talkmagic.co.uk

Fair enough...no need then...

Sorry if my previous posts came across a bit tetchy. It was a pretty intense week at work, and I don't think I've quite recovered!

Part-Timer wrote:Sorry if my previous posts came across a bit tetchy. It was a pretty intense week at work, and I don't think I've quite recovered!

That makes two of us! And it all starts tomorrow again!

Quite honestly Tod, I've not yet seen much of anything pertaining to card magic that ties in with mentalism... mental magic, most certainly, but that's a different creek that need be crossed.

I've done billet work for decades and never once needed a DL, false cut, farrow, etc. let alone a good back palm or Tenkai hold. Most everything I ever needed to know about billet work came from Annemann, Corinda, a bit of Docc Hilford and of course, Bob Cassidy as well as my old friend Millard Longman. It's only been in the past few years that I've seen much in way of "advancement" in that arena via the likes of Allan Zingg and of course Elliott Bresler... you'll notice that I leave a handful of individuals out of that list and that is because most of their work caters to magicians not mentalists.

Needless to say, I get frustrated easily which is another reason why I avoid card magic and card techniques. I just don't think it healthy to force yourself into a "mold" when it's obvious that you don't fit such; Card Tricks aren't for everyone! If what you've learned from playing with such material aids you in what you do, KUDOS! But as has been pointed out, it's far from being requisite at any level and definitely prone to create a sense of codependent rapport between the performer and the cursed item in question; frequently deluding them into believing that 25 minutes worth of card tricks is the same thing as being a "Mentalist" when it's far from it!

And Before Everyone Gets Their Shorts in a Bunch... I am not saying that you can't use card effects in mentalism, only that it is not a necessity and too, if you do it should be kept to a minimum... less is more!

I still use a handful of card effects in my act but I use them very sparingly which gives me the optimum results.

magicmindben wrote:I have obviously heard a lot about RRCTM. I know a lot about different
card slieghts, and have performed almost all of them, and I can do a basic color change. Anyhow, I'm just focusing on doing mentalism type magic. I've never really been enough into card magic to buy RRCTM. I have a basic card slieghts book, which has many sleights and complete explanations with pictures. Its called "Easy Card Tricks."

Anyhow, since I'm mainly focusing on performing mentalism, and at most will perform a few card magic tricks in my "carreer," is it really that important to get Royal Road to Card Magic?

Thanks,

-Ben

Perhaps I am taking things to literally but you say you have performed almost all of the card sleights. I certainly hope not otherwise you have exposed every sleight in card magic. You perform tricks not the sleights. And you have accomplished all of them and can do a basic colour change. Certainly you can do more then that.

If you want to be a mentalist then take Craigs advice. And reading Royal Road to Card Magic is not a requirement for anything. The only test for a magician is in front of an audience and frankly they don't care what you have read. The problem with not reading such books is that you run the risk of spending a lot of time re inventing the wheel. Then again by not reading it you may just accomplish something not yet thought of.

Craig Browning wrote:Quite honestly Tod, I've not yet seen much of anything pertaining to card magic that ties in with mentalism... mental magic, most certainly, but that's a different creek that need be crossed.

I've done billet work for decades and never once needed a DL, false cut, farrow, etc. let alone a good back palm or Tenkai hold. Most everything I ever needed to know about billet work came from Annemann, Corinda, a bit of Docc Hilford and of course, Bob Cassidy as well as my old friend Millard Longman. It's only been in the past few years that I've seen much in way of "advancement" in that arena via the likes of Allan Zingg and of course Elliott Bresler... you'll notice that I leave a handful of individuals out of that list and that is because most of their work caters to magicians not mentalists.

Needless to say, I get frustrated easily which is another reason why I avoid card magic and card techniques. I just don't think it healthy to force yourself into a "mold" when it's obvious that you don't fit such; Card Tricks aren't for everyone! If what you've learned from playing with such material aids you in what you do, KUDOS! But as has been pointed out, it's far from being requisite at any level and definitely prone to create a sense of codependent rapport between the performer and the cursed item in question; frequently deluding them into believing that 25 minutes worth of card tricks is the same thing as being a "Mentalist" when it's far from it!

And Before Everyone Gets Their Shorts in a Bunch... I am not saying that you can't use card effects in mentalism, only that it is not a necessity and too, if you do it should be kept to a minimum... less is more!

I still use a handful of card effects in my act but I use them very sparingly which gives me the optimum results.

That's cool...I was just surprised that you hadn't read a classic that might just contain something useful. The DL is hugely deceptive with a stack of business cards and gets you an early advantage. I just like to have as much in the arsenal as possible

Cheers

Dr T

There are as many different styles of mentalism, as there are peformers. If you DO feel the urge to use cards, a la canasta and berglas. Go for it.

Just be prepared for months of frustration, if not years. If not constantly! Just don't fall into the trap of buying tricks, learn techniques more than tricks. Come up with your own instead - much more satifying.

That's cool...I was just surprised that you hadn't read a classic that might just contain something useful. The DL is hugely deceptive with a stack of business cards and gets you an early advantage. I just like to have as much in the arsenal as possible

Perhaps you didn't understand me. As I posted before, I do have a book with manby card slights in it, that I've had for years. I mean, you guys don't think RRTCM is the only book that teaches a DL, do you?

-Ben

If the book you've got "easy card magic" is the one by Peter Arnold then there are a lot more slights available in royal road than in that one. Either way the royal road shows several different methods for a number of the slights as well. It is a solid read on card magic. Odds on you'll find something of use. If not its only about £6 on amazon so not like you'd have wasted to much money. Odds on in this hobby you'll have wasted more than that on many stupid props that turned out to be unsuitable.

magicmindben wrote:

That's cool...I was just surprised that you hadn't read a classic that might just contain something useful. The DL is hugely deceptive with a stack of business cards and gets you an early advantage. I just like to have as much in the arsenal as possible

Perhaps you didn't understand me. As I posted before, I do have a book with manby card slights in it, that I've had for years. I mean, you guys don't think RRTCM is the only book that teaches a DL, do you?

-Ben

I think you misunderstand me...I already said you do not need RRTCM and was addressing Craig...and no I do not think RRTCM is the only book with the DL...as I learned most of what I know from Erdnase...

There seems to be a lot of people misunderstanding each other!

All I would say is do what feels right to you. Follow your own path.

Cue some inspirational '80's power ballad...

themagicwand wrote:There seems to be a lot of people misunderstanding each other!

All I would say is do what feels right to you. Follow your own path.

Cue some inspirational '80's power ballad...

'Simply the Best...!' a la David Brent....

DrTodd wrote:
'Simply the Best...!' a la David Brent....

Or...dare I say it..."It's a Kind of Magic" by Queen.

Ah, memories of "Highlander". What a great film that was. And just how many ways could they c**k up the sequels???

themagicwand wrote:
Or...dare I say it..."It's a Kind of Magic" by Queen.

Ah, memories of "Highlander". What a great film that was. And just how many ways could they c**k up the sequels???

they just forgot that there can be only one

id go with queen too or frank zappa...bobby brown or something like that very inspirational hehe

memorire wrote:

themagicwand wrote:
Or...dare I say it..."It's a Kind of Magic" by Queen.

Ah, memories of "Highlander". What a great film that was. And just how many ways could they c**k up the sequels???

they just forgot that there can be only one

id go with queen too or frank zappa...bobby brown or something like that very inspirational hehe

'Eye of the Tiger'?