talkmagic.co.uk

Well, I thought I'd have a break from "Hello" "I'm new" "How are you", so I thought, why not.

I am currently 17. I have been interested in magic for a long, long time. I can remember by Grand-dad (spelling) doing the old sponge rabbit trick on me with a magic set I just got for Christmas (I was very young).

As time has gone on my interest in the subject has increased and decreased, I've done various rounds of research, and found some absolutely fantastic trick demonstrations on the internet.

(Arnaud Chevrie's twisting reset being a favourite).

My main interest is in close up magic, and in particular card magics which require no gimmicks, and as little preparation as possible. Mentalism is also something that highly interests me, because that can be performed off the cuff as well.

Being able to "handle magic" is something that I've wanted to be able to do for a long time. That may sound stupid, but what I mean is; to know a couple of sleights/moves/tricks and to be able to impress people with them.
I'm not particularly wanting to become a professional, but it's always nice to have another talent.

I've being trying to teach myself card handling (with the aid of legal internet websites, and my handy " Mark Wilson's Little Book of Card Tricks"), and have endeavoured to teach myself a few flourishes.

So far I can do a few genuine one-handed cuts, couple of shuffles, maybe a fan (if I'm lucky), and the thing where you spread them on the table and then flip them over.

I've been sorely tempted to buy that HUGE MONSTER set of DVDs (about 7 of them) which contain loads of sleights, but to be honest. That's WAY to expensive and seems a little over kill on only the card aspect of what I wanna learn.

I know there's not a "magic" method. But can any one suggest anything?




(Sorry for the essay! )

Hi Kama and welcome to the forum.

Get yourself Royal Road as your first starter

Hello and welcome to TM

Welcome to TM.

I'd suggest just buying 1 DVD, the book recommended above is a classic and if you like learning from written material certainly covers a lot of ground. DVDs cover far less but are easier to learn from as you get to see the move clearly and often from multiple angles.

I'd also not be so quick to dismiss gimmicks, they have an important place in magic.

Finally there are a lot of very good card tricks that require no sleights. Out of this World is a good example. See the review on Cosmos which is a version of this trick.

Hi KamaKase welcome to TM. It was a nice introduction.

Hello and welcome from me too.

Hi and welcome to TM

Thanks for the warm welcome. Quite probably one of the most polite, and on topic welcomes I've ever had on a forum!

"Out of this World is a good example. See the review on Cosmos which is a version of this trick."

Heh, lucky it was at the top of the list of reviews! Wow, it certainly looks good. I'm just never how much salt to take these products etc.. with. I might have to get it. Just to know how it's done. Do you still get that, or can all you guys just see how a trick is done (well mostly)?

"I'd also not be so quick to dismiss gimmicks, they have an important place in magic."

I agree, some things are certainly very, very impressive. I just don't think I could perform them myself. I have a very weird mind, I'd feel that I was cheating myself, rather than using skill to perform the trick and conceal it. I would just be using an out of box item following instructions and concealing the methods. I know that's probably a very harsh/stupid mass generalisation.

"Hi KamaKase welcome to TM. It was a nice introduction."
If not hideously long. Thank you!

"Get yourself Royal Road as your first starter."

I've read this in quite a few other topics, is it particularly in depth and detailed. Or does it baffle you with complex finger anatomy related words.
(Some can be terrible). The problem is that when I go to amazon there's that blasted "Customers who bought this item also bought:" section. I have a whole list of things I wanna be able to do.

(BTW is it:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 81-9433438

or

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASI ... 81-9433438

Thanks for all the help!

I just don't think I could perform them myself. I have a very weird mind, I'd feel that I was cheating myself, rather than using skill to perform the trick and conceal it.

It depends on your motive for doing your magic. You see for me my motive is to entertain and amaze and if that's the case using a gimmick is just a route to achieving that goal.
If your goal was for example to impress others with your skill ( perfectly valid ) then a gimmick would be cheating. Mind you I think I might still use a gimmick Since when has a magician gotta play fair.

welcome to TM

"It depends on your motive for doing your magic. You see for me my motive is to entertain and amaze and if that's the case using a gimmick is just a route to achieving that goal.
If your goal was for example to impress others with your skill ( perfectly valid ) then a gimmick would be cheating. Mind you I think I might still use a gimmick Wink Since when has a magician gotta play fair."

That's fair enough. I think what my goal is, is to impress other people...and in a totally narcisistic way feel that I can take all the credit for the trick (which obviously I can't....as it would be a collection of things someone else has taught me....but even so. Done to my likings) rather than a "box of tricks".

...Plus it means if someone says "do that great ***** trick where you do *****". I don't have to think up an excuse rather than "I don't have the gadget".....

Meh. Each to their own..........I don't really wanna be too contraversial/black balled in my first topic.

Thank you all for your warm welcome!