talkmagic.co.uk

Thank you everone for your replies, they are *very* helpful.
Are the sponge balls etc to help you learn sleight? which is (obviously) invaluable when moving onto other apects of magic.
i doubt i will stick to using silks and balls as a main aspect of my magic long term though.

wittyusername wrote:Thank you everone for your replies, they are *very* helpful.
Are the sponge balls etc to help you learn sleight? which is (obviously) invaluable when moving onto other apects of magic.
i doubt i will stick to using silks and balls as a main aspect of my magic long term though.

I said sponge balls because there is a really good chapter on sponge balls in the book. And yes they will be helpful to learn slights, especially coin work or just working with everyday objects. Also spectators love them. Really you want to be a well rounded magician. The better the base knowledge of workable practicle methods and objects, of magic you will actually perform (if that is your ultimate goal) for a real audience then it is in your best interest to learn all aspects of magic.

Don't get caught up in what all the magicians tell you (such as myself) find out where those magicians are coming from. Are they actually performing magicians? Or are you falling for the ruse of the 'magicians magician'? Honestly those guys are out to sell. Half of the stuff you find at conventions, lectures and in the latest and greatest ads are designed by magicians to sell to other magicians who are armchair magicians. Most of the stuff out there won't make it into a performing repetoir. You say you want to mainly focus on card magic. To a lay audience after the 3rd card trick they all start to look the same. Don't get me wrong, I love card magic and for myself it is what I work on the most. But in performance there are just a few I will actually perform, and not all in one sitting.

I do not want to perform a set show, Purely because i wouldn't want to to whip out the old crowd pleasing balls (ha!) because i HAVE to, to keep people happy.

I didn't say just card magic however, i said mentalism, which can cover a wide range of stuff, prediction,coldreading,suggestion?
I like the idea of naked mentalism and impromptu pieces where i could just do one or two bits to people on the street for example?

I'm sure i run the risk of being lynched here for saying this but I'm not interested in magic that looks like 'rabbit out of a hat' 'never ending silks' stuff.
I'm not saying that is in anyway 'lesser' or 'boring' I'm just saying it's not what takes my fancy, but i know i need the skills from those type of things to become a good performer.

wittyusername wrote:I'm sure i run the risk of being lynched here for saying this

Nah, just hold on while I go fetch the rope......

Seriously, you're not on your own with that point of view and it all boils down to what you feel comfortable with and what works for your audiences. If that's hippity hoppity rabbits then that's fine. If it's something dark and scary then that's equally fine - as long as you do what you do to the best of your abilty and with all due respect for those who come to see you.

Thanks for that, i did honestly expect to get an angry reply (as people tend to do that on forums) but that is reassuring.
I would be in the dark and scary camp though for sure!

Just as an example of how simple magic can be revamped, did anyone see the Stuart and Barry dark version of 'Rabbit out of a Hat' on TV a few years ago? Very rude, very shocking but also very funny !

I don't have a televison but i'll look it up online!

There are several opportunities accessible via Google... but fer crying out loud I hope nobody does it at a children's party!

Oh my lord, that woman has the figure of a young boy, thats enough to scare and confuse the kids

ACE T wrote:

wittyusername wrote:I am based i the northwest at the moment but will be down south soon, from what i'v been told magic clubs,societies,etc can be very snotty to newcomers, what is your honest opinion of this?

Then you should definitely check out the Manchester Meeting thread. I think some guys are meeting on the 12th Nov. Very welcoming and not at all snotty.

I've joined the Manchester Circle of Magicians but I've not yet been to any events so don't have any experience to tell of.

And I was only snotty at the last meet due to having a bad cold, lol.

The Manchester Circle of Magicians is amazing and will help you more than you could ever imagine with useful lectures and very helpful fellow magicians, I highly recommend checking it out.

If you can get to the meet on the 12th of November at the KRO Bar, you will learn loads and make some great lasting friendships and acquaintances.

kry10 wrote:If you can get to the meet on the 12th of November at the KRO Bar, you will learn loads and make some great lasting friendships and acquaintances.

And a Sunday hangover is guaranteed.

I'm not from manchester, whats the prices like in that place? I'm fairly skint so i might give this months a miss

KRO is a bit pricey, but Wetherspoons is over the road we have been known to go there.

Let me echo Mark Wilson's it is a real gem.

Just to to add.

I vouch 100% for Mark Wilson's course.The tricks themselves aren't really my style but the principles you learn from this book are indispensable.Also I recommend Royal Road to Card magic and Encyclopedia of Card Tricks.Both by Fred Braue and Jean Hugard.

There is enough in those books to keep you occupied for years but you will no doubt buy dozens upon dozens of other stuff like the rest of us