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Emily Belleranti Veteran user Tucson, Arizona 349 Posts |
I've been keeping a magic journal for about 3/4 of a year. I keep it in a spiral notebook. (I've had some bad experiences with computers and stored information.) It's not very organized, but I manage to find things.
I've filled it with presentation plots, ideas for routines, notes on performance experiences, etc. It's very interesting to go through things you wrote half a year ago, and see what your opinions were like then, and how they have changed. I remember reading an essay Eugene Burger wrote about Jeff McBride. He mentioned that Jeff has kept many notes while he's been in magic. At their Master Classes Jeff goes through his process of keeping a journal. Eugene says the students sit there with their mouths slightly open, amazed at the thoroughness Jeff applies. Keeping a journal has proved to be very valuable for me. I would definitely recommend it to any student of magic.
"If you achieve success, you will get applause, and if you get applause, you will hear it. My advice to you concerning applause is this: Enjoy it, but never quite believe it."
-Robert Montgomery |
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Craig Matsuoka Loyal user Kailua, Hawaii 271 Posts |
Erik,
Your page numbering discipline is wise. I thought the photo of a Skinner notebook in Genii was pretty neat. Apparently, Skinner would include a kind of "table of contents" with his notes. I don't remember exactly, but it didn't look like he organized the entries in any particular schema. It was more of a listing than a convenient reference tool. |
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Paul Inner circle A good lecturer at your service! 4409 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-11-06 23:27, Peter Marucci wrote: I agree wholeheartedly with this and have always recommended people should do so. But being totally disorganised myself it's a case of I never get around to it (well, briefly, on and off). But I recommend it because I KNOW I've forgotten much, so it's a case of "learn from my dumb mistakes." However, there are three types of notetaking being described in this thread. 1)The jotting down of trick ideas (as in new plots or different methods) that suddenly occur to you. 2)Recording of experiences and thoughts developing from those. Could go in book one but best recorded seperately. 3)The organised file carding, cross referencing of information on trick location, perhaps abreviated reminders of working. Certainly for number 1 a small notebook should be carried around, and left by the bedside at night. Saves writing on the back of envelopes, bus tickets and other available scraps of paper, (my home is full of scraps of paper which usually get lost) and NEVER believe you will remember something the following morning. For every one you do there are many you won't! Number three is also something our most creative magicians have done, people like Stewart James etc. That alone is enough to suggest the procedure has merit! So, if you are starting in magic, start picking up the good habits now. Always more difficult to adapt later. Paul. |
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erik New user Bucks County, PA 90 Posts |
This is exactly what I am trying to do, create and practice good habits. The note-taking is just one aspect.
The three types of note-taking is breakdown makes sense to me. I already carry little notebooks where I jot down ideas, things to do, shopping lists, etc. My goal is to transfer the scraps to their 'home' when I get home. I admit, that often the paper pieces pile up, and things can get lost. But, now that I have magic-dedicated journals at home, I have a place to copy the key points, at least for the magic notes. What I have done with the page number is this: I started a 'table of contents' on the first page, leaving the second page blank for growth. Then, I have started different 'threads' on the pages that follow, adding them to the TOC as I go. When a topic threatens to overflow onto another topic, I skip ahead to a blank page after adding "continued on page xyz". (sort like newspapers). |
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TheCaffeinator Regular user Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada 126 Posts |
Ever since I purchased my Handspring Visor Platinum PDA, it has been a near-indispensible tool for me in magic management. I compile lists of effects and sleights to learn, lists of work in progress, practice schedules, routines, bibligraphies, video/DVD wish lists...etc.
I also use it to take notes for creating effects, and I recently began designing a software program that uses the PDA to reveal a selected card. Unfortunately, it's been put on hold since I stepped on my PDA the other day and shattered the screen. I would highly recommend buying a PDA; you can get basic ones now for dirt cheap -- you don't have to go the full wireless/internet-access/color-screen/mega-memory route. A simple PDA just a few steps up from a classic GameBoy is all you need (in fact, my GameBoy WAS my first PDA...but that's another story). |
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MattWayne Special user Manhattan, NY | Studio City, CA 624 Posts |
I have about three notebooks of notes that I've taken. I either take notes when watching a lecture- and a really awesome move that I might see (jot down the name of it), or I just take notes on illusions or tricks that I think would be kinda cool to produce. I come up w/ so many blueprints for stuff. It's neat because I am coming up with this clear case shaddow box. Now I've never seen it done- so I think it would be neat to make- and to me it fits my style. That's the ultimate goal when I take notes- to be as original as possible with my ideas. The notebook also serves as a foundation for scraping non original ideas.
Tomasko
Matt Wayne
The Celebrity Magician™ www.CelebrityMagician.com / youtube.com/celebritymagician / twitter.com/RealMattWayne / Facebook.com/CelebrityMagician Creator of, 'Got a Light?' and others. Spokesperson behind, TouchTricks |
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kihei kid Inner circle Dog House 1039 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-11-07 14:25, Burt Yaroch wrote: Ditto.
In loving memory of Hughie Thomasson 1952-2007.
You brought something beautiful to this world, you touched my heart, my soul and my life. You will be greatly missed. Until we meet again “my old friend”. |
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redstreak Inner circle A.K.A David Kong 1368 Posts |
I have a binder with divided sections that has everything magic-related. Ideas, routines, lines, patter etc. I also have a notebook or at least a sheet of paper by my bed. I come up with a lot of stuff trying to get to sleep.
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Marshall Thornside Inner circle chicago 2016 Posts |
I keep an online journal as a part of my website.
Its a place where I can write publicly, for friends only to see, and privately. It automatically archives and you can get feedback from various communities you belong to. Its a great tool and encourage both online journaling as well as scribbles on paper, which I am a habitual user of also and then I find a stack of papers and a lot of stuff to go through. Either way is good. Both is even better. Because if you are there and not here and your paper notes and there that isn't good. so online is a bit nicer too. you can view my journal here: http://www.livejournal.com/users/mai_ling or through my website http://www.mai-ling.net
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista 7th greatest pianist in the world Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador www.mai-ling.net |
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Rob Johnston Inner circle Utah 2060 Posts |
I write down my thoughts on Magicial theory and ideas.
From that, I can see how I grow and develop. It also gives me great ideas.
"Genius is another word for magic, and the whole point of magic is that it is inexplicable." - Margot Fonteyn
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Dan Magyari Regular user San Francisco, CA 173 Posts |
I keep a notebook, but I use it all too infrequently. I use it to solidify my thoughts, create presentational angles, jot down questions to reflect upon. For me, the act of writing helps get those thoughts in my subconscious - where the real work happens.
During the rare occasions when I look back at past passages - these are some moments of real magic.
Everything you do -- everything -- has your signature on it. Regardless of whether you intend it that way or not. And that's how people perceive you.-George Ledo
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Mike Wild Inner circle NY, PA, TX, MA, FL, NC 1290 Posts |
I'm a big fan of the PDA, and a small digital voice recorder. These two items are always in bag, and my bag is always with me. I use MS Outlook: Journal- To track performance notes and ideas, Tasks & Calendar - to track appointments and dates, Browser interface to download or surf on-line material, and Notes - for reminders. With Outlook on the PDA and a hot sync for my PC, I'm usually good to go. The voice recorder is for those moments where a great line or storyboard idea hits me. They always seem to strike me at the worst, most inconvenient times. Now whenever a good word or phrase hits me, I record it.
All the Best, Mike |
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~Raven~ New user 11 Posts |
Journal and notes also.
"For those who believe, no explanation is necessary.
For those who do not, none will suffice." Joe Dunninger |
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Tspall Regular user Lumberton, NC 147 Posts |
I have a custom Access database that I use for recording effects I know or want to know (my "wish list"). I can sort them in a variety of different categories, such as card or close-up.
I've also got a papper planner that I use for quick notes until I can get home and put it into the database, plus a digital recorder in case I can't get to the planner. Remember: don't write and drive... I still have an old notebook that I used to write things down in from books I had checked out of the public library. I ended up tracing diagrams to help explain the notes. The important thing is to use whatever you're most comfortable with. If you're not a computer person, go with a nice notebook. If you're technically minded, there's tons of software you can use such as Outlook, Access, Word, and a lot of shareware. |
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El_Lamo Special user Canada 589 Posts |
I keep a e-journal in word for all my performances. I include the date, set list, and an analysis of what worked and what didn't with suggestions for next time.
I have tried keeping track of effects with post-it notes in the various books. Everything look messy! A journal of daily reading, practise seems to be better for me. I tried the suggestion of keeping card effects written on old playing cards and cycling through them, but I got out of habit. Still it seems to be a good idea that might work for others. The better you document what you are doing, the easier it is later to review. Cheers - El Lamo
Life is a system of circumstance presented coincidently in an illusory way.
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Masimax Regular user Italy 104 Posts |
When a learn a new trick usually I write down my version, or I keep a photocopy of the explanation if it is well explained and illustrated.
It's useful to remember the correct pattern and moves. Massimo Pulidori |
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Jhonsky Regular user Hawaii 112 Posts |
I guess taking the time to write them down is a really good method of collecting tricks. Otherwise, plenty of tricks would be forgotten and only favorite tricks remained freshly in the mind. I do that
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Hideo Kato Inner circle Tokyo 5649 Posts |
Before I started noting in computer, I had had 15 notebooks of almost 100 pages each. That means I have noted 1500 pages. After I started noting in computer, I have noted about 2400 tricks. Very recently, I started to note all of my everyday creations on my web-site. I have written about 260 pages so far after I started it on January 1st this year.
I was almost about to forget that I noted my 204 creations in Secret Session of Magic Café. Hideo Kato |
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Rafa Regular user Costa Rica 102 Posts |
Hi,
If you´re new to this forum, pay close attention to Peter and Uri, they´re always good help! I read a lot but don´t write a lot. Anyway, it´s EXTREMELY important that you have notes. I keep a simple notebook (not Palm) because of a simple reason: you can scratch and paint arrows and passionately underline, and draw fingers and different colors... easily. I have an internet company so I´ve tried almost every gadget out there, but there´s a very important thing that Uri says, and it´s the easy way of having notes that you picked over the internet. Unless you are Funes, you should really take notes about many things. How the trick works, highlight parts that BECAME important once you tried it for the first time, variations you tried, what you did when it went wrong, new solutions for the same problem, etc. |
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Masimax Regular user Italy 104 Posts |
If someone could be interested I've shared my access 2002 database for magic tricks.
It's in Italian language, but anyone can change the labels in English, French or ecc. To print the tricks with images, the button is into the form called "Immagini del gioco". I've made a link to a simple image in a directory "c:archivio" you should have this or change the link into the image object in forms and report. Hope it can help. You can find it at : http://www.glorfindel.it/Archivio.zip |
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