiums, and the lower floors into a smaller boutique hotel.

• When I announced that the Chamber Magic show must move to a new venue, I was flattered to receive inquiries from seven top luxury hotels in New York. After numerous site visits and discussions, number-crunching and soul-searching, I have signed a contract with an iconic landmark hotel in midtown Manhattan.

• In partnership with my new hotel venue, we will be making a public announcement in the media. I really can’t wait to share this with you — including gorgeous photos of my new showroom. Frankly, it’s breathtaking.

• Chamber Magic will continue — uninterrupted — in its new home, to be announced shortly. I intend to keep New Yorkers and out-of-town guests believing in magic for years to come!

The post Moving, not Closing! appeared first on Chamber Magic.

Now you see him

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by Drew Pisarra

You don’t have to tell Steve Cohen that magic is beholden to salesmanship. The prestidigitator has written an instructive self-help book (Win The Crowd) extolling the relationship while building a lucrative career through niche marketing that targets the upper crust. As to his long-running show Chamber Magic, the self-anointed “Millionaires’ Magician” has steadily drawn a crowd to the Waldorf Astoria through the time-tested method of word-of-mouth advertising. What the small crowds are gushing about is an intimate demonstration of sleight-of-hand tricks and mind-reading routines performed with both flourish and polish.

Far from standard, Cohen’s card tricks can involve up to three volunteers who pick-a-card-any-card only to see one of their choices shoot up into the air for three rotations before landing back in the deck between the other two. Cohen’s telepathic routines are likewise enhancements of the familiar: He doesn’t settle for guessing the word someone is thinking but actually tells that audience member the page and placement of the word in the dictionary. This continual upgrade of shtick to slick turns a sideshow act into an elite attraction. Dressed to the nines, Cohen is likely to leave you feeling that the black arts could be high art as well.

The Towers of the Waldorf Astoria

100 East 50th Street, New York, NY 10022

between Park and Lexington Aves.

Type of Show

Off-Broadway, Special Events

Buy Tickets

The post “An Elite Attraction” – New York Magazine Article appeared first on Chamber Magic.

As you may have read in the media, the hotel will undergo a massive renovation starting in the spring.

As a result, there are only six months remaining to see Chamber Magic at its original venue, the spectacular Waldorf Astoria.

Book your tickets now to see the show at the hotel

where it became famous! 

I will perform the last show at the Waldorf on February 25, 2017.

To accommodate the increase in demand for these final six months, we have added Thursday night shows from October through February. Tickets are available by clicking here.

PS: After February 25, the show will move to another luxury venue in Manhattan so I can keep New Yorkers and out-of-town guests believing in magic for years to come! Stay tuned for an exciting announcement.

The post Six Month Countdown at the Waldorf Astoria NY appeared first on Chamber Magic.

The purpose of this article is to provide useful information and a visual walk-through experience for guests visiting the show.

Our dress code: Cocktail Attire – jackets and ties for gentlemen and dressy attire for ladies.

The performance suite opens 20 minutes prior to showtime.

Recommended arrival time:

• 2pm showtime: Arrive at 1:30pm — you will be directed upstairs at 1:40pm
• 7pm showtime: Arrive at 6:30pm — you will be directed upstairs at 6:40pm
• 9pm showtime: Arrive at 8:30pm — you will be directed upstairs at 8:40pm

Please enter the Waldorf Astoria through the private Towers entrance, located at 100 East 50th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues. This is the only entrance that has direct access to the private elevator that leads directly to the performance suite.

Enter on East 50th Street, between Park and Lexington Avenues

The Waldorf Towers has its own private entrance to the hotel:

Enter the Towers lobby:

On your left you will see a reception desk:

In the far right corner, you will see the Concierge desk:

Please wait in the Towers lobby until you are directed to the elevators, located to the left. A staff member will unlock the elevator for the designated floor:

When you arrive on the performance suite floor, follow the sign to Chamber Magic^®:

Chamber Magic^® is a 90 minute performance with no intermission.

Enjoy the show!

Photo credit of Steve Cohen outside Waldorf Astoria: © Scott Tokar 2015

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