Yet, that's the reason why a group of spectators waited outside double doors, joked Richard Wayne, convention chairman of the Magicians' Alliance of Eastern States.

Wayne and about 300 other magic enthusiasts turned out for the 61st annual alliance convention at the Clarion Hotel and Convention Center in Middlesex Twp. yesterday. The three-day convention showcased some of the East Coast's leading magicians and wrapped up yesterday.

While waiting to enter the hall, Wayne explained that snow storms are tricks in which tiny pieces of paper are saturated in water, then wafted adrift by a fan literally filling the stage with dry flakes of paper, while zombie balls are silver spheres magicians use that seemingly dance atop a silk scarf.

These tricks, among many others, were demonstrated throughout the competition.

Inside, Christopher Greenamyer, one of the contestants, talked with other magic enthusiasts, occasionally getting comments on his clapping toy monkey sitting to his side. Adding a spin on magic, Greenamyer has updated old tricks, such as linking barbed wire instead of rings, and cutting and then restoring stuffed rabbits instead of rope. Through this, he found an audience at colleges and universities.

"I thought it needed updated because everyone I knew made fun of magicians, still do," said the Youngstown, Ohio, resident. "I just tired of watching people at family reunions do old tricks, and when they got out a pack of cards I'd see how everyone would groan. And I'd seen some other magicians, and I knew how fun it could be."

Down the hall, enthusiasts perused vendors' tables covered with magic-related products.

Vendor Denny Haney, who has been in magic for 47 years, added that there are more books written on magic than medicine and law combined.

"Imagine the card trick books alone," Haney said.

It's like the magic version of a computer convention, only instead of memory sticks and modems vendors sell silk-filled tubes that open into parasols, French arm choppers, an executive desk guillotine, expanding canes, melting coins and haunted matchboxes.

Inside the performance hall, Steven Moore of State College, who at 14 was one of the youngest talents to present during the convention, had just finished performing his specialty -- manipulation of cards and billiard balls. He was the first act, so he was quite nervous.

"I'm performing in front of these well-known entertainers, people you've read and heard about. There was a lot of pressure," Steven said.

Afterward, he sat in the audience with his mother. She hugged him and smiled.

Some parents might object if their child developed an interest in entertainment, she said.