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Hi guys, another newbie question, here.

How do you choose what effects to learn?

I'm working my way through Tarbell Volume One at the moment, and feel rather weighed down with all the coin tricks. I don't particularly like coin tricks, either as an audience member and a performer, and nor do I see them working with the stage persona/performance style I want to work towards (either logistically or thematically). Do I learn them anyway, and treat it as a "training course"?

When it comes to purchasing effects/books/DVDs, what are the factors you take into account when ordering them? It can be overwhelming sometimes, so I was just wondering what you guys would do, or recommend.

Working your way through may be advantageous but only if you are actually going to apply the moves / sleights you have learned to the magic you are actually going to perform.

I personally love card magic and am reading Royal Road to Card Magic at the mo and I love it.

I have been into card magic for years but have only recently been made aware of the plethera of resources available, before that it was just me watching magic videos and trying to work stuff out on my own or being taught by my old uncle.

I know about most of the moves I am now reading about in Royal Road but do not regret reading it anyway, it is more than just a trick tutorial, I have a greater understanding of a lot of moves / sleights and their applications.

What type of magic do you like?

Who are your favourite magicians?

BradH wrote:Hi guys, another newbie question, here.

How do you choose what effects to learn?

I'm working my way through Tarbell Volume One at the moment, and feel rather weighed down with all the coin tricks. I don't particularly like coin tricks, either as an audience member and a performer, and nor do I see them working with the stage persona/performance style I want to work towards (either logistically or thematically). Do I learn them anyway, and treat it as a "training course"?

When it comes to purchasing effects/books/DVDs, what are the factors you take into account when ordering them? It can be overwhelming sometimes, so I was just wondering what you guys would do, or recommend.

Old magician put it to me this way long ago when I first picked-up Tarbell; "Start at the beginning"

Any Course in Magic gives you foundation and part of that foundation is knowledge. "True" knowledge in this case, comes from working with the material and finding what "fits" us as an individual which will change over time -- time and doing it however, is what brings us back to the beginning and where we generate the Knowledge.

The rudiments of magic however is where you must begin -- slight-of-hand; not all of it but at least the primary techniques that are most interchangeable. Ultimately you will be able to accomplish more with less when you have polished your skills in this most important area of the craft. I'll add, this will give you far more "tricks" to work with than running through a book or video or catalog picking & choosing this and that piece that appeals to your personal fantasy/ego. While such will happen, even when you know better, getting the founding principles under your belt first, is what's important. So, as I was told, just start at the beginning, take your time, polish your technique before you decide it is time to show-off. Know up front that you will have mishaps and it will take time & experience to learn the nuances of presentation (big difference between knowing how an effect is done and being able to "do" the trick). Within a good solid two years of study however, you will find yourself becoming your "own" and able to navigate the craft in ways that will prove empowering.

Trying to work your way through Tarbell is NOT a good idea.
The reason most magicians do it is because they , having a Course, think it should be worked through Lesson by Lesson.
WITH THE MODERN Tarbell--No.
The original Tarbell Course was in something like 60 lessons and was sent to students, through the mail, lesson by lesson.
The good old Doc tried to give magicians a GRADUATED Course in various and varied aspects of MAGIC.

The 'newer' Course is vast and very valuable collection of Magic Effects--in NO particular order.
Therefore you look through the Indexes-- CHOOSE the tricks that appeal to you OR the sleights you feel the need to learn and learn them. PLUS reading the Doc's advice, most of which is relevant to today's magicians.

Choosing effects for your Act.
This IS difficult and you will buy man, many items that in the end you do not like, do not work either as tricks or as tricks for you.
This is why magicians all over the world have drawers & cupoboards full of unwanted stuff.

SO.
1. What kind of \Magic do you see yourself performing or want to perform?
2. This , ultimately, will rely on a. Your performing personality. b. The reason you want to perform( for friends etc. or to make some money)

The best thing you can do is:
Select say--4 effects that appeal to you---- remembering that in the end the effects must be those that appeal to an audience.
Learn them throughl
Rehearse them throughly
Script your basic patter. This will cut out hestiations, hums and ers etc.And give you confidence as you will KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO SAY.
Learn it--but changing it by cutting.adding etc in rehearsal.
TRY to make it sound as though you are speaking the patter for the first time--EVERY time you perform. It can be done. Actors do it EVERY night of the year all over the world.

Arrange the 4 in a worked out order as
No. 1 The ooening..preferbly VISUAL and Not too long. Here you SELL YOURSELF to the audience.
No. 2 A slightly longer item.
No. 3. The longest item in the Act.
No. 4 A memorable Finale. may not be the best trick re handling and method but it is the last impression you leave with the audience.

Think about--How you approach them
How you taKe your leave of them.

If it is a Close Up Act--stick to 3 tricks--try to work to no more than 7 minutes per table and that you can work all the stuff in your hands==standing.Forget table space.
Finally take in and involve ALL your audience be that audience 2--6--10--100 etc.

Allen Tipton

You're right about it being overwhelming for a beginner Brad! you just pick bits up as you go along, and there's so much that you won't need, just don't worry about it
I found a few tricks that I could put together in a little routine and just practice that. Find an effect you like and that fits your character and learn that one, then do a couple more.
I don't know about Tarbell but if you have the Royal Road or some other course style book then it's a good ideas to work through it, just to make sure you get all the basics, even if you're not going to use the effects. Also, even if you don't like the trick, it's worth knowing how it works in case you can modify it or combine it with something to make it more your style. It took me a few months to get just a 3 trick routine I like so don't worry about racing through it

Allen Tipton wrote:Choosing effects for your Act...... /snip/

Allen Tipton

Hi Allen

Going off topic briefly, I just wanted to thank you for your post, and let you know how much I appreciate your words of wisdom.

In the not-too-distant future, I rather suspect that I'm likely to be auditioning for membership of the Hull Magician's Circle, and your advice tonight is absolutely invaluable (not to mention inspiring!).

This will be a very big step for me, due to problems with anxiety and depression (I know my forum persona would indicate otherwise, but that's the way it is ), and so I just felt it important to let you know how much your post has just inspired me to hopefully take a step forward - thank you so much


Rob

Hi Rob. Glad to be of some use.
Now EVERY performer gets 'nerves'. I remember , Colin George,(1st director of The Crucible Theatre) telling me whe I went to teach at the old Sheffield Playhouse, that he had just directed Dame Edith Evans (one of the UK and the world's finest actresses) & she was visibly shaking a few minutes, before she appeared on stage. He asked her about it and she replied...'If I didn't feel nervous--the adrenalin would not flow ,as without nerves I'd be like a wooden log'!!

Remember how many artists have adapted anything they had--through no fault of their own--to their performing personna-- Oliver Hardy with his weight & bulk-- Frankie Howerd with his nerves and initial stammer--Kn Dodd with his hair |& protruding teeth.--Jeanette Krankie with her small stature etc.
Perhaps you could adapt a nervous style--then show great delight when it all works.
Make it work for you/

Auditioning for a Magic Society.
1. THEY are all entusuasts and hopelessly crazy about doing and WATCHING magic
2. You cannot fool them
3. Do NOT attempt too many tricks--say use 3
4. MOST IMPORTANT. Show your enthusiasm and love of magic. Show you ENJOY doing it.
5. All they need to know is you are serious about the Art. Not a secrets seeker.

That should get you through OK

AQllen Tipton

Going against Allen's post a bit. I feel that it is a good idea to work your way through Volume 1 of Tarbell, because this contains all the valuable sleights that you will find useful.
the remaining 7 volumes, are worth dipping in, when you specifically need to find an effect.

The Big Problem there Dale with working your way through an entire Volume is -Cluttering the mind.
So many magicians learn a great many sleights etc that they will never use.
And how many magicians can carry all that material in their minds?

Learning to choose--learning to select-- are talents all magicians should cultivate.

By all means learn the basics---but avoid clutter--or your mind fills up like that cupboard crammed with never used effects

Allen Tipton

magicrob wrote:

Allen Tipton wrote:Choosing effects for your Act...... /snip/

Allen Tipton

Hi Allen

Going off topic briefly, I just wanted to thank you for your post, and let you know how much I appreciate your words of wisdom.

In the not-too-distant future, I rather suspect that I'm likely to be auditioning for membership of the Hull Magician's Circle, and your advice tonight is absolutely invaluable (not to mention inspiring!).

This will be a very big step for me, due to problems with anxiety and depression (I know my forum persona would indicate otherwise, but that's the way it is ), and so I just felt it important to let you know how much your post has just inspired me to hopefully take a step forward - thank you so much


Rob

There a friendly bunch and very supportive of newcomers. I got through my audition and I felt it was totally against there tastes. But still got voted in. So don't worry about it. They just want to see that interest in the hobby,

Well done Rob. Now continue to work on the stuff you know.
Do not go immediatley go onto new stuff.
There is always time later

Read as much as you can. In the books lies The Knowledge--especially in the Past.

A Magic routine or a Magic Act is rather like an unfinished jigsaw.

As time goes by you keep finding yet another piece that might just fit and help towards completeing the picture.

Allen Tipton

The good news is that, for your first gigs, you only need about five to eight good effects that you perform. The rest will come later. Remember that your audience wants you to succeed and they are there to help you. They are already in a frame of mind to be amazed from the beginning.