Hi everyone...

If someone were looking to learn card magic, what would be the best DVD training set to learn from? I'm looking to learn the foundation moves and mechanics that anyone looking to become a great card magician would need to learn in order to move forward.

Don't know if it "works" for a rank beginner - but you might want to check out my 4-volume "Best Ever" DVD set.

Jasonh1982,

there has been a discussion going on for a few weeks on this.

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......forum=41

My recommendation goes to this Card College DVD series (4 DVD's in total) which cover, more or less, the first two volumes of the Card College Books.

Mark

I second the Card College DVD series. I have it and refer to it often.

I would suggest the complete course on card magic DVD set by Gerry griffin and magic makers. It is a good value for money starter set for the beginner.
For a bit more money, I also think the big blind media card magic essentials box set is very good. Their various self working DVDs, and Jon Bannon move zero sets, are also nice additions for the beginner.

Book wise, it is hard to beat Harry Lorayne's The Magic Book as a starter. For a little bit more investment you get the Royal Road to card magic along with the encyclopedia of card tricks from Dover reprints. With more money available the first couple of card college tomes, and the card college light book, are excellent, if somewhat OTT for the beginner.

From YouTube, I suggest Julain Mathers Young magician school, and scam school.

Good suggestions TW. I second Gerry Griffin's DVDs along with Giobbi's.

I started with "Daryl's Encyclopedia of Card Sleights" DVDs. 8 volumes total and covers everything you need to know. Great if you need to see stuff in action although I prefer books.

Oz Pearlmans “Born to Perform” DVD. I was never much of a card guy until I got this and took time to watch, learn, and practice, he shows the basics, and gives you routines you can then use the slieghts.

When I was getting into card magic, there were (and still are) tons of good resources for learning the basics. My challenge was finding things in the intermediate range that would both challenge me but weren't difficult enough to where I wouldn't progress. For that, I absolutely love the Malone Meets Marlo set. I couldn't recommend it more.

I'm a fan of John Carey's 'Zero to Hero' from ALAKAZAM. It's taught the way, I think, magic should be. In a light, fun, playful atmosphere.

Here's an article I wrote which answers exactly that question, covering both books and videos:

Recommended Resources for Beginners in Card Magic
https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/view......c=698761

As far as videos go, I second the recommendations for Giobbi video, which you can get here. To get a taste of what it's like, you can check out the first lesson ("Fundamental Techniques") as a free download here.

Oz Pearlman's Born to Perform Card Magic DVD is good if you want something shorter, but it really focuses on teaching you sleights needed for four main routines, whereas the Giobbi course is much more thorough and comprehensive. I've personally worked through both of these carefully, and benefited far more from the Giobbi videos.

Daryl's Encyclopedia of Card Sleights, probably the best overall resource on card sleights on video as well Card College as far as books go. Also several others out there I like RRTCM by Rudy Hunter, and my buddy Ben Salinas has several great card magic DVDS out there, Card Weapons, Card Stunts, Showoff With Cards, Amazing Easy To Learn Series, Hot Shot Color Changes, etc. He also has the most comprehensive coin sleights/magic DVD "Modern Coin Magic" as well, and a great sponge balls DVD among many others.

I also recommend the books to along with them RRTCM, Expert Card Technique, Expert at the Card Table, Card Control (Arthur Buckley) Card College, Tarbell, Scarne on Card Tricks, Mark Wilson's Complete Course, The Encyclopedia of Card Magic, The Magic Book and Close-up Card Magic, (Harry Lorayne) The Amateur Magicians Handbook and Learn Magic, (Henry Hay) Greater Magic, etc. All of these were some of my first resources about 40 years ago when I first started magic as a young kid and I still refer to them today. So there are a lot to chose from, Ammar's Easy To Master series is great, as well as the lesser known and underrated "Ultimate Card Sessions" DVD which has like 6-8 hours of material on each DVD.

But the most comprehensive DVD as far as card sleights go and tools to build the foundation to your magic house is definitely Daryl's EOCS followed by RRTCM, and many others out there as well such as Complete Card Magic with Gerry Griffin, and the Tarbell Course also now on instant download, as well as many other card effects and sleights out there on many various DVDS. So there is a lot out there. But I would start with those first, especially EOCS, RRTCM, and the Card College, RRTCM, ECT, and EATCT books. The old Amateur Magicians Handbook is what started my foundation 40 years ago with card magic, and every other genre as well, followed by the others and Scarne on Magic Tricks, Bill Severn titles, Bruce Elliott, Karl Fulves, Annemann, and many many more.

You get so much more with books, but for me VHS and DVD were a godsend to see the timing of a sleight, misdirection, patter, and presentations. So they both compliment each other well.