talkmagic.co.uk

Hi folks,

As a totally amazingly skint potential magician who's just got into the idea over the last three days, I'm looking for some advice. I say I'm poor because I really am (truely!) but am looking to spend a little bit on some props and am wondering what you'd all recommend as the first proper prop trick worth spending money on to give both me and my audience the satisfaction, and mainly me the desire to carry on and get some more tricks down and perfected.

This is probably a frequently asked question but hey...I'm new on the scene and have been looking at 'the gecko', and/or a folding coin to do the coin in bottle trick with any random bottle...but i'd like to hear whay you have to say to a novice who wants to be inspired. I'm well aware that none of it comes easy and everything requires practice, but I wonder what you'd recommend as having the least amount of setup and practice and the best effect for a total beginner who wants to practice but wants a little bit of instant 'wohooooo amazing dude!' to spur him on. I hope you all catch my drift

Cheers

I'd reccommend and ID

Lawrence wrote:I'd reccommend and ID

Me too, always have one in my pocket. Still to get one of yours though Lawrence

Lawrence wrote:I'd reccommend and ID

Agreed, I'd avoid the Gecko as a beginner too.

A svengali deck is pretty good for the wow factor too...

If you're looking for a book, I'd try Teach yourself magic or Paul Zenon's Street Magic. Then move on to the more commonly suggested ones...

It doesn't matter which trick you choose. It is all about the performance. All the effects mentioned are wonderful but they don't perform themselves.

Want to really wow your audience. Find a trick you like, learn it well and perform the heck out of it, engage the audience and have fun. You can't loose.

IMO, you cant go wrong with a svengali deck to start off - and if (like me when I started) the thought of a gimmicked deck scares you (in case someone says 'can I look at the deck' or whatever) then get a copy of 'Get Nyman' from someone on here - it has an AMAZING routine with a svengali deck which is well worth the price of the DVD

Let us know how it all goes

Dan

Hey thanks folks, that's great! I'll look them up, not sure what this "and ID" thing is tho, can someone send me a link? I've googled it but can't find anything :s
Ta!

Already some great suggestions here, but I'll throw my opinion in anyway.
For a first ever purchase, there are several books out there pitched at beginners which offer unbeatable value (take a look at mark wilson's complete course in magic-I got my copy for about £2 on ebay and I'm still using it after 5 years).

However, since you said you wanted some kind of prop, I suggest a "coin unique" gimmick. Good ones can be had for around £30 (I'm told that the Eddie Gibson ones are still the best). You can do a number of different effects with these (and you will find new uses for it as your skill set develops), but a quick look on youtube will demonstrate how effective they can be.

My posts are still being moderated which is a bit frustrating, I guess that'll change with my postcount, but hey thanks for all the fabulous advice
So here it is, I found a proper Eddie Gibson £1-1p coin unique on special offer, and got that and a svengali deck for about £33.99 - sweet!
I'd still like to know what this ID thing is but I'm sure I'll find out when my post goes up, curiosity is killing me tho.
I'll let you know how I get on with the tricks when they get here.

I'm still curious about this gecko thing having seen some youtube examples which look amazing, and even a vid on how to make your own, but I don't get how you can do it with short sleeves like a tshirt and vanish a bottle of beer or something like that, that's what I call real Wow factor but I imagine it takes a shedload of practice however it's done.

Everything looks better on a vid tho doesn't it.

Anyway, thanks again! I'm a happy cat
(Just hope my girlfriend doesn't ask how much I spent)
Maybe I could bet people a pound down the pub I can make a penny disappear?

MrCat, an ID is an ID. It is available from any magic dealer, and many joke shops. The most powerful card trick, an amazing effect. I would get that, and a coin unique, and leave it at that. Then spend the rest of your limited resources on the Mark Wilson book, and a few other books.

Strange - my post was repeated, and edited. I*N*V*I*S*I*B*L*E D*E*C*K. Available in your local magic shop.

My posts are still being moderated which is a bit frustrating, I guess that'll change with my postcount

Not Moderated, just held for approval - after 5 posts the feature no longer holds posts back.

As for Tony's dilemma, no idea why but you can delete the duplicated post if you like .

Cool! I'm still struggling with this ID thing tho, I've searched 'ID' on a few magic sites and just not coming up with the goods... link anyone? Maybe I'm not using the right words.

I did also as if by magic find a random youtube earlier on how to make an ID using chapstick whilst looking at other stuff...looks good, I always wondered how to do that. Any comments on the merits of making your own?

Thanks, Mandrake. I couldn't figure out the delete, but I have removed the content of the duplicated post.