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zwevie New user Belgium 36 Posts |
Has anyone got this book? Is it good? review needed.
Swami Mantra - Sam Dalal greetz zwevie
If anyone likes to discuss on msn, add me greetz
zwevie@hotmail.com |
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Gede Nibo Inner circle 2447 Posts |
A classic in its own right; full of ideas, some outdated, some timeless; NOT as "Bizarre" as we are always led to believe, but the layout alone is reflective of a bizarrists mind...scattered, organized chaos if you will...
he covers the sideshow stunts as per glass eating, fire eating, fire/glass walking (I think) and needle thru eye, razor blade stunt... also he delves us for a few moments into the ancient magic of India and the far east..how to "cook" rice in real time using nothing more than a regular bowl and uncooked rice... way too many card effects than I would have liked, but then again, theres a lot of card effects that you can easily creates your versions of, using the seemingly rare principles (at least I never seen some of these techniques in a conventional magic book)... chemical magic is covered in there here and there as well, and I'm sure some of the chemicals hes talking about have long since been known to kill you but who knows... overall I give it a 8/10 and this is mainly for its absolutely ORIGINAL approach to both magic and formatting! lol...it is, afterall a collection of those magazines from back in the day and its easy to see this in the formatting..youll see what I mean... as far as simplicity, well I think that's about a 6.5/10 dues to two reasons: ~hard to find some of the chemicals one might need for the killer efffects and ~some tricks are so Involved that by the time youve done one effect, your ready to stop the show and as far as "Bizarre" I give it a 8/10 for the sideshow stunts alone...the other bizarre effects are good, but the hindu inspired sideshow vibes suit me best... in any case it is ABSOLUTELY worth the price of the book..its an experience in itself..youll need a cigarette when you done reading, e'en if you don't smoke hope this helps...I just had some black tea, and so I HAD to but in Baba |
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Harley Newman Inner circle 5117 Posts |
It's absolutely worth the price.
But if you want to learn stunts, please find a living human being as a teacher. There is no book that covers some of the things that need to be learned, and even the best of the few available books, leaves a lot to be desired.
“You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus” -Mark Twain
www.bladewalker.com |
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Slim Price Inner circle 1935 - 2006 1326 Posts |
Read all you can about S/M before you buy it. I use it myself from time to time, but don't think of it as a bible for sideshow things. Much of what it says is incomplete and obsolete. Although I write Slim's sideshow notes (and purposely overwrite them)no one can help someone misreading a statement. My favorite was sending several posts to someone about how to band-aid a thumbtack to his thumb and I still wonder if he got it!
Beyond that, a meat teacher can see your errors better than you can, and likely correct you before you master the art of really damaging your self. Listen to Harley, Todd and, myself, at least you have a chance of doing it right. S/M will be very different from what you expect.. (It took me about a year to understand the index...) Beginning Sideshow Arts I sometimes get mail asking about how to start learning sideshow arts. This is my answer, First you need to analyze your self, and your reasons. If you want to learn to impress the guys at the bar, or your frat buddies, or to get girls, forget it! By and large, the acts are dirty, invoke some pain, take years to learn properly and you will find that “normal” people will look at you as something less than normal. The acts will probably cause you medical problems later in life, or immediately. It isn’t like magic at all, the damage you do to yourself can last for years. I often think that in our current media society, people think an accident (there will be some) goes away at the end of the clip, or movie… This is not true. An accident can take weeks or months to recover from, and can even cause you permanent disfigurement… The best (only) way to learn is with a pro teacher who has lived this life. I don’t mean the kid at 7/11 who sucks fire from a Bic. I mean a working professional. Learning from a book is the worst way to get this knowledge. I think I have read most of the books on the subject, and I am often appalled by errors, missed points, plain lies and oversights, all of which can bite you! Even when you know it all, a pro can see a lot of things you will miss, and might save you a lot of damage to yourself or others. Slim’s notes are overwritten to prevent as much of this as possible, but sometimes surprising interpretations slip in. I remember writing several additions to a note to clarify putting a Band-aid over a thumbtack... Most of the people who chose to start learning sideshow acts are young, impressionable, frequently misfits, and are looking to make some kind of mark. “See what I can do!” This is understandable, but the fact is that there are a lot of better, easier, cleaner, and more profitable ways to make a living. Working at McDonald’s will earn you more, and you won’t spend most of your time looking for the next gig. Even the best performers have dry spells. Although most of the acts however, dangerous, are simple, few initiates realize the need for learning to be an entertainer. This is really what separates the tyros from the pros in every field, not just sideshow work. Theater skills are what will make the money and work for you. If you are still in school take advantage of your theatrical options, acting, stagecraft, voice, costume, scripting, learn anything and anything you can. If you are a “civilian,” do the same. It’s an investment sure to pay off… Don’t try to learn everything at once...There are dozens of nuances in any single act that can only be learned by exploration. Mastering one act and doing it well, (and adding your own persona) will always serve you better than “shotgunning” several badly done stunts. When you begin working a sideshow act, the first thing you will want to do is ‘push the envelope.” This, more than anything else will get you in trouble… Give your art a little time to nurture, until you really understand it… Above all, learn from a pro mentor. An after thought : Learn to stop calling what we do "Geek Magic." That is a term that real sideshow performers find very offensive. Geeks were the lowest form of sideshow performers, Low drunks and junkies who would eat the grossest things. Live snake heads. Live chicken heads, for example, just to get a fix... Jim Rose is not a good example of true sideshow work. Although he introduced a whole new generation to sideshow acts, his methods of presentation leave, for me, a lot to be desired. Sideshow work does not need to be presented in a gross, frenetic manner as he does. Why do I mention him? He is, I think the person most likely to have misused “Geek”, as in his claiming to do “Geek Magic.”
sanscan@tds.net
"I will never bitter be, as long as I can laugh at me!" "The people who were dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music" |
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Black Hart Elite user Scottish Highlands 475 Posts |
Hello
I have the Swami/Mantra collection book. In my opinion it is worth having, in that you can glean some useful stuff from it. Much is old fashioned and unperformable, I feel, but there is also much that you can learn and adapt. Keith Hart
Black Artefacts, manufacturer and dealer of weird, bizarre and psychic magic: www.blackhart.co.uk
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zwevie New user Belgium 36 Posts |
Ok, thanks guys. There's also a dvd, Geek Magic by Tomas Medina. In comparison? Is that than a good combination(the book + the DVD)?
If anyone likes to discuss on msn, add me greetz
zwevie@hotmail.com |
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ssucahyo Inner circle 1954 Posts |
Yes, the book is good.......especially if you do bizarre magick...there is a lot of idea, some of that is old and rare.
CC |
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JAlenS Inner circle Utah 1526 Posts |
I've adopted several effects from S/M including passing needles from eye to mouth to eye although I haven't performed it for anyone other than that ugly guy in the mirror. The caution statement is there for a reason other than selling the book.
It's chock full of great stuff that not everyone would want to use. The thread from stomach effect is creating my reputation as I write. Even if you don't use anything from the book it is a tremendous read and may spark some new ideas. |
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Jerome Finley V.I.P. SLC 3419 Posts |
The needle from eye to eye is a real rep. maker.
The book is a more than worthy addition to any library. -J
"Join my update list here!" http://eepurl.com/uE3Jf
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Traveler Special user 549 Posts |
I just have to bump this up... How safe is that eye 2 eye effect ? I know the method, but putting a needle... in your eye... The thought alone...
But the effect IS intrigueing... |
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fishwasher Inner circle B'ham uk 1231 Posts |
I was wondering what needles do you use for the needle from eye to eye?
or have you gone to a jewellers like it says in the book and had some made? thanks |
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Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
Ya gotta be nuts to do this! Eyes are too delicate and too important. The chance of an accident is too great, especially if you learn this from a book. Please, if you have to do this, learn it from someone who really knows about such things.
Bill
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
<BR>A TASSEL ON THE LUNATIC FRINGE |
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gsidhe Inner circle Michigan 1725 Posts |
I would not use the swami mantra to learn ANY of the Sideshow Arts, and sticking needles in your eyes would definately qualify.
Basically...Ditto what Bill Said. Gwyd |
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Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
The problem is that kids, young guys, won't listen to experienced and knowledgeable people. They'll go ahead and try it anyway. It is always the "New Guys" that ask about such things and want to learn from a book. Please. kids, avoid disaster! Don't try something like this from a book! If you just have to do it, learn from someone who knows!
I have a book about side shows that begins something like: "I got the job as fire-eater the night the Great Flambini exploded." Yeah, it can even happen to the pros. What chance do you have with only your book? Bill
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
<BR>A TASSEL ON THE LUNATIC FRINGE |
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pkg Inner circle The City of Ithobaal I son of Hiram I 1356 Posts |
Swami Mantra....SM...S&M....
Double posters should be shot!
No really!! |
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Jay Are Inner circle 4186 Posts |
I'm reminded of something Teller (of Penn & ) said in an interview sometime ago...
"We do things that appear dangerous, folls do things that really are dangerous..." I think more of the new guys and gals should take this warning to heart. I second everything that has been said here...
xxx
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Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-11-27 09:42, pkg wrote: LOL!
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
<BR>A TASSEL ON THE LUNATIC FRINGE |
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pkg Inner circle The City of Ithobaal I son of Hiram I 1356 Posts |
the avatar is a picture of me after playing around with Swami Mantra!
Double posters should be shot!
No really!! |
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Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
ROTFLMFAO!!!!!
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
<BR>A TASSEL ON THE LUNATIC FRINGE |
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Bill Ligon Inner circle A sure sign of a misspent youth: 6437 Posts |
In all seriousness, if you show the needle in the eye thing to anyone in the medical field, or, in fact, anyone who has a smattering of knowledge of anatomy, they are going to know EXACTLY what you are doing and will be impressed only by the idea that your IQ is no bigger than your shoe size.
If something appears to be dangerous, but is not, people will be impressed. If something is really dangerous, but appears not to be, people will not be impressed. The second situation applies to this effect (needle in the eye), I think. By the nature of the effect, people will assume that there is a TRICK involved (more than the T*** D***), and will find the thing not very impressive. (Do you think people really believe you are pulling those little red balls between your fingers out of thin air? It's the same kind of thing). I apologize for harping on this, but I don't want to see anyone hurt. Bill
Author of THE HOLY ART: Bizarre Magick From Naljorpa's Cave. NOW IN HARDCOVER! VIEW: <BR>www.lulu.com/content/1399405 ORDER: http://stores.lulu.com/naljorpa
<BR>A TASSEL ON THE LUNATIC FRINGE |
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