talkmagic.co.uk

Hey guys.

I would like to ask you for a favour. I just found out that I'm going to visit NYC in February 2008. So, there is plenty of time to prepare for the crusade

I was wondering if you could direct me where to go/where to shop/what to see in NYC as far as magic is concerned ... I was googleing magic in NYC and found 3 shops which draw my attention - Abkrakadabra, Tannen's shop and Fantasma Magic. Does anybody know them?

Is there any place where the Coin Magic Seminar guys like to hang out? Where to buy coins for the cheaper price than in magic shops?

Every piece of advice would be very very appreciated.

Thanks. Tadei


ps: I still cannot believe that Im actually going!

Tannens. They published the new Tarbell Course, if I'm not mistaken. Worth a visit just because of that.

Fantasma, they've got all the latest stuff. I'd reccommend going to all three, personally.

Fantasma is located about 5 minutes (by foot) from Tannens, so you can easily visit both.

They are both a few minutes walk from Penn Station. It's all pretty convenient.

Oddly, I don't recall ever bumping into famous magicians at either shop.

Tannens is superb.

I found Tannen's a disappointment. I expected far more from the legendary magic dealer I had heard about in my youth. It is a tiny shop which doesn't seem particularly well stocked. Service was shocking and terribly New York abruptness and hard sell.

It had improved the second time I went but still not up to standard.

Thanks guys for the tips.

I have also seen on Tannen's web page that they promote Simon Lovell's "Strange and Unusual Hobbies" (under Magic in NY section). Has anybody seen this? The ticket is 30$ ...

Fantasma: not recommended, only nice if they know for a fact you are going to buy something, if not, they don't demonstrate anything.

Tannens: Highly recommended. They ARE well stocked, the prices are good, and the service is great. The salesman are very nice and willing to demonstrate anything in the store, even if they know you don't have the money to buy it.

Abrakadabra: I've never been there, but from what I hear it is more of a costume shop than a magic store.

You might want to get to Monday Night Magic, it's a fun show.

Hope I helped.

Tannens has a bunch of different salesmen. Sometimes the store’s busy, sometimes not so busy. The level of personal attention you’ll get depends on a combination of those two variables. To an extent, it’s pot luck. Personally, I like browsing on my own and feel bad saying “no thanks” when a salesman offers to help me out.

It's not in New York, but the best magic shop I've ever been to was Misdirections at San Francisco. It was crammed with all the books and dvds you can imagine.

Just for future reference if you decide to go to San Fran.

Tadei: Tannens, Tannens, Tannens.

Fantasma has a rather small selection of books and DVDs. However, David Roth is involved in the store in some way or other and can sometimes be found there, which sounds like it would be of interest to you.

Abracadabra, if its the one I'm thinking of, is a lot further off the beaten track and is really a fancy dress shop with an underwhelming few shelves of books/DVDs.

Tannens in my view has a great selection of books, and every time I go (about once a month on average) there are a decent number of new volumes on the shelf. DVD selection is huge. Packet tricks etc also in abundance but as that's not my thing I don't know how up to date they are.

I find the service generally good. There is one guy who's a bit 'hard sell' I suppose, but also very knowledgeable and good to chat to. If you're British, there's a chap who'll love to talk 'soccer' with you. Also, if you're British, the prices should be a nice bonus. I can never buy anything in an English shop any more on my visits home, when the same books are often half the price over here.

Anyway, as someone else pointed out, Tannens and Fantasma are pretty close to each other so you may as well visit both. Tannens is virtually opposite the Empire State Building which you'll surely want to visit anyway, so it's all good.

Thanks guys. You all have been really helpful ... I'm not British . However, I visit London almost every year and yes, it is quite expensive when it come to magic ... I can't wait! Thanks again.

On a similar theme - I'm visiting New York for the first time 2 weeks from now. I'm planning on seeing Monday Night Magic, but does anyone know if there will be any other magic shows in NY between 9-14 November that would be worth checking out?

Also, I plan to visit Tannen's, and hopefully Fantasma, does anyone know if I would be able to pick up the following:

-Scorpion by Outlaw Magic (or are they just available on their website)
-Charles Gauci's Body Language (the trick with the balls Derren Brown did in his live show recently)
- Deep Astonishment II: The Gypsy
- a zig-zag Rocky Raccoon illusion?

Finally, can anyone recommend any similar tricks that I might like to pick up while I'm there? Being generally a children's magician, I don't know a great deal about these things, but reading the reviews of Scorpion and Deep Astonishment, I'd like to put on a more 'adult' show for my family at Christmas, and any similar recommendations would be helpful.

Thanks for your help everyone.

Outlaw material is only sold through Outlaw - so you won't find them anywhere.

I'm pretty sure Tannen's will have Deep Astonishment II, not sure about the others. You have a much better chance finding it at Tannen's than Fantasma. As cool as Fantasma LOOKS - it doesn't have the greatest inventory.

Tannen's has a much bigger selection, and you'll find more options.

PLEASE have the address written down (45 West 34th Street). There is no signage or any kind, so you're looking for a straight building #. Fantasma is easy to find (just find the Sbarro's diagonally across from Penn Station, Fantasma is right above it.

What kind of show do you want to put on for your family? Magic? Mentalism? Did you want some particular theme in there?

anyone wanna have a NY,NY gettogether... (preferrably on a weekend?) I went to Maui's once, but the people didn't seem to be too kind to me, though I did go a little early.