talkmagic.co.uk

About me (if you're interested!):

Thirty-something.

Asked, a year ago, to be a magician for a murder mystery evening so thought had beter learn some simple card tricks (and yes they were simple).

Since developed a passion for card magic and can pull off tricks (only occasionally using gaff cards/trick decks) that seem, looking at card technique alone, to meet the criteria for Magic Circle membership level (I stress this is technique alone - not necessarily the vital patter and delivery) and can easily get the "WOW" response from friends.

Have, as such, delivered a one-hour card magic workshop at the school where I teach to 11-13 year olds, as part of our Arts Festival. Success!

So...THE QUESTION:

I'm trying to build up the confidence to do what you people call "Table-hopping" (if I understand the term correctly and it's not some kind of physical feat you have all mastered, ho-ho) at a friend's wedding and a school social evening.

Do you think it's possible to do magic at tables which is purely card-based?
Do any of you do this or do I really need to diversify?
Hypothetically could someone enter the magic circle with cards alone?

I'd be genuinely interested in your thoughts...

Cheers if you made it this far...

Tim

Hi and welcome to TM.

This thread should have been in the into section me thinks but never mind, I'm sure that a Mod will eventualyy move it

To answer your questions.....

1. Yes, it is possible but few do it using cards alone. Even by adding a few coin tricks will give your magic a different dimension overall
2. Yes, I'm a table hopper and my personal preference is for variety. Everyone has a different view on this
3. Yes, it is possible but the Magic Circle won't just look at technique, they will look just as much at your overall presentation and how you interact with an audience. You will also need two members to sponsor your application.

Hope that this helps

Oops - spot the newbie.

I think I had been looking at my other post within reviews and just hit add new topic without thinking.

Anyway thanks for your comments.

I have a feeling I'm going to find it hard to get as fired up about coins but am willing to give it a go so I am looking for a book that would be the equivalent of "The Royal Road to Card Magic" but for coins. "Modern Coin Magic" looks quite good. Any opinions anyone?

Tim

TimEden wrote:
I am looking for a book that would be the equivalent of "The Royal Road to Card Magic" but for coins. "Modern Coin Magic" looks quite good. Any opinions anyone?

Tim

Bobo's Modern Coin Magic is THE book to get

Modern coin magic is the one to go for but if you really can't build up any enthusiasm for them, then don't do them. It will show in your performance if you're not comfortable.

Well I'm willing to give to a go. Who knows how much it will fire up my imagination?

There's just a real appeal in the look and feel of a deck of cards for me that I can't imagine I'll see in an ordinary coin.

Like I say I'm willing to give it a try. Watch this space...

I just responded to your other identical post so, whoopsy.

It's pretty much all been said here anyway.

TimEden wrote:Do you think it's possible to do magic at tables which is purely card-based?
Do any of you do this or do I really need to diversify?
Hypothetically could someone enter the magic circle with cards alone?

I'd be genuinely interested in your thoughts...

Cheers if you made it this far...

Tim

It's possible to get away with table hopping using cards only, as long as the tricks are varied enough. However, someone sooner or later is going to ask you to vanish something, or 'do something with this', and you're going to lose a bit of respect with them if you say something like 'sorry, I just do card magic'. Coin magic is probably a good port of call for you, because you can learn some valuable - and transferable sleights that you can put to use with other things, not just coins.

I'm not overly interested in coin magic myself, but there's some nice little routines available, and plenty of tricks you can do with paper money. It might be nice to do something like Card Warp using a card and a note, then maybe produce a coin from the folded bill after doing the card warp, and use it to start your coin routine.

Another route you could take, is to do a little mental magic with cards, thus your still doing card magic, but broadening it a little to include a little mentalism as well. Have fun!

I would diversify further, I am predominantly a card magician. But I am a magician and can perform with just about any object tossed at me. What you ask is possible.

It is nice to go into a restaurant go over to somebody's table and start doing something amazing with silverware, or perform torn and restored napkin, or making an initialed coin appear in a sealed sugar packet. Or impromtu cup and ball with a rolled up napkin and a coffee cup. Possiblities are endless. And sponge balls are always a favorite amoung the lay audience.

I'd recomend reading things like Mark Wilson Course in Magic. Anything (Anything is not the name of the book, all his books are excellent) by Bill Tar., Life Savers by Micheal Webber is great for 'impromptu' style magic. Close Up Illusions by Gary Oullet.

Try different styles of magic, even if the magic doesn't excite you, the audience reaction might.

You've certainly given me something to aspire to!

Will investigate your recommendations.

Thanks!

Hi Tim,

You could get away, purely with cards and there are magicians that do just that. But it's always a good idea to have a little knowledge in other areas of magic just so that you can shake things up a little if you want too. Also keeps things interesting and varied for you. I know I'd get bored silly if I did just cards.

Mark Wilson's book is a great one, it'll give you a little basic knowledge in lots of different areas of magic. And if you givbe these different areas a try, you might even find something that excites you more than cards.