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Strong Magic, Or Seriously Silly?
- Thread starter CasenW
- Start date
Absolutely Strong Magic and you might as well follow that up with Designing Miracles or purchase both at the same time. They are well worth their money.
4-0 for Strong Magic (including my recommendation)
Seriously Silly is great for kids shows, as kids love to laugh and have fun. Strong Magic is best all around though, but don't let that hinder you from getting Seriously Silly.
Now, I got to get back to school, I just finished my work in Integrated Business Apps and just strolling through the forums.
-Casey
4-0 for Strong Magic (including my recommendation)
Seriously Silly is great for kids shows, as kids love to laugh and have fun. Strong Magic is best all around though, but don't let that hinder you from getting Seriously Silly.
Now, I got to get back to school, I just finished my work in Integrated Business Apps and just strolling through the forums.
-Casey
SWEET.
I guess I'll get strong magic, then later I'll get seriously silly.
Strong Magic is AMAZING.
HOWEVER! If you're planning on doing a lot of children work, Seriously Silly is a must have. It is really an amazing book, and I know all of these guys are recommending Strong Magic because they've read it and appreciated it.
I've read and appreciated both books, and Strong Magic is a must have for all types of magic, but if you're planning on doing a LOT of kid work, I would get Seriously Silly first.
HOWEVER! If you're planning on doing a lot of children work, Seriously Silly is a must have. It is really an amazing book, and I know all of these guys are recommending Strong Magic because they've read it and appreciated it.
I've read and appreciated both books, and Strong Magic is a must have for all types of magic, but if you're planning on doing a LOT of kid work, I would get Seriously Silly first.
The better question is how much performance experience (in the general sense, performing for anyone excluding a webcam) you have and how hard you want to work? If you've only been into magic for a year or so, I'd say wait to get Strong Magic.
Strong Magic assumes you have a good knowledge of certain well known effects (it references effects but doesn't explain them) and some background in performing. It is a well written text book. It is not something you read, but something you study and seek to understand. At a higher level, Strong Magic is designed to make you think critically about your performing style. If you don't have a performing style, it is difficult to put the ideas in Strong Magic into a context and thus, difficult to understand those ideas.
If you have only been into magic for a year or so, you are better off spending your money on a volume of Paul Harris' Art of Astonishment and studying those effects. Not only learning how to do the effects, but seeking to understand WHY the effects work from a design, plot and patter standpoint. The various essays in the series are wonderful too. Depending what type of magic you are into, there are also sections of other books that address performance. One that comes to mind is the performance section in Volume 2 of Card College.
I'n not sure that getting recommendations between two books is going to help you. If you tell us a little more about yourself -- how long have you been learning magic, what type of magic you like (cards, coins, stage, kids, mentalism, ect.), what books and DVDs you own, how often you perform and who you perform for -- and tell us what you are looking to learn from books like Strong Magic, we may be able to point you in toward other books that may be more useful to you based on where you are in your journey.
Well, i have been doing magic a LONG time, but not good, i only REALLY got into it about a year ago, so lets go with a year. i perform mainly for people in my youth group, and what i want to learn is how to get screams and how to become a better magician.
I really like Card magic lately, and what books/dvd's i own:
The Usborne Book Of Magic
The Practical Encyclopedia Of Magic
The Greatest Beginner Magic DVD Ever By Penguin Magic
The Sheridan Course In Card Manipulation
Daryl's Ambitious Card
Idiots guide to street magic(book)
Darwin's encyclopedia Of TT Magic
Illusion EFX by andrew Mayne
SPONGE by Jay Noblezada.
i think that's all.
(Yes, i know i need Royal Road
)and EVENTUALLY i want to do stage magic, BIG stage magic, Lance Burton Type.
Well, i have been doing magic a LONG time, but not good, i only REALLY got into it about a year ago, so lets go with a year. i perform mainly for people in my youth group, and what i want to learn is how to get screams and how to become a better magician.
I really like Card magic lately, and what books/dvd's i own:
The Usborne Book Of Magic
The Practical Encyclopedia Of Magic
The Greatest Beginner Magic DVD Ever By Penguin Magic
The Sheridan Course In Card Manipulation
Daryl's Ambitious Card
Idiots guide to street magic(book)
Darwin's encyclopedia Of TT Magic
Illusion EFX by andrew Mayne
SPONGE by Jay Noblezada.
i think that's all.
(Yes, i know i need Royal Road
and EVENTUALLY i want to do stage magic, BIG stage magic, Lance Burton Type.
Based on that, I don't think Strong Magic is your next step. You don't have enough background to make it meaningful.
I'm going to recommend a couple of books instead.
The first is Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. It may be somewhat duplicative of what you already have, but it covers cards (the weakest section of the book), coins, bills, rope, sponge balls, cups and balls, mental magic, stage illusions and more. That book will teach you the classic fundamentals of magic. If you like the routines, get the props (cups and balls, sponge balls, etc.) to do them.
The second book is Volume 1 of Paul Harris' Art of Astonishment. From that book you will learn from example as to what makes a well designed effect from both a method and presentation standpoint.
After spending a year learning and performing from those two books, you will be ready for Strong Magic.
As a final note, Royal Road is great for cards, especially for the price. However, if you are serious about magic (which you seem to be) consider getting Card College Volumes 1 and 2. I think for your age, it would be easier to learn from.
Hello everyone
I only do coin magic and it has been on going for nearly six months now. I am an aspiring coin magician so to speak. I know the sleights of hand fairly well in variety and have been playing around with some 1-coin routines, which appeal to me. However, I am at a loss as to how to proceed. What should I do to improve? I do not have a teacher. Thought of improving on the presentation and hence wanted to buy some suitable books on coin magic presentation, or maybe close up presentation will be more realistic. Doubt there are books written solely on presentation of coin magic. It seems that STRONG MAGIC will not be relevant for me according to the above comments. What about MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT by Ken Weber?
I only do coin magic and it has been on going for nearly six months now. I am an aspiring coin magician so to speak. I know the sleights of hand fairly well in variety and have been playing around with some 1-coin routines, which appeal to me. However, I am at a loss as to how to proceed. What should I do to improve? I do not have a teacher. Thought of improving on the presentation and hence wanted to buy some suitable books on coin magic presentation, or maybe close up presentation will be more realistic. Doubt there are books written solely on presentation of coin magic. It seems that STRONG MAGIC will not be relevant for me according to the above comments. What about MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT by Ken Weber?
Hello everyone
I only do coin magic and it has been on going for nearly six months now. I am an aspiring coin magician so to speak. I know the sleights of hand fairly well in variety and have been playing around with some 1-coin routines, which appeal to me. However, I am at a loss as to how to proceed. What should I do to improve? I do not have a teacher. Thought of improving on the presentation and hence want to buy some suitable books on coin magic presentation, or maybe close up presentation will be more realistic. Doubt there are books written solely on presentation of coin magic. It seems that STRONG MAGIC will not be relevant for me according to the above comments. What about MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT by Ken Weber?
Thanks!
I only do coin magic and it has been on going for nearly six months now. I am an aspiring coin magician so to speak. I know the sleights of hand fairly well in variety and have been playing around with some 1-coin routines, which appeal to me. However, I am at a loss as to how to proceed. What should I do to improve? I do not have a teacher. Thought of improving on the presentation and hence want to buy some suitable books on coin magic presentation, or maybe close up presentation will be more realistic. Doubt there are books written solely on presentation of coin magic. It seems that STRONG MAGIC will not be relevant for me according to the above comments. What about MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT by Ken Weber?
Thanks!
Kid's shows are their own animal. Unless you plan on doing them, I'd go with strong magic, followed by designing miracles as suggested. If you decide to go the kids show route, they will still help you.
Here's something that most havent recomended. Scripting Magic. Just because you are going to perform for your friends or people around you, doesn't mean that you can't sit down and learn how to write a decent short script about what you are doing. This will also be a better way to get people to remember you by and will most likely give a head start on everybody else who is out there constantly buying new gimmicks or DVD's.