talkmagic.co.uk

Ok,

I am nervous about posting this, I really do not want to get flamed. The thing is this: I am relatively new to any sort of magic community. I have no magic shops near by, and know no magicians. I have learned all my stuff in the following two manners:

1) From snooping around the net looking for info,

and 2) I watch magicians performing tricks, and try REALLY hard to figure out how to do it. (This has been the most prominent way.)

The reason I am posting this is because it was not until I got here that the whole concept of "buying a trick" was made known to me. It still just sounds odd to me. I almost feel as if I would be cheating.

The magic purchases I have made so far are one svengali deck, some IT... and some three way force decks for duplicate cards. That’s it. I intend to buy a raven, and a few false quarters also. I guess I have no problem paying for physical things… but buying something that just shows me how to throw some sleights together, and where to use pater—I just don’t know if I can do that. Now I feel bad because I realize that there are people who make money off of this stuff...

I guess what my question is, is: should I feel bad if I never buy a trick? Can I expect to get anywhere like that? Is it really crass?

Ok those are three questions, but you get the idea. Let me know.

Hi Jeremy.

Judging from your post I get the feeling that you're still not too experienced. I would suggest that if this is the case and you can work out how tricks are done by watching other magicians then either the magicians are not very good, or the tricks themselves are weak. Either way I would give this a wide berth as you won't learn too much other than poor technique.

I wouldn't be nervous about this post and anyway, you've done it now! If you don't feel that you can ask these questions on this site then where else can you? You said that you don't like buying tricks but then gave a list of things that you had bought.

I would advise that you trawl the reviews section and select tricks and effects that appeal to you. Ones that you like the sound of and then create a wish list that you then buy from. You'll also find lots of support here to help you and this way you will find that learning is much more effective and you should become a better magician.

Judging from the depth of the reviews section you'll guess that probably everyone buys their magic, even those who are skillfull enough to create their own effects from time to time.

Good advice.

I am not sure about this part.

I would suggest that if this is the case and you can work out how tricks are done by watching other magicians then either the magicians are not very good, or the tricks themselves are weak

The magicians I have watched are professionals... All my tricks have been either learned from the David Blaine specials, the Ellusionist internet promo's (He just puts up tid bits, but if you watch 'em over and over, you can figure it out,) or made up by combining the slights I learned from other tricks. Also I first got started with the sleight index and "hard trick" index on Card Trick Central's web site.

Now as for trick decks and magic gimmicks like the raven, I can see buying those. Though I think i am going to start making as much as I can. The thing that bothers me is the idea of buying the concept of an effect. That just seams weird.

I must say regarding this part:

I would suggest that if this is the case and you can work out how tricks are done by watching other magicians then either the magicians are not very good, or the tricks themselves are weak

It can be easy to tell whats happening if you know some bits of it you can put it all togther, but as Dat8962 says just by wacthing a video its hard to tell, you need to know some secret.

I suggest a fun magic thing and thats making your own magic - fun, hard but very rewarding

I see what you're getting at and agree to a point. If you do know some basics such as DL's, palms, false cuts, Elmsley count etc. and can watch a trick being performed over and over again, then I do agree that you can piece a trick together and form an opinion on filling in any missing gaps using your knowledge. What I'm not sure about is how experienced you are so you may have an inside track already?

The point that I was trying to make was that should someone with very limited knowledge such as a beginner, or a layman with no knowledge at all be in a postion that they can work out the secret of a trick simply through watching a few times, then this is where I was coming from.

................ and I agree with Hawk's ending note

Well I've been doing for about 5 years...

Then everything slots into place and I accept that you will be able to use your accumulated knowledge in these circumstance!

suggest a fun magic thing and that’s making your own magic - fun, hard but very rewarding

I agree. I love the challenge of coming up with a trick, or making variations on old tricks. That has got to be the best. One reason why this is really good is because it makes the things you perform your own. It gives your tricks that “personal touch” that just endears you to the specs all the more.

am using many different tricks and put thes together as 1

i like it wen people do things like making own routines and inventing new tricks and more of that,
but i y-think now yoyu can't not annymore easy inventing a trick
becouse all tricks are invented , mayby einstein should be invented an other one !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

again sorry for my english !!