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James Owen New user 41 Posts |
Alright fellow magicians how are you all doing, Fine I hope. What is the best way to learn magic, without getting frustrated.
Best and Kind Regards Take Care all of you |
techneeqs Regular user Ontario, Canada 105 Posts |
What kind of magic are you thinking about getting into? What magic are you intrested in, and then people could probably help you find books and videos to help you better.
And James check your PM when you have a chance. Thanks |
Brian Proctor Inner circle Somewhere 2323 Posts |
I think patience is a key to learning magic. The world's top magicians did not become successful over night. They took years to get where they are. If they didn't have the patience to read everything over and over, practice for hours on end, they would have given up.
Frustrations come easily when you don't understand something. Patience will allow you to go back, study, and see what it is you missed. Another way to learn magic the easy way, find a mentor. Someone who has been in the art for years. Magicians are usually willing to help you out with something if you need it. Advice runs through the blood of a mentor. They are always there for you. |
gimmick1586 Regular user 181 Posts |
Start with sleights (if your doing close up)
and learn one slieght at a time. Master it, then move on. Start with the basics, one at a time. Learn it, and then a trick that uses it, and you build your way up. Trust me, I give you EVER bit of advice you need by telling you this. This is the best way to do it and you will save your self from alot of crap. |
woodmaven Regular user 102 Posts |
I think the best way is to get a good, general beginners book, like Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic -- Choose one or two tricks from each of the sections, coins, cards, silks, rope, etc. You should develop a strong foundation in the basics.
Master these tricks. This is where patience is especially important! Mastery includes more than just the basic sleight - it also means practicing timing, developing patter and being able to give a "presentation" of the trick. This should also give you a good feel for where your interests lie. You can then get more comprehensive works in any areas of particular interest. For example, if you seem partial to cards, you could invest in the "Royal Road to Card Magic" book and Ammar's Easy to Master Card Miracle videos. There are similar compendiums for each area of interest. Then come back to the Café' for continued support and further recommendations on the next material to work through. Also, check to see if there is a local IBM or SAM group in your area. It is invaluable to associate with others of similar interest. Best of Luck - Britt
Friends are our chosen family.
- Britt - |
danny Loyal user England 269 Posts |
I always recommend books to people rather than videos. I think that as a beginer if you are using a video you will have a tendency to copy the performers patter and style, wheras with books you can create your own style and patter. I am not saying that people who learn off videos are bad performers, many of my friends learn off videos and still have their own style, but I have seen people copy performances and it looks terrible.
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Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
The "best" way to learn magic is to get a performer of the caliber of the late Tony Slydini to teach you.
But that's not always possible! Books -- over videos -- are definitely the best bet. Books can give you the essential background, history, and reasoning for a move, trick, or sleight; videos can't do that or, if they try, the can only do it from one point of view. (Other problems with learning from videos are mentioned above.) A good starting point would be: Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic; Harry Lorayne's The Magic Book; The Tarbell books; Bobo's Modern Coin Magic; and an equivalent of Bobo in cards (since I'm not a card worker, I'm not going to recommend a specific book). Go for it! |
Matt Graves Special user Huntsville, Alabama (USA) 504 Posts |
I'll give you some more books to consider . . .
The Amateur Magician's Handbook by Henry Hay Now You See It, Now You Don't by Bill Tarr Mastering The Art of Magic by Eugene Burger Those are all great. The Amateur Magician's Handbook is probably the best magic book I've ever read. I'd say it's at least twice as good as the Mark Wilson book. The Mark Wilson book is really good, too, though - plus you can get it in most regular bookstores. I think you can still order Modern Coin Magic from a regular bookstore. If it's the paperback, it'll be pretty cheap. |
Maynooth Regular user Australia 105 Posts |
The Klutz Book of Magic is a good book for beginners as it has some props/gimmicks and it certainly has a wow factor.
It was one of the first books that I got and it's the one that really got me hooked. cheers Maynooth
The race is long and in the end it is only with one's self.
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Neuromancer Regular user 121 Posts |
Like I often stated here, I prefer Videos (mostly DVDs) to books. I am a visual guy and I like to SEE what I want to learn.
Books have certainly their good sides, but I prefer the video.
cya
Neuromancer |
Tolga Ozuygur New user Istanbul / Turkey 60 Posts |
The best way is to have mentor, without any doubt anad then it would be a personal chice whethere a video or book teaches you better.
Trt to have a mentor, look around and find a seasones magician to teach you. |
Peter Marucci Inner circle 5389 Posts |
Videos and DVDs are fine -- but only AFTER you have the basics, to fine-tune what you already know.
Books are still the best (failing personal instruction) because they can give the background, the history, the variations and subtleties that videos, etc. can't. Learn from a video, you'll end up knowing one way to do something. Learn from a book, you'll know many, many ways of doing it. |
ActuariaLug New user 24 Posts |
In the absence of a mentor, I think one of the next best things is a trusted layperson/guinea pig. My roommate isn't magically inclined but still helps out in identifying my problems with angles and other things.
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phranQ New user Denmark 47 Posts |
Card College by Roberto Giobbi would be an excellent choice if you want to do card magic.
The book is well-written, excellently illustrated and you can really feel that Roberto Giobbi is a true master of cards. |
tla New user Texas 65 Posts |
I have found that the best way to learn magic is with a peer or friend. Find someone who is interested in magic and mutually agree upon a book to study, then work through it together, chapter by chapter. This way you will have someone with whom you can discuss and practice the sleights and effects.
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Sariel Loyal user 258 Posts |
Talon, ActuariaLug, I haven't thought of that..having a friend to help identifing angles and such. Even if he's not into magic at all he can help to improve your own magic from a laymen point of view.
Unfortunatly, I don't have the possibility of having a mentor, so this will have to do. |
Kraminator New user Florida 47 Posts |
I learn the most out of DVD's. But instead of practicing, I watch them all over again....well, its just too much fun to see Bill Malone and his funny lines.
So it might be a good idea to take a book, its less entertaining and might make you try yourself Instead of just watching TV like I do A very good way is to film yourself doing the trick, this is not only giving you an idea about the moves but also you will find out what to say, or better what not to say. Good Luck Kraminator |
ALEXANDRE Inner circle 3024 Posts |
The best way to learn Magic is to dig in ... deep, read and watch anything you can get your hands on, hang around the Magic Café talking to the interesting minds in here, practice, perform small routines when you feel you're ready and keep the passion alive. The frustration, though, is part of any game.
HERE'S A SECRET ...
http://www.lybrary.com/mystic-alexandre-m-354.html |
Mister Hyde New user New York City 87 Posts |
Now you see it, now you dont by bill tarr...and a good friend that you dont have to worry that much about getting caught
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