Simon AronsonInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Jay Marshall introduces Simon Aronson

I have to be honest; I did not know much about Simon before I attended his lecture this weekend at Magic Incorporated.

I didn?t know that he as a retired lawyer (still of counsel to one of the nation?s most important firms) and that his love for magic is essentially his only motivation for developing the many effects he has for contributing his fantastic effects. I assumed he was a long-time professional in our art and that he performed his card effects for corporate and significant private social gatherings.

I had just come back from the South Carolina Association of Magicians convention in Columbia and my friends thought me daft (I think they said ‘daft.’ They may have said I was a ‘giraffe’ but that would make no sense)to continue my drive westward to Chicago for a single lecture.

They were wrong, I was right. The Aronson lecture is not to be missed if you ever have a chance to attend.

Simon truly loves magic and loves, especially, card magic. His love for our craft is obvious in the care he has given to his lecture?s preparation and presentation.

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Jay Marshall introduces Simon Aronson

I have to be honest; I did not know much about Simon before I attended his lecture this weekend at Magic Incorporated.

They were wrong, I was right. The Aronson lecture is not to be missed if you ever have a chance to attend.

Simon truly loves magic and loves, especially, card magic. His love for our craft is obvious in the care he has given to his lecture?s preparation and presentation.

Simon Explains Theory

He explains his effects with the patience of a kind teacher and the clarity of a mentor. He gives the impression ? I presume it is accurate ? that he really wants his audience to learn, understand and use his effects.

Without casting aspersions against those who lecture only to sell; Simon did not provide a pitch act. He wasn?t hawking his fantastic effects. Rather, he was trying to help his audience understand the ?why? and ?how? of his commercial effects.

It was unique to see someone giving away that which any aspiring magic inventor would protect with great care. He provided an explanation of Side Swiped, Red See Passover and other very commercial effects.

Although Simon is well-known for his work on memorized deck magic and stacks, the entire first half of his lecture was devoted to his original creations that don’t involve such methodology. The tricks shown were practical and one has already found its way into my act ? after only two days! That tells you that I am either a poorly prepared magician or that the effect was so strong.

He took an intermission that allowed us to buy his lecture notes, his books or any of his commercially released effects. I went in promising to buy nothing. After all, I had just bought his book Try the Impossible and wasn?t through reading it. I would be good. I would not give into the lecture?s tempting call.

I failed.

I purchased over $100.00 worth of effects, notes and books. Why? Because they were worth twice the price I paid.

Simon?s second act was an explanation of the theory, practice and many uses for a stacked/memorized deck. He didn?t limit the theory to the Aronson Stack but any stack.

Simon Does Impossible 4 Ace Routine

He told us why and how to set up a stacked deck. Build in the effects you might use, not those you will never consider. If you do a bridge demonstration, it makes sense to stack your memorized deck to perform a great bridge deal.

If you don?t do a bridge demonstration, it makes no sense to include the effect if it keeps you from memorizing or using the deck for some other effect. After all, Simon explained, for every trick or deal you include, you necessarily exclude another.

One of the most appealing characteristics of the of Simon?s presentation is that he wanted to ensure his audience understood what he was teaching.

He entertained both the mundane to significant question with a sense of grace and care. He was not rushed. He wanted to share with us that which he had developed with hours/days/months/years of work, study and ?sessions.?

Perhaps the most interesting aspect of his lecture was his description of the weekly meeting with other magicians to ?session? effects. In these ?sessions,? he and his cohorts agree upon on a desired effect and then try to figure the way to make the effect real.Red See Passover, Simon revealed, was produced as a part of these ?sessions.?

I have attended many lectures in my life but the only one that comes close to the honesty, helpfulness and substance of this lecture would be one provided by Dai Vernon at the Florida State Magicians? Convention in 1974.

That?s pretty strong praise but if you have a chance to see Simon, you?ll agree or understand.