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Hey, a while ago I got the brainwave and ID. I still know about 70% of how the tricks done, it seemed very confusing at the time and all my life I've been someone who doesn't get instructions.

I think I'm pretty much a beginner, so.....is the deck quite hard to pick up and would you recommend it as I'm hoping to have a general experience in all magic types so I can do basic tricks with anything but I'm hoping to specialize in street magic/close up magic type thing, and mentalism

Hmmm strange request me thinx

Both decks come with very clear and precise instructions so maybe if you spend more time with them you might start to understand the principle.

hrm....


I dunno what it was, I just seemed unable to understand the concept back then, (I was about 10).

I think it was because of the way the cards are in the ID. I didn't really think that the things involved would stay after I'd used it a few times, so I was kinda nervous about doing it.

The ID is all about handling. Unless it's a cheap, poorly-made one, it'll be robust enough to practice with until you get it right. Once you have the handling right, it shouldn't wear out very much. Plus, you can make your own and get it exactly how you like it if you're worried about it failing.

Ok thanks for the advice.

I'm also wondering how to take my magic to the streets. Me and a mate did that a few years ago Svengali Deck-ing random passers-by, but the svengali deck is widely available now.

Don't perform for people in the street, most of them have more important things to do and aren't really interested. Let the crowd come to you.

I quite often perform in pubs, I'll start off with something for a friend, something very visible like spongeball or silks. Quite often you'll find other people notice you and start watching you. Keep an eye out for these poeple and either invite them over to you or go over to them. Some nights you'll find that you could perform all night if you wanted to, other times things are flat and you don't get much interest.

Before you do anything though, make sure that you've got a few good routines practiced.

Ye I was thinking more along those lines now....

I'm hoping to try and learn something like Sponge tricks or floating stuff. I heard something called a LeClair Animator something like that?

It might be worth you getting a decent beginners book, something that'll give you a little taster of lots of different types of magic. I recommended Mark Wilson in your intro, a brilliant book, I use lots of ideas from there in my routines.

I'm using Rocco's D'lites at night in the mirror, or sometimes in day with the light dimmed to simulate night.

The effect is quite good.

My card tricks (mainly Svengali and stripper decks) are good as I have an ordinary bicycle set of cards I can switch and hand out for examination.

I'll look into that Mark Wilson thing.


EDIT: I'm hoping to get a routine going something like this.....

Start Off....a "Oh my gosh wow" trick to get people amazed and ready to see more, followed by some mentalism, and a decent enough trick in the middle (The Raven perhaps?), then going onto some Svengali routines followed off by another "oh my gosh wow" type trick perhaps the D'lites.

I'd personally try to learn a few things well rather than jump into such a broad routine. Gain some experience with cards for example and you will be able to produce the effects you are creating with your svengali deck with a regular one. Look into coin or Sponge magic and you will gain the knowledge base to make many vanishes possible rather than use a raven.
I'd agee that Mark Wilsons book would be a perfect starting point

Craig's right, don't rush out to perform too quickly. Take your time, learn the tricks and techniques and practice them until you think you've mastered them and then practice some more.

Other books to look at would be Royal Road to Card Magic and Bobo's Modern Coin Magic. Both brillant books.

The LeClair Animator is brilliant but the name's a bit deceptive. It sounds like some sort of futuristic anti-gravity hovertron that hides invisibly in your thumbnail but it's not, it's a hook-up. Possibly the most versatile and practical method for using thread that I've come across though.

I'd also try and steer away from mixing mentalism in with other magic 'tricks'. This can detract from the mentalist effects as people will think that they are 'just another trick' rather than a "there's no where to hide from your mental powers" type of impact that a good mentalist effect can produce.

Some of the best reactions I've ever had have been with a Brainwave deck, I've had people 110% convinced that I was able to make them chose a specific card through influencing their thoughts. If you offer a plausible explanation people will generally believe it

It really is all in the performance and how you 'sell' it.

For example I've had some really bad experiences with a brainwave deck, mainly after performing some normal card 'tricks' and saying something like "I'm gonna make you think of a card" then generally all the heat is on the deck and people generally realise or guess that it is something to do with the deck, however if it's the first or only effect you do, and you've been standing talking to the people for a little while you can say something about how easily influenced people are and that while you've been talking to them you have been, through certain words you've said and gestures you've made you have 'projected' a card into their mind.

Of course when they say the card and you reveal that not only is it face up in the deck but it's also a different colour!! It just blows people away.

I find an extra convincer at the end of this is to say something about if this was videoed and you were to watch it back you'd scream at yourself not to pick that card

Something like this scenario really offers a very plausible explanation to what happened and it really blows people away

TheMaskedMagician wrote:Start Off....a "Oh my gosh wow" trick to get people amazed and ready to see more, followed by some mentalism, and a decent enough trick in the middle (The Raven perhaps?), then going onto some Svengali routines followed off by another "oh my gosh wow" type trick perhaps the D'lites.

Please leave the poor people on the street alone. Or rather then do an "OH my gosh" and then followe by mentalism and then a 'decent enough"

I have a much better idea. Keep clear of Mentalism. It is hard enough for it to look right with people who know what they are doing, rather then half hearted. Forget anything that is 'decent enough' because it is not decent enough. Every effect must be a WOW! effect. So just stick with the one if thats all you got.

I own both, and although on paper I think brainwave sounds better, I have a weird little thing for the ID. If you pull it off smoothly, you will get an amazing reception.

For example, If you run up on someon on the street, Blaine style..
"Think of any card...Oh look it's the only one turned over"

nobody is going to be particularly impressed.

Take a look at Bill Malones ID routine, its on youtube somewhere, it takes nearly 5 minutes and the he adds pretty much nothing extra to the technical part!