talkmagic.co.uk

Having recently gotten into the game, I was quite struck with the business nature of it all. At first I was excited that one could buy all manner of tricks, then disappointed a little, when I realised that the number of secrets you know could be directly proportional to the amount of money you have spent.

After spending a little, I see that a much better way is to use ones' own mind to create, and not pay for a quick fix.

A few of the things I have bought, I thought beforehand that i knew I could make a gimmick which did the same thing. But I watch the promo video, and it looks great, and I think that my gimmick would never as good as the 'real thing'. I buy the gimmick, and when i get it, it normally always disappoints..

THAT's IT?!? Bloody hell, I should have just made it in the first place!

So, in the beginning it seemed that in order for me to have confidence in a gimmick or secret, I would have to pay for it. If I made it myself, I'd always be wondering if the 'real' gimmick was much better than mine.

Kinda sad, don't you think? Anyhow I hope my lack of confidence and reliance on gimmicks, whether home made or purchased, will rapidly dwindle, as I gain more experience!

firstly theres nothing wrong with gimicks kids magic is almost exclusivly gimicks and most pro's will tell you if you press them that they will use a gimick over a sleight that could go wrong.

also most gimicks or secret moves are generaly simple and you will find yourself kicking yourself for not thinking of it but your not buying the gimick by itself for the most part you will get a tried and tested routine for that gimick a good example a e-book effects that usualy state "first go out and by a yard of scotch tape", your paying for the effect not the gaff.

So, in the beginning it seemed that in order for me to have confidence in a gimmick or secret, I would have to pay for it. If I made it myself, I'd always be wondering if the 'real' gimmick was much better than mine.

true but then again if it achieves the same effect and you have talored it to your needs then it dosn't matter.
as you read more books and watch dvd's etc then you will find that the majority of tricks avalable particuly card tricks ownly use around five basic moves, i know I'm going to get a grilling from some real cardies but I'm saying a card control is a basic move even though theres 101 ways to achieve it, I'm being general.
so my advice is buy books and dvd's, raid your local libary which usualy has slim pickings but there free and stuck in the reference section so bring some money for the photocopier.

above all if you see a demo you like, firstly remember its a trick then sit with some paper and think of ways it could be done, if you still like the effect then buy it just remember its the routine your buying the gimmick is meerly incidental.

Magicdiscoman -> I didn't intend to suggest that gimmicks are of no value, I simply musing that developing some actual skills in misdirection and sleight of hand, instead of using gimmicks to mask my lack of those, would be a better use of my time.

For instance, I bought The Perfect Bend, and it works beautifully. i would however MUCH rather be able to do it Banachek's way. I will in time I guess, but that will be a long time. If someone finds the gimmick on me, I think all the effect will be lost when I eventually become proficient doing it the 'proper' way!

You seem to have CUPS

Oh, and in your avatar, you look a bit like Christopher Eccleston (sp?) (Dr. Who )

Truth of the matter is, in the "good ole days" your line of thought is exactly how we did magic. We did not have access to the plethora of c*** (not the best) that's being produced today and too, we had these old salt shop owners that would give us a hard time until we learned the stuff from the BOOKS he allowed us to purchase. In short, one had to earn the right to call himself a "Magician" vs. the clone wars we've seen over the past 20 or so years.

In the 80s everyone wanted to be Copperfield or Sigfred & Roy and as we shifted to the 90s it was Lance Burton or Franz Harary, now its David Blaine, Criss Angel or Derren Brown.

If you create your own magic you will be way ahead of the pack. Invest in books and even some of the video/DVD stuff that's out there so you actually get something that is applicable to your goals instead of another over-sold "prop".

You're on the right path, hold to your guns and you will be surprised as to what can happen. In this business it pays to be "unique"

Magicdiscoman -> I didn't intend to suggest that gimmicks are of no value, I simply musing that developing some actual skills in misdirection and sleight of hand, instead of using gimmicks to mask my lack of those, would be a better use of my time.

sorry didnt meen to come across to stricked i myself started with a striper deck that alowed you to locate chosen cards, not one that took its clothes off.
this pack allowed me to perform so great miricals wile i worked on my showmanship and adding basic slieghts to my repotoir so thats what i ment about gimicks.
it can be dificult to start useing a gimick as as you have said your worried about being discovered, this I'm afraid only comes with practise and confidence when performing.
i was lucky as i had a mentor and was an aprentice, thease days its hard to get performing confidence with so much material about you feel you know it all before you perform.

so the only advice i can give you is what was given to me and that is choose 3-4 tricks that are practicly selfworking and use thease to work on your performing skills then work on 1-2 tricks that require sleights, practise, practise, practise then add them to your established act safe in the knowledge that your covered by your other tricks if it goes wrong.

i guess the moral of the story is one trick done well is better than ten tricks done adaquetly.

ace of kev wrote:You seem to have CUPS

Oh, and in your avatar, you look a bit like Christopher Eccleston (sp?) (Dr. Who )

CUPS? What does that mean?

Common Unix Printing System?
Capitalization, Usage, Punctuation, &, Spelling?
Consolidated Uniform Payroll System?
Critical Unstable Potentially Unstable Stable (Assessment for Pediatric Respiratory Emergencies Assessment)?
Council On Uniform Procurement System?
Civilian Unified Pay System?
Critical Utilities - Power Supply?
Consolidated Unit Personnel Section?

Dr Who? Thanks, not seen the film yet though. I did however manage to give myself an intensely painful cramp in my face by taking that picture!

CUPS:

Compulsive Unnecessary Purchasing Syndrome was it?

Hehehe in that case, I guess you're right.

The long walk to recovery begins today

Compulsive Unnecessary Purchasing Syndrome

Not quite - as I continually try to convince Mrs.M when yet another parcel arrives, nothing in magic is Unnecessary - try:
Compulsive Uncontrolled Purchasing Syndrome - which is a bit more accurate as I'm well out of control!

Good point .

You know you want too much when the list of stuff you absolutely must buy as soon as possible is so long you start to forget parts of it!

Kati