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Gary Dayton Special user New Jersey 542 Posts |
Three books/manuscripts have really changed the way I think about and do magic. Juan Tamariz’s The Five Points in Magic is an exceptional book on being aware of the power of your attention, movement and voice in performing card magic; Whit Haydn’s 30-page manuscript Chicago Surprise is a brief treatise on how to practically apply magic theory to trick construction and performance and also how we as magicians can profit by incorporating some of the psychological ruses and methods of the scam artist (e.g., 3CM tossers); and finally, Ron Bauer’s Private Studies manuscripts help teach us the value of incorporating some of the techniques of theatre in developing little “plots” for performance. All of these do include sleights and tricks. It is important to note, however, that none emphasize sleights or mechanics. Rather, these are about how to be better magicians and performers. They are not just books about card tricks, but something much more. I believe that these are really unique works, and very valuable ones.
I was wondering if others felt that these kind of things might be worth thinking about and discussing, and, also, whether there are other books out there you have found particularly helpful in this vein? Gary |
Hideo Kato Inner circle Tokyo 5649 Posts |
OUR MAGIC by John Neville Maskelyne.
STRONG MAGIC by Darwin Ortiz. NEO MAGIC ARTISTRY by Sam H. Sharp. SUCCESSFUL THINKING by Mr.Maric. THE MAGIC WAY, SONATA by Juan Tamariz. WIN THE CROWD by Steve Cohen. (I just finished reading this. I think it will be considered as a must book for professional magicians). Hideo Kato |
Alejandro Peterson Elite user México 408 Posts |
T.I.P.S by John Guastaferro
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T. Joseph O'Malley Inner circle Canada 1937 Posts |
Darwin Ortiz's "Strong Magic".
The most recently translated Asciano book "the Structural Concept of Magic" (i think that's the English title). I agree, the Ron Bauer stuff is great for getting you to ask question like "why" and "so what". As a tangent, it reminds me of a part in the book "the Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay", a book about comics/family/magic/life/love/freedom. The 2 main characters go to work in the Comic book industry of the 1940s-50s. They're surrounded by guys who keep coming up with crazy characters. At one point, they begin to question "why" these characters need to exist, and why they're doing what they're doing. Batman is a good example - we know why he dresses as a bat and beats up crooks - he has motivation. Spiderman is the same way - he fights because he has a strong sense of guilt and responsibility over his uncle's death. Bauer's manuscripts have this idea in mind, to a degree. There must be a premise or motivation for what you're doing. Otherwise, you're just being clever and no one likes clever people... The Bauer stuff is good too because he points out things such as why a routine is constructed a certain way. He'll explain things like inherent misdirection, leading the audience to assume one thing so that you're completely set up to zing them, etc. Sorry, these are mostly my interpretations of his ideas so I may be misquoting, misparaphrasing, but you should get the idea. My friend Amazing Dan was telling me about his most recent meeting with Lee Asher, at the Sorcerer's Safari camp. He said that Lee talked about focussing more on the reasons for performing a trick, or magic in general, rather than sleights and moves. He said he was trying to figure out how to give his magic meaning and context. I believe that Mr Asher taught a class at the camp where there were no moves, no tricks, just this sort of analysis. So you're not alone.
tjo'
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Gary Dayton Special user New Jersey 542 Posts |
Quote:
On 2005-10-21 12:35, T. Joseph O'Malley wrote: Yes, this is exactly what I am talking about. I would love to attend something like that and work on it. I've been reading about Gazzo's master Class on the Busking threads. People that go to that work on Gasso's cups & balls and the egg bag, but the laudatory comments aren't about the tricks; instead, people talk about learning presentation, pulling in a crowd, working with the audience, etc. It's a little different, working on the streets, but the ideas are similar. I wonder if to "really get it," you need to work with someone who already has developed it, or can you get it from reading a few books/watching DVDs and then experiementing and practicing? How do you even practice this stuff?! I can sit in front of a mirror and develop competence with a sleight, but how do you develop performance on your own? So much attention is on the newest tricks and the best sleights, etc, but not on this stuff. I'm glad there are others thinking about this, too. Gary Hideo, What is Win the Crowd about? |
elmago Loyal user Northridge- Los Angeles, CA 272 Posts |
Fitzkee Trilogy
Magic and Showmanship by Hemming Nelms Mastering the Art of Magic by Euguene Burger Amature Magicians Handbook by Henry Hay. Chapter One was eye opening to me. Miguel Rangel
"Excellence is not a single act; it's a habit" Shaq quoting Aristotle after winning NBA MVP.
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paisa23 Inner circle 7293 Posts |
From what I heard
Strong Magic I just ordered Mastering the art of Magic by Eugene Burger The introduction to Carneycopia is great. (still reading through the effects)
June 22 2012 9:02 AM baby Usnavi was born!
http://twitter.com/paisa233 http://www.facebook.com/people/Wilder-J-Rua/505202382 http://www.myspace.com/wildrua |
Amir Loyal user New York. 296 Posts |
Strong Magic - Darwin Ortiz
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tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
OUR MAGIC, and there is short version of it called: Maskelyne on the Performance of Magic.
Rather than just give book refs I would like to hear some discusion on the ideas contained in them. If that is allowed. Thanks Gary a great topic. Regards Tommy
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
Carneycopia
leading with your head maximum entertainment the ostritch factor pocket power
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
Charlie Justice Inner circle Mount Dora, Florida 1142 Posts |
Frank Starsini named it and I second it. Leading With Your Head by Gary Kurtz completely opened my eyes. I felt like Neo in The Matrix. Although I've read most of the other mentioned books in this thread no other affected the way I routine and perform as impactfully as the Kurtz manuscript.
Not mentioned are the essays in The Worker Series by Mike Close. These should be in a manuscript all by themselves. |
Hostile18 Loyal user London 231 Posts |
This is a very depressing thread. I've only read some of the texts mentioned here, and I really enjoyed all of them. I'd love to read everything people have praised here, but most of them are quite hard to find, and I can't afford them anyway.
But enough self-pity. Derren Brown's 'Absolute Magic' was the last book I read which really made me rethink how and why I perform. Osterlind's 'Principles of Magic' was interesting as well, if a little brief. Some of the stuff in Card College is pretty cool, and there are lots of suggestions for further reading. I'd also say that Ortiz's other books besides 'Strong Magic' are often thought-provoking. His analysis of the routines show exciting practical applications of the theory. Most people would look at you like you were insane if you tried to explain how card magic can be intellectually stimulating... |
TheAmbitiousCard Eternal Order Northern California 13425 Posts |
You can afford my entire list. they are not expensive and all are available.
if you cannot find them, PM me.
www.theambitiouscard.com Hand Crafted Magic
Trophy Husband, Father of the Year Candidate, Chippendale's Dancer applicant, Unofficial World Record Holder. |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
That's a shame the one I mentioned "Maskelyne on the Performance of Magic" cost me $2 but now I see is out of print and they are asking $50 for a used copy. I don't get why it went out print, as it is great book. We should ask Dover to reprint it.
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
Does http://www.lybrary.com offer the book in electronic format?
Glad to hear Lee Asher is going after meaning in magic. I bet that was a good class he gave.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
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Gary Dayton Special user New Jersey 542 Posts |
I will put together a list of the books that people suggested along with notes on OOP and ebooks or other locations where they can be obtained. I think this will be very helpful. I'm a bit out of time tonite, but I'd also like to follow up on Tommy's good suggestion that we discuss a bit about the books that are listed. But, that'll have to wait for tomorrow.
Thanks everyone who posted references for us -- it's a very useful start. Gary When will they ever put up Tally Ho's anyway? |
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