getting started?

[nails3jesus0]

What would you reccomend for people wanting to get into this? Where do most people start? I have tried finding things before and it was hard to find anything that wasnt just websites selling junk.

[Orangutan]

NAils, I sent you a PM. (Please don't let this stop other people PMing Nails too!).
:)

[Dinsdale Piranha]

I'd recommend starting with books geared toward beginners. Then you can decide if you want to specialize in a specific branch (cards, coins, stage illusions) and move on to more advanced books and videos.

Don't make the mistake of buying a bunch of individual tricks. Most of these will end up collecting dust eventually. Perhaps you could buy a couple that really appeal to you that aren't difficult to perform. That way you can concentrate on presentation rather than method.

Books give you the most bang for your buck. Generally speaking, you can get several tricks from one book for the cost of maybe two or three individually packaged tricks.

Videos can be very tempting. It may be best to hold off on buying videos until you develop your own presentational style. Learning magic by video can sometimes create "copycat" magicians. That is, magicians who copy others style rather than develop their own.

Here are a few book recommendations with links to descriptions:

The Magic Book by Harry Lorayne.
http://www.dennymagic.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?client=56066346&action=detail&item=001161

The Tarbell Course in Magic. There are eight volumes in all. It covers all types of magic and is widely recommended.
http://www.dennymagic.com/cgi-bin/hazel.cgi?client=56066346&action=detail&item=001250

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic.
http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Wilsons-Complete-Course-Magic/dp/0762414553

Hope this helps you get started.

[firecoins]

Card College series is excellent.

check for it at www.dennymagic.com (http://www.dennymagic.com) Do a search for it.

[Azrael 5]

Royal Road to Card Magic,don't have a link but I assume links above wil sell it also.

Consider the magic bible for beginners.

[Garrette]

All excellent suggestions, but for just starting then you can't beat two of the three that Dinsdale suggested.

The Magic Book (Harry Lorayne)

Mark Wilson's Completet Course in Magic

If you like those, then move to Dinsdale's third,

Tarbell Course in Magic.

From there, you'll have an idea of what you want to pursue and will know if an investment in Royal Road is worth it (it always is) or Card College (just as helpful but more of an investment)

[Azrael 5]

Ah many a day sat reading Completet course,and complete course the sequel!!! :D

[Garrette]

Ah many a day sat reading Completet course,and complete course the sequel!!! :D"Complete" just ain't what it used to be, that's for sure.

[Azrael 5]

"Complete" just ain't what it used to be, that's for sure.

Too true.;)

[Brown]

Royal Road to Card Magic,don't have a link but I assume links above wil sell it also.This is the book that James Randi has recommended.

I can't say that I found it to be very helpful, though. Part of the difficulty was wading through the detailed descriptions of the moves. There are some drawings that help, but not nearly enough. Also, it is very easy to overlook an outstanding trick in that book because the description makes it seem like the trick doesn't have much punch.

L&L Publishing sells a video (DVD) version of the book, in which all of the moves are demonstrated, not merely described. I haven't seen the DVDs, but L&L material is generally recognized as being pretty good.

Learning magic by reading can be tough. Learning by studying still pictures is better. Learning by watching a skilled teacher is better still. But learning by doing is best of all.

[Garrette]

This is the book that James Randi has recommended.

I can't say that I found it to be very helpful, though. Part of the difficulty was wading through the detailed descriptions of the moves. There are some drawings that help, but not nearly enough. Also, it is very easy to overlook an outstanding trick in that book because the description makes it seem like the trick doesn't have much punch.

L&L Publishing sells a video (DVD) version of the book, in which all of the moves are demonstrated, not merely described. I haven't seen the DVDs, but L&L material is generally recognized as being pretty good.

Learning magic by reading can be tough. Learning by studying still pictures is better. Learning by watching a skilled teacher is better still. But learning by doing is best of all.Besides the issues with Royal Road that you mention here, I think it is inappropriate for a beginner in that it is simply too much information presented in such a fashion as to be of no help in discriminating what fits one's style or interests.

I recommend Royal Road heartily to every magician but only after they have a bit of experience.

I haven't seen the DVDs, though, so I can't comment on those.

I reiterate my recommendation of Harry Lorayne's The Magic Book. I know of no other book that so clearly offers a concise description of so many types of magic with concurrent explanations of the few key basics along with why they are the key basics.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

Brown brought up a good point that I had forgotten. Personal instruction is a great way to learn. Teachers can be few and far between, though.

Regarding Royal Road, we don't know that Nails is even interested in cards. My recommendations were of more general magic books.

You out there, Nails? Give us some feedback.

[Sugriva]

It's tough to be specific without knowing the particular area they're interested in but I'll cast another vote for Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. It's a fairly comprehensive introduction to a wide variety of effects. I believe it's been remaindered by B&N so it should be reasonably priced.
From there I personally branched off to Bobo's Modern Coin Magic and Anneman's Mental Magic since mentalism and coin finger flinging are my loves. Speaking of which, there's a wide selection of old school magic books available through Dover publishing; all are quite inexpensive (Fulves' "Self Working" series are wonderful launching points into more challenging effects). Highly recommended!

[vIQleS]

Magic for dummies - good range of easy tricks, perfect for the beginner

[rebecca]

The number one best book for the beginner in magic is, hands down, no contest: Klutz Book of Magic (http://www.amazon.com/Klutz-Book-Magic/dp/1570548919/sr=8-1/qid=1166194561/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3383545-5615308?ie=UTF8&s=books). This is not debatable in the least.

[Dinsdale Piranha]

The number one best book for the beginner in magic is, hands down, no contest: Klutz Book of Magic (http://www.amazon.com/Klutz-Book-Magic/dp/1570548919/sr=8-1/qid=1166194561/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3383545-5615308?ie=UTF8&s=books). This is not debatable in the least.

Case closed. Mods: please lock this topic. Last one to leave turn out the lights.

My favorite excerpt from the Klutz book:

Martin Gardner and Jeff Busby, the two prime technical consultants, are two of the most respected names in magic in the United States today.

Wellllll.....that's half right. The only minor detail is that Busby may very well be the most reviled name in magic today.

http://geniimagazine.com/forum/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=10;t=000486#000000

[firecoins]

So now you brought up that evil Busby guy.:mad:

[Dinsdale Piranha]

So now you brought up that evil Busby guy.:mad:

Yes. A little theater of the absurd. A soap opera for magicians.

[Garrette]

The number one best book for the beginner in magic is, hands down, no contest: Klutz Book of Magic (http://www.amazon.com/Klutz-Book-Magic/dp/1570548919/sr=8-1/qid=1166194561/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-3383545-5615308?ie=UTF8&s=books). This is not debatable in the least.I'm debating it. More than the least.

It's good. Lorayne's is better.

tthhhbbbpppttt

So there.

P.S. The only reason I'm not yelling at you is because I assume you have posted this while still inebriated and cuffed to a charred but doused Marquis.

[firecoins]

I thought Card College was the best? Well at least you get a degree when you finish it!:rolleyes:

[JPK]

Good morning. I would like to throw in my 2 cents here and say that Mac King's book "Tricks With Your Head" is a good choice for beginers. Simple effects, done on the spot, your friends will either laugh out loud or scream in horror. It's a nice collection of tricks that help teach misdirection.
JPK

[Garrette]

I love "Tricks With Your Head" but think it wrong for a beginner. The worst kind of tricks for beginners, imo, though I admit I appear to be alone in this opinion:

Tricks easy to do from a mechanical perspective and therefore seemingly easy to do.

They require a bit more skill with presentation than is apparent.

[rebecca]

I'm debating it. More than the least.

It's good. Lorayne's is better.

tthhhbbbpppttt

So there.

P.S. The only reason I'm not yelling at you is because I assume you have posted this while still inebriated and cuffed to a charred but doused Marquis.

You can pretend to debate it, but I assure you, there is no such debate. Now go away or I shall drop an argument from authority on you so fast your sponge bunnies will explode.

[Garrette]

You can pretend to debate it, but I assure you, there is no such debate. Now go away or I shall drop an argument from authority on you so fast your sponge bunnies will explode.Sponge Bunnies, Transform Shield, NOW!!

Max thrusters; Retention Vanish; MISDIRECT!!

Guess I showed you.

[rebecca]

Wonder twins, activate! Form of: sponge bunny!

I think 'sponge bunny' is actually my all time favorite magical phrase.

[Garrette]

I think 'sponge bunny' is actually my all time favorite magical phrase.It encompasses portions of mine...

[rustypouch]

What would you reccomend for people wanting to get into this? Where do most people start? I have tried finding things before and it was hard to find anything that wasnt just websites selling junk.

Simple. Find a magician, and behead him. His magical essence with flow out of his body, into yours, and will imbue you with all his skills and knowledge.

[Spidey13]

Simple. Find a magician, and behead him. His magical essence with flow out of his body, into yours, and will imbue you with all his skills and knowledge.

Well, yeah, if you want to do it the easy way...

[firecoins]

Simple. Find a magician, and behead him. His magical essence with flow out of his body, into yours, and will imbue you with all his skills and knowledge.
I have done this several times and now I am a super magician. I can find your card with no hands.