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#1 |
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is not beauty 2K compliant
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 3,227
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getting started?
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.
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#2 |
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Graduate Poster
Tagger
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Florida.
Posts: 1,163
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NAils, I sent you a PM. (Please don't let this stop other people PMing Nails too!).
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#3 |
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A cruel man, but fair.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: In the conversation pit.
Posts: 842
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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/ha...il&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/ha...il&item=001250 Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. http://www.amazon.com/Mark-Wilsons-C.../dp/0762414553 Hope this helps you get started. |
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"Don't hit me with them negative waves this early in the morning." Oddball from Kelly's Heroes. "I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met." Steven Wright |
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#4 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nyack, NY
Posts: 3,054
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__________________
NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it. |
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#5 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Yorkshire,Uk
Posts: 4,171
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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. |
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__________________
"I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown Photography here
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#6 |
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,926
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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) |
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My kids still love me. |
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#7 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Yorkshire,Uk
Posts: 4,171
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Ah many a day sat reading Completet course,and complete course the sequel!!!
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__________________
"I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown Photography here
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#8 |
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,926
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__________________
My kids still love me. |
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#9 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Yorkshire,Uk
Posts: 4,171
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__________________
"I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown Photography here
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#10 |
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Twin Cities, Canada
Posts: 9,025
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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. |
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__________________
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 |
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#11 |
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,926
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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. |
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My kids still love me. |
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#12 |
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A cruel man, but fair.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: In the conversation pit.
Posts: 842
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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. |
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__________________
"Don't hit me with them negative waves this early in the morning." Oddball from Kelly's Heroes. "I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met." Steven Wright |
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#13 |
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Scholar
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 87
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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! |
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#14 |
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Muse
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Auckland NZ
Posts: 696
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Magic for dummies - good range of easy tricks, perfect for the beginner
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__________________
"I neither believe nor doubt. I am simply trying to verify her assertions." "As an android, I am unable to accept that which cannot be proven through rational means..." - Lt Cmdr Data http://facebook.com/vIQleS |
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#15 |
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Banned
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: some other spring
Posts: 6,852
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The number one best book for the beginner in magic is, hands down, no contest: Klutz Book of Magic. This is not debatable in the least.
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#16 |
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A cruel man, but fair.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: In the conversation pit.
Posts: 842
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Case closed. Mods: please lock this topic. Last one to leave turn out the lights.
My favorite excerpt from the Klutz book:
Quote:
http://geniimagazine.com/forum/cgi-b...=000486#000000 |
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__________________
"Don't hit me with them negative waves this early in the morning." Oddball from Kelly's Heroes. "I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met." Steven Wright |
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#17 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nyack, NY
Posts: 3,054
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So now you brought up that evil Busby guy.
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__________________
NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it. |
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#18 |
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A cruel man, but fair.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: In the conversation pit.
Posts: 842
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__________________
"Don't hit me with them negative waves this early in the morning." Oddball from Kelly's Heroes. "I almost had a psychic girlfriend, but she left me before we met." Steven Wright |
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#19 |
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,926
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__________________
My kids still love me. |
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#20 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nyack, NY
Posts: 3,054
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I thought Card College was the best? Well at least you get a degree when you finish it!
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__________________
NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it. |
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#21 |
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Muse
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 963
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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 |
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__________________
"I think it's better to have ideas. You can change an idea. Changing a belief is trickier... A belief's a dangerous thing. People die for it. People kill for it." Rufus, the 13th apostle, Dogma "You can't prove air." Sylvia Browne www.StopSylvia.com John Kardel |
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#22 |
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,926
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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. |
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__________________
My kids still love me. |
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#23 |
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Banned
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: some other spring
Posts: 6,852
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#24 |
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,926
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__________________
My kids still love me. |
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#25 |
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Banned
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: some other spring
Posts: 6,852
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Wonder twins, activate! Form of: sponge bunny!
I think 'sponge bunny' is actually my all time favorite magical phrase. |
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#26 |
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Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 7,926
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__________________
My kids still love me. |
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#27 |
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Master Poster
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Calgary...
Posts: 2,584
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#28 |
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Pastor of Muppets
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Goshen, KY
Posts: 3,600
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__________________
"I love you like a fat kid love cake." - 50 Cent |
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#29 |
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Illuminator
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nyack, NY
Posts: 3,054
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__________________
NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it. |
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