Conversations With Close

My guests this month on Conversations with Close are Jamy Ian Swiss and Peter Samelson. I've known Jamy for more than forty years; while I haven't known Peter as long, he is a very close friend. Both are superb magicians. Our discussion about Geoff was wide ranging and often emotional. When you listen to it, I think you'll gain a greater appreciation for Geoff and his magic.

I'm a big Ben Seidman fan. He's funny, he's smart, and, because he has a profound interest in designing material that will entertain and deeply fool any audience, we have common ground when we discuss conjuring. In this edition of Conversations with Close, Ben and I discuss his background, his magic and comedy inspirations, and his approach to creating routines. We also dig into his new book, Principles of Deception.

For more than thirty years, Christopher Carter has been one of the busiest performers on the college circuit and has been in demand as a corporate entertainer and keynote speaker. His effect Cold Fusion, published in the Linking Ring in 1990 was adapted by Doc Eason and became one of close-up magic's most popular effects: Anniversary Waltz. Chris's new book, In the Spotlight, will be published soon; it is a must-have for anyone interested in mentalism.Chris wrote a column for me when I was the editor of M-U-M, but we hadn't spoken in a while, so we took this opportunity to catch up. Our conversation was wide ranging, I hope you enjoy it. Find out more about Chris in our March 2025 MichaelClose.com Newsletter.

Aurelio Paviato is my guest on this month's Conversations with Close. Aurelio is a well-established, fulltime pro in Italy; he performs at corporate functions and has his own one-man show, Storie di un Artigiano di Illusioni. He is a past FISM champion in close-up, and has had a long association with such greats as Arturo Ascanio, Juan Tamariz, Roberto Giobbi, and others of the Escorial group.I found a kindred spirit in Aurelio because both of us have a magic aesthetic heavily influenced by Dai Vernon. We discussed his background, and took a deep dive into several of the routines in his book, Studies in Deception (see my review in the February 2025 MichaelClose.com Newsletter) During all of it, I felt as if I was talking to an old friend.

In this installment of Conversations with Close, my guest is the man who, as a writer, editor, and/or publisher, is responsible for many of the most important magic texts published in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. If you have read, studied, enjoyed, and benefitted from books like The Vernon Chronicles, The Collected Works of Alex Elmsley, Carneycopia, the Card College series (in English), The Books of Wonder, and Mnemonica (in English), you can thank Stephen Minch. I was well aware of Stephen's prowess as a writer when we met for the first time in 1992 at an Ibidem convention held at the Old Stone Inn in Niagara-on-the-Lake in Ontario; we hit it off immediately. Although our paths don't cross that often, I always enjoy the time we spend together. He is a fascinating individual. The reason for our interview is the soon-to-be-released book, Flamenco, featuring magic by the maestro, Juan Tamariz (see the review in the Jan 2025 Michael Close Newsletter). The book has been in the pipeline since 1995; Stephen gives us the backstory, plus fascinating reminiscences of Mickey Hades, Doug Henning, Martin Nash, Alex Elmsley, and Tommy Wonder. I think you'll really enjoy listening to one of the true giants in the history of magic publishing.

Gary Plants is an old friend; we met more than forty years ago at one of Joe Stevens' early Desert Magic Seminar conventions. Gary is an extraordinary technician, a magic scholar, and an enthusiastic magic hobbyist. Occasionally, he lectures at magic conventions, and lately he has been doing more public performing. Gary is also a collector with a focus on magic photographs and private correspondence. And, as those of you who are friends with Gary on Facebook are aware, he is also an excellent photographer. During the course of our conversation, Gary talked about his first magic convention, in West Virginia in 1977, and his first “big” convention, the SAM fiftieth anniversary convention in New York City in 1978. I had a great time talking to Gary; I think you'll enjoy our conversation. You can learn more about Gary and see photos from the convention Gary talked about in the December 2024 issue of the MichaelClose.com Newsletter. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

Mick Ayres has had a fascinating and varied career with the Walt Disney Company, working as a magician, storyteller, and musician. Like many performers, his world was upended by the Covid pandemic. But Mick found a new stage at the thirteen Marriott Resorts scattered across Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. For years, Mick shared his expertise in act construction, scriptwriting, and character development through his column, The High Road, in M-U-M. I found these articles so insightful and practical that I felt they deserved a broader audience. That's why I've been sharing them in our newsletter, and I'm thrilled to announce that Mick will also be contributing fresh insights through his The Art of Conjuring column—I'm sure you'll find them fun and engaging. To mark the occasion, I sat down with Mick for a conversation about his journey. We discussed his background, mentors, music, scripting, time with Disney, and his secrets for presenting magic to everyday audiences. Mick is a fantastic storyteller, and I thoroughly enjoyed our chat. I'm sure you will, too. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

For more than fifty years, Allan Ackerman has been a major creative force in the world of card magic. Starting with Magic Mafia Effects in 1970, Allan has produced a body of work that showcases his ability to create seamless, baffling routines for magicians of all skill levels.  Allan's last big book of card magic, Las Vegas Kardma, was published way back in 1994. Fortunately for all of us who love good card magic, Vanishing, Inc. has brought us up to date with the two-volume set, All In. The books gather routines scattered throughout Allan's various lecture notes and videos, as well as bringing us some new creations. See my review of his new books in the Sept 2024 MichaelClose.com newsletter. When I lived in Las Vegas, I often watched Allan “hold court” during the Wednesday night Gary Darwin magic club meeting. Since moving to the Great White North, those opportunities are few and far between. So, I was happy to arrange a conversation with Allan to discuss his journey in magic, his fascination with tetradistic stacks, and his approach to creating card magic. I enjoyed our chat; I think you will, too.  --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

Steve Reynolds is a creative and prolific card magician. He lives in New Orleans, the city his mentor, Jon Racherbaumer, also calls home. Steve was greatly influenced by the magic of Ed Marlo; his manuscripts and videos reflect this passion. (His video series, The Marlo Roadmap, provides illuminating insights into the core concepts that underlie Marlo's techniques.) Over the years, our paths had crossed occasionally, but I did not know Steve well. This interview gave me a chance to get to know him better. I enjoyed our talk. I think you will, too. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

These days, our friend Piff is a very busy dragon. Joined by his partner Jade Simone and Mr. Piffles the Wonder Chihuahua, he headlines his own show at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, tours North America (with a completely different show!), and makes numerous television appearances. He is also an author, with a new book recently released through Vanishing, Inc. (You can read my review at Michaelclose.com in the October 2023 Newsletter.) Piff came to the attention of the magic world with his performance on the first season of Penn & Teller: Fool Us. He reached a wider audience with his breakout performances on America's Got Talent in 2015. His rise to success is a true testament to the power of perseverance and hard work; as you'll read in his book, his path contained many ups and downs. I spoke to Piff during a brief lull in his whirlwind schedule. I gained some new insights into this talented performer. I think you'll enjoy our conversation. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

Friedrich Roitzsch is a full-time professional magician based in Munich, Germany. He is also the author of the excellent new book, Instructions for Miracles, which is reviewed in this month's newsletter.  We discussed Friedrich's background, his introduction to magic, and his influences. I'm happy to bring him to your attention. Going forward, I'm sure he will be a big influence in the world of card magic. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

My guest this month on Conversations with Close is someone who may be unfamiliar to you. Christian Bischof is a Swiss corporate entertainer who has recently published an extremely valuable two-volume set of books titled Diamonds of Performance: How Magicians Fascinate Their Audience. Christian discusses important theoretical concepts as they apply to three areas of magic performance: the trick, the performer, and the performing situation. He then shows how he utilized these concepts in his own routines. You can find my review in our March Newsletter at MichaelClose.com. (Spoiler alert: I thought it was great.) I spoke to Christian from his home in Switzerland. We discussed his early exposure to magic, his life in academia, how he shifted to full-time performing, and what his goals were when writing his book. I really enjoyed our conversation and I think you will too. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

John Bannon is a prolific creator of high-quality magic (emphasis on card magic). His published works include Impossibilia, Smoke & Mirrors, Dear Mr. Fantasy, High Caliber, Destination Zero, and Mentalissimo. In cooperation with Big Blind Media he has produced several DVDs, including Move Zero, a four-DVD set focusing on self-working card magic. He also contributes a regular card column, “Dealing with It,” for Genii. John's new book, Very Hush-hush, will soon be available through Squash Publishing. You can find my review at Michaelclose.com; spoiler alert: I really liked it. John and I have been pals for more than thirty years. We used to see each other on a regular basis when I lived in Las Vegas, and later, when he would come to Toronto for the 31 North gathering. In this interview, we talked about his start in magic, his involvement with the Chicago Session (still going strong), and how he creates his effects. I think you'll find his comments insightful. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Steve Valentine is a world-class magician (two-time recipient of the Magic Castle's Close-up Magician of the Year award), a magic scholar, a creator, and an actor with an impressive CV. (Just take a look at his IMDB page.) His most recent acting project is Monster High: The Movie, which airs on the Disney+ streaming service. Recently, Steve has been performing his new, one-man show, Mr. Valentine Blows Your Mind, here in Canada; it has received rave reviews. Steve also keeps busy curating his website, Magic on the Go. This is an astonishing repository of magical information, from performance tips, advice on tricks, and thorough examinations of classic magic routines and plots. It's a subscription site, but there's nothing quite like it on the Internet; Steve's research, experience, and expertise provide information you won't find anywhere else. (In our conversation, you'll get a glimpse of the deep dives Steve takes in his exploration of effects when we discuss the Egg Bag.) It had been a while since Steve and I had chatted. We talked about his background, early performing experiences, his move to the United States, and breaking into the acting scene in Los Angeles. And the Egg Bag. We talked a lot about the Egg Bag. I really enjoyed this conversation, and I think you will, too. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Amy Kimlat has written a new book (Hocus Pocus Practice Focus: The Making of a Magician) geared toward young readers who have an interest in magic. The book was based on Amy's experiences as a young magician, and the mishaps that influenced her to abandon the hobby for many years. I spoke to Amy from her home in Orlando, Florida. We discussed her background, how she rekindled her enthusiasm for magic, and the goals she hopes to accomplish through this book. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Dani DaOrtiz is certainly one of the best-known creators and performers in the magic world. At the 2022 Quebec FISM, he won a special award for his writings on magic theory and philosophy. He continues to lecture and perform around the world. Dani's book, Freedom of Expression, is finally available in English. His book provides the foundation of Dani's approach to the forcing of cards (and other objects). Dani and I talked about the book; in particular, he focused on the incorrect assumption that he is the only person who can perform these techniques. We also talked about his early days, how he met Juan Tamariz, his preferred performance situation and much more. I'm sure you'll find this conversation both entertaining and enlightening. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

In a career spanning fifty years, Steve Spill has done it all – close-up performer, bar magician, comedy clubs, concert venues (opening for rock bands), Vegas variety shows – culminating with a twenty-year run as the owner and featured performer at Magicopolis, a theater in Santa Monica, California. Steve's new book, Assassin, is an entertaining handbook of hows and whys of creating a sustainable career as a professional magician. The last time Steve and I chatted for any length was back in 2009, when he featured on the cover of M-U-M, so it was great to have the opportunity to catch up with him. We talked about Steve's career, the Magic Castle legends he hung out with when he was a kid, and, of course, his book. I'm sure you'll enjoy this interview with Steve. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Martin Lewis is one of magic's finest performers, and one of its most ingenious creators. His effects can be found in the repertoires of magicians around the world. There has not been a big book of Martin's magic since 1985, when Martin's Magic (written by Eric Lewis) appeared. Soon, the long wait for a new book will be over; Making Magic, a marvellous compilation of Martin's material will be available in May. I've known Martin for many years, but because he lives in California and I never have, our paths only crossed at the occasional magic convention. (The most recent time was a few years ago at the IBM/SAM joint convention in Louisville.) I was happy to have the opportunity to catch up and learn more about his early years in England, his time in L.A. at the Magic Castle, his work at the Magic Cellar (beneath Earthquake McGoon's jazz club in San Francisco), his entry into performing on cruise ships, and why and how Making Magic came into being. In addition, Martin shares some great stories about Harry Anderson, Dai Vernon, Eric Lewis, and others. We had a lot of fun chatting. I think you'll enjoy this edition of Conversations with Close. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Steve Cohen is a New York City-based magician whose show, Chamber Magic, has been running Off-Broadway for twenty years, first at the Waldorf Astoria New York, and, at present, in an exclusive salon in the Lotte New York Palace Hotel. For decades, Steve has been researching and studying the life and magic of Max Malini. The result of that endeavour is a marvellous new book, Max Malini: King of Magicians – Magician of Kings. It is a must-buy for magic historians and close-up magic enthusiasts. I spoke to Steve about his obsession with Malini, his search for the details of Malini's life and magic, his association with director Guillermo Del Toro, and much more. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Lawrence Hass, Ph.D. is the Dean of the McBride Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas, successor in that role to his friend and mentor, Eugene Burger. He is former Professor of Humanities at Austin College and former Professor of Philosophy and Theater Arts at Muhlenberg College. In 2010 he retired from college teaching to pursue magic full-time as a performer, teacher, author, and publisher. I spoke to Larry about his start in magic, his association with Mystery School, and his new book, Eugene Burger: Final Secrets. Our discussion was wide ranging, covering the evolution of the book and many aspects of Eugene's magic. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Boris Wild is a well-known performer, lecturer, and creator of magic, including the ingenious marked-deck system that bears his name. The pandemic quarantine sidelined his busy traveling schedule, but he used the down time to create a new lecture (and a new set of lecture notes), Variations. I spoke to Boris from his home outside Paris. We discussed his beginnings in magic, his award-winning close-up act, and the event that instigated his investigation of marked decks. I'm sure you will enjoy this interview. Listen now. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

I've known Joshua Jay since he was a youngster, and I've followed his development as a performer, a creator, an author, and a businessman. He has lectured and performed around the world, spent twelve years as the tricks columnist for MAGIC magazine, founded (with Andi Gladwin) the successful online magic store Vanishing, Inc., and has written several well-received books for the general public. His latest book, How Magicians Think, will be released soon. I caught up with Josh as he was about to start a thirty-city promotional tour. The focus of our conversation was on the new book, but the discussion ranged far and wide. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

For more than four decades, Bob Farmer has been a prolific creator of high-caliber magic effects. But in that time, I don't recall anyone doing an in-depth interview with him. I'm happy to rectify that situation this month. Bob and I spoke for ninety minutes, discussing his introduction to magic, his music career, his law school experience, his outside-the-box approach to job interviews, his work with the band Rush, the history of the “little hand” trick, and much more. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

This month's guest on Conversations with Close is Sylvain Juzan. Sylvain and I met briefly at a Genii convention a few years ago, and then got to spend a bit more time when he appeared on season 7a of Fool Us. I spoke to Sylvain about his background, his new book, Every Card You Take – I'll be Watching You, and his approach to creating magic. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

If you have any interest at all in card magic, I'm sure the name Roberto Giobbi is familiar to you. He is a prolific author, a frequent contributor to magazines (his column in Genii has run for fourteen years), a lecturer, a teacher, and an experienced performer. His new book, Sharing Secrets: The 52 Most Important and Practical Strategies in Magic, is fantastic. In it, Giobbi has solved a problem I have struggled with for thirty years: how to teach the theoretical principles of magic in a way that can be utilized and internalized. The last time Roberto and I had a “deep dive” discussion, we talked about his lecture on Dai Vernon. (That interview appeared in M-U-M.) This time we took an even deeper dive. I learned some things I never knew (like why the original version of Card College was spiral bound). We had a great time discussing subjects we both love, and I think you'll enjoy listening to it. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

This month my guest on Conversations with Close is an old friend, Jamy Ian Swiss. Jamy is an author, a public speaker, a close-up and stand-up performer, and an activist in the skeptic community. We talked about a wide variety of subjects; Jamy offered some great stories he has never shared in interviews before. We also discussed his new book, The Conjurer’s Conundrum. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Dr. Michael Rubinstein has been a major player in the coin magic world since the 1980s. His new book, Rubinstein Coin Magic contains the best of his published creations, previously unpublished material, and routines from his friends around the world. Michael appeared on Penn and Teller: Fool Us a few seasons ago, performing a memorable Wild Coin routine. We had not spoken in a while, so we caught up via Zoom. We discuss his new book, his friendship with David Roth, his love of puns, and how his approach to magic performance has changed over the years. If you are a member at MichaelClose.com you can see the video of this interview on our website. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Richard Kaufman is a prolific author and publisher; his output includes some of the best books of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. For more than twenty years he has been the editor of Genii magazine. His most recent book, Mr. Jennings Takes it Easy, has been in the works for many years. I spoke to Richard from his home in Washington, DC. We talked about his process, his relationship with Larry Jennings, the trials and tribulations of publishing, and much more. Several times during the interview, Richard picked up a deck of cards to demonstrate something. He also showed a video clip of Larry Jennings discussing the double lift and the top change. For that reason, you may prefer to watch the video version of the interview. Michael Close members can watch the video here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Eric Mead is a gifted performer, a creator, an author, a genuinely funny human being, and the man responsible for the ten-percent solution on Penn & Teller: Fool Us. His book, Tangled Web, is full of great routines, and is required reading for those of you interested in memorized deck magic. Eric chimed in on one of my Facebook live video broadcasts. It had been a while since we had chatted; I thought this would be the perfect time to catch up with him. The conversation ranged from Eric’s thoughts on Zoom magic shows to his relationship with Paul Harris and his involvement in the Art of Astonishment books. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Scott Alexander is one of magic’s few general practitioners, equally adept at close-up, parlor, and stage magic. He has created and marketed some excellent, professional-caliber routines. He was also a close friend to the late Denny Haney, whom he considers to be his mentor. Later this month, Scott will release Denny Haney: Collected Wisdom – The Life, Lessons, and Legacy of Denny Haney and the Denny & Lee Magic Show. It is a big book, full of great stories, sound advice, and terrific, fully worked-out magic. (You can read a full review of the book on my website.) I spoke with Scott at the end of 2020. We talked about his career in magic, how he met and worked with Denny, and how this book came to be. Scott is a fount of knowledge on all things magical. I know you’re going to enjoy our conversation. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

John Carney has been a friend for more than forty years. He is an author, one of the world’s finest sleight-of-hand performers, a serious student of conjuring, and one of the funniest people I know. I spoke to John via Zoom. Our conversation ranged far and wide, from his early years at the Magic Castle, his mentors, to his development as an artist, his current approach to sleight of hand and his new book coming out in January. We could have chatted for hours. I think you’ll enjoy this interview. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Late in the evening on October 21, 2020, production wrapped on season 7b of Penn & Teller: Fool Us. I had been working on pre-production since early June. While I have written about the show in various places and have discussed it on my podcasts and the podcasts of others, I had never done an interview with Executive Producers Andrew Golder and Lincoln Hiatt, two gentlemen with whom I was in daily communication for almost five months. Happily, they both agreed to an interview, which we did via Zoom. I think you’ll find it entertaining and informative; I learned several things I did not know before. This Conversations with Close link is audio only. However, there is a video version of the interview; you can find the link in the Members Only section at www.MichaelClose.com. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

My guest on Conversations with Close this month is a relative newcomer to the world of magic: Brazil’s Guilherme Silveira. You may have seen Guilherme on season seven of Fool Us, which aired during the summer. His routine featured an interesting wrinkle on using a smart phone in a prediction effect. Guilherme’s background is in mathematics and software design. I met him last year, when he contacted me about an effect he was working on. We have had weekly sessions since then, and Guilherme has impressed me with his ingenuity and his ability to quickly absorb and implement the ideas we discuss. He has been honing his presentational skills through free Zoom shows he does for family, friends, and business associates, and he is constantly working on new material. I spoke to Guilherme via Zoom from his home in Brazil. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

I met Doc Dixon almost thirty years ago; we have shared some memorable and hilarious experiences. I’m sure most of you saw Doc’s fooling performance on season six of Penn & Teller: Fool Us, in which he put a whole new spin on the venerable Three-shell Game. (A historical note for Fool Us fans: FU director Dennis Rosenblatt kept the signed cork pea used in the routine. He has it in his “How the hell am I supposed to shoot this?” file. I had a lot of fun working with Doc during preproduction for that season of Fool Us. Doc has been hunkering down in his home in Georgia during these crazy times. I thought it would be fun to chat with him and find out his thoughts on life, the universe, and everything. I enjoyed our conversation very much, and I think you will, too. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

For many magicians, playing cards have an undeniable fascination; enthusiasts eagerly snatch up every newly released pack they can get their hands on. (As someone wryly posted on Facebook, designer decks are the magical equivalent of Beanie Babies.) For serious playing-card collectors, their interest transcends the mere aesthetic appeal of new back and face designs. They study the history of playing card manufacturing: the mechanical processes involved, the innovations discovered, and the businessmen who headed the companies that provided settlers, gamblers, and just-plain-ordinary folk with a convenient way to pass the time. When it comes to the history of playing cards, Lee Asher and Jason McKinstry are two of the most knowledgeable people on the planet. Lee Asher is know for his many contributions to card magic. Jason McKinstry is not a magician; he is a collector and historian, and he has recently published the first volume of a new series of books: Paper Empires – A Historical Journey of America’s Early Playing Card Makers. The three of us had a lively discussion about playing card history, with a focus on two of the major players – Samuel Hart and Andrew Dougherty. We also discussed how improved card manufacturing technology influenced the development of advanced card magic techniques and the fact that we’re currently living in a golden age of playing card production. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

One of the reasons I was eager to attend the OWOW Magic Festival was that two old friends were also going to be performing there. I’ve known Stephen Bargatze for at least thirty years, and I’ve known Rick Merrill almost that long. (When he was fifteen, Rick sent me a letter offering an improvement to one of my tricks. I don’t hold that against him.) Both men are funny in their bones; they can make you laugh until the tears run down your pants leg. - October, 2019 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Ryan Joyce is a busy performer, and he has been ever since he graduated from high school. For ten years, he performed a touring illusion show that crisscrossed Canada. He then entered the cruise-ship market, performing illusions, a smaller stand-up show, and a hypnosis act. Ryan also has an avid interest in technology and filmmaking, both of which are showcased in his online Magician’s Masterclass series (www.magic-masterclass.com). Ryan is currently in the middle of preparations for the Ontario Weekend of Wonder Magic Festival (October 25-27, 2019). The event features several stage shows for the general public, strolling close-up magic in various local venues, and lectures for magicians. I was fortunate to find a quiet moment in Ryan’s schedule; we spoke at length about all these topics. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

My guest this month is one of my favourite performers and creators, David Regal. Although our paths have crossed at the occasional magic convention over the years, we’ve never really had the opportunity to spend time chatting about magic. I regret that, because David is an “evangelist” for quality magic – magic with an elegant method, and an interesting and evocative “hook.” In other words (and as the title of his new book implies), magic that showcases a performer’s unique interpretation of the effect. David has an extremely busy work schedule, so I'm pleased he took a little bit of his “down” time to talk about his new book, magic on television, and many other topics. I enjoyed our conversation. I think you will, too. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

This Conversations with Close podcast features an interview with Paul Vigil, who, in the past few years, has established himself as one of the top-flight performers and creators in the world of magic. Paul’s skills were well known to the magicians of Las Vegas, but it is only recently, with the publication of his books Classic Fantastic and Doors of Deception and his performances and lectures, that magicians around the world have come to recognize and appreciate his contribution to magic. When Lisa and I lived in Las Vegas, Paul was one of our favorite people to hang out with. In addition to being a serious student of conjuring, Paul also brings to the table his interests in a wide variety of academic subjects, including philosophy, psychology, and anthropology. This makes him a fascinating interview subject. I chatted with Paul via Skype. (August 2019) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

In March 2013, I ran a cover story on Pam Thompson in M-U-M. While there had been many stories about Johnny Thompson in magic magazines, there had not been one on Pam, who was an integral part of the Tomsoni & Company act. In preparation for that article, I recorded several phone conversations with Pam. There were a few things she could not recall, so I scheduled another phone call that would include Johnny, who had amazing recall of dates, people, and events. We talked about how Johnny and Pam discussed what motivated their characters, their move to Los Angeles and their favorite houseguests, traveling with dogs, and a few other topics. This recording was done as a reference for preparing my article, not as a podcast, so there are some flaws in the audio quality. I hope you’ll ignore those glitches and will enjoy spending a few minutes with two of the best people in the world of magic. (March 2013) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

I met Harry Lorayne in the spring/summer of 1975. At the time, I was going to music school at Butler University. I lived not far from campus and was home for lunch. As I watched the noon news, I heard the following announcement: “After this commercial break, we’ll be back with memory expert, Harry Lorayne.” I never saw the interview, because I immediately hopped in my car and headed downtown to the TV studio. (Fortunately, it wasn’t that far away.) I sat in the lobby; Harry came in from the production offices a few minutes later. I asked if he needed a lift to his next appointment. He did, and we spent the remainder of the day together, including a great dinner at St. Elmo’s steak house with Harry Riser. Over his seventy-year career, Harry has been one of the major contributors to the literature of magic; his output is astounding. At age ninety-three, he says he’s starting to slow down, but the energy and enthusiasm displayed in his voice belies that. We spent an enjoyable forty-five minutes discussing a wide range of topics. (March 2019) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Matt is one of the busiest professional comedy magicians around; he works corporate events, cruise ships, and comedy clubs. He is also in demand as a writer for television. You may ave seen Matt on the fourth season of Penn & Teller: Fool Us. His experience on the show led him to an important insight, one I had not previously considered when I analyzed acts. I have shared that insight with some of the performers who have been booked for the show. I sat down with Matt Matt stopped by between Christmas and New Year’s Eve in 2018. We talked about magic, work, life, the universe, and everything. (January 2018) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

I had a chance to chat with my old friend, Bruce Kalver. He was the president of The Society of American Magicians when I was hired to be the editor of M-U-M. He authored several feature stories for me and also wrote one of the most popular columns in the magazine, Tech Tricks (which continues to this day). Bruce’s story is a fascinating one. He was born into a show-biz family, has performed professionally since age ten, hosted a popular radio show in Rhode Island, and is the creator and producer of the well-known Head Shrinker illusion. I spoke to Bruce via Skype. July 2019 --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Jeff Pinsky is the owner and operator of The Browser's Den of Magic in Toronto, Ontario, CANADA. I sat down with Jeff at the Den in June 2019. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Jeff Altman is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and magician who has appeared as a guest on Late Night with David Letterman and Late Show with David Letterman a combined 45 times. Altman mesmerized contemporaries like David Letterman and Jerry Seinfeld, and inspired future comedians like Judd Apatow. I had a wonderful conversation with Jeff in January 2019. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Andi Gladwin is a British magician, speaker, and publisher. He has appeared on television numerous times, has lectured for magicians throughout the UK, US and Europe and written / published books on magic. Joshua Jay is a magician, author, and lecturer. He has performed in over 100 countries, and he was awarded the top prize at the World Magic Seminar in 1998. He fooled Penn and Teller on their hit show, Fool Us, and he holds a Guinness World Record for card tricks. I had the chance to sit down with Andi Gladwin & Joshua Jay at the wonderful Magic Weekend in Lund, Sweden. (Oct 2018) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Mac King is an American magician who has performed on television specials, often as a co-host. He has his own family-friendly show, "The Mac King Comedy Magic Show", at the Harrah's Las Vegas in the Clint Holmes Theater. Here is the chat via Skype. (Sept 2018) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

R. Paul Wilson is a close-up magician, filmmaker, and author. Michael sat down with R. Paul Wilson at the Ring 129 Workshop Convention in St. Joseph, Missouri. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Anthony Owen was a magician, mentalist, and producer. Michael caught up with Anthony at the Sesson in London, England. (January 2018) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Pit Hartling is one of Germany's most requested entertainers and Michael got a chance to sit down with him for a conversation in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the shooting of Penn & Teller's: FOOL US show. (March 2018) --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support

Tim Trono is a magician, magic producer and creator. Michael caught up with Tim at the Session in London, England (January 2018). --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/michaelclose/support