talkmagic.co.uk

Ok here is the story.
I've been searching through MagicTricks.co.uk (looks like a decent shop, it's EU based so no tax problems when ordering from Greece, free shipping for orders above 20 pounds (20 should be no problem ) , nice selection).

Following some advice on my introduction post and of course following the magic syndrome (which name starts with a C.. and ends with ..UPS) I came up with the following package (the idea is to buy some material to learn basic technics and new tricks and buy some essential stuff (bicycle decks) and some nice tricks to perform).

Which of the following would you describe as : a) Essential , b) Good to have c)CUPS , d)Cr@p based on your experience. And what alternatives if any would you recommend :

1. Royal Road to Card Magic - DVD (The 5 DVD set)
2. Modern Coin Magic Book - J.B.Bobo
3. Complete Course in Magic by Mark Wilson
4. Hummer Card
5. 2 Bicycle Poker Decks - Blue (Regular)
6. 2 Bicycle Poker Decks - Red (Regular)
7. Brainwave Deck
8. Floating Match
9. Crystal Cleaver
10. Customer Copy by Matthew Leatherbarrow
11. C2C- Signed Coin To Signed Card by John-Webb Carter

Thank you all in advance

I'd personally not bother with hummer card or floating match, but I would up the number of bikes from 2 to 5 and add an ID (and a stripper deck,but that's just me )

You might also find yourself disappointed with the tricks you're buying after getting so many techniques from the other materials. On the other hand, they might give you better ideas.

I don't know all the items you list but the RRTCM Book would be alongside the DVDs, Bobo is worthwhile, decks of Bikes also towards to top of the list (assuming you're into card magic!) Mark Wilson absolutely, Brainwave and Invisible Decks and that's about it.

If we're thinking of the same Crystal Cleaver - the Tenyo one involving a borrowed ring being penetrated by a sword, all in miniature - then yes it's good as a stand alone prop based trick and might give you an opening to do something else with the same ring or the same spectator. Its small and plasticky (as are most of that kind of trick) but well made. The 'action' is rather delicate and you have to be careful how you operate the item after inserting the ring on the base but it's a good effect anyway. Read Mark Wilson's book first as you'll get a lot more ideas for your money.

agree fully with tomo

am looking at this moment at a plastic storage bin full of tricks that I do not use, this is not to say I can't use them it's just that I find it harder to switch gimmick for clean, clean for gimmick during a routine than just doing 'normal' ungimmicked stuff where you don't have to bother.

I went down the gimmicks side first and am now having to go back to basics. Looking at my unused box I see how wrong I was

rrtcm is the best purchase you have in my opinion (obviously the cards as well), followed closely by bobo's coins

mark wilsons book is also good for beginers

would not get the rest, as you have a years work ahead of you with the above.

other stuff I would consider(don't know if the magictricks sell all of these)
corinders 13 steps as it covers mentalism is a good intro to this area for beginers and has a nice aproach to magic about it.(if too expensive wilsons book does just touch on this subject but only just)

how about a box of 4 sponge balls with shell

how about some rope, get the magicians rope as it's easier to start off with, and you will learn the properties you need within the rope itself. Then you may find some local stuff which meets the requirements and is cheaper.

cheap cups and balls, I think they do some for £5

These last three will enable you to do the rope and sponge tricks in the wilson book and all will allow a full range of magical principles to be practised, there is a good cups and balls routine in the wilson book aswell.

good luck with the magic, hope to hear from you soon

Thank you all for your comments so far !
I will study them (and the ones that will follow) and give the order in a couple of days (I keep changing my mind every minute and the order varies from 100 to 200 pounds ) . The ones that I'm 100% buying are the 2 books , the 5 DVD set and some decks.

Thanks again ! Great forum

PS: In the meantime I'm downloading Kevin Parker's "Passing Through" I couldn't resist myself, I hope it's not that difficult for me but I was blown away by the effect that I saw on many youtube videos ! 17 US$ was a fair price (thanks to the 1.25 exchange rate to euro ) If I really like it I;m thinking of downloading Descent as well !

PS2: Did I mention that I'm thrilled ?

PS3: Unfortunately I tend to become the CUPS king in all my hobbies (you should see my fishing and photographic gear ). I hope I can resist myself

1, 6 and 7...that'll do ya...

we all do it when we start - spend loads, have fun for half n hour or so, then never use it again...

RRTCM will sort you out, then any other Hugard book you can find...

possibly some self workers too from Karl Fulves...try amazon.co.uk

enjoy!

I'd go for Mark Wilson and RRTCM as great books to get you going.

A few decks of both colour bikes are a must and maybe a selection of double back and double face cards.

Id get RRTCM.. about 6 decks.. when practicing you will burn decks fast if you practice like i do..

Get Bobo's modern coin magic..

I have those two and have worked through RRTCM in about a month.. but I had been learning from other sources before that.. RRTCM fine tuned my abililty.

Id also get Mark Wilsons complete course as it covers other areas like sponge balls, cups/balls. rope magic etc. Thats my next puchase..

An ID is a must.. brainwave deck not so much...

This should last you at the very least six months and with the tiniest amount of creativity you should be able to perform at least 50 solid card/coin tricks once you have worked through them..

if you can fight off the CUPS you'd be doing yourself a favour.. but seeing as here at TM, we are mostly CUPS sufferers, you'd have to not come here to avoid that trap... but you came here for help.. so your doomed already

Imagine an alcoholic asking an unreformed alcoholic for advice..

''Just have another drink, one will do ye no harm ay kid!! ''

I.D wrote:Imagine an alcoholic asking an unreformed alcoholic for advice..
''Just have another drink, one will do ye no harm ay kid!! ''

Hello everybody at this PUB my name is Alex and I'm an alcoholic , thank you all for your support !

Seriously now thank you all for your tips !!

In addition to what everyone has said....


Get some IT and magicians wax.


Also, hummer card I find is very good as long as you DON'T use the gimmick supplied and buy your own (5 bucks for one item and 3 for the other will last a few months). At least that is my experience with the gimmick I recieved from penguin a few years back.

Also, books, books and more books are very helpful. Although the following books are not essential for beginners, nor easily comprehensible (hope I spelled that right:oops:) for beginners, I recommend Art of Astonishment (3 books) and 13 Steps to Mentalism at least for reference and after you master everything else you have in your list, then start to read those.

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic is a MUST HAVE if you already do not own it.

~David

Just so as not to confuse you.
if you refer to my previous post and wish for sponge balls from magictricks then you need to order the multiplying ones for 3.99
you can do the other stuff in mikes book with these aswell.

Advising other folk on what to spend their money on is courting trouble . . . so I will offer my thoughts. It's assumed that your interest is in Close-up.

Without a doubt the bible of card magic is Royal Road. Have, over the years, had many copies and always seem to loan them to 'friends' and never see them again so have to buy another copy. Expert Card Technique is the follow up volume. Haven't seen the DVD's so can't comment.

If you are a newcomer, then the temptation is to spend, spend, spend mainly getting the latest dealer wonder trick which finishes up in the cupboard.

Join the local magic club where they will almost certainly have a library of books AND DVD's these days. Meet and see what others are doing then make a decision on what might suit YOU. You do NOT have to spend loads of money to be good. Even the town library will have a small selection of books to borrow.

Remember . . . The brainwave pack will soon wear out of you use it a lot so then it's buying another. So many things to consider.

Best of luck.

I agree with Mark...

Mark Wynn wrote:
Join the local magic club where they will almost certainly have a library of books AND DVD's these days. Meet and see what others are doing then make a decision on what might suit YOU. You do NOT have to spend loads of money to be good. Even the town library will have a small selection of books to borrow.

This forum is good but nothing beats sharing ideas and practicing with other magicians.

Thanks for the new tips !
As for the magic clubs here in Greece, they are as common as a sauna club in Sahara (maybe some exist but I haven't been able to find them)

Nice selection there.

How bout a TT aswel? They're only cheap, and have lots of uses.

And maybe later on an ID.

Personally I don't like C2C, I just get the set up right, and went through a few decks trying, like 3:52 cards work. Maybe this is just me though.

Get it see what you think about it.

And good selection too.

K