There is still that desire to be mystified," said Jack White, incoming president of the 14,000-member International Brotherhood of Magicians.
But all that hocus pocus can get expensive with stage magicians needing to pay for theater rental, lighting, sound, technicians and other flourishes.
"Audiences are looking for a bargain," said White, a San Diego-based magic collector and historian. "If they have to pay more than $10 or $20 for a ticket, they think twice about going there.