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Hi all,

I suffer from nerves when performing card magic and so always feel the need to open with a self worker like Twins before going in with sleight of hand. Especially when put on the spot.

Once my first trick is successful it seems to help my confidence greatly to perform tricks requiring more dexterity or 'balls'(!)

Anyhow, my question is whether people can recommend good self workers and their sources. I sometimes use a Chicago opener which is pretty sleight free but that needs a little prep.
Was think about maybe Card College Light?

Thanks all...

Scarne on card tricks is one of my favourite card books. All self working and many are very deceptive. Ideal for your purposes. The Karl Fulves book self working card tricks has some solid effects. Psychic aces in Paul Voodini's hypno-self working card tricks is a good simple trick.

Howard Adams has done a lot of books of self-working card tricks. Some of them may be a bit too procedural, perhaps, but I think somtimes you can start slow with a nice trick with a good story before moving on to the brain-boggling stuff.

As Jobasha has already mentioned, Karl Fulves' Self Working books are all brilliant for the price and contain some really great effects.

My hands can shake something rotten sometimes too! I don't think it's nerves... more like adrenalin! I love getting out there and doing magic!

I'm quite a fan of the Card College Light trilogy, there really is some excellent stuff in them. Maybe for the price the Fulves books are better value, though I doubt you'd be disappopinted with the CCL books. Voodini's self working Hypno card tricks are also superb, as Jobasha has said. (I got a lot from Bannons Dear Mr Fantasy too, although it's certainly not all self working! There's a nice version or two of Twins in there, and Dead Reckoning which is a self worker!)

I was recommended fulves by lady of mystery before and she is/was bang on. It's well worth a look. Don't listen to the reviews on amazon, they are posted by people who want to be an instant David Blaine. I've only read half of it and already have 1 piece permanently in my set. There's always OOTW of course, some of those are essentially self working. Even derren browns version (my preference) is virtually self working. Its so strong i usually use it as a closer though, not sure what you could do to follow that wouldn't be a let down in comparison

magicarp wrote:Don't listen to the reviews on amazon, they are posted by people who want to be an instant David Blaine

Excellent advice indeed! Check out the magic forums for proper reviews, ask questions on them and you'll get a far more acurate assessment. One rule of thumb is if the book is widely mentioned, was first published many moons ago but is still being printed and sold then it's probably worth acquiring!

Amazon reviews for magic can be quite amusing.

Can anyone guess these book without resorting to searching?

1) "Having read a great deal about this book I was expecting far more from it. The tricks/routines in it are very dated and mostly require in depth preparation or collusion from a member of your audience.
Seriously, don't waste your money!!"

2) "The illustrations and descriptions are OK, but anyone seriously interested in learning real sleight of hand / card manipulations might find learning from a DVD easier.

The routines and patter described are pretty old fashioned - you might find a few ideas in here you hadn't thought of, but more up-to-date DVDs or instant downloads from the various magic websites are better for "punchier" tricks and routines.

It's full of references to famous magicians so people who are interested in the history of magic might find this interesting. "

hmmmmmm, I'd have a guess at Royal Road ?

Obviously written by someone who's going to go far as a magician.

As for out of this world while a great trick and can be self working, maybe not best for an opener where you maybe want something snappier. I quite like sensitive fingertips from Fulves for a quick mental effect to introduce a wider, more developed routine.

Lady of Mystery wrote:hmmmmmm, I'd have a guess at Royal Road ?

Obviously written by someone who's going to go far as a magician.

Close for number 2. Same author.

In the name of God don't so Out of This World as an opener. It is far too strong. It is a trick you hold in reserve for when they are already kneeling at your feet and this will be the coup de grace. Try Poker Player's Picnic instead from the Royal Road to CArd Magic. You don't even touch the cards so the spectators will not see your hands shaking. And the reception will be so enthusiastic that you will forget your nerves and your hands will no longer shake. If you have shaky hands you should avoid sleight of hand like the plague as an opener.

mark lewis wrote: It is a trick you hold in reserve for when they are already kneeling at your feet and this will be the coup de grace. .

I LOVE when they are kneeling and kowtowing at my feet!

...but I do agree with Mark. Out Of This World is far too strong of an effect to do from moment one.

A favourite of mine is Lazy Man's Card Trick which is an extremely powerful effect and also completely hands-off.

Yes of course. Paul would indeed like the Lazy Man's Card Trick for rather obvious reasons.

Many thanks all for responses.
Much appreciated.