Conversations With Close

Nov 18 2024 45 ep. 44 mins 35

Conversations With Close Podcast artwork

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

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Mick Ayres Interview S6 E3

Nov 18 2024 78 mins

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,

Allan Ackerman Interview S6 E2

Oct 04 2024 40 mins

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

Steve Reynolds Interview S6 E1

Sep 07 2024 67 mins

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 year

Piff the Magic Dragon S5 E4

Oct 26 2023 48 mins

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 re

Friedrich Roitzsch S5 E3

May 16 2023 42 mins

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 infl

Christian Bischof Interview S5 E2

Apr 01 2023 56 mins

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 performanc

John Bannon Interview S5 E1

Jan 18 2023 39 mins

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 ca

Steve Valentine Interview S4 E7

Nov 20 2022 83 mins

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 sh

Amy Kimlat Interview S4 E6

Oct 16 2022 32 mins

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

Danny DaOrtiz Interview S4 E5

Sep 09 2022 70 mins

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 o