talkmagic.co.uk

Hi everbody,

I feel this will get some heated replies but I feel it's important for anybody who follows me as the new boy on the site.

A lesson: Reading book after book(however good and well renowned) does not make for good practice)

Seems obvious I know but over two years ago I got Royal Rd and a deck of Bikes and, £300 + a full bookshelf later, I'm full of theory and could tell you how to perform hundreds of tricks and the sleights they use but am still not confident enough to go out there and start recouping my investment in this wonderful art. Why? Because I didn't practice enough as I went.

So for those of you who are about to type "Lord almighty why have you wasted my valuable time with this useless obviousness" Hold back, I beseach you! If I can make the mistake then maybe others can do too(or at least I'm desperately hoping I'm not the only one who would)

And for those of you who have just purchased your first book, do not buy another untill you can do everything contained within without a second thought.

Treat the art with the respect it took me two years to realise it deserves, after all it's magic!

lobiwan wrote:Hi everbody,
A lesson: Reading book after book(however good and well renowned) does not make for good practice)

No heated reply here. I agree, reading doesn't make for good practice, although concentrated practice and live peformance does (IME).

Keep practicing, keep performing, and I severely doubt that 300 quid will feel misspent to you. The books aren't going anywhere, they'll wait for you.

Welcome to TM.

Hi, welcome to TM

No moans here, I think we have all gone through the same thing in our time.

FRK

Thank you both, you made me feel right at home

I now have a practice routine of Ambitious Aces repeated again and again using a different sleight to bring it back to top, 2nd and 3rd from top etc, then contol the 4 Aces and shift them out to practice some of those wonderful counts I love so much. If anyone else thinks this may be of use just ask and I'll write it out in full.

But, once again, to FRK and Ace of Shades, thanks, hope to see you again in other threads.

If it's any consolation to you I have many, many books and do only a fraction of the material. I think for example that the Bobo book is a wonderful investment but I cringe when I realise I only do two tricks from it. The wonderful Stars of Magic book I also do only two tricks from.
And I don't think I do a single trick from Expert Card Technique.

I have all these wonderful books and I hardly do a thing from them. I cringe when I realise that I don't do a single trick from 13 Steps to Mentalism and I recommend it to everyone.

I think you and I both need better study plans.

Mind you the book you are having trouble with - the Royal Road to Card Magic- I did get great results with. 50% of my card trick repertoire is from that particular book so I must have studied that one correctly at least.

You probably need to find some people to show your tricks to. When you do find them don't be afraid to do some self working material. At least it will get you started.

Magic is PEOPLE. Any fool can manipulate cards and most fools in magic do. It takes a good magician to manipulate the PEOPLE.

Sound advice Mark, cheers.

I have Bobo too and haven't even opened that one, it's something about card magic that intrigues me, I do show a lot of SW tricks and any that use a key card i always add speil to the tune of 'reading body language'

Peole who know me find this believable cos I study counselling at college and tell them I learn the signals there. God, how irate they'll be when they find out.

I don't think I would be a good mentalist becasue seriousness doesn't suit, I really admire those that can leave a person wondering how real what they just saw was but I don't want to give mentalism a bad name so Psychological is as far as I go.

I know that was a little off topic but thanks for the reply mate, off I go back to finish Royal Rd.

You know a mentalist doesn't necessarily have to be ultra serious. Even Maurice Fogel decided to lighten things a bit. Kreskin is pretty light hearted. Max Maven is funny although I don't think he is intending to be.

Being serious as a mentalist is pretty old school thinking. I am not saying it is wrong and there is a case for it. However I think you can be light hearted and the roof won't fall in.

Yeah, I get where you're coming from Mark, I think that comment was influenced by a thread I read before joining where someone was berating a poor fella for wanting to put a light-hearted touch to his mentalism.

In fact if memory serves, which frequently it does not (that's a whole other story though) I think the bloke introduced himself as a mentalist and at the end of his post he compared magic to comedy, in terms of performance, only to have someone tell him to give it up now cos the world of mentalism is.. moany moan moan moan!

Can't quote him on that but that was pretty much the jist of his reply and I feared for my very soul when typing my last reply. Should've been true to myself eh?

I keep saying thanks but I'm learning all the time and appreciate what most of the people on this site are trying to do, it's cool that you can give time to help people like me enter into what must already be a very competitive market, for want of a better phrase. Learning some of the secrets has only made me have more respect for everyone who gives people the opportunity to experience that childlike wonder most adults would kill to feel on a daily basis.

I can assure you Mark, Max knows exactly what he's up to and how the audience should respond... he's rather persnickety about such things.

As to our new friend here... welcome to the mad house and understand that you are far from being alone. I'd have to say that the majority of us fit the mold of being pack rats, especially when it comes to knowledge and the collecting of books... but maybe you should read the thread about CUPS