The Insider

Steve Cohen joins us for a second go on the podcast.  Join us for a fascinating chat about starting up his show again, practise, Max Malini, why he doesn’t do “big prop” tricks, and his rare, upcoming appearance at Magifest. And as promised, the link to the violin player he recommended is: https://www.anne-sophie-mutter.de

In the second part of this interview, we discuss hiding the moves you spend so long working on, how to make your magic better, stories about Gabi and tips from The Jerx.

I know, it's not a Monday, but this is a special treat! Here's an hour of Chris Kenner! Ahead of the start of his Masterclass: Live on Sunday July 4th, here's a special, hour-long episode of The Insider where I talk with Chris about why he doesn't do anything flashy anymore, why he thinks helping the youth is so important, how magicians dress, how movies influence his magic and what part he thinks storytelling has in magic.  He also briefly touches on what he's going to be teaching this month in this rare chance to see him lecture.  Get your ticket for the Masterclass: Live here: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/masterclass/chris-kenner-masterclass-live

It's #TonyChangWeek Double VI Points on the downloads we'll be featuring on our socials on #MoveMonday, #TrickyTuesday and #FullPerformanceFriday.  In this first part of the interview, we discuss why on earth he works so hard on perfection, the NYC magic scene and angles. 

Derek and I continue our discussion about AGT, we discuss how to be funny and how to add humour to your magic and his pivot into virtual magic. Derek will be performing his virtual show for us on July 7th. Get your ticket here: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/showtime/derek-hughes-vanishing-inc-showtime/

Derek Hughes and I have a great chat about acting and the hugely important lesson the learned from some young teenagers at a restaurant gig, connecting with an audience, scripting and how to make it feel like your show isn’t really that scripted, advice from Eugene and AGT. This is part one of a two part interview. Tune in next Monday for more. Derek will be performing his virtual show as part of our Showtime series on July 7th. Book your ticket now: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/showtime/derek-hughes-vanishing-inc-showtime/ Oh yes, and our Summer Sale is now on. Save 25% on almost every VI product: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/sale

We talk about his new book, his philosphies about magic,  continual refinement and improvement, what excites and concerns him about magic today, exploring potential, magicians he wished he’d had the chance to see.  John's book is available exclusively from carneymagic.com

John Carney and I sit down to discuss old magic books, the advantages of doing sleights left-handed, John Ramsay, Charlie Miller and Mr Mysto.  Part two will drop next Monday. 

New York-based Vinny DePonto and I chat about mentalism, the analogue of art and magic, must-read mentalism books (and he doesn't even mention 13 Steps!), pivoting to virtual shows and of course, his incredible new series of fine art prints, "Icons" available on the new section of our site: Wonders Vinny's Site: https://www.vinnydeponto.com/home

Today's guest has written a wonderful book on bringing card magic to a parlor setting. We talk about that.  Naypes is available here: https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/stage-and-parlor-magic/naypes/

Siegfried Tieber has appeared on Fool Us not once, but twice! And, because we're very lucky, he's performing her amazing virtual show for us this Wednesday (May 5th).  Get the best seat in your house right here.

We're super excited to introduce you to a new podcast of interactive magic! Instead of the usual interview, this week you're getting a sneak peak of a new show that starts officially on Sunday. This is an amazing podcast of interactive magic we know you'll love. It will have its own feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify etc which you can grab on Sunday when the show launches officially. For now, enjoy this trick. You'll need a hand and your imagination.  Your regularly scheduled Insider will return next Monday.  -- In the debut episode of Homemade Trickery, Self-Inflicted Magic For The Bored Soul, you’ll find a game using only your fingers and your imagination. Join in! Special thanks to Juan Estaban Varela for giving permission to share this and to my friend Daniel Guedes for the ending thing. Credits: VARELA, Juan Estaban, “El Anillo Imaginario”, MAGIOGRAFÍA, Espacio Vernet, 2008, pp. 11-12. VARELA, Juan Estaban, “El Anillo Imaginario”, ZERO ELEMENTS, Vernet, 2014. Further Readings: STEINMEYER, Jim, “Fives Cards On the March”, FURTHER IMPUZZIBILITIES - Still More Strangely Self-Working Conjuring, Hahne, 2006, pp. 10-11. Also check: “A Bird in The Hand”, by Steve Mayhew, “Cursed by an Evil Spell”, by Martin Kane and “Fingered”, by Steve Beam.

Welcome to the second part of Jamy Ian Swiss' time on The Insider. The skepticism continues.  Here's some useful links for Jamy's material: Jamy's Astonishing Essay The Works Trilogy Cups and Balls Masterclass Card On Ceiling

To celebrate the launch of his Astonishing Essay, Jamy Ian Swiss joined me for his second appearance on the show. We talked about skepticism, a subject he is very passionate about. It was impossible to keep him to 30 minutes, so I split the show into two parts. Tune in next week for part 2. These Terms and Conditions apply to your use of Vanishing Inc. Magic LLC's YouTube channel and podcast (“YouTube Channel and Podcast”). Your use of the YouTube Channel and Podcast is governed by these Terms and Conditions. If you do not agree with these Terms and Conditions, please do not access the YouTube Channel and Podcast. These Terms and Conditions are the standard terms for the provision of services by Vanishing Inc. Magic LLC.  The Owners shall not have to bear any personal responsibility in relation to the YouTube Channel and Podcast whatsoever. Where guests appear on the YouTube Channel and Podcast, the views of those guests are solely their views, and the Company does not accept responsibility for them. Such views are the views of guests, and not the Company. The Company does not verify the accuracy of the information contained in the YouTube Channel and Podcast, and the Company is not responsible for this information. The Company assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of the YouTube Channel and Podcast. The information contained on the YouTube Channel and Podcast is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.

When the pandemic broke, Will Houstoun and Steve Thompson set up a project called Video Chat Magic where users would pay a monthly fee and get access to incredible magic designed for video chat software such as Zoom. It caught fire, and they ended up getting contributions from Richard Wiseman, Max Maven, Larry Fong, Pete McCabe, Jim Steinmeyer, Marc Kerstein and many others.  In this episode, Steve and Will talk about the project, how it got started, what problems they faced and the charitable angle which really made the whole thing incredible.  The book is available today at https://www.vanishingincmagic.com/magic-books/video-chat-magic/ but if you want the physical copy, act quickly, there are very few available.