talkmagic.co.uk

No worries - it happens !

G3ck0 wrote:Knowledge shouldn't cost any money!

Say that to your teacher and wait the reaction

A newbie section your talking about cuting the deck, key card the old stuff righteo? Isn't that stuff like free off the internet by going to google and typing deck of card basic teachings, im almost 100% you can find that written by proffesionals.

Going into this subject deeply would require far more time then I have and I have essays to write (YAAAAWN). Id far rather be practising my erdnase change. But I do think magic is a by far a more 'open source' then most would like to believe with a tonne of tutorials filmed by idiot magicians all over the world. Im not condoning it, but if someone wanted to learn that badly, then there isnt a lot stopping them.

A

to join in a lil late, im just thinking. most effects are just branching off things taught in royal road, expert at the card table, and bobos really (those that include cards and coins anyhow). all that is less than £30

so it wouldnt matter if you didnt have much money anyhow. If you just brought bobo's and didnt buy anything else till you mastered just the sleight section, let alone the different effects, then i would take my hat off to you and plonk a free dvd in it for you

[removed by mods for being clearly disgustingly openly stupid]

magic777, people around here dont tend to look very kindly on those kinds of exposure sites. Plus, to be perfectly honest the demos and explainations on those sites are usualy very bad. You really are much better off buying a decent book like Mark Wilson's Complete Course, Bobo or Royal Road. They don't cost much, under a tenner generally and you'll get a far better explaination and much more information.

I agree magic777 with our own lady of mystery. There is so much material available in books these days, i started off with mark wilsons course in magic myself as did many of us. If you just go to a site to learn something it takes alot away from learning it from a book. If you have a problem with any specific sleight there are more then enough people here that would be willing to add input. The reward from learning in a book is far greater then taking the easy way.

G3ck0, if everything in life was free... then we'd all drive a Mercedes. and if we all drove a Mercedes, the people who drive a Mercedes now wouldn't feel as special as they do at the moment. Where's the fun in that mate?

But seriously, if you are looking for "something for nothing", start with the review sections. Jam packed with members who are SAVING us money by sharing their thoughts about products they own. This helps us buy wisely and in the end we all benefit with FREE "try before we buy knowledge", and this saves us money.

Save enough money and who knows, maybe one day I'll get that Mercedes.

The major plus of a book over a free trick site is that the book will teach methods and techniques that you can apply to not only the trick that you're learning but other tricks in the future. A broad knowledge and understanding will make you a much better and more complete performer than the odd one off, badly tought trick.

I have to say that I'm new to magic but I don't get the whole magic is expensive thing. I got royal road, Jean Hugards encyclopedia and two bike decks all for under £30. These buys have helped me lots and I would hardly say it breaks the bank. (Although I have to admit I have found myself buying more things now that I don't necessarily need but can't help myself).

As for sites exposing magic I have to admit I looked at them when I first got into magic. But I found all the explanations poor. Also as I became more knowledgeable I found that a lot of the 'exposed' tricks were wrongly explained and just how the author thought these tricks were done.

One of my mates looked at these sites to try and catch me out. However by the time I'd done a FB, hindu shuffle, a couple of FS and the rest. He didn't have a clue what was going on with the trick

One basic thing that I have found is that there are no substitutes or quick fixes to time, effort and a bit of money for the secrets.

Well thats what I think anyways

Wills wrote:One of my mates looked at these sites to try and catch me out. However by the time I'd done a FB, hindu shuffle, a couple of FS and the rest. He didn't have a clue what was going on with the trick

Exactly my point, Wills. It's all very well knowing a trick and performing it robotically and with no personality. But grab a book and you'll get all the extra background knowledge that you'll be able to apply and make the trick your own. And you'll be so much better a performer for it.

Yeah definitely!! I started to find easy self workers boring and to rehearsed. I love to mix up, laugh and basically apply my personality to tricks. I think this is the true essence of magic, not something that can be read of a website. I love nothing more to see my friends faces when they think I have completely messed up a trick. Only to drop the deck and be left with their cards in my hand.

On a side note some self workers are brilliant if done right- Dai Vernon's 'emotional reaction' is my favourite. I'm still getting pestered about how I did it.

I agree with most of the sentiments expressed on here. People who say that magic is expensive are mearly looking for a justification for the theft of peoples interllectual property.
On top of this they are too bone idle to do any real research into the cheap avenues of magic knowledge (the books mentioned above).

Obviously forums like this are incredibly handy as most can testament here for those times where a specific gap in knowledge is required but as as creating a specific forum for basic skills then go buy a book for a fiver.