Founded in 2022, Secrets Session is an invitation-only international magic convention dedicated to the art of close-up magic. Held annually during the third week of October at the BILL CHEUNG MAGIC THEATER in Austria, we proudly offer what we believe to be the best close-up venues found at any convention anywhere.
Our theater is designed specifically for close-up magic, featuring professional lighting, top-notch equipment, and a seating arrangement crafted to maximize the magic experience. Each year, the convention is limited to just 120 magicians, ensuring an intimate and focused atmosphere.
All events take place in our unique close-up magic theater, which includes a fully equipped bar and dedicated jamming areas right outside the performance hall. This creates the perfect environment for magicians to connect, share ideas, and find inspiration.
Accommodations are located just a 2-minute walk from the theater, with both the hotel and theater offering free parking for attendees.
Henry Evans
Olmac
Magic Christian
Bill Cheung
Bernado Sedlacek
Daniel Prado
gabriel gascón
Sylvain Juzan
Dr. Gábor G. Szabó
Over the past three years, Secrets Session has been honored to welcome some of the world’s most renowned magicians, including:
Armando Lucero, Magic Christian, Henry Evans, Luis Olmedo, Boris Wild, Miguel Ángel Gea, Bernado Sedlacek, Camilo Vázquez, Pere Rafart, Jonio, Giancarlo Scalia, Giacomo Bertini, Akira Fujii, Bebel, Roberto Giobbi, Franzis Tabary, FLIP Hallema, Sergio Starman, Jean Emmanuel Franzis, Jacob Schenström, Mario Raso, Markobi, Olmac, Yoan, Arthur Tivoli, Dr. Gábor G. Szabó, Daniel Prado, Gabriel Gascon, and many more.
This is the coverage of our event in Aladin Magazine, authored by Hanno Rhomberg.
Secret Session II – World-Class Close-Up Magic
Bill Cheung – World Champion of Card Magic Can do really Magic
For the third time, Bill Cheung invited magicians to a close-up congress at his beautiful magic theater in Wiener Neustadt. The incredible artists he engages every year are extraordinary for a congress of this size. The Secret Session is an intimate and personal event with a very limited number of participants. Similar to the FFFF Congress in the USA, one must be invited to participate.
While many congresses are geared toward passive consumption, Bill offers the unique opportunity to engage closely with the artists and exchange ideas. His theater provides the best visibility from every seat, and there’s no need to stand in line for seminar notes or effects. The artists are present for three full days, constantly available to demonstrate their craft up close.
The congress is also connected to a close-up competition with a highly prestigious lineup. One key reason for this is that, like all major competitions nowadays, it is FISM-certified. This certification allows participants to benchmark their standing in the international magic scene. As confirmed by several participants, this is a significant motivation to compete. The competition featured several outstanding performances, making it difficult for the international jury to determine the winners.
1st Place: Mago Gascon (Chile) – 70.0 FISM Points
2nd Place: Markus Billner (Germany) – 69.3 FISM Points
3rd Place: Owán Nemo (France) – 64.6 FISM Points
Additionally, special prizes were awarded for original routines:
Klaus Wiedermann for a humorous manipulation act about tax law.
Owán Nemo (France) for an extraordinary cups and balls routine with audible ball transpositions.
Among the remaining participants were remarkable artists, such as the outstanding Brazilian magician Daniel Prado and the promising young German magician Maurice Sidker. There were two disqualifications due to time overruns, and two performances fell below FISM standards.
Daniel Prado (Brazil)A brilliant artist who spoke about the aspects of wonder and provided practical examples. [Website: https://en.danielprado.net]
Bernardo Sedlacek (Brazil)A rising star in card magic, Bernardo is a profound thinker who not only performed unfathomable tricks but also shared his unique philosophy on magic. [Website: https://www.bernardosedlacek.com]
Henry Evans (Argentina)With top-level performances, Henry dazzled the audience with seemingly impromptu magic using borrowed items. A FISM World Champion, he combines humor with ingenious methods. [Website: https://henryevansmagic.com]
Mago Gascon (Chile)Known for his unique style and captivating smile, Gascon elevates sponge ball magic to a whole new level. He currently resides in Spain and is performing this week at Magic World Vienna. [YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PitNOsRGtec]
Yoan Tanuji (France)The owner of Magic Dream Paris, Yoan is both a successful magician and entrepreneur. His seminar focused on mentalism, showcasing sophisticated effects without turning it into a sales pitch. Many of the effects can be created by magicians themselves. [Website: https://magicdream.fr/search?q=Yoan+Tanuji]
Dr. Gabor G. Szabo (Hungary) and Sylvain Juzan (Luxembourg)
Gabor Szabo: An experienced card magician, he shared deceptive strategies, including a new take on the ambitious card trick with a visibly jumping bent card finale. [Website: https://www.szabogg.hu]
Sylvain Juzan: A professional magician from Luxembourg, Sylvain’s practical card magic is refined and audience-tested. He appeared on Penn & Teller: Fool Us with a unique Lego-themed routine. [Website: https://sylvainjuzan.lu/en/]
Olmac (France)Olmac performs for VIPs in Saint-Tropez, Monaco, and Cannes. Though he also offers illusion shows for exclusive events, his heart belongs to close-up magic, where he excels as a true master of the craft. A “worker” through and through, Olmac’s high-level magic is both entertaining and technically demanding. His charming humor and wit made his performance a personal highlight of the congress. [YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJqRLgvZPT4]
Once again, it became evident that a one-hour seminar is the ideal length for a magic lecture. This format mirrors the typical 50-minute school lesson used worldwide. A seminar provides a solid introduction to a topic and covers the essentials. For deeper exploration, workshops are more suitable, as long as they include ample breaks. At Secret Session II, participants gathered afterward in Bill’s bar, practicing and exchanging ideas with the seminar leaders in small groups. This unique social aspect sets this congress apart.
Naturally, the event also featured gala shows. In the Saturday show, the seminar leaders took the stage, delivering outstanding performances. This show was open to some lay audiences as well.
On Sunday evening, the winners’ gala showcased the best competition routines. In both galas, Bill performed his award-winning “Time Travel” routine, a mind-blowing act that demonstrates why he is considered one of the world’s best card magicians.
Before the Saturday gala, there was a buffet dinner. Buffets at congresses are often challenging, but the quality and service here were impeccable!
Bill Cheung is a fantastic host, always present and ready to assist wherever needed. He’s passionate and dedicated, putting immense effort into organizing this congress without any real financial gain. His magic theater primarily generates income through corporate galas, magic dinners, and private events.
The congress feels more like a gathering of friends than a commercial event. Three wonderful days filled with magic and camaraderie!
Thank you, Bill!
Make sure to attend next year’s Secret Session. Contact Bill to request an invitation. This is a must-attend event for magic enthusiasts seeking top-level performances and a world-class educational experience in an intimate setting.
