Got some $ on hand!

[notsoltd]

I am in the market for some new magic. I have been looking at a few things and and looking to spend no more than $30.

To start, I have just started back up in magic. I remember quite a bit of card magic and LOVE card magic (I was actually just performing today!!) I bought J.B. Bobo's modern coin magic, and it should be in soon. I know quite a bit of coin stuff (finger palm, classic palm, I can do Doug Mckenzie's Flicker pretty well), but I am not amazing at coin magic. I also dig magic with everyday objects.

Here is what I have been looking at:

Witness by Lee Asher
The Paper Engine by Aaron Fisher
Symphony by Daniel Garcia
This Is Mentalism by Rich Ferguson

I would like your input on what you think I should go with and if you have any other suggestions, LET ME KNOW!!!

Two side notes:

1.) I bought De'Ring from ellusionist and never opened it. I think I am going to send it back and get Search and Destroy by Aaron Fisher. I really am interested in his Nowhere Pass that is featured on that DVD

2.) I am not sure if it is just something I am going to have to overcome or what but when I was performing today, I got to shaking pretty badly to where I almost couldn't even perform shapeshifter and believe me I have that thing down I practiced it for a year everytime I picked up a deck of cards.

Thanks for the help,
Robby

 

[deezy]

i would highly recommend the paper engine, i have it and pick it up once and a while to learn a new move. i wouldn't recommend reading it all at once though because there is a lot of key information to digest

 

[tokyoUW]

Welcome back to Magic =)

Quick thought before my actual recommendations. Indulge me if you would please.

As a teacher of English in Japan, I very commonly come across people "wanting to start studying English," and EVERYONE asks me, "how should I start?" Beginning something is very difficult, mainly because, there are an infinite number of ways to go about studying English, and a gazillion more resources/ books/ teachers/ schools at the students' disposal.

One mistake a lot of people make is that they end up choosing something that is either A: beyond their current level, B: not catered to their needs or purposes for studying English, C: ultimately not good material in general.

I find this to be VERY similar to the beginning stages of magic. And even though I do not know you or your level completely, if you are still shaking pretty badly when performing for someone, you are a beginner.

That being said, I find problems of A, B, and C in your list of materials. I don't know which material you already have, aside from what you have listed. You mention moves like shapeshifter, nowhere pass (wanting to be learned), etc... but you don't mention if you can instinctively do sleights like a DL, Tilt, double undercut, a few forces, etc... I say instinctively, because as a magician, all of these sleights need to be second nature. If they are not yet, that is where you must begin, or else you will make mistakes that fall into category A, choosing things that are beyond your skill level.

That being said, you should definitely pick up resources that do not only teach you one trick, for example, avoid Witness by Lee Asher. You do not want to become a multiple one trick pony.

Do you have Card College, The Royal Road..., Expert Card Technique? etc...

Bobo's coin magic is a GREAT book, and probably the best resource that you have listed.

If you already do have Card College, etc... then you already have enough material for a while, or at least until you stop shaking during performances.

If you really want something from your list, go with the Paper Engine, as Aaron Fisher's wisdom on card magic is truly amazing!

Finally, just remember: There are no shortcuts in Magic. I know the urge to want to do the new crazy things in magic, but if you don't put in the time to beat out the kinks in your fundamentals, you are only making your future progress harder on yourself. For example, I have taught amazing students in my English classes, but didn't really care much about perfecting their grammar. They can talk very well on advanced subjects like politics, diplomatic issues, economics, global warming, etc... but they still make simple errors like, "I like to go to shopping" and "If you look at president now," instead of, "... the president." This is the type of magician you don't want to become, one that can do advanced things like the clipshift, some of Aaron Fishers stuff, but botch some simple sleights like a DL because of shaky hands, etc...

Just some (or many) thoughts.

 

[notsoltd]

In all honesty, I used to have a TON of magic, and got rid of it all, but got down lots of basic material. I can, as you mentioned, instinctively do many basic sleights.

I am a very shy person and think down on myself alot, an when I do magic, I am center of attention and it feels good to me to be making people smile and laugh and put them in pure awe. I think the reason I shake is because I am shy and I guess scared of people but I think I will just have to get over that.

I'm sorry I didn't go over my level of skill but now that you know that, can you help me any further?

Thanks,
Robby

 

[b_08]

Robby -

Several members will chime in with good advice on what to buy for $30. tokyoUW gave some good suggestions already. I'm assuming your goal here is to be a better magician, which is why you're looking for new material, so in reality you don't need anymore new tricks or books. What you need to do is learn how to be "the center of attention" without using magic. Now, in actuality, you won't be the center of attention when you start off, but you do have to learn how to keep people's interest (both men and women) without magic.

To be a good magician you need to connect with people. To connect with people you need to have experience with things in life that resonate with people at a universal level. And in order to do that you have to have things in your life that is interesting outside of magic. One of the reasons why a lot of magicians don't ever connect with people is because they have no life outside of magic.

Here is a test for you; if you do a couple of tricks and you get a group of 4 or 5 people around you at a party, if you stop performing, do you have anything to talk to them about? If after you perform they just walk away, then you need to develop higher social skills. Once you do that, every trick you have right now can be reworked to deliver the high impact that you're looking to achieve.

Right now you don't need more tricks, you need more life and social experience so that you can use your existing tricks to deliver a message that the common person can relate to.

 

[JDENredden]

I cant recommend This Is Mentalism. I was very skeptical about it at first, but its a brilliant DVD. The Numberz trick is worth the price of the DVD alone.

Also if you want some cheap everyday item magic check out my site, http://jdenredden.com

J.

 

[praetoritevong]

TokyoUW and b_08 really have some fantastic thoughts. They've hit it spot on. If you really REALLY will die if you don't buy something, then get Paper Engine. But your problem isn't with tricks bud, and I think you know that. More tricks isn't the answer to your problem.

 

[Robert//Livingston]

Ok, you say you love card magic yes?

I've gotten out of the habit of buying single effects, and into the habit of buying books. So my recommendation comes from Jason England as well, and that would be Harry Lorayne's "Close Up Card Magic". That would be great if you're looking for material. If you want technique then Royal Road, Expert Card Technique, and Expert at the Card Table would be better. If you're looking for Presentation and Theory, I would strongly suggest Absolute Magic or Strong Magic.

 

[SKSleighofHand]

If you like card magic, then go for Paper Engine! The Search and Destroy as well as the Nowhere Pass are on that book. There's no need to waste your money.

 

[notsoltd]

ok so I will perform more and see where that goes.

I downloaded the expert at the card table pdf and will start going through that.

I will trade in De'Ring and maybe get Paper Engine, or just keep that money for later on.

Thanks you guys for the comments guys and if anyone else has any suggestions, I am always open to new ideas!!!

 

[saborfang17]

If you're interested in the nowhere pass, know now that it is merely a subtlety for the bluff pass. In other words, don't get Search and Destroy dvd. The nowhere pass and S&D are in the paper engine and they're both the same price.

 

[CasenW]

Since you said you want to spend about $30, i reccommend this:http://www.penguinmagic.com/product.php?ID=1939

 

[notsoltd]

Hmm well I looked through a bit of Expert at the Card Table. It seems like alot of gambling techniques. False deals, shuffles, etc., and I could definately use some of the shuffles and controls, but for the most part I don't think that it is really my thing. I don't like the whole gambling theme kinda thing that this book has going on. It just isn't for me.

Any other suggestions?

Maybe send De'Ring back to Ellusionist and get Ninja 1 or something else?

Thanks,
Rob

 

[praetoritevong]

Hmm well I looked through a bit of Expert at the Card Table. It seems like alot of gambling techniques. False deals, shuffles, etc., and I could definately use some of the shuffles and controls, but for the most part I don't think that it is really my thing. I don't like the whole gambling theme kinda thing that this book has going on. It just isn't for me.

Any other suggestions?

Maybe send De'Ring back to Ellusionist and get Ninja 1 or something else?

Thanks,
Rob

Imho, everything valuable on Ninja 1 you can learn from Expert at the Card Table. I'm not sure you read it too well...

You don't need gambling tricks to employ shifts, forces, colour changes, palms, false deals and controls. It's more difficult finding tricks that don't use these methods than tricks that do. But you say that's not your thing...?

 

[tokyoUW]

Hmm well I looked through a bit of Expert at the Card Table. It seems like alot of gambling techniques. False deals, shuffles, etc., and I could definately use some of the shuffles and controls, but for the most part I don't think that it is really my thing. I don't like the whole gambling theme kinda thing that this book has going on. It just isn't for me.

Any other suggestions?

Maybe send De'Ring back to Ellusionist and get Ninja 1 or something else?

Thanks,
Rob

I get the feeling that you want to skip a lot of steps in your magic journey. It is like a complete amateur stepping onto a basketball court wanting to learn advanced plays, w/o learning how to properly dribble and pass first.

Expert at the card table has sleights that need to be polished techniques in every magician's arsenal. Top change, passes/shifts, second deals, palms, false shuffles (riffle and overhand), pinky breaks, etc... all of which are extremely valuable even outside of the gambling world. Saying "I don't think it is really my thing," is not a simple case of magical "preference" in this instance, it is actually complete ignorance. You really need to slow down and stop looking for 1 trick wonder type tricks. You need to get back to the basics and put in the time.

Any true professional will tell you that there are still things to to be learnt from EATCT.

 

[saborfang17]

There's a reason it's called Expert at the Card Table. Trust me, ALL of the material in that book is performed as part of an effect EVERY SINGLE DAY. Don't get Ninja 1 either.. The material on Ninja 1 can be learned elsewhere for a cheaper price and from a better teacher.

 

[praetoritevong]

I get the feeling that you want to skip a lot of steps in your magic journey. It is like a complete amateur stepping onto a basketball court wanting to learn advanced plays, w/o learning how to properly dribble and pass first.

Expert at the card table has sleights that need to be polished techniques in every magician's arsenal. Top change, passes/shifts, second deals, palms, false shuffles (riffle and overhand), pinky breaks, etc... all of which are extremely valuable even outside of the gambling world. Saying "I don't think it is really my thing," is not a simple case of magical "preference" in this instance, it is actually complete ignorance. You really need to slow down and stop looking for 1 trick wonder type tricks. You need to get back to the basics and put in the time.

Any true professional will tell you that there are still things to to be learnt from EATCT.

Very well put - especially the sentence about preference vs. ignorance.

 

[notsoltd]

Ok guys, I am sorry I am sorry. I did not realize this. I am not skipping steps and am not looking for one trick wonders. I think you guys get the impression that I am a super beginner, but, I am not. I have ALOT of basics down and use them everyday. There are things (i.e. the pass) that I still cannot do or do not know how to do and still things I could learn.

I am looking for something that will teach me some great effects, but also teach me some more basic sleights that I do not know.

I am continuing through expert at the card table

 

[Sam Hindrichs]

Ok guys, I am sorry I am sorry. I did not realize this. I am not skipping steps and am not looking for one trick wonders. I think you guys get the impression that I am a super beginner, but, I am not. I have ALOT of basics down and use them everyday. There are things (i.e. the pass) that I still cannot do or do not know how to do and still things I could learn.

I am looking for something that will teach me some great effects, but also teach me some more basic sleights that I do not know.

I am continuing through expert at the card table

I am not very big into gambling sleights either, so I know where you are coming from with not wanting to learn them. But, if you go to the back section of EATCT their is a section called "Legerdemain". In this section are the more in the hands sleights you are wanting to learn. (for example S.W.E. Shift, Diagonal Palm Shift, The Glide, and a few different palming techniques and passes).

If you do not know things like the pass I would recommend picking up 2 books. Royal Road to Card Magic and Expert Card Technique both by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue. They are full of usable sleights and tricks. If you can keep a secret I will tell you that in Expert Card Technique you can learn everything to do the "Distribution Technique" from Irving Quant's Quantum Mechanics. You just have to know how to put it all together (in other words buy Quantum Mechanics).

All in all if you have $30 to spend and don't know where to spend it and want to learn sleights you will use then I would pick up a physical hard copy of EATCT, Royal Road, and Expert Card Technique. If you check the links I have included they are the cheapest prices I can find for these 3 books. With shipping you will be paying about $5 a book if you live in the U.S. and you will be left with so much material to learn you won't know what to do with yourself.