Conversations With Close

Asi Wind Interview - S6 E10

Asi Wind is a world-class performer and creator. He is also an author and a talented watercolor artist. I spoke with Asi about his background (both magically and artistically), the performers who inspired him, and his creative/problem-solving process. We spoke for seventy minutes, and could certainly have gone on for far longer.

Let's Talk Latta - S6 E9

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.

Ben Seidman Interview S6 E8

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.

Christopher Carter Interview S6 E7

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 Interview S6 E6

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.