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I got £80 today, what card magic things can i spend it on.... anyone have any good sujestions.

What sort of things do you like? Are you a "packet trick" kind of person or would you prefer to use the money to learn sleights etc?

I think the two different approaches can be explained like this -

Packet tricks will teach you exactly what they say, you will be able to perform the effect as it says on the box, it may rely on special (gimmicked) cards, or learning a particular move.

OR

Spend the money on learning card technique, starting from the basics up. Think of this as giving yourself a whole fantastic box of tools which you can build from as oppose to buying one effect and then saving up money for the next!

As for concrete suggestions, I won't be the only one to recommend a book called "The Royal Road to Card Magic", your £80 could also buy a DVD version of this, it'll teach you tricks but also those all important transferable card techniques - you won't be a "one trick pony"!

When starting out it's hard avoid being suckered by the flashy looking effects and even those that don't admit have been at one time! I'd say go with the skills then learn to apply them, it's a slower road but long term you'll be better off.

Matt

Although I've just noticed you've been posting a lot so you might be past this stage already? What sort of things do you enjoy at the moment?

Matt

Well im selling all my packet tricks gimmicked stuff atm, just want to get sleights and learn without gimmickes.

Then I'd go for the Royal Road DVD. The explanations in the RRTCM book are a getting a little dated now. I don't think that us young'uns of today like to read sentences that last longer than two lines! If you're a visual learner I'd go for the DVDs, I like to do both and the book can be dragged around the tube with me!

I've also found myself going back to Roberto Giobbi's Card College more and more. This is a massive five volume set that starts from the basic sleights and build up from there. Nice illustrations as well. What does everyone else think?

Matt

I'm sure when Katriel stumbles upon this thread, he'll say Born to Perform! And I totally agree! Get Born to Perform to get all the basics and essentials you need about card magic!

Steve

Im not really new to magic done it for a while even though im not that great.

The best thing about owning these "Beginners" DVD's and books is that you never truly learn all of the content, by that I mean you will find yourself returning to them time and time again in the future and as you do learn more you'll go back and glean even more from them. IMHO Magic is never best viewed as a checklist it's not a case of learning a sleight and then ticking it off your list, your technique is always improving.

I'm not claiming to be an expert in all this just offering an opinion I hope others feel the same way.

I forgot Oz Perlman! Born to Perform is excellent too, I find Oz to be a really engaging and one thing that does come across is his passion. I think he's a great teacher. I particularly like his ambitious card handling.

Matt

If your prepared to invest a little, I would say go for Card College. It's full of stuff. Goes into lots of detail. It's is really easy to learn from. It includes check points after teaching a sleight to help you out. As well as that, it teaching good tricks and routines along the way as well.

If you're already a card magician, with the basics learned, go for Lennart Green's Green Magic series.

A fantastic bunch of effects with regular cards, which will teach you the meaning of 'awe' and 'wow'.

However, you need to be at the 'I know how they do that' stage, in so much as you do need to know a lot of basic card techniques—the Lennart stuff is way advanced.

Spend some, save some.

Because just around the corner, is that thing you'll really, really want!
And you'll have the cash to buy it...

Piers.

My 2p worth. So now you have £79.98

If I was you I would get Royal Road to Card magic BOOK. I have never seen the DVD's, but at around £60 it doesn't leave you with much.

And as for El_Satinico's comment about the book being dated, I can see what he means, but I would honestly get the book first and if you find it a bit too "old fashioned", then mabey get the DVD. I found that its explanation of the pass was TERIBLE, and thus have not leant it. Still very good magic can be performed without the pass.

Also, I would definetly recomend Jay Sankey products. Get Just Imagine, In a Flash, or mabey (I have not got this so I'm not sure) Revolutionary Card magic.

There are many more card products, just shop around on the net.

Hope this mite have helped,

Joe.

GImick gimick gimick, dont like gimmicks, and i have done magic for couple of years, first started with rrtcm.

do you have art of astonishment?
3 book set is around 80 quid with loads of good effects.

recently got mine and love it already.

@ siege....you're right about PH's writing style, very funny extra bits and phootnotes

Actually Cordenadam Just Imagine uses no gimicks, neither does Rev Card magic.

Appologies though for in a flash, and for mentioning RRTCM if you are more of an intermediate.

Joe.