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Ok... Now I have a problem!

After a deep CUPS atack and a friend of mine that quit his 'magician aspiration' I have, literally dozens of tricks and sleighs in DVDs and books and I have no clue what to do.

I started buying some DVDs like Ellusionists Street Magic, and made some (lots) of instant downloads and bought single tricks like coin in soda can. My friend gave me, after he quits, his Brad Christian collection (Crash Course, Kard Klub and Ninjas) and one Daniel Garcia Project. I'm also have Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic, Modern Coin Magic, Theodore Annemann's Pratical Mental Magic...

So... I stoped all and decide to focus 'a little' in cards (1) and coins (2).

My skills for now are totally basic: good DL, good handling but with no flourishes and about my pass... ufff.... even my cat can see me doing it!

Do you guys have a suggestion for a 'timeline' for me?

Sorry the silly question and the bad english!

Ah... and a Happy 2007 for you all!

Woki wrote: ufff.... even my cat can see me doing it!

Cats are notoriously hard to fool with quick movements, they are use to tracking mice. Try starting with dogs. You can tell you have fooled them when they tilt their heads to the side when you do the effect. If they do that, you have totally blown them away

Bom dia Woki:

Your timeline should be extended as a start. While your enthusiasm is admirable, I would slow down a bit and start with the basics.

Work with a deck a cards and some ordinary coins. I recall some nice sized Brazilian coins for doing sleights (had some kids going nuts in an outside 'feira' in Rio doing my coins across with some old Brazilian coins).

Learn the shuffles, controls, breaks, cuts, etc. Let the deck of cards live in your hands so that you generate the muscle memory for the deck. Spend several hours a day handling the cards over and over again.

For coins, work on palms, passes, and switches. Classic palm (single and multiple coins and control), clik pass, changeover palm, Bobo switch, thumb palm, Downs palm.

These things should be the mainstay activities of your practicing. I would put a mirror across from you on a table so you can watch what all these things look like (then your cat can sit next to you ).

You can always play around with the other things you have, but make sure the basics get the most of your practice time each day.

All the basics can be found in Royal Road to Card Magic and Modern Coin Magic.

Boa sorte!

Todd

As DrTodd said "Don't run before you can walk". Its very important that you learn all of the basics of magic so that you have a solid foundation to build on. Although it takes time and may become tedious it is worth it. Ive been doing magic for around 3 month and I'm still learning and practicing basics, making sure that i have them perfect before i move onto a new one. The two books DrTodd suggested are brilliant, with very detailed explainations and good tips,

Hope thats helped

Sam

I think that the suggestions here are all premature

except for the dog bit - (':lol:')

You need to decide what you like and why

I like cards - because I never plan to do stage performance. I love walking around parties and restaurants.

SO...............

I use cards - I practice the card tricks I like -
I do tricks that I can do while standing (important for me but may not be for you)

If you try to learn somthing you do not really want - you will not practice it - and then you will not be a good magician

What magic do you want to do?

Tks guys, for the help..

Yes, you are right... I think I have to focus a litlle more, and cards will be my first choice.

It means that, between the suggestions now I have to buy the Royal Road heheheh.... CUPS!

What dou you think I should prefer the DVDs or the book?

I can understand perfectly somebody speaking in english, much better then reading (I understand, but I need much more attention). If you say the book is much better, I'll go to the book... if the DVD is almost the same... DVD all the way!

I would advise the book, as I find DVDs often have angle problems, while books are better in terms of description of moves. You can also look up from a book, try a move, and then go back to the book. Pausing and flipping through a DVD can be cumbersome.

You may think differently, but I learned all my magic from books.

Cheers,

Todd

ooo come on people, what book am I going to suggest here???

Get yourself a copy of Mark Wilson's Complete Course, it covers a whole range of different areas of magic so you can try the whole spectrum. You never know, there might be an area that you enjoy more than cards.

When I started, I was really into mentalism but after working through that book I'm now doing cards and coins.

I can only echo what has been said above really. It all comes down to careful study followed by plenty of practice.

Watching tv? Then practice
On the train or bus? Then practice
Sitting on the loo? guess what? yep practice

Good luck and remember that once you have a trick worked out and smooth enough that you can do it in your sleep then perform it for people as knowledge without application is worthless.