talkmagic.co.uk

As a beginner in magic i decided to start with cards {as i expect many people do} , soon to start delving into sponge magic.
I certainly do not want to rush into all different forms of magic before i have a grasp of whatever i am currently learning but there are so many different branches of magic, i would like to know from other members which kind of magic would you NEVER do and why? ie do you avoid coins for any reason? do you consider sponge magic just for kids? cups and balls not your thing?

Just thought it could make an interesting discussion

I would never do cards, because they bore me. Same goes for illusions. I would not do coins, because most coin magic is fairly poor. Take the standard copper and silver effects, for example. Unless you are sitting on the lap of the conjurer it is difficult to see the difference between the various coins.

I would never do Sponge magic (asking someone to hold your balls for a second sounds weird however you spin it), or the big style cheesy illusions. The ironic thing is method-wise they have the least to do and often their performance skills are the most lacking of all branches of magic.

I do a few coin pieces, bends etc. But never got into it seriously ..., although I can see the appeal.

This will probably annoy people, but I always thought C&B was THE most boring possible, 90% of them seem to go on for sooooo long. (Ironically like 90%of ACR, so I see what Tony is getting at )

Cards are great if you routine them well and don't fall for dull 'pick a card' patter. One DVD I can recommend is Matthew Dowden's Strike 6 - this is a great DVD of easy tricks for a beginner, but which demonstrates great ways of routining them. I also find that Ambitious Card is seen as more of a juggling demonstration ('how great am I') than a card trick.

Personally I detest sponge balls and also won't be sorry if I never ever see Coin Matrix again.

I find audiences like mentalism style effects (even with playing cards for the mentalist purists!).

It all depends on that you're aiming to acheive really.
I had this discussion with someone this weekend; they were wanting to get "into magic performing" so were starting out by looking at doing kids parties. After a lengthy discussion the end result was bascially "you're looking at becoming an accountant as a stepping stone to be a vetinary surgeon"

The branches of magic are sometimes so separate they may as well not even be on the same tree.

Anyone that is aiming to spend a career doing stage illusions has very VERY little need to care about learning how to do a ten count!

What is the end result you're hoping to acheive with your magic? Stage / kids parties / trade shows?

With all due respect guys,but I think because certain types of magic bore you it doesn´t mean they would bore your audiences.I read in Jay Sankey´blog about how much to practice.He says not to practice too much because the trick may lose sense to you.I always try to put myself as a spectator(before I started magic) and think how would I feel/react/think about the certain effect.I don´t see what´s dull about "pick a card" patter.70% of card tricks include "pick a card".
Also you would never say: "Hold my balls for a second"( ),but if you say it casually "Hold on to these for a second" I don´t see whats wrong.
See "Ponta the Smith" for interesting types of coin magic.
I can agree with you about the grand "boxy" stage illusions,they bored me before I even started magic.

Wouldn't do sponge, doesn't interest me.

Wouldn't do much with coins, but maybe a few things.

Big stage magic with props and sawing people in half etc isn't my cup of tea. You need a good assistant and fancy equipment more than skill in my opinion.

I like some mentalism, not really the numbers side. Muscle reading interests me.

I do mainly cards.

I like watching any kind of magic as long as it's up to being shown to other people. I really don't know what I'd call what I've ever performed. It's a blend of whatever gets the job done and I think the audience will enjoy.

When I started I had no interest in sponge ball as it never interested me but now I'm dabbling because I see no harm in learning the basics of anything. But the type that doesn't interest me at all is stage illusion. I don't like unbuttoning my shirt to my navel and my hair could never be styled into an acceptable quiff. Plus when expensive set-pieces are involved I tend to think it's more about budget than skill. I could be wrong but that's the impression I have.

I try to only do tricks that require minimal or at least common props

I do a lot of card work but for me that's the most unordinary prop I use.Carrying around Lemons,spongeballs,sealed envelopes (although I use one for a coin in envelope routine) and all those type of props takes away from the spontaneous feel of the magic I perform.I like to keep my props at a minimal.I do cards,coins,tricks with notes,mentalism,paper etc etc.Don't let this influence what you do though.It's just my style.Carrying around a chop cup and producing a lemon is an extraordinary and effective trick but it's just not me.There are some exceptions though,who am I to resist the impact of an omni deck!

Interesting replies, i guess like anything else everyone has different tastes.

Yes Lawrence, i understand what you mean about the different branches.

I realise some people like to specialise in cards, coins, illusions or whatever but also a lot of magicians seem to perform a mixture of cards, coins, cups and balls, sponges, rope etc

Tony, i have never met anybody who is 'bored' by cards, as there is so much you can do with them. Like i said, i imagine many people start with cards, may i ask how you started?

I also agree with Simon about learning the basics, thats why although i love cards i am going to try sponge magic too.

Cheers guys

One of the reasons I decided to learn some sponge magic is because my friends are starting to have kids and I thought that'll amuse them a lot more than asking a 3 year old to pick a card. It's my way of pretending I like spending time with kids. Do a trick and they're happy. Beats talking to them.

LOL thats one reason i want to learn it - keep the grandchildren amused

personally could never use sponges...... they don't really suite my......... "image"

I am sticking to cards, and enjoying it alot. At the moment I am outlet specialising in cards but am thinking of doing a couple of coin tricks swell. I peraonally would not go near sponge or other things like that, but I seem to have a strange attraction to TTs...