talkmagic.co.uk

where beginers learn to become more clean

Was the suggestion really that we have a forum to help us be clean...
ummm... is this not common decency!?

From the title I thought this thread might be about David Stone - he has two DVD's out called 'The Real Secrets of Magic' - I only have the first one, but I think it is really good - needless to say the tricks take a lot of time to perfect, (like a few months / years!) most will probably choose to give up on a few of the routines (he is damn good with coins and cards), but I really like watching him perform the routines, he has a nice way with people - and his advice about working with people / starting out getting restaurant gigs etc is really good.

There is probably more advice on being a 'decent' magician in this main section than in that restricted bit anyway? It keeps me happy and I'm working as a magician more and more. I expect that the restricted area is more for discussing the nuts and bolts of routines and ideas for new tricks / suitability of new stuff for commercial sale etc. If you've hung about long enough to get an invite to it, then you probably have plenty of life skills, and don't need advice on performing so much. I could be wrong!

Of the topics mentioned in the original post, I can't help but think that I'd love to have a guide on how to get the most from practising. However, I don't think it is any members responsibility to provide that information.

Perhaps a resolution to this thread is to suggest some good books/DVDs on the subject and the others mentioned.

DaveM wrote: I'd love to have a guide on how to get the most from practising.

If you can get hold of a copy of the Magic of Michael Ammar book there is a section on practicing in there. Using the tips Michael shares will help you get the most out of each practice session, and gives advice on when, where and HOW to practice.

There are a couple of books that have made a big impact to the way I approach and perform magic, this being one of them. The routines in the book are top notch, but more than that, it is in the rest of the book that the REAL gold lies. The essays and psycological insights really get you thinking.

jim

Thanks Jim!

That is going to be my next purchase then. I have a good practice area and I use it daily but I just haven't been able to figure out how to divide my time up and where to focus.

I had the pleasure of seeing Michael Ammar lecture at the end of last year and I came away inspired. He is rather good!

DaveM wrote:I had the pleasure of seeing Michael Ammar lecture at the end of last year and I came away inspired. He is rather good!

Indeed. It has been said that he is one of magics best teachers. He was also the 2nd American to win the close-up category of FISM - and FISM had been going for 45 years at the time

The thing is though, I said ''if you can get hold of'' because It seems to be out of stock everywhere, and has been for some time. Even Michaels own site doesnt have any. But if you do manage to get one you wont be dissapointed.

jim

Perhaps someone should write a sticky on Beginners and important things to remember?

jim ferguson wrote:

DaveM wrote:I had the pleasure of seeing Michael Ammar lecture at the end of last year and I came away inspired. He is rather good!

Indeed. It has been said that he is one of magics best teachers. He was also the 2nd American to win the close-up category of FISM - and FISM had been going for 45 years at the time

The thing is though, I said ''if you can get hold of'' because It seems to be out of stock everywhere, and has been for some time. Even Michaels own site doesnt have any. But if you do manage to get one you wont be dissapointed.

jim

I jst got a copy off Amazon. There is one other copy available but it is more expensive £40.00 +p&p. There are also a few copies available on ebay from USA but they advertise it at around with £20.00 postage. I think I just got a bargain, but there are a couple of copies available.

Nic

The secret to magic in my case is practise practise practise and if you stop and think its a waste of time you shouldent be a magician. The real secret is sleight of hand and the ability to practise entil you can do it with your eyes shut. (not recomended in live preformance " That what i beleve

Yes the secret is practice. The hands seem to have a memory of their own. So practice, practice practice. ("What I say three times is true"!)
TV was made for magicians,and not just to perform, or dream of performing on! Let your hands do the moves while your brain watches TV. Why not enjoy a programme while your hands do an Elmsley Count followed by a Jordan count over and over again. How I wish we had TV when I was young. For years I walked around everywhere with a card(s),or coin(s), palmed in in my hand. I still do ocasionally, if its a palm I have just learned ,to see if my hands like it.

I'm in agreement the secret is practice and study, however I also agree there may be space for something else here too...

I have run a few forums before and just cottoned on that there was probably a restricted area round here someplace Worry ye not, I'm not asking for an In

I was just wondering tho, what does it take to get in? I'm guessing it's like the bottom rung of the magic circle haha, me I've only been able to call myself a 'magic enthusiast' since I joined this forum, in the sense that that's when I got my first gim's and learned a few card tricks with a view to entertaining others on a regular basis as opposed to just killing a bit of time after watching dinamo or someone and then likely forgetting them until six months later down the pub someone does a trick and you try to remember your best one... A: "Hang about, get involved and wait for an invite" I'd reckon.

To cut a long ramble short, which I find challenging (short rambles, good trait in the context perhaps) I live in such a remote area I'm just at that stage I feel the need to get in to some sort of magic club or something, which led me here to this post, or just find a few people I can share the tricks and the knowhow with and talk about more, but now I'm paranoid about revealing too much to the wrong folk haha, it's a bit criminal really. I have my girlfriend's son who is 14 and keen to see how I do stuff, but I can't see him getting into it enough to warrent revealing too much. He's great at just wanting to watch, pointing out some really s*** slight of hand moves tho that need more practice, and giving me the chance to practice not telling people how it's done or bluffing my ass off with the phrase 'slight of hand' a lot The point being there's no chance in *** a magic club will ever crop up here unless I start one and it will be filled with all the kids from the area wanting to learn stuff. Actually, that sounds kinda cool now I type it haha and would give me some great practice but not quite what I'm after just now.

So I'm a bit stuck for the kind of chat that could lead to better 'banter' to cover a routine. There are lots of vids out and about, and there's nothing like that golden moment you watch a routine by someone and realise what you need to tweak, but there's nothing like just being able to ask some questions to the right folk instead of having to search and search. Of course I know this is part of the point in proving ones self determination to do it no matter what, no matter how hard it is but I wondered if there'd be room for some kind of 'split level' restricted areas...i.e. one for the likes of me who's keen and can use some forum style advice that's just a little easier than scouring the net for 3 hours to find just one little jem you've been after, usually involving coming on here after 2.5 hours and asking if anyone can give me the right link or advice. It is always good to search first, which I always do to some extent or another. Forums are the greatest thing on the net tho, in my oppinion, besides shops. They are what t'internet was invented for.

After some contemplation I think I may have safely covered both sides of any argument here, and done a proper Mr Cat 'everyone's right'. I'll go away now and practice some tricks

The forum is great, I love it, and have ultimate faith in Admin, having been one on a few other forums. No complaints. Just thought I'd chuck my pennies worth into this thread in some hope it makes sense.

Anyhow, cheers folks and well done! I'm sure the setup has stood the test of time so far and it works for me

"If you're in, you're in. If you're not, give yourself and those who can get you in no excuse not be in."?

Acolophon wrote:The hands seem to have a memory of their own. So practice, practice practice.

Indeed. I used to juggle and do various circus skills, not for many years now, but I can still get some of the old magic back with very litle effort....thta's because I practiced religously for about 7 years interspersed with a fair few public performances haha

That's the secret to juggling. Second to the fact that sadly you can practice 5 balls in the air at once for a year till you get it solid, and people will still be more impressed when you whip out 3 fire clubs and set them alight before chucking them about (about a weeks practice by comparrison haha) ...I'm sure there's a direct magic comparrison there somewhere... but I haven't done enough in public to know yet!

MrCat wrote:I'm in agreement the secret is practice and study, however I also agree there may be space for something else here too...

I have run a few forums before and just cottoned on that there was probably a restricted area round here someplace Worry ye not, I'm not asking for an In

I was just wondering tho, what does it take to get in?

Exactly what Dale suggests at the top of this thread Sir, hang around long enough whilst contributing worthwhile posts and when the Mods feel it is time you shall be informed!

Simple as that.

The general arrangement for restricted area accesses are a minimum of 50 quality posts ( a very nebulous requirement!), and something approaching 6 month's membership. There are exceptions but primarily we wanted to deter the secrets seekers and protect the research work and discussions which have lead to one or two commercial successes.