magic tricks

[themitchician]

hey guys my style is closeup magic with a street kind of twist although come to think of it, it is probably more street than closeup.
i often go around to random people and do tricks.

some of the tricks i do often include dresscode, any TnR (usually torn too) , vapr or s.s.s, water mark,crush, coin to egg or watch, pressure, thread, moustache, a single needle, unleashed and earbuds.

i am looking for some fresh trick preferably tricks utilizing coins and everyday items.

also preferably not card tricks but if it is really realistic i am open to suggestions.

Also the magic has to be extremely visual
just looking for a bit of a change thats all.



THANX

 

[Steerpike]

hey guys my style is closeup magic with a street kind of twist.

That's not really a style so much as a cluster of words that abut each other to form a sentence. Could you be more specific?

That said, what books do you own? If you don't have books, you're doing it wrong.

 

[CIassic]

This is a crucial moment in time where you need to find the effects that best fit you. There is only one person that knows what you want to accomplish during a effect and that person is you. Sorry for not being extremely helpful but its a learning process that everyone takes.

 

[CIassic]

The whole book thing is an opinion, Books have certainly helped me a lot but to say that the way someone wants to learn magic is wrong because its not what you did when you first started isn't right. In 10 to 20 years time, people might not even think about going to a book to learn magic because having a visual aid helps most people learn it faster and better. That last part is my opinion.

 

[krab]

The whole book thing is an opinion, Books have certainly helped me a lot but to say that the way someone wants to learn magic is wrong because its not what you did when you first started isn't right. In 10 to 20 years time, people might not even think about going to a book to learn magic because having a visual aid helps most people learn it faster and better. That last part is my opinion.

Until the put the whole Tarbell set on DVD then books are the way to go. You need that fundamental education to have a firm grip on the art of magic.

 

[Steerpike]

In 10 to 20 years time, people might not even think about going to a book to learn magic

Okay. I'll bet you $100 that in 20 years time, people are still buying copies of Mark Wilson's, Royal Road, Modern Coin Magic, and the Tarbell Course. Are you in?

because having a visual aid helps most people learn it faster and better.

You are aware that books can contain pictures, yes? Anyway, the argument that visual media are automatically better at teaching is absolute horse****. Certain media will be better at conveying certain idea better than other media, but neither one is inherently superior.

What sets books apart in magic is that they contain a density of information that film/digital video is ill-suited for. Furthermore, performance theory is often better taught in prose because the decompressed nature of it allows for a more thorough exploration of the ideas and themes and in a more cerebral fashion.

I've written on this topic twice, and both times no one read it, but hopefully the third time is the charm. I hear the term "visual learning" bandied about a lot, but the way it's used is empirically incorrect.

Visual learning simply means that the person who is a visual learner contextualizes the information their brain takes in through the sense of sight. They form complex webs, maps and flowcharts of information in their minds interconnecting the data.

Auditory learners on the other contextualize through hearing. Their thoughts more closely mimic music, following order and arrangement and clearly defined patterns.

Kinesthetic learners contextualize through touch and are arguably more abstract in their thinking. They have to do something in order to truly internalize it. Their thoughts are defined by actions, cause and effect, the feel of executing the knowledge rather than simply the knowledge itself. Bit hard to describe.

 

[CIassic]

I agree but everyone one starts out a little bit different, I have a friend who is a beautiful performer one of the best I've seen hasn't read more than a couple books. Then another one who was read a whole library of books and is equally matched. I was just stating that more people are turning to dvd and instant downloads now. Be honest how many books does Theory11, PenguinMagic, or Ellusionist sell in comparison to DVDs that is all I am saying. We learned two different ways. Lets leave it at that and get back to the original topic of this forum post. So may I ask themitchician what effects, books or DVDs do you already own/perform?

 

[krab]

T11 doeant se books. E has a few now. I buy a ton of books from penguin and vaniahjng inc. You hwve to understand there is more to the world of magic that this small group here. Just because most of the people here want the dvds and downloads doesn't mean the magic community as a whole does. Books also forces you into learning your own style. I have seen too many kids and 20something's go from effect to effect completely chaning their style between effects because they are juat parroting the magician on the videos they watch.

 

[CIassic]

Good point, I stated my opinion and just would like to just get back to the main point of this post that a younger magician needs our opinion on what effects to perform. An effect is a effect no matter where you learn it.

 

[Steerpike]

I agree but everyone one starts out a little bit different, I have a friend who is a beautiful performer one of the best I've seen hasn't read more than a couple books. Then another one who was read a whole library of books and is equally matched.

Joe Cocker is a great vocalist in spite of having objectively mediocre technique. And yet, there are a thousand guys out there who tried to sing like him without refining their technique, blew their voices out, and had to quit singing.

I was just stating that more people are turning to dvd and instant downloads now. Be honest how many books does Theory11, PenguinMagic, or Ellusionist sell in comparison to books that is all I am saying.

Dude, that's an appeal to popularity fallacy. The fact that you only shop at places that favor DVDs and downloads does not actually indicate a larger trend in the industry. And frankly, I'm a little put off by the fact that I keep trying to offer thoughtful discussion like you guys say I don't do enough of, and logical fallacies are what I get in return.

That said, I stand by my stance. To that, Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic is 20 bucks and contains over 500 sleights, effects, utilities and routines. It covers cards, coins, paper money, silks, rope, stage illusions, mental magic and betchas. It also contains essays on magic and performance theory that cover the fundamentals very well. There is nowhere else you are going to find a guide that thorough for a price that accessible.

For a more specialized approach, Royal Road and Modern Coin Magic are 10 bucks a pop and also contain hundreds of essential sleights, utilities and effects. Gary Darwin's Thumb Tip Magic is also one of the best guides to the gimmick and the book is much more reasonably priced than the DVD.

When you feel comfortable investing top dollar, the Tarbell Course remains the king of the mountain. And not just for the effects, some of which cannot be found anywhere else. Harlan Tarbell's essays on performance theory are still relevant and insightful today nearly a century after they were first published in the 1920's. Hell, Tarbell's thoughts on mentalism would cause modern "honest deceivers'" heads to explode. Lance Burton's show is built entirely on the Tarbell Course. How's that for a testimonial?

Good point, I stated my opinion

Yes, that's been established. Why do you keep repeating it?

 

[TylerRouss]

I've written on this topic twice, and both times no one read it, but hopefully the third time is the charm. I hear the term "visual learning" bandied about a lot, but the way it's used is empirically incorrect.

Visual learning simply means that the person who is a visual learner contextualizes the information their brain takes in through the sense of sight. They form complex webs, maps and flowcharts of information in their minds interconnecting the data.

Auditory learners on the other contextualize through hearing. Their thoughts more closely mimic music, following order and arrangement and clearly defined patterns.

Kinesthetic learners contextualize through touch and are arguably more abstract in their thinking. They have to do something in order to truly internalize it. Their thoughts are defined by actions, cause and effect, the feel of executing the knowledge rather than simply the knowledge itself. Bit hard to describe.

The reality of the situation is that very few people are ever just one type of learner, and even less people know what type of learner they are. So regardless of the implications of different learning styles, most people just throw the terms at themselves at the slightest inclination to one form or another. More importantly, learning is a learned skill. Some people are undoubtedly hardwired one way or the other, but thankfully the human brain is the most adaptive construct we have yet to come across (aside from the universe itself I suppose). With proper will power you can be whatever type of learner you want to be. Most people don't even have to deal with that though, as they are already just a combination of the three, and if you acknowledge that fact and just take an open mind toward learning anything, you're going to be learning a whole hell of a lot more.

 

[Steerpike]

as they are already just a combination of the three,

Well, yes and no. I can understand the other learning styles, but my brain is naturally inclined toward the visual spectrum. Regardless of what media I consume, my brain contextualizes the information in a giant linked tapestry. Imagine if you could turn Wikipedia into a flowchart. That's what goes on in my head. It has nothing to do with the media I consume itself. I own a lot of DVDs, but I also read an average of one book a week. I recently finished one of Bill Glazer's books on marketing and copywriting and am now working on another of Malcolm Gladwell's books before going back to Joseph Campbell to recharge my batteries for the new year. I also have listened to few lectures on CD, but only at home while cleaning. I tried listening to them in the car, but I was focused too much on the road to really absorb the info.

My point in bringing this up is that gets my back up to see people repeatedly insist on using the pop science definition of visual learning as an excuse to not expand their horizons or push their comfort zone. I in all sincerity cannot fathom why anyone would decide that they want to learn only from one medium. There are things that video does better than books and vice versa. Same goes for audio. There's a reason Kenton Knepper chose to put the Wonder Words series on tape. To decide that you only ever want to learn from one source... that just makes absolutely no sense to me. Wouldn't you get sick of only getting your information one way after a while? Like eating pizza every day?

I truly don't get it. And that's why it aggravates me.

 

[slicksleights]

I don't think the preference for DVD's over books comes from people thinking 'dvd's are easier to learn from than books', it comes down to laziness on the person who wants to learn. To not read books on magic, if you call yourself a magician, simply means you are denying yourself a wealth of knowledge that you will NEVER learn no matter how many DVD's you buy. The original poster said he maybe wants to learn tricks with coins, ok go out and buy a DVD on coin magic, or spend your money on a single gimmick coin trick that's fine, but if you were wise you would buy something like David Roth's Expert Coin Magic. Within that one book there is a wealth of amazing effects that will keep you going for a long time and you won't find anywhere else. But I know they probably won't as most young magicians today won't, because it means its going to take time to learn something and you can't go out with in a few days of learning to perform for your mates in school.

As Classic was saying its a personal choice and he's right and I'm more than fine with that. If someone personally chooses not to advance themselves as much as they can, but rather limit themselves then go for it, but don't expect your magic to be anything more than a hobby for you, and if your fine with that then brilliant.

Look at it like this, all the pro's in the industry the people you look up to and learn from, listen to lecture ect I will bet any amount of money (because this is an obvious fact) will have read and recommend reading books of magic from the classics (such as titles steerpike has mentioned) to basically any book you can get your hand on. So if your an intelligent person, why would you go again the grain of what professionals in the world you want to be apart of recommend to you?

 

[TylerRouss]

SlickSleights I'm gonna have to completely disagree with you there. Books, DVD's, mentors, lectures. These are all things that are supposed to help us on our journey as magicians and performers, and eventually, further the art. But by absolutely no means are they Necessary. In any way shape or form. I would argue that someone with enough to creativity could study (with magical intent) a rock, a single rock, for the same amount of time as many people dedicate to studying books and dvd's and performance, and be able to create magic and perform magic that is truly groundbreaking; far better than the devout student. Experience is meaningless, Perception is everything.

"The answer to all questions can be found in the grass beneath your feet, all you have to do is ask."- Gautama Buddha

 

[slicksleights]

Tyler so your saying that someone who has simply watched DVD's of the 'latest greatest' tricks on the market is going to have the same understanding of magic than someone who is well read in the art? You see so many videos on youtube of young guys who have gone out bought the latest great card effect by whoever have 'learnt it' (use that term in a very lose way) and while performing it can't even do a convincing double that is required for the effect, why is this? Because they haven't taken the time to build the foundations you need and which you get from classic texts as royal road, card college.

It doesn't matter how creative someone is when it comes to magic if you only have a limited tool box to work with there is only ever so much you will be able to achieve. I know you will probably say something along the lines of you don't need these things you can make things up for yourself, and to an extent this is correct. But without a understanding of the foundations you don't have the starting block to be truly original. If someone sat you at a piano and you've never played, yes you could probably sit there for a while and come up with something 'original' but that doesn't mean that its going to be any good.

These tools come from studying magic which to be done fully has to come through reading. Are you saying that you can learn all the subtleties of misdirection that are discussed in books like the Books of Wonder or the general theory of magic from books like Strong Magic from watching DVD's? All these help build a magicians tool box to make you a better magician, and I'm sorry I will never agree that you can get all these from DVD's alone.

 

[ChrisWiens]

The truth is, you will not even get it by only reading books either.
I can read thousands of magic books, I can watch thousand of DVD`s , but in the end, it comes down to practice, hard work and a huge amount of invested time.

Two quotes I like and agree with:
" Reading a book about magic will make you a magician as much as reading a medical book will make you a nurse"
Jamy Ian Swiss
"...accept the fact that no book will change your life or make you a better magician. Only you can do that though hard work. The best book can only provide some tools and some direction."
Darwin Ortiz

 

[slicksleights]

The truth is, you will not even get it by only reading books either.
I can read thousands of magic books, I can watch thousand of DVD`s , but in the end, it comes down to practice, hard work and a huge amount of invested time.

I agree with this 100%, but my point is to first get the techniques, theory ect which you will work hard at practice and perform books are a far better resource than DVD's. Please don't get me wrong DVD's have their place, its not like I don't own any, but to only rely on them as your only resource and neglect some great books which are out there, you are really limiting your personal progress as a magician.

 

[Craig Browning]

LEARNING requires multiple streams of in-put for most of us but NEVER think for a minute that books are obsolete and worthless or even an "Opinion" as some put it. You get more out of books for the dollar ventured, PERIOD! Books will not fail you because of a power shortage or black out or a new OS that's not compatible with your older data storage systems (when was the last time you saw a 10" Floppy disc?)

I have roughly 1,600 total books in my personal library. . . and that's a scaled down library from what it used to be (and doesn't just focus on magic, though most of the material does). This is why I'm able to answer questions as quickly and accurately as I do or at minimum, point people in the right direction. Add to this my hands-on background working with some of the most famous illusions in magic history as well as being a co-developer of late 20th century illusion tech. a position I'd never been in if it weren't for book gained knowledge; knowledge you cannot find on a video somewhere -- hell, it would take more than a hour to walk someone through the Thurston Sawing in Half and all its nuances let alone something as massive as the Million Dollar Mystery (which, to my memory, has not been presented in its entirety since Will Rock's tours pre-WWII).

DVDs are already obsolete when it comes to information storage, by the end of this decade there will be a totally new and cool storage system that you will be forced to use because all new machines will be designed for that system and not the older systems e.g. you loose your library and information access. . . this won't happen with a book, something to seriously consider when it comes to what the Church of Technology is preaching here.

Practice! This really is the key. Having knowledge in how things work is worthless if you can't use it. I have seen dozens of poor little rich kids buy up $50k or better in big props thinking that's all you needed for doing an Illusion show. . . I can assure you, just knowing the mechanics behind a Zig Zag doesn't make you a magician or capable of performing it. Then again, most of you probably only believe that there is one version of this classic when in fact there are at least 3 primary variations in design and operation. . . information you will find only in one of two ways; studying details in a book or first hand contact with the apparatus.

The point is, you have to eventually get your hands dirty . . .

Many years ago. . . there was a young man living in Israel that wanted to do a magic act comparable to the UK's Ron MacDonald (think Lance Burton) but there were not magic shops and he could only find two books I believe it was, on magic. Using socks and other household items this young man became a world class magician because of what he found in those two books and his dream; his determination to create magic. Because of him 90% of today's magic talent coming out of that part of the world, exists. He was founder of the Israeli Magic Society and more. . . his name was Roni Shacheney (see Tod Landman's new book on the man).

This is how powerful books are and history is replete of example after example when it comes to such scenarios and so, hitting the books is nowhere close to being an Opinion, it's a proven reality. The "opinion" stems from present day lethargy and the slow-motion decay our technology absorbed world's "superiority" . . . this is in fact, a delusion.

 

[Toby]

hey guys my style is closeup magic with a street kind of twist although come to think of it, it is probably more street than closeup.
i often go around to random people and do tricks.

some of the tricks i do often include dresscode, any TnR (usually torn too) , vapr or s.s.s, water mark,crush, coin to egg or watch, pressure, thread, moustache, a single needle, unleashed and earbuds.

i am looking for some fresh trick preferably tricks utilizing coins and everyday items.

also preferably not card tricks but if it is really realistic i am open to suggestions.

Also the magic has to be extremely visual
just looking for a bit of a change thats all.



THANX

Aaaaaand back to topic
Just a second... You're asking for something NEW to refresh your repertoire, right? Well "VAPR" and "SINGLE NEEDLE" both came out just like 3-4 days ago!!! If that isn't NEW enough, I don't know what is
Also, couple of other effects from your list came out just a month or two ago...
So how about you practice, perform and perfect those effects a bit more, and then come back asking for refreshments?
Cheers!

 

[slicksleights]

Well said Craig, glad some one is on my side when it comes to books

As for the Million Dollar Mystery I believe Mike Caveney performed this a couple of years ago at a Conference on Magic history ( correct me if im wrong)