talkmagic.co.uk

Getting back to the original topic for a mo, by now both those publications will be lining a kitty litter box or being recycled so only he magicians who bought it for reference will be holding on to their copies - I hope!

kolm wrote:Going back to the original topic in hand, today they've given away the secret to making a dove (or a cake) appear in a dove pan, turning a blank piece of paper into money, the watch smash, and the colour changing silk. You know, because this is simple stuff people can perform at christmas for their friends...

Exposure for the sake of exposure, anyone?

They exposed the watch smash? I have been trying to buy a version of that for yonks now and can't find one.

I still wouldn't buy this rag to get it but if anyone can point me towards a good commercial option I would be grateful.[/u][/i]

Mandrake wrote:Getting back to the original topic for a mo, by now both those publications will be lining a kitty litter box or being recycled so only he magicians who bought it for reference will be holding on to their copies - I hope!

That is my sincere hope Mandrake, but the quality of stuff exposed makes this a serious problem. I bet Michael Ammar will not be best pleased with the card on ceiling reveal!

Sadly true - let's all hope that Guardian and Observer readers are suddenly struck with very short memories.....

Johnny Wizz wrote:They exposed the watch smash? I have been trying to buy a version of that for yonks now and can't find one.

I still wouldn't buy this rag to get it but if anyone can point me towards a good commercial option I would be grateful.

They tell you which part of the trick is gimmicked — and how. Thankfully they don't go as far as telling you how to make said gimmick (I'm not sure I want to know, personally...)

I really don't think any of it is much to worry about. Very few people will have taken much notice of it.

They exposed Card on Ceiling? For God's sake. That's a very popular trick with restaurant guys especially and I'm often asked if I can do it (it's in fact the third most requested trick after Card thru Window and nicking their watch) and now it's at least slightly compromised. Mind you you could easily alter the method though, which version was it, the Ammar rubber band one?

bronz wrote:They exposed Card on Ceiling? For God's sake. That's a very popular trick with restaurant guys especially and I'm often asked if I can do it (it's in fact the third most requested trick after Card thru Window and nicking their watch) and now it's at least slightly compromised. Mind you you could easily alter the method though, which version was it, the Ammar rubber band one?

No, just the straight version but nonetheless...still a pain...

Although I'm not a regular reader of the Guarniad I raced out to get a copy of this too; you know what they say "Todays news, tomorrows chip paper" well that practice has stopped but you get the gist.

I agree with the main sentiment of the thread - however...

I actually think all in all the booklet was well laid out, there was some exposure for exposures sake e.g. Cup n balls. As previously mentioned they do list the books that they have "adapted" at the start of the supplement, bobo's, RRTCM and the Card Encyclopedia; they even offer a "reduced price" on the card books so I think that it may actually do some good too: if there are people who actually have an interest in magic but didn't know where to start they now have a good pointer, let's face it not everyone is lucky enough to find TM and be told what books to buy.

In the main I'm sure people may know that when you perform magic you're "fiddling" with something; but you must get them to suspend belief, it got a bit harder, i can see that, but that to me means I just have to practice more?

anyhoo...that's my two pence worth

lmw.

Newspaper circulation figures are falling and my colleague brought his copy in to work to give me without reading it - that's one out of circulation anyway phew!

I was actually quite shocked about just how much information was included but as others have said, I very much doubt anyone will even read it unless they have more than a passing interest in magic. In my opinion this is partly because there is fairly detailed information and most people will not want to sit down and follow the instructions with a pack of cards. I was put out about the cup and balls stuff though - absolutely pointless exposure.

By the way, I had to read through most of the posts before I got to something about the topic - thought I'd stepped into some surreal Monty Python sketch for a while....

They revealed the watch smash!!!!
It's just exposure for exposures sake.
Although I think most people will look at it, think its to much work and give up.
Although maybe it'll teach the youtube kids a bit.
In other news my pet pig has started to fly.

To be honest, unless someone has a genuine interest in learning magic (which then means it's nothing to worry about) it will either be unread or skimmed through and forgotten.
People don't see magic all the time so it's unlikely someone will store this info in their brain until the day arrives when they see a magician they can discredit.

I really wouldn't worry about it and I doubt much of the stuff in here is in a professional's act. When I watch Paul Daniels, I know some of the effects he does and I know how they are done, but I still can't see him doing the sleights. He's that good and even though I know what's going on I am mystified in another way and wonder if he used another method.

The writing in the Guardian's magic feature was pretty poor.

There was a lot of what, and very little how.

Card on ceiling being a great example. We're told what is used to affix the card to the ceiling, but no info is given on how to take the trick from initial selection to revelation. Nowhere does it say what do you actually do with the cards.

Most other tricks are presented in a similarly surface-skimming or stodgy way.

Most readers won't have the patience for it.

And those who do are given so little information on presentation, they probably won't recognise these tricks as the ones they read about when they see an experienced magician perform them.

So it's really nothing to fret about.

Pete

To be honest I think it's a load of fuss and nonsense about nothing really.

If the guardian (and if I was to read it - I don't) was to release a 50 page supplement on the ins and out of 'ship in bottle' making would I read it and learn all there is to know?
No, because I am not that interested. I may, if bored, flick through and see a technique or two before I throw it down and go back to knitting my 'Free Tibet' jumper.

i asked anyone i know if they read it....

they all said no...

no more to say...