Conversations With Close

Michael Close
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Conversations With Close

In these podcasts, I interview talented magicians from around the world—performers, creators, and innovators who are shaping the future of magic. I aim to ask thought-provoking questions that lead to meaningful discussions, offering you unique insights you won't find elsewhere. If you enjoy the conversations, I’d love for you to visit our website and explore some of the products we offer. www.MichaelClose.com Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

  1. Allan Ackerman Interview S6 E2

    4 OCT

    Allan Ackerman Interview S6 E2

    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

    41 min
  2. Steve Reynolds Interview S6 E1

    7 SEPT

    Steve Reynolds Interview S6 E1

    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

    1h 8m
  3. Piff the Magic Dragon S5 E4

    26/10/2023

    Piff the Magic Dragon S5 E4

    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

    48 min
  4. Friedrich Roitzsch S5 E3

    16/05/2023

    Friedrich Roitzsch S5 E3

    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

    43 min
  5. Christian Bischof Interview S5 E2

    01/04/2023

    Christian Bischof Interview S5 E2

    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

    56 min

  6. 18/01/2023

    John Bannon Interview S5 E1

    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://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

    39 min

  7. 20/11/2022

    Steve Valentine Interview S4 E7

    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://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

    1h 23m

  8. 16/10/2022

    Amy Kimlat Interview S4 E6

    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://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

    33 min
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About

In these podcasts, I interview talented magicians from around the world—performers, creators, and innovators who are shaping the future of magic. I aim to ask thought-provoking questions that lead to meaningful discussions, offering you unique insights you won't find elsewhere. If you enjoy the conversations, I’d love for you to visit our website and explore some of the products we offer. www.MichaelClose.com Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/michaelclose/support

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Close
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2024
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Michael Close
  • Show Website
    Conversations With Close

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