by bmat » Jan 21st, '11, 19:30
A million dollars is worthless if you don't have anywhere to spend it.
Method is absolutly uselss if we don't have something to apply it too. So you spend 6 months learning Gary Kurtz's Longnitudal finger tip palm. Then you go looking for some effects in which to use the sleight, but sadly all fall short. You wasted 6 months.
Obviously there are basics that you 'need' to learn
Yes there are books like Card College that deal mostly with method, however these are and were written as refrence books. (So was Royal Road to some extent) So if you find an effect you like, but the instructions are carp (as many are) you can look up the method in Card College which will probably be a little clearer.
Personally, if you are a performing magician, not an arm chair magician, (nothing wrong with that) then you are going to waste a lot of time learning methods that you won't use.
Lets use you as an example. You asked for tricks that use a DL. Why? because you have learned a technique and now have nothing to show for it. (obviously you have something to show for it, keep with me for a moment...and yes you should be learning the DL.) It would have been more 'economical' for you to find a trick you really like, say Dai Vernon's Twisting The Aces. Wow! Amazing! says you, "I have to learn that!' Now you are forced to learn a DL and an Elmsley Count. Now you have a brilliant effect under your belt, and you have learned two moves to put in your arsenal. Even if you never ever use them for anything else, you have them for Twisting the Aces which you use all the time.
Magic is not about method. You are looking at it from a magicians point of view so method is near and dear to your heart. But look at it from the spectators point of view. Magic is about wonder! It doesn't matter how the effect is acomplished, it just has to be done well, it has to be pleasing to watch. It is the sense of wonder that we need to hold close to our hearts, not the method, not even the effect.
The trick to being a great magicians is to choose, or create effects that suit ourselves and then perform them in the most amazing way possible, using whatever technique works for you.
The Great magicians don't utilize a dozen sleights they don't perform a zillion effects, they perform a routine and they do it amazingly well.
When I say go watch the greats I don't mean purchase a dvd which is directed at other magicians. Go find performances of them in front of live real audiences.
It is not the method, it is not even the trick, it is the sense of wonder that you create in somebody elses head, that is where the magic happens, it is never in the hands.
The difference between a trickster and a magician is that a trickster shows effects as puzzles for the most part, and with a 'see what I can do and you can't' attitude. A magicians creates wonder for his/her audience. How you learn will not define which catagory you fall into.
1) Find/Create the effect you like.
2) Learn how to do it.
3) Refine it to your style/ make it your own.
4) Use it to create a magical experience for your audience.
I'm not saying my opinion works for everyone, it just makes more sense if you want to go out and perform.
Sorry this is long, if your still reading this, YOU ROCK!