The Clog

Creating Like Clockwork

The name Chris Mayhew might sound familiar to you. But you're mistaken. You are most likely thinking about Steve Mayhew. Which is a good thing, because that guy rocks! Lots of people have asked me about the history of the Holes concept from my new booklet, A Clockwork Apple (available exclusively through ...

Simon Aronson’s Top 5

We asked Simon Aronson to list the 5 mistakes that magicians make while presenting magic. In Simon's words: 1. Not making the effect clear. If the audience is to appreciate that "magic" has happened, they first have to feel confident that they understood what has occurred. If what you did was ...

John Bannon interviews Simon Aronson part 5

John: Is the memorized deck work the stuff you're most proud of? You've really started a rebirth. Simon: It's not just me, by a long shot. I may have been one of the first to show how sophisticated it could be with my chapter in Card Ideas, but certainly Juan, Mike ...

John Bannon interviews Simon Aronson part 4

John: Earlier you mentioned that many of your methods were more cerebral than physical. Do you shy away from sleight of hand? Simon: Not at all. I love to watch someone with great chops. And I'll include any move or sleight in my tricks and my repertoire, as long as I ...

John Bannon interviews Simon Aronson part 3

John: A long time ago, Jon Racherbaumer wrote that you "play to the gallery." Is that still true? Are you something of an elitist? Simon: Jon wrote that when he reviewed my first book, Card Ideas. I think he meant that I tend to give my audiences a fair amount of ...

John Bannon interviews Simon Aronson part 2

John: One of the best things I've seen you do is the two-person mindreading act you perform with Ginny. How did that come about, and how do you keep it in shape? Simon: Of everything I've ever come up with I consider our two-person act the most deceptive, totally fooling, most ...

John Bannon interviews Simon Aronson part 1

Over the course of Simon Aronson week, we're going to share an interview between John Bannon and Simon Aronson. We start by finding out about Simon's writings and how he creates new magic. John Bannon: Some of your material requires a fair amount of preparation, or pre-arrangement, or doesn't reset ...

Simon Aronson Week at Vanishing Inc.

"Simon is one of the great minds in modern card magic." -Darwin Ortiz "Simon's routines are designed to bamboozle the most discriminating and intelligent of spectators and he's willing to go to whatever lengths are necessary to accomplish that goal." -Michael Close "Simon's use of the memorized deck is impressive, and his ...

Magic in the movies - take 1

This two-part essay is for Clog readers who, like me, are fans of both magic and film, and who are curious about where the two genres intersect. Watching a magician and watching a film aren't such different experiences. Both require a willing suspension of disbelief. Whether a Star Destroyer ...

Teach a Man to Fisher

I can be quite pigheaded (leaving me more susceptible to the swine flu, I suppose). When I get set in my ways, it will often take a lot to alter those views. But as recent events prove, it is not impossible. Back in February, I had the honor of performing at ...