Paul Gertner's interest in magic began as a child, borrowing library books on the subject.

When he was sixteen, Gertner worked nights at the Forks Hotel in Buffalo, New York, learning a great deal about how to interact with an audience and the psychological side of performing.

From the mid-1970s on, Gertner performed mostly corporate gigs and trade shows, and has worked for a variety of companies, including IBM, NASA, GlaxoSmithKline, and US Steel.

[2] Paul Gertner has appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson[1] three times, and was a guest on episode 1437 of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.

The routine ends with several massive, heavy ball bearings being produced from the cups and dropping to the table with a large thud.