The Motor City Close-Up Convention is an incredible convention! The room is filled with enthusiastic attendees. John Luka has gone to great lengths to accommodate his attendees, including providing a rake steep enough to allow the audience members to be able to see over the heads of the people in front of them. I’m told this is the largest dealer turn-out for this convention to date. During last night’s opening-night performances, Kaiona Harbottle owned the room with his charming personality and other-worldly coin work; Darwin Ortiz delivered vintage Ortizian card work; Garrett Thomas fried everyone with his penetrating ring and stand-up Monte effects. This really is magic the way it is supposed to be seen.