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by **icaruscomplex** » May 14th, '08, 01:07

Hello all, First time poster but long time lurker.

Just starting out in magic at 20 years old, I'm currently a full time college student currently in Iowa, USA.

My background has been working in Psychology/Sociology research for the past 5 years, I have been doing most of my work in helping out abused children and researching sexuality/gender in society though I have done a few articles on the criminal parts.

My main focus is to learn about mentalism seems already there are Sociological and Psychological concepts involved with it. And as time goes by becoming more intrigued into maybe one day having a professional routine or act as a mentalist.

Hope to learn allot more from this experienced community in the future.

by **Ian The Magic-Ian** » May 14th, '08, 03:06

Hi, welcome to TM, hope you enjoy your stay! If your interested in Mentalism, look in support and tips section, Craig Browning has a sticky at the very top on beginning in Mentalism that is very helpful.

by **icaruscomplex** » May 14th, '08, 05:13

Thank you for the welcome, I checked out the guide and it is a great road map for mentalism that Craig Browning made and something i'll be checking and rechecking often im sure.

At the moment I'm mostly reading alot of Mark Willisons complete course in magic, I've also ordered the The Alchemists tools by Paul Brook no idea if it will be to advanced for me. But on the reviews seemed to be a good book to learn allot of theories from and to also grow into. if nothing else.

by **Mage Tyler** » May 14th, '08, 06:13

Welcome to TalkMagic!

You're the second one from Iowa popping in this week so I'll include the same bit I left for ZakyAlpha:

Mage Tyler wrote:Not sure where in Iowa you live, but if you're anywhere near Omaha/Council Bluffs most Barnes and Nobles in the area have a decent selection of Magic books (including Bobo and Mark Wilson's books both mentioned in this thread).

I don't know of any Magic shops in Iowa (though I'd be interested if you know any) but there is one in Omaha and one in Lincoln.

In Omaha stop by Mangelsons. In the back they have a year-round Halloween section and the front-most desk in that area (toward the Farmhouse Cafe) is devoted to magic. They have recently redone their selection and seem to have some decent supplies.

In Lincoln stop by the Magickits.com Magic Shop. They're pretty friendly and willing to work with you to find something that will fit you. If you get the chance to talk to Luis, the owner, he might even show you his secret area with his private collection of magic books and magazines from the last 20+ years, including a mint copy of Ricky Jay's Cards As Weapons.

I haven't looked through Mangelsons since they restocked, but the Magickits.com place is very magic-oriented and they have little in the way of mentalism - but it still might be worth your time to stop by. If you do - mention that you're interested in mentalism, if enough people do he may stock more of it.

Good luck!

by **icaruscomplex** » May 14th, '08, 06:45

Thank you very much for that information. So far I've ordered mostly from Amazon for the Complete course in magic. Also I recently ordered from eillusionist for the basics that Mark Wilison talks about(sponge balls,rope) also got a thump tip and a book on it for pretty cheap plus I've read of people swearing by how amazing it is and how great it is to have as a skill.

Though I'll have to see if I am near any of those places. I just moved to Ames for a semester at ISU so know little of Iowa itself. And saddly in yet another week or so I'll be in Arkansans.

But thank you for the welcome and the advice.

by **Mage Tyler** » May 14th, '08, 16:47

Sorry to hear you're on your way out of state and might miss the shops. Omaha is about a 2 hour drive from Ames, if I recall correctly, and Lincoln is another 45 minutes further west from there.

Fortuantely, TM is a great place for reviews and advice so it makes buying online a less risky venture.

Also check out Penguinmagic.com, a little less hyped up than ellusionist with some better general selection - in my opinion.

Best of luck!

by **Lenoir** » May 14th, '08, 17:26

icaruscomplex never underestimate a good book. Instead of spending lots of prop's such as Spongeballs and Rope, buy a comprehensive guide on Mentalism, since that it was you stated your main interest was! Of course those props are great, but if looking to perform mental effects, they won't really fit in!

Welcome to TM anyway!

by **icaruscomplex** » May 14th, '08, 18:16

Wild Card wrote:icaruscomplex never underestimate a good book. Instead of spending lots of prop's such as Spongeballs and Rope, buy a comprehensive guide on Mentalism, since that it was you stated your main interest was! Of course those props are great, but if looking to perform mental effects, they won't really fit in!

Welcome to TM anyway!

True,Though I figured I need at least a few of the basics, At the moment I have Wilsons complete course in magic, And ordered Paul Brooks The Alchemical Tools, Also have the complete idiots guide to magic( Saw there was a section on using technology that sounded amazing) Sounds like though I need 13 steps which is prolly my last book for awhile.

Though if anyone has Brook's book is it good enough it covers 13 steps or is 13 steps one I still need? I know mostly got Paul's based on it was stated there 250ish pages of just mentalism information before a effect so figured even I struggle with the effects I can at least get some good information from a respected mentalist.

P.S Also thank you for the welcome. So far have really enjoyed reading such valuable information as I continue to learn.

by **Mandrake** » May 14th, '08, 22:31

13 Steps is a worthy addition to your library, Paul Brook can be seen reading it in one of his on-line videos

!

by **icaruscomplex** » May 14th, '08, 22:54

Thank you for the welcome,

Ya that is definitely next on my list at the moment I just ordered, Practical Mental Magic by Annemann so once I read through that book sounds like 13 steps is next on to read then along with Paul Brooks. Though hoping I didn't jump the gun now with Ordering Paul Brooks book before i've fully read through both Practical and 13 steps.

by **Mage Tyler** » May 15th, '08, 04:42

You'll probably want to round out the Mentalism Trio with Karl Fulves Self Working Mental Magic. Especially being new to mentalism they are fantastic effects (and better organized than Annemann, in my opinion) that allow you to begin performing mentalism rather than reading about it. There is a fair amount in Corinda impractical to the beginner or non-stage magician, though essentail to have read anyway.

I also found them a good diversion from Corinda when things were a little overwhelming - as they can be the first read through. Don't get frustrated though, anyone taking the plunge into mentalism has been there.

by **icaruscomplex** » May 15th, '08, 05:30

Thank you for that advice then. Seems yet another to read on my list

Though in its a way amazing feeling thinking about reading workings of people from the 40's and using there advice and level of knowledge in today. I haven't gotten that feeling sense reading Freud.

Almost seems Mentalism is it's own secret brotherhood at times with so much relying on the fore fathers of the theories and then diving deeper into it.

by **Mage Tyler** » May 15th, '08, 07:01

icaruscomplex wrote:Though in its a way amazing feeling thinking about reading workings of people from the 40's and using there advice and level of knowledge in today. I haven't gotten that feeling sense reading Freud.

That's only because Freud is largely outdated, whereas mentalism has endured.

Joking aside, maybe that's what's more amazing to think about - the endurance of art contrasted with the constant evolution of science. Both adapt to make room for subsequent generations, but a lot of science is left behind as obsolete and stays in the past. Art can work the same way, but after becoming obsolete one can go back and bring it forward and time and find that it works just as well. You'll find evidence of this constantly at TM as folks have a look through their old(er) books and find little gems to bring back.

You'll find the same thinking at commercial retailers like ellusionist - where they do the same thing, but repackage it, hype it, and sell it for 4 or 5 times the price of the original text.

by **icaruscomplex** » May 15th, '08, 16:59

Well allot of Freud is still around but only in newer studies

But that is so very true, Maybe magic hasn't changed as much then as main stream media wants you to believe. Plus it then becomes even better when these huge books are the literal life of a person in a way. Reading there own thoughts on effects and how they did what they did to earn there living.

I feel like a fool, I'll admit by ordering up from Eillusionst only to reliaze half the stuff is things I'll prolly never use and was actually already in Mark Wilisons book, But sold under a different name. Oh well a important lesson learned.

P.S How common place is apprenticeship these days, It seems so far from lurking around the vast majority are self taught them selves.

by **dat8962** » May 15th, '08, 18:01

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