Aaron Balcom Is Outstanding!Inside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

The stage was set at the ground level of the Coca-Cola arena at the Taylor Sports Complex and with 30 minutes to go before show time, the seats were filling steadily. The crowd was a fair mixture of families and teen-aged fans. The center stage was set with a folding nightclub table, a microphone and backed by a large black backdrop. Around the sides, hidden from view was the hint of the size of the show to come.

The scale of Aaron’s act is best defined as ‘big.’ Big speakers, big sets and big anticipation. The auditorium was filled with a veil of smoke and as the time approached for the start, a heavier mist of smoke began to fill from around the corners of the center backdrop. (More about the mist/smoke later).

The show was set for 7:30 but didn?t get started until twenty minutes later. At 7:45 the backstage folks were still running between the wings adjusting lights and the fog machines. Finally, the ?Stage Manager? introduced himself and then introduced The Magic of Admiral.

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I had never had the pleasure of seeing Admiral perform and wish I could have seen more. He performed two effects, the Rigid Rope and the Vanishing Bandana. Both were done well and with a very professional but fun approach. He was both charismatic and enjoyable.

Admiral introduced Aaron and he appeared on a motorcycle. Unfortunately, the appearance was so far at the back of the stage that it was difficult to see Aaron or the motorcycle. The bad lighting and the poor sound system plagued the show.

Aaron then performed Sharpshooter with audience member. (Now I am going to get petty and defensive of Aaron). His crew chief chose not to load the vase with the rose that was to launch from it as the routine would progress. He started to load it but, with a bored expression, just set it aside. It was a shame. It threw Aaron?s timing off and left him one surprise short. I don?t know that the audience noticed, but the magicians sure did. Aaron didn?t use a gun as most do with this effect; he caused the havoc with by throwing cards. Very neat idea.

Aaron waited as the backdrop was moved to go into his first illusion. He did the production of his beautiful assistant from a newspaper box. I?ve seen the very same effect done before by a couple of other magicians but I thought Aaron?s handling was great and, perhaps more importantly, his assistant did a great production from the box.

He moved from the production to a nice presentation of Mental Epic. This effect showed three things: he worked well under pressure; he has tremendous charisma; and is able to charm an audience. Another unfortunate crew-caused incident started the effect when apparently as a joke, the crew had written something profane on what was supposed to be the blank mental epic slate. He asked for someone to erase it but no one came out. He resorted to erasing with his hands.

Aaron moved to the Sword Suspension. Again, he performed this very well and more importantly, his assistant was perfect in execution and performance. She is the perfect height for the span of the three poles/swords and her arm and leg movements were among the best I?ve seen in the illusion. I don?t know how Aaron found this woman, but she is perfect at her job. She is outstandingly graceful and apparently always at ease. I predict that she and Aaron will have a very bright future because their chemistry and respective talents are evident.

In the second half of the show, Aaron performed his version of Origami. In the only part that seemed to ring unreal was his dedication of the effect to the 9-11 victims. The effect didn?t reflect anything different than the normal performance of Origami and there was no further mention of the 9-11 victims. Here is another stroke for his assistant. I have seen Origami performed perhaps 20 times since I first saw it done by David Copperfield. Aaron?s assistant performed her part better than any assistant I have ever seen. If your familiar with Origami, you remember that it is when the assistant loads and unloads that makes the effect. Aaron?s assistant did it better than anyone I?ve ever seen.

It is such a shame that Aaron was hindered by his crew, the lousy lighting and the terrible sound. He is a charismatic and talented performer. He will succeed. No question about that and the chemistry he and his assistant have ? I wish he had told us her name ? is unique. He has the makings of a Vegas regular and I hope he gets the support he deserves.