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erik New user Bucks County, PA 90 Posts |
I am intersted to know if others learning magic keep journals or other notes on the tricks, thoughts about modifying routines etc. If so, what method works for you? Is it helpful? Would you recommend this for a newbie student?
TIA, -erik |
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Jeff Dial Special user Kent, WA 533 Posts |
I have always taken notes, but it has only been recently that I have been a bit more organized.
I have a "composition note book", 80 lined pages with a stiff cardboard cover, that I use to record anything magic. I take it to lectures, write down ideas, and record significant events. As a result it is chronological and not organized in any fashion, but for me just the act of writing it down makes it more likely that I will remember whatever it was I was trying to remember.
"Think our brains must be too highly trained, Majikthise" HHGG
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Erik,
Not only would I recommend it for a newbie student, I would recommend it for the ardent amateur, the seasoned pro -- in short, everybody! The late Sid Lorraine used to carry a notebook with him at all times; his argument was that, no matter how good you THINK your memory is, you WILL forget stuff that you want to remember. So, yes, by all means write it down; in addition, that way you can see the progress you have made, and in what direction you are headed (sometimes that is too subltle to notice in "real life" and, so, a journal is invaluable!) |
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x-treem Inner circle 1133 Posts |
Just an odd addition, besides larger note books, I carry a small one with me everywhere I go, if I see an escape artist performing on the street or anywhere I jot down, where, when, who and what they did.
This is then trasferred into my larger notebook and actually proved valuable once when one escape artist was trying to track another escape artist they had remembered from their childhood.
A direct from text adaptation : The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Starring Mickey Rooney in his final role.
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Daniel Meadows Veteran user Manchester, UK 392 Posts |
In my notebook I record little things like ideas and effects, but I also record the page numbers of effects that I like when I go through a book. This way I can flick through my notebook in search of sandwich card effects and find them quickly. This has saved alot of time when going through 3 volumes of Apocalypse.
Cerberus Wallet, Equilibrium, Counterfeit, Deadly Marked Deck, Infamous, Instinct
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Law New user 94 Posts |
I use an Access database and always carry my Palm Pilot to jot notes.
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Maynooth Regular user Australia 105 Posts |
I suppose I'm a bit old fashioned as I don't have a Palm pilot yet. Anyway, If I find bits, effects or routines that I'm interested in I put them on 3X5 cards and have them in an index file.
I too have notations as to multple references. For example the "Oil and Water" effect I have four or five reference notes as to books it is in and the page numbers. I find that I tend to forget effects that I haven't used in a long while and the cards are always good for a refresher. cheers Maynooth
The race is long and in the end it is only with one's self.
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Burt Yaroch Inner circle Dallas,TX 1097 Posts |
Dude that is an excellent question! I've never heard that one asked here before.
Because a large part of my day is in front of a computer I keep all my notes in a word document. If I think of something on the fly that's what those 52 pieces of paper and Sharpie are for. I'll just jot notes on the face of a card and transfer them to the computer later. "Pick a card, any card...no, not that one."
Yakworld.
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Craig Matsuoka Loyal user Kailua, Hawaii 271 Posts |
Maintaining a detailed (and accurate) journal and notebook has helped me more times than I can remember. Wagner's handling of Christ's 4 Ace Trick is a good example. Fabulous routine, but some sequences are easy to forget if you go for a long stretch without practicing or performing it.
Writing down a distilled outline of the requisite moves in a routine is an invaluable memory and rehearsal tool. In fact, even if it's a routine of your own, don't think you won't forget it - because you will. It's best to put stuff down in writing immediately. Even if it's just a rough outline. I've forgotten many a great sequence by not writing them down pronto. Sometimes, all it takes is a quick glance at the outline to a routine and something will just click in my brain. The moves and patter will come back to me as if I wrote them down only five minutes earlier. Memory...it's a weird thing ain't it? Be sure each notebook entry is accurate and consistently tagged with important details like names, dates, times, places, and source citations. If you make a drawing, don't forget to describe it in a caption or within the main text. Otherwise, years from now, you'll be looking at it and asking yourself, "what the heck IS that thing? Was I high?" Yup. Notebooks are a must. It sure beats schlepping books to and from your bookcase every time you need a mnemonic jog. |
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Uli Weigel Inner circle Berlin, Germany 1478 Posts |
Check out the Windows Software "AZZ Cardfile"
http://www.azzcardfile.com/ "AZZ Cardfile is a Windows program that helps manage any personal information like addresses, phone numbers, references, notes, recipes. It can serve as personal organizer, contact manager, address book, rolodex, personal information manager (PIM) or small database software." I have used it for some time, and I highly recommend it (I now use a similar german software). It's very easy to use, costs only 12$ (shareware, you can download and try it for free)and is very useful for magicians puposes. Uli |
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rvigon Loyal user uk 266 Posts |
also if you just want to measure progress video tabe your self over a few mounths of practicing and then you can see how much youve improved as well as where you can still improve this is good because you will never find a betor critick than your self its also amazeing watch ing youre self back and seing it how the specks do for a change
"No brilliance is required in magic, just determination and relatively clean fingernails."
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Stuart Hooper Special user Mithrandir 759 Posts |
I keep a little red notebook full of descriptions of all my good stuff and Sun Tzu quptes. It's useful in planning routines and stuff. Also, you can glance at it when you want some fresh ideas. It fits in my pocket. "If you know your enemy and know yourself, you will be the winner in hundred battles"-Sun Tzu
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x-treem Inner circle 1133 Posts |
I've alway thought about using computers but I've heard stories of viruses and crashes wiping data bases and all that hard work is gone, that is why I use a notebook.
A direct from text adaptation : The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Starring Mickey Rooney in his final role.
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jgeist1 New user Baltimore 98 Posts |
My friend and I happened to be shopping together and found a really nice hardbound notebook from Mead that actually came packaged in a set of two (I think it was fate). We write everything done in our journals, and it definately helps to remember things. In a few years when we are more well known in the magic community, we hope to use our notes to compile a book of orginal material. I also get some strange satisfaction knowing that I have a hardbound journal full of scribblings that came from my brain. Weird, I know.
-Jason |
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erik New user Bucks County, PA 90 Posts |
Wow, I am just floored by the great responses I got from all you guys.
Thanks so much! This is really what makes the Magic Café so great! It is obvious that the trading of tricks, resources (best online store, etc), patter and the like would be available in such a forum - this is what one would expect. But, much of this is available elsewhere. Information like: the day-to-day practices, not just sleights but the logistics, that helps make you successful, pro or amateur, this is what makes the M.C. unique. Of course, the replies are largely in support of some sort of notebook system. Everything from carry-around mini-notebooks to software (thanks Uli & Law!) were suggested. I need to figure out what works best for me. I like the idea of putting notes on computer, but like the immediacy of a notebook as well - I might try a combination of the two. Now, if I could refine my question to the subject of paper notebooks. I am trying to figure out how to best organize the information: Do you organize by tricks, types of tricks, or just free-form, writing from the beginning to end of the notebook, dating each page? I ask because I have tried to keep journals for other endeavors, and find that I get frustrated if I can't stick to a format. So, perhaps no format is better? Is it hard to find things if you don't try and enforce a format, perhaps periodic cross referencing would help? I value your ideas on this. I am very visual and tactile, and the act of writing things down helps me a great deal. I like the video idea, and plan to use it when I have the courage! PS, I love Jason's idea of making a book when he hits the big-time! I have no such aspirations, but well kept notes might be inspirational to a young relative. I know that I _treasure_ my grandfather's engineering notes including inventions, build plans and the like! You never know who might value your thoughts in the future! Thanks again for your continued thoughts on this, it is a great help to me... cheers, -erik |
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Uli Weigel Inner circle Berlin, Germany 1478 Posts |
Using software is especially useful to collect all the interesting stuff that comes along while surfing on the net: Interviews, articles, tips from café members, tricks and routines, historical data, genealogy of effects and techniques etc. etc.
If you use a program like the one I recommended, you don't have to manage hundreds if not thousands of separate files. Instead you collect and organize the information in a text oriented database, which needs only a few single files and makes use of a clear hierarchical structure and a powerful search function. You can easily re-organize the data according to your current interests, so you don't have to worry too much about a final format (that's the great thing about text oriented databases vs. table oriented databases like "Access" or the like) And of course you can print the things you need outside of your Computer. Uli |
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erik New user Bucks County, PA 90 Posts |
Thanks Uli. I downloaded the software, but will have to play with it more to see how to use it as you describe.
-erik |
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chrisM Loyal user 219 Posts |
Personally I like to write down, what tricks i have at the stage where i would be comfortable to perform on anyone, basiclly ones i have perfected. I also keep a list of routines with various items, whether its cards or coins or whatever, it helps me plan out my performances and wheneve im asked to perform i know what to do.
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x-treem Inner circle 1133 Posts |
Some of my ideas erik on your past few posts.
My little note book is random as I don't have the ability or memory to take a big one with me most places. The smaller one I keep right by my wallett so I grab it everytime I leave. I have three large notebooks at home, Illusions, Tricks, Escapes for putting the info from the small notebook somewhere other than in its random state, beyond those catagorizations I do not have a system within the books themselves everytime I try to seperate a notebook into catagories I end up filling one section and have only one page filled for another. So it is kind of random. On my Palm Pilot I keep all pages numbers from book ideas stored, so that way I know where they are. Again not likeing to put everything on a computer as I lost over 150 of my poems that way. Do what works best for you. I relied heavily on my Escape notebook when I wrote my manuscript on the subject. X
A direct from text adaptation : The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Starring Mickey Rooney in his final role.
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erik New user Bucks County, PA 90 Posts |
Again, these suggestions have been very valuable for me.
I bought a pair of really nice notebooks from Borders Books. They are made by a company (in the UK?) called 'Paperchase'. Pretty pricey at Borders, so I would like to find a source online and buy in bulk, as I would like to use these for lots of topics. (not just magic, also as lab notebooks). I will try and use the computer software for more text-based stuff - patter, references to books etc. But, I think I will need the ability to sketch on the pages, so paper will be necessary. I plan to keep lists of tricks, ideas, mechanisms that occur to me, etc in a more or less diary form. I will use page number references to help organize the material. Any other suggestions on how to organize these sort of notes would be appreciated. thanks again. |
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