talkmagic.co.uk

Answering the first question and not the tangents it sprang off it;

A friend, an ex pro, world travelled, of many years rang me, two weeks ago and said 'Do you know how much your Berglas Book is worth?'.

I said I hadn't a clue. 'Well, he said, I was at a Convention recently and was offered £900 for my copy'.

He didn't sell it. Neither am I tempted to.

Allen Tipton

Consider making a gift to the Surnateum Library...

Consider flying over to London and giving me an indepth personal tutorial on the Blitz cull!

In fact, I should go to London to make some research about my new Hauntique.

Make research...

Mr_Grue wrote:Make research...

You have no idea...

if you do happen to come across to london, See if you can time it to ccome to the next Tabular meeting.

Im sure you will be made really welcome.

D.

I'll remember the invitation...

daleshrimpton wrote:

Lenoir wrote:It is a good book, but I have dozens of books I prefer.

The Berglas effect section is shocking.

people who say that have no idea what the berglas effect is.

it can not be written down, only experienced. ian and myself have experienced it.

its not a trick. its real magic.

Truly?
I used to be obssesed with the idea of the ACAAN routine. Perhaps you will recall. Particularly that one as it has been described. I remember coming across that book when looking into it more. The prices were very high.
I think I attempted to find a review on here once, but was at a loss. I know the book is rare and quite famous, but would you really say it's that good of a book? I know it's not for my level, but just out of curiousity. I mean, what type of book would you classify it as? Is it instructional, or more observant of different little things Berglas uses to add to his showmanship?

Most of his effects are explained, but not in an attempt to give you new material, merely an insight to his genius.

I see. So more to show what makes a great magician.

It teaches you, if nothing else, how great reputations are made in magic. Berglas' thinking is extraordinary, obviously, but the most interesting aspect of the book is how Berglas turned himself into a living legend.

It's a great book, I love it - it drastically altered my image of what magic can be (both for you and your audience), and it's the reason I stopped doing card tricks on demand down the pub for my mates.

Ever since it has been talked about on Genii Forum, I've always felt the need to clarify...
I know sometimes it is lied about for the effect, but the chances of an ACAAN happening successfully once is 1/52. Not 52 x 52.

Listen, often it is said, "Chances you name the card, 52 x chances you name the number, 52." However, some on Genii seemed to actually believe this was true... but listen...

Chances you name the card, unless you for some odd reason forget the names of all cards, or are unable to communicate properly, is 100/100.
Chances you name the number that matches that card are 1/52.
You see, the chance doesn't come into play untill part two. So if first the number was asked for, and then the card, then 100/100 they name a number, 1/52 they name the correct card.

How silly would it be to say, "Why, the chances the J of hearts would be in that spot of the deck he chose is one out of 2,704." No! That card could have only been in 51 other places!

Imagine it this way, they name a card. Done. They will name a card. Imagine that card moving through all 52 positions in the deck. At one point it will be in the spot they next name.

Sorry, It just frightened me where these Genii folks were getting this idea from.

Also, to clarify, I realize it is mostly lied about for the effect.

Nobody here needs a clarification, thanks.

Lenoir wrote:Nobody here needs a clarification, thanks.

Yep.

It's weird that ACAAN is seen as this absolute statistical impossibility, and it sends people into this terrible business of "what if I'd said" etc. etc., whereas the chances of somebody genuinely doing Out Of This World with a shuffled deck - where every card could be either red or black (Schrodinger's card, like) - is 4.5 quadrillion to one.