talkmagic.co.uk

I haven't seen something like this before - here I wanted to list essential purchases in order, starting with basic card magic and moving onto packet effects. I appreciate this is subjective, but it would have helped me when I started out (instead of straying off and buying some of the expensive - but pointless - ellusionist products)

I'll start us off, anything is allowed.

1. Bicycle Deck
2. 'Royal Road to Card Magic' book
3. 'Expert Card Technique: Close-up Table Magic' book
4. 'Modern Coin Magic: 116 Coin Sleights' book

And Dave Forrest - 2wo faced is down there somewhere as a great introduction to gaff magic.

Mark Wilson's Complete Course is a great book to start with, there's a little bit of everything in there.

Mark Wilson's Complete Course is a great book to start with

i think your on a commission of some sort lol

13 steps to mentalism (only if you want to be a mentalist)
Dynamic coins (just so fun to perform, and easy to work, meaning you can focus on entertainment)
A cheap set of linking rings (a classic of magic, everyone needs to own at least a cheap set)

I never really got on with Bobo. Not sure why, just never seemed 'get it'. I suspect it's a fantastic reference book, but not great for learning. Could just be me though...


I know this isn't a very popular approach, but I think Jay Sankey is really good at teaching sleights/techniques/whatever within routines. Can be more interesting for the beginner than sleight after sleight. Learning it as part of a routine is a bit more fun...

Also, for cards (and I probably shouldn't admit to this) E's Crash Course in Cards is pretty good.

starting with basic card magic and moving onto packet effects

now, the counts required for packet effects,are not all in Hugard.

Card College may suit you better if you intend to move onto packets.

I put a lot of faith in a small book called the packet tricks book, by Jerry Metzner.This has a good solid selection of non gaffed packet effects by people like Max Maven, and a very good explanation of all the moves.

Mark Wilson Course in Magic.

Magicians rope
sponge balls
deck of cards
Silks
cheap set of cups and balls

Svengali deck or Mental photo deck, dynamic coins...anything along those lines.

The first part goes with the Mark Wilson Course. I encourage the cups and balls because they really do bring many different facets of magic into one effect.

Yeah I'm totally ignoring the whole 'starting with card' thing. Why limit yourself?

Svengali Deck or Mental photo or dynamic coins because it allowes a person to go out and perform quite quickly, without a lot of work. Nothing discourages somebody new to magic more then having to shift through a lot of stuff before you can go out and do something with it. Nothing speaks like instant gratification.

Its a shame that todays beginner has missed out on the golden days of Tenyo.

some of the tricks from 30 years ago were true gems.

kartoffelngeist wrote:I never really got on with Bobo. Not sure why, just never seemed 'get it'. I suspect it's a fantastic reference book, but not great for learning. Could just be me though...

I have the exact same problem with RRTCM.

Oh, and I forgot to say a TT

Daryl's ACR. Seriously!

For spongeballs, I would recommend standard 1.5 inch super soft red ones, and a good book or dvd, like Spongeball Toolbox. I'm not sure what are good books for reference, since unfortunately my whole spongeball training has been via DVD.

As for cards, Bikes def, and get a red-back one while you're at it (was it Vernon who said they were "warmer" colors?). Also, if you can, a deck of Tally-Ho's. I swear by them and after years of consistent use they fan like a beauty.

I guess for coins, if reading Bobo is difficult, you could thrown in Michael Ammar's Intro to Coin Magic, which is probably one of the best purchase I've made.

And of course, after you've killed RRTCM, you could certainly try for The Bible.

1. Mark Wilson's Course book is a must to begin with. 13 Steps for mentalism, any Karl Fulves for a mixture of easy tricks. Royal Road for (right handed) card tricks.
2. Bicyle deck or ten.
3. Cheap, easy to perform, off the shelf trick selection. E.g cups & balls (plastic ones), TT, ESP cards, magician's rope etc.
4. DVD's - One or more: Richard Osterlind or Max Maven for easy to learn mentalism effects, Andrew Murray's 13 for easy card tricks, Jay Sankey if you can stand his style for misc easy tricks.
5. Close-up mat - a must buy for cards.
6. Sharpies, scissors, paper and envelope selection for tons of different effects
7. Big lockable toolbox to keep everything in and prying eyes (kids & nosey spouses!) away.
8. A secret bank account for your soon to be frequent CUPS attacks, just so the other half haven't a clue how much you really spend!

So here's the updated list:

1. 6 Decks of Bicycle Cards

2. Any combination of the following books:
- 'Royal Road to Card Magic'
- 'Expert Card Technique: Close-up Table Magic'
- 'Modern Coin Magic: 116 Coin Sleights'
- 'Mark Wilson's Complete Course of Magic'

3. Cups and Balls
4. Spongeball Toolbox or related spongeball tutorial
5. Close-Up Felt Mat
6. Sharpies, scissors, paper and envelope selection + toolbox when you're ready
7. Selection of DVDs: Richard Osterlind or Max Maven for easy to learn mentalism effects, Andrew Murray's 13 for easy card tricks, Jay Sankey if you can stand his style for misc easy tricks. David Forrest's 2wo Faced for an introduction to gaffed cards.
8. Magician's Rope

Thanks for your contributions so far.

Wait a sec, hold the phone, back the truck up. Expert Card Technique as a must purchase for somebody starting out in magic? I wouldn't recommend it. I know everybody swears by it, and maybe after a few years experience it is a possible, although not necessary purchase. That book will turn beginers off of magic.