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I've bought a couple of Black Tiger packs, for no good reason other that the look rather smart. I didn't realise they came with extra cards, but they got me thinking and I've decided I want to learn a few tricks to make good use of them. Can anyone point me to a good resource (DVD, book or site etc) so I can learn some funky tricks with these new card.

I am completely new to card tricks so I don’t know if I'm being realistic, maybe I need to start with something easier. I’ve had a wee search through the forum and found a few books and DVDs mentioned but I’m not sure if they would be of use to me.

Cheers
Nyami

There were some routines created for use with these decks but I think they were only available from Ellusionist.com and were not exactly well received - have a look at http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic4675.p ... tiger+deck. I know we discussed a few here in the Magician's Only Section but nothing has been released commercially, or given away (!) yet.

Firstly, do you like to learn with video/DVD (i.e visually) or would you like a book?

As alot of the guys here will testify to the DVD 'Born to Perform' by Oz Pearlman is usually a good place to start if you are just starting out.

If you want a really good book, I can recommend 'Expert Card Technique' by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue. Its a little old but well worth it. It contains a wealth of information and will teach you the proper technique first off. I still refer to mine every now and then

Its also commendable that you are starting off without a trick deck of cards, as most people new to magic like to see results straight away.

Trust me, the reward is well worth the time spent learning sleight of hand card magic!

Anyway, best of luck. Card magic is by no means easy, but is well worth every hour spent.

Jacques wrote:If you want a really good book, I can recommend 'Expert Card Technique' by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue.

Honestly I wouldn't recommend this book at all for a complete beginner - the clue is in the title!

If all you want to do is learn a few tricks - as you say - then I'd start with Pearlman's DVD. It offers a good grounding and his teaching is sound.

If after mastering everything on that DVD you want to go further then I'd recommend Card College which is a series of books.

If funds are an issue then also consider Royal Road to Card Magic - personally I dont like the style and clarity of teaching but it packs a punch for those on a budget and keen to learn.

TheMightyNubbin wrote:If funds are an issue then also consider Royal Road to Card Magic - personally I dont like the style and clarity of teaching but it packs a punch for those on a budget and keen to learn.

I am not going to start an argument but I would choose 'Expert Card Technique' over Royal Road, any day. I knew that someone would recommend Royal Road but I seriously think that Expert Card Technique is superior in many ways. Firstly Royal Road does not cover the sleights in near as much detail as well as the fact that Expert Card Techinque gives many alternatives to the various sleights. All of the shuffles that Royal Road has are taught in Expert Card Technique and more.

The reason why I recommended the book was because its cheap and gives proper instruction with regards to the work. Do not be fooled by the title, its as good a place to start as any as it gives a solid foundation to the art of card conjuring.

Sure its not a quick, easy way to start but it is cheap enough that it is not a waste of money

However that is just my humble opinion.

There have been dozens of previous posts where Royal Road was compared to more recent works - invariably there were arguments from both sides, for and against! The general consensus was probably that RRTCM is priced attractively but, as it's an old book, isn't exactly in the most modern or easy to follow style. It does contain a lot of excellent stuff but it needs to be worked at. More recent publications are perhaps presented better and obviously contain the more recent card work such as the Elmsley and might be preferred as the starter book of choice. It all boils down to individual preference but a copy of RRTCM at some point will be useful even if it's not your first purchase. I suppose I shouldn’t say this but bookshops such as Waterstones, Borders, W.H.Smith tend to stock up on magic books at this time of year so a bit of browsing along their shelves might be useful research and help find one you feel comfortable with. Failing that, look out for magic conventions and open days where on line dealers will have stalls of goodies on sale and a bit of browsing combined with appropriate questions might help you decide.

Firstly I don't 'prefer' either RRTCM or ECT - given the choice I'd recommend Card College in an NY minute. I'd only recommend RRTCM for a beginner if price was an issue - that would be the only scenario.

For a complete beginner, which the poster appears to be, why would you recommend the more advanced book in a series of books by the same authors? They are designed to be studied in order - it makes no sense.

I'd happily have a fiver that anybody that just wants to learn a few tricks - as the poster has requested would be put off and intimidated by ECT.

TheMightyNubbin wrote:I'd happily have a fiver that anybody that just wants to learn a few tricks - as the poster has requested would be put off and intimidated by ECT.

You`re right

I think its because I wish that someone recommended ECT to me when I was first beginning because there were alot of techniques that I had to unlearn when I got my hands on that book.

Had I received it when I was starting out, I would have avoided all of those issues and learnt the proper technique first off

Well, I guess that was a bit of my own regret clouding my vision

Best of luck Nyami.

Thanks everyone... To keep the peace I'll buy both books .. And if that goes well I might purchase the "Born to Perform" DVD. Hopefully I'll be able to have a couple of routines for christmas, I'll probably be back for advice before then.

Cheers
Nyami

I'll buy both books

That's the way it starts! Before long you'll have a whole shelf of books, cupboards full of tricks and effects and not much in your bank account ! Best of luck, let us know what you find and what you think of them - new opinions are always welcomed here on TM.