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by **lxzer** » Feb 21st, '08, 23:35

.robb. wrote:
Craig Browning wrote:
.robb. wrote:Too funny.

And this is exactly why MAGIC HOBBYIST need to stay away from Mentalism

.robb. do us all a favor and don't try to learn any of the "tricks" we do... it's beyond your comprehension level it would seem.

Yes, that's harshly put but your own words have proven the fact that you will not do Mentalism in a proper manner. For starters, that book was originally sold as 13 separate lessons that were to be studied in order and for a reason. Secondly, if you are jumping straight into book tests then you have no foundation for yourself when it comes to presentation and building into such a demonstration.

This book is one of the most heralded books on the subject when it comes to learning the essentials about what Mentalism is, the more traditional methods for doing things, etc. It is NOT a book full of tricks but a course in how to transform one's self away from being a Magician and into the role of being a Mentalist. Something you obviously didn't realize nor registered on as you started "reading" said tome... truthfully, you did as most magic buffs, you skimmed through the book and not finding enough pictures for peeking your interest, lost the gist of things. In other words, you DIDN'T "Read" the book and you certainly came nowhere close to "studying" it e.g. you need to give it to a friend that will respect it and the art it represents and run back to the comfort of the latest E offering in that this seems to be the height of your present mentality. Alternatively, keep it around for when you grow up enough to appreciate what you have in hand and how it alone, can give you a very profitable career (as it has done for hundreds if not thousands of others).

In the meantime, you may want to take that foot out of your mouth.

You misread Craig. I thought it was "too funny" that a 13 year old read all of 20 pages of "one of the most heralded books on the subject" of mentalism before giving up on it and posting a review of it.

robb just cause im 13 doesnt mean i "suck" at doing "magic" tricks. ive been doing magic for 2 years which is i guess.. Not that long, but if a 18 year old was into magic and he was only doing tricks for 2 mounths that doesnt mean hes better then me because hes "19" It useually doesnt matter how old you are in magic its how long you have been doing magic for.

Im not trying to start up a fight but you have to understand where i coming from.

by **themagicwand** » Feb 21st, '08, 23:37

lxzer wrote:
Ill recommend it for people who are into mentalsim and are more experinced.

I love 13 Steps. I love the way you have to actually read the thing and use your imagination to figure out ways you can use the ideas and blueprints in your own performance. I love the way it is very difficult to pick it up and be performing "tricks" within half an hour. I love the way that most people who buy the book will be disappointed in it, but I also love the way a small percentage of those will return to it later and the penny will drop.

It is the very opposite of all the "E" generation stand for.

by **seige** » Feb 22nd, '08, 08:53

themagicwand wrote:
lxzer wrote:It is the very opposite of all the "E" generation stand for.

I love that quote. It's so true.

Although, I have a new label: iMagicians (why not? iPhone, iPod etc?)

In this context, it means 'Instant' or 'Internet' magician.

"I want it and I want it NOW!"

Patience is a virtue, and it's also something which is lacking!

by **Lord Freddie** » Feb 22nd, '08, 09:17

It's not so much the age of a magician, or even how long they have been doing magic. It's their attitude and also their intelligence.
A lot of older text such as 13 Steps and Tarbell, teach you principles which you can apply and use and integrate into your mindset, thus making you a 'real' magician as these principles becomed ingrained into your brain lining and you learn the true secret of magic which is that you are able to perform anywhere with anything. This is nothing to do with new props which cost a fortune, but with teaching and ways of thought that have stuck with you and enaled you to think on your toes.

The problem with younger magicians is not their age, but their immaturity. They, in the main, have little to say (look at the posts on this forum) and just seem to describe the latest overpriced effect their parents have bought them as "awesome."
They are also arrogrant, despite their lack of experience and seem to think a few nice goodies from 'E' and a patronising well done from their parents, makes them the new Criss Angel. Most of these people haven't perform for anyone other than family or in the playground, yet affect to speak with the voice of a hardened professional. It's play-acting.

As for 13 Steps, it's way, way above the Ellusionist brigade's understanding in the way they would see Tarbell as too old-fashioned. The misconception amongst the intellectually challenged is that this book will make you an instant Derren Brown. It won't.

Though if you are savvy enough to understand the principles taught in the book, you can adapt them to your own perfomances and gain inspiration for new ideas. I'm sure that's what Derren himself has done.

by **Craig Browning** » Feb 22nd, '08, 09:55

seige wrote:
themagicwand wrote:
lxzer wrote:It is the very opposite of all the "E" generation stand for.

I love that quote. It's so true.

Although, I have a new label: iMagicians (why not? iPhone, iPod etc?)

In this context, it means 'Instant' or 'Internet' magician.

"I want it and I want it NOW!"

Patience is a virtue, and it's also something which is lacking!

iMagician..... yep, I think that's a keeper!

by **Lord Freddie** » Feb 22nd, '08, 10:17

The 'i' could also stand for 'idiot'. :wink:

by **Craig Browning** » Feb 22nd, '08, 19:03

Lord Freddie wrote:The 'i' could also stand for 'idiot'.

Sadly, that has been a common term for "Magician" both within and outside the craft, for years. Let's face it young, overly enthusiastic and blind hobbyist have existed for generations which is why Harry Blackstone, Sr. and a few others of his day saw the letter I.B.M. as meaning I Bother Magicians... seems every 12 year old had a membership card and thought it lent to them the right to go backstage and screw with the equipment...

by **Lord Freddie** » Feb 22nd, '08, 21:04

One of the essays in the Tarbell books deal with these kind of over-enthusiastic hobbyists, so it's not a modern problem.

by **Part-Timer** » Feb 22nd, '08, 21:24

themagicwand wrote:I love 13 Steps. I love the way you have to actually read the thing and use your imagination to figure out ways you can use the ideas and blueprints in your own performance. I love the way it is very difficult to pick it up and be performing "tricks" within half an hour. I love the way that most people who buy the book will be disappointed in it, but I also love the way a small percentage of those will return to it later and the penny will drop.

It is the very opposite of all the "E" generation stand for.

Excellent post, TMW. I have to say that I think 13 Steps is packed with good stuff, and that, in my opinion, it's not even that hard to find tricks.

by **EckoZero** » Feb 23rd, '08, 00:18

The problem with 13 Steps is, as has been stated before that it is not a quick fix.

I got this book some 12 months ago (I think!) and as soon as I got it I wanted to dive right in and see how to be like Derren Brown, stopping people in the street and telling them their phone number etc.
But this book is not about that.

I read it once, was disappointed and neglected it.
Until I needed a prediction for a magic trick and went back to 13 Steps thinking "I might have seen something like that in Corinda..."
And then I kept reading. And kept reading. And kept reading.

And I'm still reading it to this day.

If you want [/insert cheesy american advertising voice]"hard hitting mentalism, no need to practice, amaze your friends and family in minutes!" then buy a Time Machine (and for God's sake do it right!).
Spend £80 on one trick which will amaze once.

If you want to really be a mentalist, and have the patience to read and re-read, digest and re-digest and finally learn the arts... Save yourself £50 and get this book.

I make no allusions to being a great mentalist and I appreciate I have a loooooong way to go before I am such, but I feel fairly confident in saying that 5, 10, 20 years down the line... I'll still be referring back to this little gem.

by **Lord Freddie** » Feb 23rd, '08, 12:22

If you take each step by itself and work on them one by one, you'll find yourself getting into the books way of thinking. The swami section alone is one of the most comprehensive on the subject and with study and practice you can find the little gimmick providing you with many miracles.

I have gained a lot of useful information from this book which has helped me some of the things I use and, although I haven't digested all of what's in there, I have already got my money's worth.

by **Craig Browning** » Feb 23rd, '08, 14:36

Lord Freddie wrote:If you take each step by itself and work on them one by one, you'll find yourself getting into the books way of thinking. The swami section alone is one of the most comprehensive on the subject and with study and practice you can find the little gimmick providing you with many miracles.

I have gained a lot of useful information from this book which has helped me some of the things I use and, although I haven't digested all of what's in there, I have already got my money's worth.

I personally believe they need to break the book down to its original form, as 13 separate lessons and sell it as a subscription program... maybe up-date it a bit with a preface that explains the system and why it was created as it was, but in doing so, I believe we'd see more folks (young'ns) comprehending the idea much better than we see now days.

by **Lord Freddie** » Feb 23rd, '08, 17:30

You're right there. The book is just published "as is" with no introduction, preface, etc and a lot of young 'un's are under the misconception it's a book of "tricks" which, although there are effects in there, it's more of a course in principles and an approach to thinking.

Maybe it's a good thing that the lazy and the dabblers won't put the time and effort in to unravel it's many delights.

by **Replicant** » Feb 23rd, '08, 17:44

Lord Freddie wrote:...Maybe it's a good thing that the lazy and the dabblers won't put the time and effort in to unravel it's many delights.

Amen to that.

by **Allen Tipton** » Mar 1st, '08, 12:48

And, till 1/4/08, Magic Books By Post are offering it at £14:99 to all magicians, but at £11:99 to subscribers of Stan Allen's 'Magic' Magazine and £9:99 to MBBP Book Club members, all incl. p/p.
For some long lost reason (probably affordability)I had purchased it,one copy of the course at a time But I have 1, 2,3,6,7, 9 & 11 of the 1958 first editions & 4, 5,6,7(again :oops:

) 10, 12 & 13 of the 1964 first reprints.
However as previous posts have stated the idiots i/e/ the Secret Seekers will gloss over its pages and then forget!

13 Steps are indeed as stated, life time reference books. I constantly have to go back again & again to them.
There is a great interview with Tony Corinda, still around & in his late 70's, in the March 2008 Stan Allen's 'Magic'.

Allen Tipton

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