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Of the small handful of magic prop manufacturers in the world, Village of Oak Creek resident Nick Ruggiero is among the most highly specialized.
He’s known for his high-tech, esoteric props — most priced well beyond the $2,000 range.
Ruggiero’s clients, many of whom are highly regarded in the illusionist community, approach Ruggiero with their ideas — the tricks they’d like to perform — and it’s Ruggiero’s job to come up with the gaff, he said.
It’s a complicated process that requires an expert understanding of a variety tools, materials and scientific principles.
Ruggiero said he became fascinated with magic at the age of 13. He quickly began learning tricks and reading every magic book he could get his hands on.
Years later, a massive library of books related to magic line the walls of Ruggiero’s home and he’s read every one of them, he said.
“If you want to build nice magic, you’ve got to know what came before you,” Ruggiero said.
Respectable magicians don’t use rabbits anymore. They’re looking for more and many turn to the high-tech to bring their acts to the forefront, according to Ruggiero.
His list of clients include popular magicians like David Copperfield and the late Doug Henning, but most of his clients are just hobbyists, he said — wealthy hobbyists who like to perform for their guests.
Doctors and lawyers seem to have a particularly affinity for the trade, Ruggiero said. They’re hoping to learn the secrets, or at least buy a machine that can perform the tricks for them.
That’s where Ruggiero comes in.
For more on Ruggiero, please see the Friday, March 9th issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.
— Tyler Midkiff
Larson Newspapers
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