Steve Cohen
The Millionaires' MagicianSteve Cohen has delighted and mystified audiences all over the world. His long-running weekly show, Chamber Magic, presented in an elegant suite at the legendary Waldorf Astoria hotel, is consistently reviewed as one of New York’s best kept secrets and must-see theatrical events. His audiences, now totaling more than 400,000 guests, include a who’s-who of celebrities, royalty, and other notables: Woody Allen, William Goldman, Warren Buffett, Stephen Sondheim, the Queen of Morocco—the list goes on.
In 2012 he starred in Lost Magic Decoded, a two-hour special on the History Channel, and Theater of Wonder, a sold-out solo show at Carnegie Hall. His work has been featured on CBS Sunday Morning, CNN, and Late Night with David Letterman and in numerous publications including The New York Timesand Forbes Magazine.
Cohen earned a psychology degree from Cornell University and studied at Waseda University in Tokyo. He holds the esteemed rank of Member of the Inner Magic Circle with Gold Star, awarded by The Magic Circle in London. His book, Win the Crowd, in which he explores the power of suggestion and how it can help people in their everyday lives, has been published in seven languages.
Tycoon Playing Cards are premium, designer playing cards produced in collaboration with Steve Cohen and are the official playing cards of his headline show Chamber Magic at the prestigious Waldorf Astoria Hotel.
What got you started in magic?
My uncle was a terrific amateur magician. He was born in 1901, and saw many Golden Age magicians as a boy growing up in New York. When I was six, he began teaching me close-up tricks and card magic. The first card trick he taught me used the Si Stebbins stack. At age nine, I saw Doug Henning on television, and I knew that I needed to pursue my study of magic.
Who are your favorite magicians to watch perform?
I was lucky to attend the Tannen's Jubilee conventions when I was a teenager in the 1980s. All of the greats appeared there. I loved watching Albert Goshman and Del Ray. They both did their full shows, and I learned from them how to 'hook' an audience with a well-designed character. Harry Lorayne, a close friend, is also one of my all-time favorites.
Describe one of your favorite moments while performing Chamber Magic at the Waldorf Astoria.
I've been at the Waldorf for 16 years, so it's hard to choose just one! In addition to performing for royalty (the Queen of Morocco, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia), I've had many of my own personal heroes visit Chamber Magic: Teller, David Copperfield, Juan Tamariz, Derren Brown, Patrick Page. It's an honor to receive such support from the top members of the magic community. Patrick Page made me blush when he said, "This is a perfect parlour magic show. I honestly cannot suggest anything that would improve it."
What was the last magic effect that completely blew you away?
David Regal performed a real fooler at Harry Lorayne's 90th birthday party, and stumped everyone in the room -- mostly professional magicians -- including Harry. In the effect, a full sheet of postage stamps magically transformed into actual stamps that had Harry Lorayne's face printed on them. David gave Harry the stamps in a picture frame to hang on his wall at home.
Who are your inspirations?
My triumvirate of mentors are: Max Malini, Johann Hofzinser, and Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. I've done my best to carry on their work, and to keep the heritage of magic alive for modern audiences. I've written extensive articles about each of these heroes, and the lessons I've learned from each:
Malini: https://www.chambermagic.com/mmm-malini
Hofzinser: https://www.chambermagic.com/mmm-hofzinser
Robert-Houdin: https://www.chambermagic.com/mmm-robert-houdin
What advice would you give to someone just starting out in magic?
Remember to practice your sleights in context. Sleights are not standalone moments, but elements of a larger symphony. Learn to "look up" at your audience instead of solely looking down at your hands. This will aid in both the deceptiveness of your magic, and the communication you must build with your audience. Finally, learn a small set of three tricks that flow together, so you have a brief "show" that you can perform. The show must reflect your personality - don't try to be someone you're not. Audiences can sense when you are being genuine.