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alexhui Inner circle Hong Kong 1956 Posts |
When I picked this book, this was already 4 years ago. The reason I bought the book is that Mr Eugene Burger has highly recommend it, which he said serious students of magic should have the book. I took his words and bought the book. When the book arrives, I quickly run through it as if to squeeze as much useful information as possible. I failed...I found little I could use and thought I had wasted a great deal of money.
Four years later, I was raved by Mentalism and was shocked by my naive performance in the past, I picked the book from the shelf again. When I read it again like I was reading it for the first time four years ago, I was delighted by the information in the book which I totally missed in the past. The master, Don Alan, is what I considered a very serious student of magic. He originated few effects, but his effort to put the effect into best play is worth-studying by many fellow students. If you are paying careful attention, you will find every routine is well contructed and rehersed before it is put on the platform. In the book, you can see the birth of routines, I mean, real routines which are thought out seriously. You may not be able to learn any new move or routine as I have tried in the past. But you will learn how to construct your own routine with the proper attitude, which I think the real message the book is written with. I am not sure how many of my fellows will spend the money to buy a book with no effect one may adapt to use. But I am sure the readers will find real value in the book if every sentence is digested carefully. I am sorry not able to give any concrete review of this book. However, I hope students of magic who read this book will put it into their library in future and remember the lessons which Don Alan gave us for our beloved magic. Alex Hui
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Boat Loyal user 255 Posts |
Don Alan was a master entertainer. He may not have created too many effects but the way he put them together and the entertainment value he got of them was what made him special.
Best, Al |
bishthemagish Inner circle 6013 Posts |
I knew Don Alan quite well for a very long time. There are pictures of him and many other magicians at on of my Fathers magic shop parties.
To say inventer from a performers point of view is not really the way to say it. I grew up with a lot of entertainers around and including Jack Gwynne who built his own props. Inventer doesn't cover it. Most magicians like me are adapters. They take an idea from here and another idea from their and they bend and twist it into a routine that fits them and their act. Don Alan liked to hit them right between the eyes with a surprise climax... Socko... But by the time they are finised with an idea it is twisted and tested from shows and audiences into a great routine that will make them money. He was a great magician - one of magic's all stars!
Glenn Bishop Cardician
Producer of the DVD Punch Deal Pro Publisher of Glenn Bishop's Ace Cutting And Block Transfer Triumphs |
AaronShields Loyal user 296 Posts |
I've been a big fan of Don Alan as a performer for years. The Racherbaumer book didn't do him justice. One magician I know aptly titled it The Tragedy of Don Alan. It's more along the lines of Racherbaumer interprets Don Alan's work. Granted, given the limitations Jon was working with, it was probably the best he could do. The best part of the book is the interviews. If you want to understand him, I'd say scrap the book aside from the interview portions, and also watch the Stevens Greater Magic Tape, and the Magic Ranch tapes.
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Michael Bilkis Special user 728 Posts |
I once had the pleasure of seeing Don Alan perform. To say his act was great is an understatement. Read the book and bur the DVD. You will be a better perofrmer for it.
:cucumber: |
KYTerry New user 60 Posts |
Jon Racherbaumer ran into many walls writing this book. Don Alan was ill at the time and angry. He was angry that so many "magicians" were stealing his ideas and performance pieces without permission or recognition.
Mr Alan shut the door on the project and it was after he passed away that Jon decided the record needed to be published for magicians who didn't know the creator of the routines they were using. Jon did a great service to magic and Don Alan by publishing the book. The book is a great companion to the Steven's video as most of the pictures/effects came directly from the video. |
stilson New user 78 Posts |
The Don Alan video is now available on DVD from Stevens Magic. This is a chance to see one of the masters of close up magic at the top of his game.
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Gordon Special user Chicago 692 Posts |
I've never been very satisfied with this book; although I'm aware of Don Alan's contributions to the art, and very much want to absorb what I can from my investment, I find it one of the most lifeless magic books I've encountered. I haven't given up on it yet, but it continually slips towards the bottom of my list as other books do more to grab my imagination. Perhaps I'm just not ready for it, yet.
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WayneNZ Inner circle New Zealand 1013 Posts |
The poor review in magic mag put me off.
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sleightly Elite user New Hampshire 500 Posts |
I beleive that the problem with the poor reviews was actually a problem with the reviewers! At least one of the "big" reviewers trashed the book not because of what was in it, but because of what was not in it. He wrote a review more about the book he wanted to see and not an actual look at the book that was actually published.
I found In A Class By Himself to be a revelation, a studied analysis of a pro's work by a thoughtful and educated scholar who can appreciate the work from a detached perspective. Jon's work lay in the realization that Don's genius lay in knowing what played to audiences and how to play with audiences. Are there flaws in the book? Sure, there are times when Jon's analysis does not jibe with Don's actual philosophy or reasons (the specifics of which depends on with whom you are speaking). Some would argue that this is a major detraction, but the reality is that Don was unable or uninterested in writing the book himself and others stepped up to the plate. I would suggest that it is extrememly difficult for a third party to accurately capture the voice and communicate all the subtle nuances, particularly when the subject has cut himself out of a project. I wish others who have decried the book would do more to set the record straight and less to detract from its usefullness the the student. It is indeed a huge shame that Don was not more fully involved. I personally would have loved to hear more of Don's personal voice in the book, but we are left still with perhaps the most detailed description (and analysis) of a working professional's life's work with an analysis that prods us into asking ourselves the hard questions behind our own actions. There may be one day another book on the life of Don Alan, but until that time, we have this... |
Michael Bilkis Special user 728 Posts |
The book will probably make sense if you watcth the Don Alan DVD or video.
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hocopoco New user 79 Posts |
I have seen many of Don Alan's routines performed before lay audiences.
The material is extemely commercial and NEVER fails to register very well. Although the book was a dissappointment to many, it is still a tremendous resource. After I first purchased this book, I tried to sell it, unsuccessfully. Now I am glad! |
hocopoco New user 79 Posts |
I have seen many of Don Alan's routines performed before lay audiences.
The material is extemely commercial and NEVER fails to register very well. Although the book was a dissappointment to many, it is still a tremendous resource. After I first purchased this book, I tried to sell it, unsuccessfully. Now I am glad! |
owen.daniel Inner circle England 1048 Posts |
I bought this book yesterday after being advised it by another magician.
I must say from first impressions, I am pleased. I read the introductions and notes, and then flicked through the routines...seems like a lot of the basic effects are covered, but in good detail. this is a very good idea, and one which is not used enough. instead of giving just new tricks, variations using props which are supposedly simple (Chop Cup, Invisible deck etc.). I look forward to reading it in more detail. Owen |
alexhui Inner circle Hong Kong 1956 Posts |
Though there are many bad reviews on the book, like what I said in the original post, I still found the book to be very useful.
Very few (nearly none....) original methods/tricks are found among pages, but the real value of this book is the philosophy of performing good magic. One valuable thing I learnt is the 'Momentum' of magic which is not discussed much among magicians...(at least in my circle...). If you watch Don's performance, you can see how energy move through the routines and touch the audiences. It may be hard to observe this, but the secrets are written behind the sentences, not on them. Alex Hui
To support 100% honest and unbiased reviews: Donate by PayPal
For BRUTALLY HONEST consultation for your upcoming projects, PM me. YouTube: Alex Magic Review YouTube: Themis Magic World Instagram: @AlexMagicReview Instagram: @ThemisMagic |
Werner G. Seitz Inner circle 3131 Posts |
Quote: I heartly have to agree with everything you said..
On 2004-10-21 19:12, AaronShields wrote: We have to take the circumstances into consideration.. The book is mainly a transcript from the very good Stevens vid on Don Alans work and so honestly refers to that vid. As mentioned, the interviews are the main and important part to read, the rest can be seen on that vid. Apart from the official vid from Stevens, I luckily have captured many life appearances of Don Alan from many diff. appearances on TV and they are telling me much more then that book.. Still, I would recommend it highly to anybody interested in the finer points of magic..that book is GREAT, but it has to be studied together with the other footage(vids) availabe re Don Alan. He was an outstanding entertainer and magician and a book of that kind simply can't do justice to this.. Racherbaumer did his best, but wiyhout Don Alan able to participate, it only can be second hand info..not Jon Racherbaumers fault, I salute he did that hudge job and made it available..but how sad it is, Don Alan finished life the way he did - as many others -, he deserved a better ending of life..somehow the tragedy of many of magics greatest..
Learn a few things well.....this life is not long enough to do everything.....
( Words of wisdom from Albert Goshman ...it paid off for him - it might as well for YOU!!!- My own magic is styled after that motto... ) |
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