FISM categories explained.
8 categories, 5 on stage and 3 in close-up, each with its latest first prize.
Stage.
- Manipulation
- A stage act built mostly or entirely on sleight of hand.
- General Magic
- A stage act that usually mixes several of the other categories, with smaller props than a stage illusion. Acts that lean on new technology or video often land here too.
- Stage Illusions
- A stage act with large props, often with several people or animals on stage.
- Comedy Magic
- A stage act built to make people laugh, with the magic still at its center.
- Mental Magic
- An act that shows seemingly extraordinary mental powers, such as mind reading, prediction, or feats of memory.
Close-up.
- Card Magic
- A close-up act made only of effects with playing cards.
- Micro Magic
- A close-up act of a more general kind. Playing cards may appear, but they are not the whole act.
- Parlour Magic
- An act between close-up and stage, for a group in a medium-sized room.
Demonstration categories.
The organizer of each World Championship may add up to 2 demonstration categories, chosen a year ahead. Each takes up to 20 acts and carries no official FISM award.
Awards that are not categories.
- Grand Prix, stage, and Grand Prix, close-up: chosen from the first prize winners in a second round of judging.
- Invention, and Most Original Act on stage and in close-up.
- Special awards, such as creativity and artistic vision, history and research, and theory and philosophy.
Trickifi is not affiliated with FISM. FISM, the World Championship of Magic, and the continental championship names belong to FISM and appear here only to describe its events.
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