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by **Adam Boyes** » Jun 1st, '07, 09:12

Just curious, how many different types/styles of Magic do all you amazing magicians know and how much of it do you actually perform?

Say you are into card tricks how many tricks do you perform at a typical gig? Maybe you know 100's of tricks and cherry pick a few to perform and swap them around once in a while?

Or maybe you know 5 card tricks really well and same for say coins etc etc and do bit and bobs from other styles to vary the routine?

Not sure if I got across what I'm thinking here?! We'll see....

Cheers Adam

by **greedoniz** » Jun 1st, '07, 10:02

I do know and forgotten quite a few tricks, mostly cards but even with the ones I remember I only perform a select few when in paid walkaround...maybe 10 or less. Generally a routine containing 4 effects and then 2 or 3 as a standby or encore.
If kicking around with friends or family and asked to do so I tend to try out new stuff I've learnt.

by **Carl Buck** » Jun 1st, '07, 10:55

Same here, about 7-8 tricks in a 'routine', 3-4 card tricks, a couple of coin/money tricks, and a couple of mentalism effects.

If I'm down the pub and asked to show a few tricks though I'll go through pretty much everything I can remember!

by **Rob** » Jun 1st, '07, 11:02

Hey bud!

If you check the preface to RRTCM, you'll probably find the following little story, which addresses part of your question very well indeed:

Many years ago David Devant, the great English conjurer, was approached by an acquaintence new to sleight-of-hand with cards. “Mr. Devant,” said this young man, “I know three hundred tricks with cards. How many do you know?” Devant glanced at the youth quizzically. “I should say,” the magician responded dryly, “that I know about eight.”

Devant was making a point with which all professional magicians are familiar. To perform card tricks entertainingly you must not only know how the tricks are done, but how to do them. There is a vast difference between the two, and if proof were needed, one need only watch the same feat performed by a novice and by an expert card conjurer. The novice knows the mechanics of so many tricks that he cannot do any one feat really well; the professional performs a smaller number of tricks which he knows how to present in such a way as to create the greatest possible impression upon those who watch.

We cannot emphasize too strongly that knowing the secret of a trick is not the same as knowing how to perform that trick; and that knowing the secret of hundreds of tricks is of little value unless each can be performed smoothly and entertainingly. It is far better to know only a few tricks which can be performed with grace, skill and effect.

Since I first read this, at the tender age of 13, it's a story - and an ethos - I've never forgotten

by **Adam Boyes** » Jun 1st, '07, 12:28

Carlos75 wrote:Same here, about 7-8 tricks in a 'routine', 3-4 card tricks, a couple of coin/money tricks, and a couple of mentalism effects.

If I'm down the pub and asked to show a few tricks though I'll go through pretty much everything I can remember!

I got to admit, I'm becoming interested in Mentalism. Only because of Derren Brown mind

by **Adam Boyes** » Jun 1st, '07, 12:31

robstanley1 wrote:Hey bud!

If you check the preface to RRTCM, you'll probably find the following little story, which addresses part of your question very well indeed:

Many years ago David Devant, the great English conjurer, was approached by an acquaintence new to sleight-of-hand with cards. “Mr. Devant,” said this young man, “I know three hundred tricks with cards. How many do you know?” Devant glanced at the youth quizzically. “I should say,” the magician responded dryly, “that I know about eight.”

Devant was making a point with which all professional magicians are familiar. To perform card tricks entertainingly you must not only know how the tricks are done, but how to do them. There is a vast difference between the two, and if proof were needed, one need only watch the same feat performed by a novice and by an expert card conjurer. The novice knows the mechanics of so many tricks that he cannot do any one feat really well; the professional performs a smaller number of tricks which he knows how to present in such a way as to create the greatest possible impression upon those who watch.

We cannot emphasize too strongly that knowing the secret of a trick is not the same as knowing how to perform that trick; and that knowing the secret of hundreds of tricks is of little value unless each can be performed smoothly and entertainingly. It is far better to know only a few tricks which can be performed with grace, skill and effect.

Since I first read this, at the tender age of 13, it's a story - and an ethos - I've never forgotten

Ah cool mate! I haven't really looked at RRTCM much to be honest, I'll have a thorough read over the weekend.

It's interesting to see what other people are into as I thought I only wanted to try Cards and Coins. Now I'm considering other things to at least look at. Otherwise I'll never know

by **seige** » Jun 1st, '07, 12:31

I know more tricks than I care to imagine, but like with jokes, I only tend to actually fully remember a select few.

by **Rob** » Jun 1st, '07, 12:31

jbauerctu wrote:I got to admit, I'm becoming interested in Mentalism. Only because of Derren Brown mind

Of course, those of us already into Mentalism already knew that... :wink:

by **Adam Boyes** » Jun 1st, '07, 13:45

robstanley1 wrote:
jbauerctu wrote:I got to admit, I'm becoming interested in Mentalism. Only because of Derren Brown mind

Of course, those of us already into Mentalism already knew that...

Smart ass

I bought "Tricks of the Mind" off of play.com for £5.99 on Monday. I know that I won't find any secrets in here, I just wanted the book.

I was watching his Show on 4oD and I really can't believe some of it to be honest. He must be a Jedi!

by **Rob** » Jun 1st, '07, 13:59

Hmmm - well, I think you may actually be pleasently surprised by Tricks of the Mind, in relation to stuff that's actually practicle.

That aside - remember you've been warned - at one point through reading the book you WILL begin to itch like a manic, whilst another section will almost literally curse you to remember 20 words (for the rest of your life), beginning with, 'Telephone, Sausage, Monkey, Button...'

It's really a great read, with some very useful stuff jammed into it's pages - damn good choice of reading material, if you ask me :wink:

by **Adam Boyes** » Jun 1st, '07, 14:13

Cool man!

I fancy reading about magic as well as practicing from Bobo and RRTCM.

This has probably been discussed a thousand times on here but seriously though on his shows do you think Derren is actually doing what's happening on screen?

The one where he gets a woman to stop a lady in the street and make her turn around from a building window (if you know the bit I'm on about?) was just too amazing to be believable!!

by **Rob** » Jun 1st, '07, 14:25

Oh - it's very clever stuff, alright; and - yes - I'm not too sure about some of the editing, but I'm pretty certain that none of it is stooged or pre-set.

Is he doing what he claims to be doing?

No! (Well not most of the time :shock:

)

He's a big fat fibbing-type person (like many magicians :wink:

)

by **monker59** » Jun 1st, '07, 17:02

In answer to your question about how many tricks I know, jbauerctu, I'd say if I sat for about a half hour, I could think up 30-40 tricks that I know fairly well and could perform for friends and family (not a professional man myself).

by **Lyncho** » Jun 2nd, '07, 00:49

robstanley1 wrote:... whilst another section will almost literally curse you to remember 20 words (for the rest of your life), beginning with, 'Telephone, Sausage, Monkey, Button...'

Book
Cabbage
Glass
Mouse
Stomach
Cardboard
Ferry
Christmas
Athlete
Key
Wigwam
Baby
Kiwi
Bed
Paintbrush
Walnut

Was that right? I swear I'll remember those twenty words for the rest of my life. It's ridiculous. I'm trying to incorporate some of his techniques into my A-level revision at the moment. Sadly I need to remember more than just lists of words.

Oh, and to stay on topic, I focus on about 8 or 9 tricks, with cards and coins, that I try to do really well. I probably know about 25 or so, but I concentrate on a few.

by **RobLaughter** » Jun 2nd, '07, 06:36

monker59 wrote:...I could think up 30-40 tricks that I know fairly well...

Sheesh... I sat down and exhausted my card repertoire tonight and came up with 8 or so... add two or three coin effects, a sponge routine, and a silk routine and I'm up to 12. You, sir, are a god!

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