Crista Hecht Photography

October 12, 2008 - Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., waits for customers behind his homemade magic stand at the Oktoberfest in Harvard Square. Goodman-Schneps, A seventh-grader at Fayerweather Street School in Cambridge, performs on the street in various locations around Harvard Square after school two or three days a week depending on weather. He started practicing magic when he was four years old and began performing on the street in April. "When I was younger, I used to perform in front of my house with my friends," he said. "Some of my friends really like it and some I haven't showed my tricks to." Photo by Crista Hecht.
October 12, 2008 - Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., searches through a drawer behind his magic stand at the Oktoberfest in Harvard Square. He started practicing magic when he was four years old and began performing on the street in April. Photo by Crista Hecht.

October 12, 2008 - Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., uses metal rings to perform a magic trick at the Oktoberfest in Harvard Square. He started practicing magic when he was four years old and began performing on the street in April. "I signed myself up for the Society of Young Magicians sometime over the summer," he said. "The organization helps you by having a lot of other people who do magic so they can help you with tricks." Photo by Crista Hecht.
October 12, 2008 - Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., holds a deck of cards while a volunteer picks a card during his magic performance at the Oktoberfest in Harvard Square. He started practicing magic when he was four years old and began performing on the street in April. "When I was younger, I loved to watch the street performers and magic on T.V. so I wanted to learn how to do that stuff," he said. Photo by Crista Hecht.
October 12, 2008 - Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., takes a break to talk to his parents, Matthew Schneps and Randy Goodman, while performing magic at the Oktoberfest in Harvard Square. He must be accompanied by an adult to perform on the street so his parents take time out of their busy schedules to supervise him. "We watched him develop as a performer, as someone developing an art," Goodman said. Photo by Crista Hecht.
October 12, 2008 - Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., holds a deck of cards while Meghan Lynch, 12, of Somerville, chooses a card during his magic performance at the Oktoberfest in Harvard Square. He started practicing magic when he was four years old and began performing on the street in April. Goodman-Schneps has performed in places such as Newbury Street in Boston and Times Square in New York. Photo by Crista Hecht.

October 12, 2008 - Nina Rosenblum, 8, left, and her sister, Victoria, 10, of Greenwich, Mass., react as Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., shows them a card while performing magic at the Oktoberfest in Harvard Square. He started practicing magic when he was four years old and began performing on the street in April. "The best part of doing magic is the people's reaction when someone really likes it, but the worst part is when I have a heckler. They always ge annoying," he said. Photo by Crista Hecht.
October 12, 2008 - Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., waits for customers behind his homemade magic stand at the Oktoberfest in Harvard Square. He uses the tips he makes from performing to buy new supplies for more tricks and also to save for college and other expenses. "Right now, I'm making just enough to spend on new tricks," he said. "Once I have enough supplies, then I'll be able to save a lot more." Photo by Crista Hecht.
November 26, 2008 - Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., waits while his dad, Matthew Schneps, fills out application forms for a license to perform in the subways. His parents must apply for licenses as well because he is a minor and must be supervised while performing. Schneps had to take time off from his busy job as the director of the Science Media Group at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge to apply for the licenses. "Applying for a subway license is harder than getting a driver's license," said Schneps, who failed, after an hour of filling out forms, to bring a piece of mail to show proof of residency, which delayed the process. Photo by Crista Hecht.
November 26, 2008 - Rob Goodman-Schneps, 12, of Cambridge, Mass., practices a magic trick while waiting for his dad, Matthew Schneps, to finish filling out application forms for a license to perform in the subways. His parents must apply for licenses as well because he is a minor and must be supervised while performing. Schneps had to take time off from his busy job as the director of the Science Media Group at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Cambridge to apply for the licenses. "Applying for a subway license is harder than getting a driver's license," said Schneps, who failed, after an hour of filling out forms, to bring a piece of mail to show proof of residency, which delayed the process. Photo by Crista Hecht.