talkmagic.co.uk

MagicBell is right.

There are some good deals though. I would find some good magic websites (there are scores of threads on here for the good ones) and join their newsletters and mailing lists while working your way through RRTCM and Mark Wilson's CC. Most sites will send out some decent coupons and deals on a semi-regular basis.

hi can someone please give me some insight on these dvd's like which ones are better than others to learn from, which are geared more towards newbies etc:

Royal Road To Card Magic 5 DVD set by Paul Wilson
Royal Road To Card Magic 4 DVD set by Magic Makers
Complete Card Course 7 DVD set by Gerry Griffin
Expert at the Card Table 7 DVD & Book Set by Magic Makers
Sleight of Hand With Cards by Magic Makers

also not really into coins but
Modern Coin Magic 4 DVD set by Magic Makers

Thanks in advance.. Stuart

I hear great things about R Paul Wilson's RRTCM DVD set and would love to buy it myself, but it's a tad on the expensive side. Maybe at a later date for me.

But considering RRTCM is the card beginners bible, any good DVD set based on it should be great for starters, whereas something titled Expert at the Card Table gives the impression of a higher expected standard. Although I could be wrong, I don't know those DVD sets.

Paul Wilsons Royal Road to Card Magic works as a stand alone complete beginners guide - it is excellent. Paul Wilson stresses that it has been designed to be watched alongside the book but it's probably not strictly necessary. I would definitely buy RRTCM (the book) ; it is essential reading.

The magic makers 4 disc set seems to run into some criticism but I actually really enjoyed it and preferred the presentation style to the Paul Wilson RRTCM. One thing that drives me crazy about the Paul Wilson DVD is that the audience reaction in the performance sequences looks like a scene from night of the living dead - zero reaction for some great tricks.

I can't comment on the other DVDs. As for books, my recommendation would be to start with RRTCM, Mark Wilsons book is excellent but for me at least, note as good as RRTCM when it comes to card magic. Expert at the card table (the book) is a classic but not suitable for beginners in my opinion. Hope this helps.

YEAH BUDDY, my dealer here in plymouth has them for 26 quid were not allowed to sell on here but if ya sent me your email ill pass you my suppliers email to arrange it.

cragglecat wrote:As for books, my recommendation would be to start with RRTCM, Mark Wilsons book is excellent but for me at least, note as good as RRTCM when it comes to card magic.

Obviously, it is a solely card focused book.

That said, I'd recommend starting at Mark Wilson for a couple of reason's. The Mark Wilson card section is huge and is a beginners book in itself. It starts from the absolute basics and works up. It has tons of pictures and great description, something RRTCM falls a little short on. So I'd say to start Royal Road after gaining your foundation from Mark Wilson. You'd also then find that you know a good few bits already as you work through RRTCM and you can strengthen your understanding of them or develop more comfortable ways of doing things from the differing explanations.

I don't think you can go wrong though, whichever way you decide to do it.

MagicBell wrote:Obviously, it is a solely card focused book.

With respect, 'obviously' is a very subjective word . There are many card focused books that are not as good as Mark Wilson's book as an introduction to the subject (which is what was requested). I read RRTCM BEFORE Mark Wilson which is probably why I have my bias but for me, the pictures and descriptions were clearer in the RRTCM. I guess we all learn differently but, ultimately, as we both agree - you can't go wrong with either purchase.

cragglecat wrote:

MagicBell wrote:Obviously, it is a solely card focused book.

With respect, 'obviously' is a very subjective word . There are many card focused books that are not as good as Mark Wilson's book as an introduction to the subject (which is what was requested). I read RRTCM BEFORE Mark Wilson which is probably why I have my bias but for me, the pictures and descriptions were clearer in the RRTCM. I guess we all learn differently but, ultimately, as we both agree - you can't go wrong with either purchase.

Sorry. In hindsight, that 'obviously' sounded a bit sarcy. Wasn't meant that way. And you're right, there are probably tons of card books which aren't as good as the section in Mark Wilson. I think perhaps I may have meant in the context of them both already being 'required reading', RRTCM is going to be better for cards.

MagicBell wrote:
Sorry. In hindsight, that 'obviously' sounded a bit sarcy.

No problem - it's easy to get misinterpreted when it's not a face-to-face conversation. We all love each other really

Sorry another question for you all:
Royal Road To Card Magic or Card College?
A friend lent me his Card College volume 1 but found some of the earlier stuff quite difficult for a complete newbie such as dribbling cards i struggle with and spreading the cards between the hands any advice? stuart

stuartle wrote:Sorry another question for you all:
Royal Road To Card Magic or Card College?
A friend lent me his Card College volume 1 but found some of the earlier stuff quite difficult for a complete newbie such as dribbling cards i struggle with and spreading the cards between the hands any advice? stuart

Straight forward advice would be, if you had trouble with card college, then try RRTCM.

I don't know much of Card College but it's regarded quite highly. The problem though, lies in the huge size of the collection and the price to complete it. At around 6 or 7 pound, RRTCM is an absolute bargain and a must, whether you get card college or not.

And there's less risk from a beginner's point of view in a smaller purchase.

Definitely go for RRTCM over card college as an initial purchase (in my opinion). Card College is fantastic but expensive. RRTCM gives you a concise, clear introduction to the subject.