Search found 491 matches
- March 18th, 2024, 12:28 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: New Ebook from Michael Close
- Replies: 0
- Views: 341
New Ebook from Michael Close
For those of you not on my mailing list: I’m happy to announce the release of my new ebook, The Well-Tuned Magician: Analyzing and Refining Your Magic Routines . It reveals the strategies I use to create the most astonishing and entertaining routines possible – techniques I’ve used with my private s...
- January 3rd, 2024, 12:02 pm
- Forum: Marketing & Magic Business
- Topic: The Aretalogy of Vanni Bossi
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2825
Re: The Aretalogy of Vanni Bossi
I think many prospective purchases base their buying decision on having seen some of the material performed. Vanni made a few US convention appearances, and he died almost eight years before the book was published. Consequently, it's possible folks just didn't realize how great his material is. He w...
- December 28th, 2023, 12:17 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Engblom Triumph
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1505
Re: Engblom Triumph
Just to put your mind at ease, Richard. No deck switch; deck is examinable at the end.
Christian has sold this method for a number a years. It appears to be sold out everywhere right now.
Christian has sold this method for a number a years. It appears to be sold out everywhere right now.
- December 28th, 2023, 11:58 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Engblom Triumph
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1505
Re: Engblom Triumph
There are no edits to aid in the deception. (That's not how we do things on Fool Us.) That tricks looks exactly the same if you were sitting at the table with Christian. It is an exquisitely ingenious method, expertly performed. No logical explanation seems possible; no rationalized explanation sati...
- December 28th, 2023, 10:22 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Engblom Triumph
- Replies: 14
- Views: 1505
Re: Engblom Triumph
Hi Phillipe:
I may be misinterpreting your post, but I see no way this routine is too perfect.
Michael Close
I may be misinterpreting your post, but I see no way this routine is too perfect.
Michael Close
- November 13th, 2023, 3:37 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: New Fool Us Host?
- Replies: 13
- Views: 2745
Re: New Fool Us Host?
I worked with Jonathan Ross on season two of Fool Us (the first season for me). He really spoiled us. He was funny, engaged, a fantastic interviewer, and possessed of seemingly endless energy. (During the pauses between acts, Jonathan usually stayed on stage and interacted with the audience.) Brooke...
- November 25th, 2022, 6:46 pm
- Forum: Close-Up Magic
- Topic: ZOMBIE Hand-Little Hand New Version
- Replies: 47
- Views: 8314
Re: ZOMBIE Hand-Little Hand New Version
I read that book in 1973 and it changed my life.
- October 9th, 2022, 7:16 pm
- Forum: Close-Up Magic
- Topic: Trick with Casino "Cut Card"
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1466
Re: Trick with Casino "Cut Card"
One of the nice things about The Luckiest Cards in Las Vegas is that the estimation is extremely forgiving.
- October 9th, 2022, 5:39 pm
- Forum: Close-Up Magic
- Topic: Trick with Casino "Cut Card"
- Replies: 6
- Views: 1466
Re: Trick with Casino "Cut Card"
My effect, The Luckiest Cards in Las Vegas, uses two cut cards. It's a memorized deck effect (stack independent). It's in Closely Guarded Secrets. It's still one of my favorite memdeck routines.
- September 10th, 2022, 2:34 pm
- Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
- Topic: Dani DaOrtiz Freedom of Expression
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4013
Re: Dani DaOrtiz Freedom of Expression
The next edition of my newsletter (coming out in a day or so) will have my review of Dani's book and a seventy-minute interview with him, during which he clarifies and expands on several of the strategies discussed in the book. It will be available in the members-only section. (It is free to sign up...
- March 6th, 2022, 12:12 pm
- Forum: Mentalism & Mental Magic
- Topic: George Sands' "An Oddity"
- Replies: 15
- Views: 4511
- October 17th, 2021, 12:38 pm
- Forum: Close-Up Magic
- Topic: ZOMBIE Hand-Little Hand New Version
- Replies: 47
- Views: 8314
Re: ZOMBIE Hand-Little Hand New Version
I'm not sure when Bob first showed me the little hand idea, but it was probably forty years ago. When you could still smoke in bars, I used a green monster hand that emerges from my cupped hands after I had blown smoke inside. I never showed this to magicians; it is inevitable someone else would com...
- November 23rd, 2020, 2:48 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Card size survey
- Replies: 46
- Views: 4998
Re: Card size survey
I think I commented about this on Nikola's blog when she first posted about this subject. I can only think of three sleights that cause difficulty if you have a very small hand: 1) palming a card into classic palm position; 2) one-handed shuffles and cuts; 3) the classic pass. The simple solution fo...
- November 18th, 2020, 2:13 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Penn & Teller: Fool Us renewed for Season 8
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1320
Penn & Teller: Fool Us renewed for Season 8
Well, here's some fun news for all of you from the executive producers of Penn & Teller: Fool Us. 1. We just finished shooting the second half of season 7 at the (empty) Rio in Las Vegas, for a total of twenty-six episodes this year, including our one-hundredth episode. Go Magic! 2. New episodes...
Re: Fool US
Penn really loved Wes Iseli's routine.
The "bust" was one of my favorites of all the seasons I've worked on.
The "bust" was one of my favorites of all the seasons I've worked on.
Re: Fool US
Fool Us has been renewed for an eighth season.
Audition videos should be sent to fooluscasting@gmail.com. Routines should be five minutes or less.
No date for recording season eight has been posted.
Audition videos should be sent to fooluscasting@gmail.com. Routines should be five minutes or less.
No date for recording season eight has been posted.
- June 29th, 2020, 1:21 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Remembering Louis Falanga
- Replies: 16
- Views: 4303
Re: Remembering Louis Falanga
I am happy to have been a part of the historical legacy left by Louis Falanga and L&L Publishing. On both of my visits to Lake Tahoe to record videos, he was the perfect host, making every effort to ensure my comfort, during the recording sessions and during the down time. I talked about recordi...
- April 24th, 2020, 2:01 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Jay Marshall
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3418
Re: Jay Marshall
Chris Randall: I did my talk about Jay yesterday. If you missed it, here's the link.
https://www.facebook.com/michaelclosema ... 179464687/
I'll be sharing a few more stories today (Friday, August 24).
https://www.facebook.com/michaelclosema ... 179464687/
I'll be sharing a few more stories today (Friday, August 24).
- April 20th, 2020, 4:38 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Jay Marshall
- Replies: 14
- Views: 3418
Re: Jay Marshall
I became friends with Jay Marshall in 1972 when we met at Harry Riser's house. For almost twenty-five years I had the privilege of accompanying him when he performed "Lefty" at magic conventions. On Tuesday (April 21), I'll share some Jay Marshall stories during my live broadcast at my pub...
- March 21st, 2020, 2:22 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Live video today (March 20) from Michael Close
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2741
Re: Live video today (March 20) from Michael Close
Thanks for the kind words. In today's (Saturday) session, I'll share two behind-the-scenes stories from the taping of Stevens restaurant video.
- March 20th, 2020, 2:32 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Live video today (March 20) from Michael Close
- Replies: 8
- Views: 2741
Live video today (March 20) from Michael Close
Hi: Today (March 20) at 4 pm eastern time I will be broadcasting a live video from my Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/michaelclosemagic/ I have done this since Tuesday, and the response has been gratifying. (The previous videos are still available.) I discuss tricks and moves, and I offer a ...
- February 18th, 2020, 12:25 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Daryl's Ambitious Card Omnibus Back in Print!
- Replies: 11
- Views: 2924
Re: Daryl's Ambitious Card Omnibus Back in Print!
DVD means Digital Versatile Disc.
You're welcome.
You're welcome.
- November 24th, 2019, 4:03 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Who is THE Expert on Self-Working Magic?
- Replies: 49
- Views: 5993
Re: Who is THE Expert on Self-Working Magic?
I think Steve Beam would be the guy to talk to.
- November 23rd, 2019, 2:57 pm
- Forum: Magic History and Anecdotes
- Topic: Vernon Farewell Lecture Tour
- Replies: 34
- Views: 5758
Re: Vernon Farewell Lecture Tour
Harry Riser organized the Vernon lecture in Indianapolis; I was in attendance. You can see a photo of Harry, Vernon, and John Railing at that event in The Feints and Temps of Harry Riser book. Harry and I had a particular question for Vernon, but we wanted to ask it in such a way that it didn't seem...
- November 15th, 2019, 11:50 am
- Forum: General
- Topic: Telling lies as a magician.
- Replies: 22
- Views: 6431
Re: Telling lies as a magician.
I have a 55-minute Targeted Training session titled "The Truth about Lying." This is a complex subject; I cover nine major points in my discussion of it. Concerning this training session, I recently received an email from a purchaser who found that the information was extremely useful for ...
- October 2nd, 2019, 7:37 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Penn & Teller: Fool Us Renewed for Season Seven
- Replies: 4
- Views: 3271
Penn & Teller: Fool Us Renewed for Season Seven
I have just received the official word from executive producers Andrew Golder and Lincoln Hiatt that Penn & Teller: Fool Us has been renewed for a seventh season. If you would like to submit an audition video, send it to Darren Toon at fooluscasting@gmail.com. Remember, originality is important,...
- September 26th, 2019, 5:26 pm
- Forum: Close-Up Magic
- Topic: Nestor Hato on Fool Us
- Replies: 9
- Views: 5691
Re: Nestor Hato on Fool Us
I was unfamiliar with this marketed item. Consequently, Nestor's audition video (not the video on the website referenced above) fooled me completely. I know several methods for accomplishing this effect. Nestor's method isn't one of them. It looks as good from a foot away as it did on TV. No editing...
- September 4th, 2019, 6:51 pm
- Forum: Reference Room
- Topic: Vernon fools Houdini
- Replies: 82
- Views: 88255
Re: Vernon fools Houdini
Apparently, my routine, "The Trick that Fooled Houdini and his Whole [censored] Family," has some historical inaccuracies.
My apologies.
Close
My apologies.
Close
- September 2nd, 2019, 3:06 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Two great performances on "Fool Us"
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5157
Re: Two great performances on "Fool Us"
Jack Shalom: During the live performance, Alyson's interview with the performers runs to five minutes (sometimes longer, depending on how much has to be discussed). For television, this is edited down to about a minute.f This is also true for Penn's conversation with the performer; it often goes on ...
- August 31st, 2019, 9:06 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Two great performances on "Fool Us"
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5157
Re: Two great performances on "Fool Us"
Also, since he was mentioned at the top of this thread, I should add that Tom Stone was great to work with. I saw him do the Quantum Logic routine at a convention in Lund, Sweden, in the fall last year and I thought it was great. It took a bit of arm twisting to get him to agree to do the show. I'm ...
- August 31st, 2019, 10:20 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: New Facebook Groups from Michael Close
- Replies: 0
- Views: 1013
New Facebook Groups from Michael Close
For those of you with Facebook accounts, we have something new starting. Lisa and I have created new, closed Facebook groups for The Paradigm Shift, The Road to Riffsville, and The T.O.M. Epiphany. These groups are restricted to those people who purchased those ebooks. If you want to join, all you h...
- August 31st, 2019, 10:18 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Two great performances on "Fool Us"
- Replies: 13
- Views: 5157
Re: Two great performances on "Fool Us"
Wolfgang did a terrific job and was a delight to work with. He and I had a lot of back-and-forth on this routine, mainly because he had to tighten it up considerably for television (in particular, the time constraints FU imposes). When he performs this on cruise ships and other venues, he brings up ...
- August 25th, 2019, 1:17 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: New Ebook from Michael Close
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2728
Re: New Ebook from Michael Close
Hi Bill: I completely agree; trying to wrap your head around Stewart James's Assumptive Trinities is challenging. I've been thinking about this for forty years and only have a basic grasp of it. The good news is, my new ebook isn't about the Assumptive Trinities. The launchpad for the ideas containe...
- August 24th, 2019, 12:46 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: New Ebook from Michael Close
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2728
Re: New Ebook from Michael Close
Hi Bill:
In the great tradition of magic dealers of the past, I was intentionally vague.
The meaning of T.O.M. is given in the product description of the ebook, which is the second link in my original post.
In the great tradition of magic dealers of the past, I was intentionally vague.
The meaning of T.O.M. is given in the product description of the ebook, which is the second link in my original post.
- August 23rd, 2019, 1:38 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: New Ebook from Michael Close
- Replies: 7
- Views: 2728
New Ebook from Michael Close
My new ebook, The T.O.M. Epiphany , is now available. I’ve written a blog explaining what the book is all about. The strategies explained can turn tricks into miracles. You can read more here: https://tinyurl.com/y4m8x3r5 If you so desire, you can purchase the ebook here: https://tinyurl.com/y3wyh3n...
- August 7th, 2019, 8:39 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Aspergers and Magic?
- Replies: 93
- Views: 30470
Re: Aspergers and Magic?
My apologies, Jonathan. I never reply to any question I'd have to Google to understand.
And now back to your regularly scheduled program.
And now back to your regularly scheduled program.
- August 7th, 2019, 7:55 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Aspergers and Magic?
- Replies: 93
- Views: 30470
Re: Aspergers and Magic?
Question: How many magicians does it take not to get a joke.
Answer: Apparently, all of them.
Answer: Apparently, all of them.
- August 7th, 2019, 5:10 pm
- Forum: General
- Topic: Aspergers and Magic?
- Replies: 93
- Views: 30470
Re: Aspergers and Magic?
Question: How many Aspies does it take to change a lightbulb? Answer: First let me admit that I have not carefully researched this, I am simply recording the history that I lived through. When I was a teen, way back in the 60's, we still had ethnic jokes. Polish people were used more often than almo...
- July 10th, 2019, 12:31 pm
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: A New Webinar from Michael Close
- Replies: 9
- Views: 4918
Re: A New Webinar from Michael Close
Lisa and I are gratified by the response we’ve received from our webinars; we appreciate those who have attended a live presentation and those who have spread the word about them. We also understand that everyone has busy lives and might not be able to attend a live webinar. Because of limitations o...
- June 11th, 2019, 9:49 am
- Forum: Buzz
- Topic: Penn & Teller: Fool Us Season Six
- Replies: 7
- Views: 4139
Penn & Teller: Fool Us Season Six
The sixth season of Penn & Teller: Fool Us begins on June 17, with an episode titled, “David Copperfield vs. Penn & Teller.” Also appearing on this show are Jan Reinder, Ondrej Psenicka, and Giancarlo Bernini. Subsequent episodes are: “They’re Back!” (June 24 – Javi Benitez, Rebecca Herrera,...