talkmagic.co.uk

Ok so here is a question that may get some interesting responses.

I note that usually when new people ask where they should start, many people recommend certain books. It's less common for video/DVD's to be recommended.

So which is better to learn from

a. Book
b. DVD

In my opinion, a book allows you to interpret instructions in your own way... and should then be possibly followed by watching the sleights etc. on video/DVD.

Otherwise, it's easy to become an 'emulator' rather than develop your own styles and preferences. And I also think it's frustrating when a magi performs a sleight which looks impossible, and no matter how you try, you can't do it as well?

Well, this is down to the fact that most people perform sleights with tiny nuances and variations... whereas a book contains a more detailed explanation of the mechanics - rather than how Magician X will do it.

HHHHmmmm. i don't think that can be answered definitively as they both have there place. Sure there is an overlap, they both (can) teach better magic and they both (can) teach new tricks but one is better for some things and the other better at others.

DVDs

• Good at showing perfrmance skills
• Good for reviewing a particularly tricky sleight that sometimes from a book you don't quite get what is required. However once you have seen it performed on the DVD - the book becomes important again as it is now easier to practice from the book description.
• Good for seeing some of the Magic greats performing

Books

• More portable, can be taken to work, the park etc. to make much more flexible practice sessions.
• More pleasing to own (imo).
• In many cases a book would contain much much more information than a DVD, including a lot of incidental material. Take the "Card College" books for example. You start off with a history of th eplaying card. Then look at exactly how much information is in each book. How long would a DVD have to be to cover it all? or compare the amount of information in Bobo's to that of Ammars Coin Magic DVD 1.

In short they both have there place. Given the choice of one or the other I would always say books, without hesitation, but then also I wouldn't be without the DVD's I own, and I look forward to buying as many as possible.

Maybe a good comparison would be Scott F. Guinn's "Great Scott it's magic DVD and the similar book. I love the DVD. I know that the audience isn't great, and that some of the videoing was dodgy but it is still a DVD I will watch more than a few times - as I enjoy watching the man perform, and they are great variations to some classic tricks.

The book - also being ring bound - isn't as astheticsally pleasing to own as most books, but does contain a lot of good tricks with well documented explanations. For practicing the tricks I would always use the book.

RRTCM was great - but I still wanted Kaufmans basic DVD to help with some of the sleights. They are too different to compare in this way.

so to summarise, it's not fair to choose. AND YOU CAN'T MAKE ME!!!!!!!

on a personal note i like dvd's better because of size and i lern better from visual que's

also books tend to be recomended first because they are generaly cheeper fora newbie to buy than a dvd or vid, and can be ordered from a wider range of places than a dvd.

both have there place and there own pro's and cons its a matter of personal choice as the poll expresses at the moment, i expect the result will be very close to 50% by the end

I'm with Bananafish on this one - both have their Pros & Cons.
I voted books, just cos their my preferance & I love reading

I did vote but realised I hadn't actually stated my position.

I much prefer DVD's and think it's an easy choice.

I think it is far easier to learn something when you can actually see it done. You see the presentation for starters which most agree is often more important than the actual trick.

You see any sleight at every stage not just a couple of sketches which can at best only give you the postion the hand should be in ( from one angle usually ) at a few given moments in time. It can't show how the hand got there or at what speed. It can't show you how the misdirection worked in the same way a watching the guy actually do it, can.

In short I don't think there is much comparison, the only area books come into their own is offering routines using methods your already familiar with, in which case they give far more info than will fit on a DVD. Also books are usually cheaper.

Conclusion
DVD's rule.

I would probably go with books on the whole, but just 'cos I love them. There, I said it, I love books, I like turning pages and reading the written word, I like the covers and the smell of old books, I like books.

DVDs are useful as well though, particularly for fine tuning moves and getting the timing, it is quite hard to express the timing needed for a move in a book.

So overall I want more of both please!

I agree with what has been said already, but I'm going to vote dvds/videos. Books contain more information and are cheaper, but i like the visual learning from a dvd and you also get a sense of performance from the magician. Something you can add to your routines. If Zamiel's Rose was described in a book, (i know it's in Pure Effect - but without the rose) then i wouldn't know the elegance of how Derren performs it.

Books because they have such a wider range of things that they teach you. DVDs will teach you 10 to 20 effects or w/e but books such as Card COllege or Art od Astonishemnt will teach you over 50 techniques or effects...

I'd say DVDs are better because I find it easier to learn visually rather than from books. The instructions from DVDs are usually much clearer than in books.

StEvEbO!

DVDs, because its easier than turning pages whilst your in position for a move, and darent move your hands!

DVD is my favorite. Even though books carry more tricks and are much cheaper, they lose my attension and can be quite hard to learn by, Especialy if there aren't ANY PICTURES. DVD is more visual (obviously) and in your face. It's the closest and easiest way to learn besides having someone there teaching you in person.