Card Manipulation

RSLancastr · 27th June 2003, 01:23 PM

Does anyone have any suggestions for a non-magician who would like to learn some basic card manipulation?

By that I mean things like fancy shuffles, fanning, etc. Not things like palming, sleights, false shuffles and forcing.

Any books and/or videos which are good for a beginner in this regard? After that, it's a matter of practice, practice and more practice. And then more.

27th June 2003, 01:35 PM

Andrew Harter recommended to me "magic for dummies" and "A complete idiot's guide to magic."

Now, it is possible he was trying to send a message, but they are very good books on the basics.

rustypouch · 27th June 2003, 02:03 PM

I have, among other things, a copy of 'The Royal Road to Card Magic' by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue.

I find it does an excellent job of explaining the basic principles, and it has dozens of relatively simple tricks.

NoZed Avenger · 27th June 2003, 02:22 PM

The above books are good. The Royal Road is an exceptional book.

A basic, general magic primer that includes a small amount of cards is Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. You can find copies around for $15, and used ones much cheaper. Well worth the price for someone starting out.

SteveW · 28th June 2003, 08:29 AM

The Royal Road by Hugard is THE basic text for one interested in card manipulation. It is well written with many effects that a beginner could do with some practice.

It also helped me sitting with Dai Vernon smoking a cigar in the afternoons at the Magic Castle

I sure miss those times.

Brown · 29th June 2003, 09:38 PM

I recommend "Scarne on Card Tricks."

Some of his tricks involve very simple manipulation, but nothing that would be "sleight-of hand."

You won't learn flourishes in this book, however, such as fanning or false shuffling.

SteveW · 1st July 2003, 07:25 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brown
I recommend "Scarne on Card Tricks."

Some of his tricks involve very simple manipulation, but nothing that would be "sleight-of hand."

You won't learn flourishes in this book, however, such as fanning or false shuffling.

I had forgotten that book. It's got some good effects in it using little or no sleights (mainly misdirection). I actually remember learning some of my first effects from that when I was a kid (Card On the Ceiling( being one of them).

Scarne was a great manipulator (although not a great magician, IMHO). Thats him doing the fanning and dealing in The Sting btw.

27th June 2003, 01:23 PM	#1
RSLancastr Philosopher www.StopSylvia.com Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Los Angeles Area Posts: 8,071	Card Manipulation Does anyone have any suggestions for a non-magician who would like to learn some basic card manipulation? By that I mean things like fancy shuffles, fanning, etc. Not things like palming, sleights, false shuffles and forcing. Any books and/or videos which are good for a beginner in this regard? After that, it's a matter of practice, practice and more practice. And then more.

27th June 2003, 01:35 PM	#2
hal bidlack Guest Posts: n/a	Andrew Harter recommended to me "magic for dummies" and "A complete idiot's guide to magic." Now, it is possible he was trying to send a message, but they are very good books on the basics.
hal bidlack Guest Posts: n/a

28th June 2003, 08:29 AM	#5
SteveW Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 265	The Royal Road by Hugard is THE basic text for one interested in card manipulation. It is well written with many effects that a beginner could do with some practice. It also helped me sitting with Dai Vernon smoking a cigar in the afternoons at the Magic Castle I sure miss those times.
SteveW Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 265

29th June 2003, 09:38 PM	#6
Brown Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Twin Cities, Canada Posts: 9,025	I recommend "Scarne on Card Tricks." Some of his tricks involve very simple manipulation, but nothing that would be "sleight-of hand." You won't learn flourishes in this book, however, such as fanning or false shuffling.
	__________________ Klaatu: I'm impatient with stupidity. My people have learned to live without it. Mr. Harley: I'm afraid my people haven't. I am very sorry. I wish it were otherwise. -- The Day The Earth Stood Still, screenplay by Edmund H. North "Don't you get me wrong. I only want to know." -- Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, lyrics by Tim Rice

1st July 2003, 07:25 AM	#7
SteveW Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 265	Quote: Originally posted by Brown I recommend "Scarne on Card Tricks." Some of his tricks involve very simple manipulation, but nothing that would be "sleight-of hand." You won't learn flourishes in this book, however, such as fanning or false shuffling. I had forgotten that book. It's got some good effects in it using little or no sleights (mainly misdirection). I actually remember learning some of my first effects from that when I was a kid (Card On the Ceiling( being one of them). Scarne was a great manipulator (although not a great magician, IMHO). Thats him doing the fanning and dealing in The Sting btw.
SteveW Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 265

27th June 2003, 02:03 PM	#3
rustypouch Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Calgary... Posts: 2,585	I have, among other things, a copy of 'The Royal Road to Card Magic' by Jean Hugard and Frederick Braue. I find it does an excellent job of explaining the basic principles, and it has dozens of relatively simple tricks.

27th June 2003, 02:22 PM	#4
NoZed Avenger Bitter Whiner Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 8,411	The above books are good. The Royal Road is an exceptional book. A basic, general magic primer that includes a small amount of cards is Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. You can find copies around for $15, and used ones much cheaper. Well worth the price for someone starting out.