I've just discovered that Aronson had to change the URL of his site; now it is http://www.simonaronson.net (not .com as before). I thought some of you may be interested.

Cheers,
Gio

I checked this site out, and it's very cool. Simon has a secure area for magicians which includes a free downloadable copy of lecture notes on card stacks. I'll be visiting this site often.

Regards,

Mark

Thanks Gio, I'm looking forward to seeing what develops on Simon's site. Could get interesting.

Paul S

While it is an interesting site, I could not help but feel that I have seen the opening concept before...perhaps it's dejavu, perhaps it is the case of separate identical thought or perhaps it is the appropriation of another's designs for their own use.
PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat

Hi Thoughtreader,

That type of Flash opening is among the simplest things to produce - most beginners in Flash make something like that for their sites. I've seen dozens of them with just the same twirling, fading, color changing, etc. text effects. In fact, that's the kind of thing I first made when I started working with Flash. If anything, it's more likely an indication that neither of these folks (or the website designer) knows much about creating Flash movies. Also, there are several sites on the web where just such an intro can be produced free of charge. The ones I've seen only let you put effects on text. These two Flash intros could well have been produced on one of these sites.

Mary B.

Mary,

I wasn't refering to the flash itself but the use of the same music and extremely similar opening "theme". That music (legal acquired by regular royalty payments) has been my theme for many years now and opens every stage show I do. (the year after it came out in fact was when we started using it). Can the same be said about his web site? All I know is that with all the possibilities available that magicians are the quickest to take the easiest route and copy others. (Not saying that is the case here as it could have been two web designers having independent thought) but magicians are usually the ones to beg, borrow and steal as they want, be it lines, gags or routines. There is a reason the general public feels that all magicians acts are the same. Just another example I am afraid.

PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat

I?m thrilled with the reopening of Simon Aronson?s web site at the new URL:
http://www.simonaronson.net

Incidentally, if you don?t want to wait for the Flash opening, which I don?t, you have two options. You can use the URL above and click on ?Skip Flash.? Or, you can use the alternative URL:
http://www.simonaronson.net/home.htm

The first update is very special, Simon has included a free downloadable copy of his Memories Are Made of This (an introduction to memorized deck magic) from his 1999 lecture notes. I believe that this is simply the best introduction to memorized deck work, which has been written. If you have been thinking about getting into memorized deck magic, run, don?t walk, to Simon?s Site and print this out. You?ll never regret it, I promise you.

For me, the new gem is Simon?s version of the Henry Christ Ace Routine. This is done from the Aronson stack and that both strengthens and simplifies the original great trick. Simon points out two advantages to Aronson stack users in doing the Christ effect this way. Any secret counting of piles is now unnecessary because known key cards instantly tell you where to divide the packets. And, the haphazard handling throughout the routine, with cards being continuously separated into various piles, dealt, counted, spelled and reassembled, is a strong convincer that the deck has been hopelessly mixed up. If you do memorized deck work, you know how important that second benefit is. Finally, let me point out that the routine is not technically challenging at all. Card workers of medium level skills who already are familiar with the Aronson stack will be able to add this to their repertoire quite quickly. If you can hold a break, do a double lift, and displace a card from one position in a spread to another with a cull, you can do this effect. I?ve been playing with various combinations of this routine with other ace effects, and in a few days I?ll post the results here for those of you that are interested.

There?s another new effect with the Aronson stack explained in detail on the site: Matching the Cards by Norman Beck and Simon. It?s a version of the Vernon Matching the Cards effect but done from the Aronson stack. I?ve not had time to really work through this one yet, but it certainly looks promising at first reading. And again, you start and end with the deck in Aronson Stack order.

Simon has a new-marketed effect on the site as well. It?s a new version of the routine This Side Up from his book Simply Simon. If you wanted to do this excellent routine before, you had to get special cards made up. Now, they are available from Simon. I?ve ordered the effect, but haven?t seen it yet. However, it?s been seven years since the book was published, and I?ll bet that Simon has some new touches and handlings worked out by now. This was the case with the marketed version of Red Sea Passover. It was originally published in The Card Ideas of Simon Aronson in 1978, and reprinted in Bound to Please in 1994. When the marketed version was released by A-1 Magical Media, in 2001, Simon included some new handling tips and instructions. As soon as I receive This Side Up, I?ll post a review here.

Incidentally, on the subject of Red See Passover. There are many other uses for the special cards that you receive with this routine. I don?t want to infringe on any rights, but there is a marvelous version of the ten-card poker deal called Showdown, in Nick Trosts book ?The Card Magic of Nick Trost.? Nick also put this on the market including the necessary gaffed cards. However, I wasn?t fond of the particular gaffs that were included. If you have the Trost book, look at Figure 1 on page 217. Two gaffed cards are pictured. I do not like the fact that one of these is in hearts and one in spades. If you use two cards alike, instead, you do not have the values of the cards changing during the course of the routine. You can achieve this by buying two sets of Showdown, or two sets of Red See Passover. If you use the RSP cards, you will get lots of spares and will have much flexibility in choosing the ten cards you use in the routine. But first, buy Nick?s book if you don?t have it. It?s a gold mine of card effects that are not too technically demanding.

The new site has an improved version of the Aronson Stack Quizzer, a drill program on the Aronson stack by Mark Harris. This will be most valuable to those learning the stack, of course, but as an experienced user, I find it a handy way to just brush up on the stack and to work on recall speed.

Finally, it?s unfortunate that Simon had some difficulty with the former host of his web site and had to change to a new URL. In particular, it?s unfortunate that the August Genii has his ad with the wrong site address. If you?re a fan of Simon?s work, as I am, you can help to spread the word. Let your fellow magicians know, and post the change to any other forums, chat rooms, etc., that you might frequent.

Again, http://www.simonaronson.net is the new URL.

Hi Everyone, and I'm glad at least some of you are re-discovering my website -- because I've been having major difficulties with my website host.

I'll let you all explore it on your own (at http://www.simonaronson.net), but I do want to respond to Paul's comment about the Flash opening. Paul mentions "I could not help but feel that I have seen the opening concept before...perhaps it's dejavu,"... Well, if Paul or anyone else has ever visited my website before (at its previous address simonaronson.com) then you definitely have seen it before, because it's been up and "flashing" that same welcome and music to all site visitors for over a year now. (My site has been visited by tens of thousands of magicians, and this is the first time I've heard mention of any similarity). The Flash opening was designed and the music was chosen by my website developer, and since Ginny and I are known for our two person mental act, I loved it. But it's not "newly added" (the only thing that's new is my new URL, http://www.simonaronson.net, instead of .com). And of course I just added a lot of new tricks and material, that many of you have already discovered.

Paul, if it's any comfort to you, please be assured that we don't use that music in our shows or performances; it's only on the website, so I don't think this could conceivably be a case where "the general public feels that all magicians acts are the same." I've read your postings and thoughts here and elsewhere, and I have a lot of respect for your contributions and the help you've given to our art. I'm sure your act and material is as unique as I hope mine is, and if there's any similarity, it's a case of great minds...

I hope everyone will visit http://www.simonaronson.net to explore the substantive content of my website. And of course, do explore my newly released Side-Swiped, on the Marketed Tricks page.
Thanks for your support.
Simon

Simon,
Thank you for answering that and it is appreciated as are your comments. I appreciate your candor and let me assure you that not only are your books in a prominent position on my books shelves but Marks a Place Mates is one of my favorite card effects to perform.

PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat