talkmagic.co.uk

i'd like your opinions on what i should read first.

after trawling through countless reviews and forums, i think I'm going to get both darwin ortiz books - strong magic and designing miracles. as far as i can tell everyone rates strong magic as the most usefull.

i can't afford to get them both at the same time, so i'll probably get strong magic first.

but, before i do - is there any other books that are worth looking at in this area?

looking forward to your comments
james

Maybe a little more information on what you already know and what area you wish to go in.... there are also a few stickies around that cover similar themes...

F x

Buy the Books of Wonder by the late Tommy Wonder, whatever kind of magic you perform. You'll understand what "art" means.

the Curator wrote:Buy the Books of Wonder by the late Tommy Wonder. You'll understand what "art" means.

Damn, you beat me to it.

Not only will you get brilliant theory work, but a great understanding of how a master developed routines.

Plus he was a good friend...

scripting magic - can't remember who by...but its a good book...

or, if you have the cash to splash, get the eugene burger "exploring magicial presentations" for a short and sweet case study on dvd...

but books would be better...

The Books and Visions of Wonder should be essential reading and viewing for all magicians irrespective of discipline. And the people who get the most out of them end up performing absolutely nothing from them. Even though the Visions of Wonder are L&L (and thus performed in front of the single worst audience I have ever seen) the thinking that went into his tricks was staggering.

gonna go read up on those books of wonder. thanks for the sugestions.

Back to your original post I'd say that Designing Miracles is better than Strong Magic IMHO.

IAIN wrote:scripting magic - can't remember who by...but its a good book...

Scripting is by Pete McCabe, though much of the value comes from contributors (IMHO).

The back section of Expert Card Technique is all you will ever need for close up magic. There is a chapter on presentation that is pure gold.

the non trick bits in Tarbells 1 and 2, should be read. and the interview with fogel in 13 steps.

what i would say, is that theorys a good thing to read, but it's value depends on where you are with the practical side of your magic .

Magic and Showmanship by Henning Nelms is also worth a read, you can usually find it fairly cheap on Amazon or ebay or something.

Serendipity wrote:Magic and Showmanship by Henning Nelms is also worth a read, you can usually find it fairly cheap on Amazon or ebay or something.

I was going to sugest Nelms myself.. but you then get a string of Nelms haters go on about how dated it is etc...

I didnt want the hastle

( if it was no good, it would not be available to buy after all this time)

I read
Maximum Entertainment
a month ago and I'm shure it'll have a great impact on my presentions and routines in future.