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A beginner needs some help!

Jun 12, 2009
68
0
Hello everyone! I am not that experienced, but i have been learning a few tricks and practicing a bit for the past few months. I have some questions because i'm not sure which tricks are good to start out with. I already have those beginner videos but i was wondering if anyone could help me out.

I just need some advice on certain things, such as what tricks should i start out with? And some good flourishes and things of that nature. How long should i be practicing before i perform? I would gladly appreciate peoples help.
 
Jul 14, 2008
936
0
If you are talking youtube as a begineer videos, then you need to stop it before it becomes your habit. I highly suggest you to buy Royal Road to Card Magic or Card College Series because it gives you a lot more materials and content of the tricks that you may find it helpful.

For flourishes:
Do many of the following:
Revolution Cut
Charlier Cut
Sybil
Hot Shot Cut
Swing Cut

Once accomplished all of that, then buy the Trilogy by The Buck Twins
 
May 3, 2008
858
0
If you are talking youtube as a begineer videos, then you need to stop it before it becomes your habit. I highly suggest you to buy Royal Road to Card Magic or Card College Series because it gives you a lot more materials and content of the tricks that you may find it helpful.

For flourishes:
Do many of the following:
Revolution Cut
Charlier Cut
Sybil
Hot Shot Cut
Swing Cut

Once accomplished all of that, then buy the Trilogy by The Buck Twins

I second that. I also recommend to learn The Thumb Fan and a decend one-handed fan.
 
Mar 26, 2008
176
0
Los Angeles
trust me get books and dont buy 1 trick dvds unless they are really really worth it. Thats a mistake I made and regret.

Great Books on: cards
1.royal road to card magic-jean hugard,fredrick braue
2.card college- roberto giobbi

Great books on:general magic
1.mark wilsons complete coarse in magic-mark wilson
2.tarbell coarse 1-8 -tarbell
3.magic the complete coarse-joshua jay
4.amauter magicians handbook

Great books on: coins
1.modern coin magic-jb bobo
2.expert coin magic- david roth
 
Aug 10, 2008
2,023
2
34
In a rock concert
How long should i be practicing before i perform?

About that, I sent a PM to a friend not too long ago with some tips about that .

Technically speaking, we cant get ready for a "live performance" since we do not know how the spectators will react to us.

Here are a couple of tips:

*Your sleight of hand needs to be pretty much flawless, when practicing, try to practice in a mirror and check all your angles, notice wich are your bad angles and how to cover them, during a live performance you may have the need to adapt your angles to how the audience is, but you need to do it naturally, you cant say "hey you! move over here", well you get my point.

*Now that you have the sleights down, you should work in your patter, come with a ncie story or something interesting that accompanies your routine, the ACR can be killer with the correct amnount of patter, you need to entertein, to perform, there is a difference between doing tricks and performing ;). Another thing you have to watch out, it may be a good ideato script your routine, to write it down and to learn it, but you have to understand that you are not performing for the camera and you have to lean to listen to your audiience and adapt the situation. Also, try to eliminate the "uhm" from your patter, it sounds dull and you can make the audience lose interest in your performance.

* Make eye contact, Since we spend a lot of time practicing sleights in the mirror, we grow the bad habit of looking at our hands the whole performance, remember, most of the time they will look exactly where we are looking, so take that to your advantage and make eye contact, it will feel more personal and you will make the tricks about you, not the deck.

*When doing tricks like the 2CM where there is a moment when you need misdirection, you need the moves to flow naturally and with motivation, if you dont make a big deal out of something, they will not notice it. Also when you aksk a question ( great way to get misdirection) do it while you make eye contact with them,98% of the time they will look up to see you and answer you. Remember, since we are humans, we can get our attention on two points at once ;).

*You need a strong opener, because when you meet someone strange in the street and you want to perform for them, take in consideration that you have roughly like 15 seconds to make them have interest in you, ask their names first, introduce yourself and shake hands with everybody, it may seem dumb, but is perfect to make yourself like a nice person and you gain rapport with them (very important the rapport thing I suggest you investigate about it) and then do something quickly, maybe a transposition in their hands of something, but you need their attention and remember, patter first.

* You will get nervous when performing, you will shake and a lot, there is no remedy for this, but if you practice enough and you feel comfortable wit your stuff, you will learn to manage this very soon, besides, practicing the above things and taking them into consideration will help you get over it.


FIuf! that took me a while but I actually hope that you read it all, I know that I might sound arrogant here but the "G.O.P" thread is great for learning, there are a lot of performances there along with critics about what we did wrong and what we could have done better, so take a watch there and you might learn one or two things :).

Take care and Im glad that you want to perform, remember, magic is supposed to be performed for people, not computers.

BTW, if you want, you could record yourself doing the ACR with patter, it doesnt matter if its live, upload it and send me the link ill help you with it and structuring your routine if you want. Have a nice day.

Maybe I should post that in the Go. out. perform thread, who knows....:cool:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
If you are talking youtube as a begineer videos, then you need to stop it before it becomes your habit. I highly suggest you to buy Royal Road to Card Magic or Card College Series because it gives you a lot more materials and content of the tricks that you may find it helpful.

For flourishes:
Do many of the following:
Revolution Cut
Charlier Cut
Sybil
Hot Shot Cut
Swing Cut

Once accomplished all of that, then buy the Trilogy by The Buck Twins

I third this, Dan and Dave Buck are really great guys to learn from and the Trilogy are a fantastic set of DvD's, on the topics of books if you go onto Wayne Houchins site he puts up good magic books, one that i think would be good on there is called The Five Points of Magic, this runs through performance tips, just practice until you feel comfortable in front of a mirror with the effect, try on a friend or family member before large audiences and they can give you tips and tidbits on what they thought of the trick. I also think that it would be a good idea to practice on the very basics, on things like double lifts, culling cards, check out some forces, look up some color changes, little things are really the backbone of tricks.
 
Jun 12, 2009
68
0
Thank you all for your help! I am sort of a biggern but i already know some things. I started learning from a friend not to long ago who taught me so many things. I can do the real simple things but when it comes to all those sleights and flourishes i have a lot of trouble.
I also have a few DVD's that my friend bought and gave to me since he already learned it all.
 
Thank you all for your help! I am sort of a biggern but i already know some things. I started learning from a friend not to long ago who taught me so many things. I can do the real simple things but when it comes to all those sleights and flourishes i have a lot of trouble.
I also have a few DVD's that my friend bought and gave to me since he already learned it all.

Just start slow with only a few, simple techniques, practice, and make sure your hands are doing the right things. If you do that, youll be alright.
 
Mar 26, 2009
200
0
Arizona
Once accomplished all of that, then buy the Trilogy by The Buck Twins

there is a hellofalot of stuff i would recommend before that. even the all mighty buck twins have a good essay posted about the founders of magic and the books that they would recommend and it is extensive.
 
Jun 12, 2009
68
0
Today i just performed witness, a trick that i actually have practiced many times and can get it down perfect. The reactions were great except... well theres always that one person that trys to mess up your trick. Some kid grabbed my joker in the bag, but he was not able to find out the secret. He just grabbed the bag when i pulled it out and started doing stuff so i immediately reacted, the very second i saw him reaching for it and made it in a way so that it didnt ruin the trick although he bent my card. Its just really hard to deal with these people. Thanks for all the information and tips! :D
 
Nov 15, 2007
1,106
2
37
Raleigh, NC
Hello everyone! I am not that experienced, but i have been learning a few tricks and practicing a bit for the past few months. I have some questions because i'm not sure which tricks are good to start out with. I already have those beginner videos but i was wondering if anyone could help me out.

I just need some advice on certain things, such as what tricks should i start out with? And some good flourishes and things of that nature. How long should i be practicing before i perform? I would gladly appreciate peoples help.

Watch this First


Done watching?
Good.


I'm going to second Royal Road to Card Magic (10$ investment).

Card College is a great resource, and I'm not discrediting it or those who suggest it. But if you go to pick it up, only get volume 1. Study it. Don't go through and half-way learn everything in a single read through. I'm on my way through it for the 3rd or 4th time, taking in every detail (and trying to remember what my hand written notes are talking about...).

If you want to be a well-rounded magician, and not just a card worker, pick up Bobo's Modern Coin Magic (another 10 dollar investment). I've been re-allocating time towards some of the basics in this book and bringing coin magic into my daily performances. I don't care what other people say, coin magic can be just as, if not more, powerful than card magic.

Tarbell, Mark Wilson, or Henry Hay. Your choice, I've heard amazing things from professional, working magicians who all learned from a different author.
Tarbell Course has 8 books and tons of excellent information.
Mark Wilson's complete course is one big, thorough book that is very clear and easy to understand.
and Henry Hay's 'The Amateur Magicians Handbook' is the classic which many older magicians (and many new, young magicians) learned the basics that led them to a career in magic.


I may post more later.

-Rik
 
Jun 12, 2009
68
0
I was looking through my set of dvds that i got from my friend and lucky me i found royal road to card magic! :D i guess ill start looking at that.

I just sort of today at school came up with a great effect. Well i wouldnt say its that great and i dont know if its that good. Basically it involves a select card from the audiance or whoever your performing for. The card is then lost into the deck. A card is flipped over and then put into an envelope. The envelope is then sealed and the audiance can examine the envelope before and after it is sealed. I then ask the person to hold out their hand. I put the envelope into it, they close that hand with the other one and i flip over a random card, flip it back over and then hold it above their hand, waving it back and forth and then under their hand. I then ask them what their card was, and the card i am now holding is the card that was put into the envelope. I asked the person to open the envelope, but first make sure there is no holes and it is completely sealed. Great reactions :D

Well i basically came up with this today when i was performing witness someone tried to mess me up. I still performed it very well and then they wanted to see something else so i just came up with this, sort of the same as witness but different and they loved it :D. Tell me what you think!

Oh yeah and also the card can be signed, no gimmicks, no copies, 1 normal deck. :D its actually a really easy trick to perform.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nov 15, 2007
1,106
2
37
Raleigh, NC
I was looking through my set of dvds that i got from my friend and lucky me i found royal road to card magic! :D i guess ill start looking at that.

Awesome, I don't have the DVD's, but the material is spot-on brilliant.

I just sort of today at school came up with a great effect. Well i wouldnt say its that great and i dont know if its that good. Basically it involves a select card from the audiance or whoever your performing for. The card is then lost into the deck. A card is flipped over and then put into an envelope. The envelope is then sealed and the audiance can examine the envelope before and after it is sealed. I then ask the person to hold out their hand. I put the envelope into it, they close that hand with the other one and i flip over a random card, flip it back over and then hold it above their hand, waving it back and forth and then under their hand. I then ask them what their card was, and the card i am now holding is the card that was put into the envelope. I asked the person to open the envelope, but first make sure there is no holes and it is completely sealed. Great reactions :D


Oh yeah and also the card can be signed, no gimmicks, no copies, 1 normal deck. :D its actually a really easy trick to perform.

Seems like a good variation. For someone who is a beginner that was actually quick thinking.

The only question I would have is 'what's up with the 'random' card?' No justification for it, I suppose. By the end of the effect spectators won't be asking this question, they rarely notice inconsistencies or illogical moves.

I think putting their card into the envelope, and switching it with a different card would be a better transposition. This is easier to accomplish with a dupe, but in the 30 seconds after writing the first sentence I've figured out two possible ways without one. Just use your imagination, not all signed or selected cards have to be kept secret from you ;).

I do, again, commend you for quick thinking. Now you have an idea, just work with it until it makes complete sense and is second nature to perform. If you want advice on how to make that particular one better you can PM me.

As for RRTCM, again-the book has techniques you'll want to learn and master, and some that won't fit your style. Any move you don't enjoy using or have yet to master can be replaced in one sense or another, with either creativity or just ask if anyone knows a move that can substitute for whatever you're struggling through.

-Rik
 
Jun 12, 2009
68
0
Picking a random card from the deck makes it seem like you were able to switch the card that you chose with the card in the envelope while somehow putting their card into the envelope. I dont like using doubles that is why i came up with this cause i perform witness and this just seemed like an awesome sort of variation from it. Witness inspired me cause i already performed it and decided to do this after and just went as i go. I just thought it up as i was doing things.

Plus this way you can use a borrowed deck.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nov 15, 2007
1,106
2
37
Raleigh, NC
Picking a random card from the deck makes it seem like you were able to switch the card that you chose with the card in the envelope while somehow putting their card into the envelope.

Still seems like too much is going on. If it works, I can't say it's wrong. And maybe I'll try this out in the future, just to gauge reactions. But right now I'd ask you to just think about changing the dynamics just a hair.

As for not liking or using doubles.

I'm not going to argue if you should or should not use gimmicks, doubles, stooges..etc. I'm just going to say that I use them, quite often. And I use them to great success. Just food for thought.

-Rik
 
Jun 12, 2009
68
0
I have nothing wrong with doubles, i just dont like using them most of the time because you always get those people who think you have doubles and this way... i just like coming up with ways to do this. I figured out a lot better way now which uses less cards. Going to test it out tomorrow on another group of people. Do you know by any chance if something like this has already been put out? If not i might film me doing it infront of a group of people.

Also i use this one thing to force the card to the top without any real effort. My friend showed me how to do it and i dont know if anyone else knows, because i have not seen it yet on anything. Its really effortless and such an awesome way to control a card to the top. Nothing funny happens, it just looks totally normal.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Nov 15, 2007
1,106
2
37
Raleigh, NC
I have nothing wrong with doubles, i just dont like using them most of the time because you always get those people who think you have doubles and this way... i just like coming up with ways to do this. I figured out a lot better way now which uses less cards. Going to test it out tomorrow on another group of people. Do you know by any chance if something like this has already been put out? If not i might film me doing it infront of a group of people.

Also i use this one thing to force the card to the top without any real effort. My friend showed me how to do it and i dont know if anyone else knows, because i have not seen it yet on anything. Its really effortless and such an awesome way to control a card to the top. Nothing funny happens, it just looks totally normal.

There are similar effects, most noted won't use an envelope transposition. I am not a magic history buff, so I am not the one to ask.

As for the sleight you mentioned. Do you mean control or move the card to the top?
Or are you forcing a card on someone, and it's on the top.

They are two completely different things, and so many different techniques that all look 'normal' are already known. There are no ways of knowing if it can't be seen or isn't fishy, since it's supposed to look like nothing happens you won't know if someone else is using it.

(:

-Rik
 
Jun 12, 2009
68
0
Well i performed it yesterday. I did both ways, the double and controlling it to the top. For a double the card has to be forced, but for controlling its freely selected and can be signed if they wish.

I performed it yesterday infront of like a group of 10 of my friends and when i was putting the card into the envelope i ended with about 30 people which i did not know :D When the trick was finished i had looked around and was like wow, cause there was a really great and awesome reaction from everyone!
 
Jul 25, 2009
48
0
To eliminate that habit of looking at your hands while performing set up a video carmera and record yourself practiceing with you eyes closed or blind folded (no cheating).
 
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