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MarkTirone Inner circle palming not 1 coin, but 1139 Posts |
Finally, The LONG AWAITED review for Joshua Jay's new book, "MAGIC: The complete course". Before I begin, I discourage anybody who does not like to learn good magic, To please click away. Most people who see this
would insist this book is strictly for beginners. To tell you the truth, I cannot decide whether that is a lie, or just REALLY good beginners magic. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- THE BOOK STRUCTURE 5/5 This book was very well put together. The binding was very nice as well as the size and weight of the book. This must way at least 5 pounds. Behind the front cover you will find a DVD which is in a sleeve BOUND TO THE BOOK. He starts wit h a full table of contents then moves on to how to use the book and DVD, Magician slang, introduction, essays, a lesson in deception then the chapters etc. IMPROMPTU MAGIC 5/5 This is the real beginners section of the book, But it includes some nice tricks for people of all skill levels and interests from magic with coins, cards, ordinary objects, and an analysis of sleight of hand. He teaches some grips, palms, forces, and hand exercises. One of my favorite effects on this entire project, Is one that teaches you how to make a blister completely vanish without a trace impromptu. DINNER DECEPTIONS 5/5 This is the perfect chapter for anybody who just learned some cool tricks, and is now looking toward performing magic. But still keeping some of the beginner tricks out of it. You arn't learning how to deal 10 piles of cards and adding and subtracting, But really cool effects like card in bread etc. In this chapter, He goes into lapping beyond belief. You have never seen lapping explained like this. He teaches how to lap salt shakers, bananas, spoons, forks, knives, water bottles, glasses full of liquid etc. Have you ever wanted to change water into wine, Read this section. THE GREATEST CARD TRICKS OF ALL TIME 5/5 This is a cool chapter because in the very beginning he teaches some standard card sleights but they make you look like a total professional. He has pictures of his hands and each part of his hand is labelled so the viewer knows what he is talking about. In this section he teaches sleights, out of this world, an awesome four ace production, card revelations, poker related tricks, things with the invisible deck,PLUS how to make your own invisible deck with something you probably have just lying around the house and much MUCH more! KID CONJURING 5/5 This is the section to show your neices, nephews, kids, pets, or even if you are a professional, you can include all of these great tricks into your regular arsenal of effects. He teaches the coin from ear, gumball from ear, gumballs from mouth, a REALLY cool rope through assistants body illusion, the history of sawing in half, a cool finger through shirt illusion, and my FAVORITE effect in the ENTIRE project, The vanishing pet, which uses a super old concept but the effect is so cool and it can be done for anyone in any country, who speaks any language. such a cool, magical effect. I would be willing to spend any price is he released this as a single trick (if it doesent already sell out!) WORKING MIRACLES 5/5 I know a LOT of professional magicians who also work at an office or have other jobs. This is the chapter for you. It is devoted to magic that can be done at the office and will still fry any audience. Btw, I'm only half way through the book. He does an awesome pen through bill effect that looks just like dough, But is in some way cleaner because you can do it with a borrowed, crisp or wrinkled bill. He has Danny Garcia contribute to this book by adding "Telekineticlip", Which allows you to psychically straiten out a borrowed paperclip, Then BEND that paperclip without mercy. Mathemagic is also a good effect. This is going to turn a lot of you on right here. The 14 dolllar trick on penguin, Is in here. The magic square. He gives you mnenmonics, and ideas and a full perforomance script here. There are book tests spoon bends, even stick predictions which is cool because everybody in America is linked to the stocks somehow. A really nice effect in this chapter is one where you mix cream and sugar into a coffee, and then extract that cream and sugar so the coffee is now black, the cream is in the creamer, and the lid is sealed back on. Also, A sucker is born every minute is tought in this chapter. One of my other favorite effects is karate clip. You stab your finger through a paperclip mid-air, and then it is all busted up on your fingertip. MONEY MAGIC 5/5 As you can tell, There really arnt any disadvantages in this book. Joshua goes through some key essential sleights and warm-ups and then a really nice misers dream routine. I really liked the essay he wrote in here on the bullet catch. Don't even get me started on penny pressed. Just recently, The stretching coin effect has become popular. Jay Leslie is my first known reference, But joshua just killed every other variation of it. He borrows a penny, Then on the spectators palm, flattens the coin, Crushed, expanded, with all the details still on the coin. They can even keep it. Also, a full analysis on the folding quarter and its applications. A really nice one is also where he turns 4 blank slips of paper into four tens and twenties. Also the coin roll and almost all other applications are tought on here, PARLOR PRESTIDIGITATION 5/5 moving on from the other venues of magic, This is possibly one of the hardest to master, Which is why it is in the back of the book (but still not finished ) COnquering the fear of an audience. Joshua gives the hard won knowledge to making your performances great and making them perfect so that your performances are awesome. The ovation position is a professional working piece, so you can produce a full glass of liquid from your jacket without fear of spilling. The hand scam is an effect we have probably all seen that is really cool, But isn't really magic., But can still freak out your friends. Josh teaches the torn and restored newspaper in like 6 pages. There is also a brief bio on Gene Anderson who is one of the most renowned Torn and restored newspaper performers today. Yet another book test. Earth shoes is an awesome production where a rock falls out of your shoe. Not just a rock, But a HUGE rock, Now his full professional performance of the linking rings, This is 8 pages long. TELEPHONE TRICKERY 5/5 This chapter is nothing but over the phone magic. Full proof magic effects you can do any time with your friend thousands of miles away. Does this really need a long explanation to tell you how awesome this chapter is? GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER 5/5 This is THE hardest chapters in the entire book to master. This is for the people who want to start performing magic seriously and even for the more seasoned professional. We can all learn some good from this. Through each chapter, Joshua picked out some of his favorite tricks and put them together into an act that works for him lasting 20 minutes each. There is stuff with close up, money, cards, parlour, kids, and stage. Each of these sections has a checklist and tips for performance. I don't think joshua will really mind if you use these, But why should you? You already learned some killer material and enough to go pro. Now he closes the book OVERALL 5/5 Joshua is one of the best writers and authors of our time. He makes sure everything can be understood with good performance and explanation techniques. The book was well constructed with over 500 illustrations, photographs, and over 300 pages of intricate performance scripts, essays, tricks, and explanations. A MUST buy for anyone interested in magic. You WILL walk away with something that you can use. I know I did. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now it is time to review the included DVD that Joshua made exclusively for this book. It was a very wise choice because some of these effects need to be seen for the reader to fully appreciate them and the impact that they have on the audience. THE LAYOUT 5/5 Joshua did a fantastic job laying out this DVD. I don't think anybody should buy another DVD or even MAKE another DVD until you get this one. This is the best DVD I have ever seen. Everhting from the motion graphics to the transitions to teaching to performing etc. He breaks down each section of the DVD just like his did in the book. Office, cards, money, parlor etc. He performs them in each of the venues like on the street, in an office, durring a live show, at an elementary school. very niiiiiice! PERFORMANCES 5/5 Should I even bother giving each section a rating? They are all perfect 5. The performances like I said, Are where they are meant to be. In the office, street, show etc. He really connects with the audience and makes them understand magic and what it is really about. THE TRICKS 5/5 I already mentioned above why I think he made the companion DVD. If you don't believe some of these tricks will work (and believe me, I was one of them!) he shows you the audience's reactions and how they respond to each type of performance. Joshua gives the best version of out of this world as well so that is a plus. THE TEACHING 2/5 JK 5/5 Joshua goes into a bright white room with his table and explains everything step by step with motion graphics and special effects for some of the tricks to get the full impact of it all. He also gives you some tips and ideas for most of these as well. If you have seen the Daniel Garcia project, all of these tricks have some sort of special teaching style. WHat I mean by this is, SOmetimes durring the explanation, Close up explanations appear on the same screan so there are multiple angle shots including from your view, over the shoulder, on the ceiling, close up, far away etc. OVERALL 5/5 What more is there to say? Josh is an awesome perfomer, a great magician, and he has a keen passion for the art of magic and one of the best practitioners of our time. Nobody beats Joshua Jay. It is just that simple. Pick this up today at your local bookstore! |
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Douglas Lippert Inner circle E Pluribus Unum 2343 Posts |
Great review, thanks for taking the time to write all that detail!
I agree with you in that Joshua Jay has provided IMMENSE value for anyone interested in learning magic well. The DVD alone is worth way more than the list price. If I was pricing the book it would be at least $50+. I'm sure it was priced that low to encourage more people to buy it (that couldn't afford if priced higher) and out of his generosity and love for magic. Thank you Joshua Jay.
Douglas Lippert
Former I.B.M. Ring #8 Secretary |
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MarkTirone Inner circle palming not 1 coin, but 1139 Posts |
Yea. I actually have a pretty reasonable argument though. Just sort of thinking out loud here, but think about it. A lot of people who are searching to learn magic will be learning on the internet. Ok. They go on, find the tricks on youtube, and then be directed to Mark Wilson's book if not going right to Mark Wilson's book in the book store. 5 bucks but it is such a big book. Eliminating youtube all together, do you think they will buy Josh's book or Mark's book? Hmmm. Toushe fransua!
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Douglas Lippert Inner circle E Pluribus Unum 2343 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-01-12 18:51, MarkTirone wrote: Yes, that makes a lot of sense and is probably what will happen. But, Mark Wilsons book is 'old' and young people can't be bothered. Coincidentally I e-mailed Nani Wilson last week for an autographed copy of Mark Wilson's book. I was referring to the fact that Joshua Jay's book is being carried by Amazon.com ,Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc. To have priced it that low in these mainstream book stores just shows love.
Douglas Lippert
Former I.B.M. Ring #8 Secretary |
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MarkTirone Inner circle palming not 1 coin, but 1139 Posts |
I thought WIlson's book was cheeper though. Plus they probably wouldn't know it was old unless they read through it lol
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Mike Ince Inner circle 2041 Posts |
The only complaint I've heard about the book is from magicians. The material is "too good to give to beginners."
The secret of deception is in making the truth seem ridiculous.
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mamutrance New user Ireland, living in London! 46 Posts |
There is some great stuff in there, when I was starting it took me a few years to find material of that good quality, especially OOTW!
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tntjr Elite user 483 Posts |
Just read it cover to cover and liked it VERY much! Not only is it a great choice of material in all categories, but he actually discusses the importance of presentation (premise, etc) and gives presentations with each effect. Very, very well done.
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Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
Got mine yesterday, read it on the plane home.
I've spoken to magicians who were upset that Josh had "given away too much good stuff". Let me address this (as there's no reason to discuss the quality of the production itself. It's stunning, with over 600 clear photos, an easy to navigate layout, etc). 1. "The magic is too good". Josh claims he didn't do this for the money (and I believe him- there are way easier ways to make cash then to spend two years working on a book), but to promote the "art" of magic and create a new generation of people who love and respect magic. If he had, like many beginner books do, published ****, do you think anyone would care? No. They would simply go back online to look up youtube videos. Josh picked strong material, within the reach of beginners, that would elict strong reactions. 2. "He explains material in the repertoire of pros". So? In the 30's cigarette and bubble gum companies were giving away secrets to popular tricks as a promotion, things like the Linking Rings (check out Tarbell's solution). In the 90's Fox and the Masked Magician revealed professional secrets, like the linking rings. Guess what- none of these events, and there were countless others, effected pros all that much. The good ones adapt and the bad ones continue to suck. The difference between Josh and those guys is intent. Josh's intent wasn't to expose, but to teach. I think that's a substantial difference (the reason for the lack of props, despite the cost reasons, is addressed in chapter one). So, in summation, I like the book a lot, and will be using some of the material for sure. Ben
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
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MarkTirone Inner circle palming not 1 coin, but 1139 Posts |
Quote: Not exactly. Everybody deserves to learn magic. Who are we as magicians to tell people how and where to learn magic and what kind of magic to learn? I actually found that a fairly larege bunch of these effects I saw while browsing google when I first got into magic. But there were of course many new ideas I havn't seen before in this book.
On 2009-02-26 15:50, Mike Ince wrote: |
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elgranmago Veteran user 371 Posts |
I met Joshua Jay recently in Lima, Peru at FLASOMA. What an outstanding magician and above all, a great and humble guy. Someone you'd love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with (or perhaps a beer).
Bravo for his book. I haven't seen it buy I am a firm believer in magic having as wide an audience as possible (perhaps the Masked Magician goes a bit too far) so that people, especially young, can take an interest in it and be the "next generation". Isn´t this how we started up in this? Library, TV Magic Cards, Mark Wilson, Bill Bixby, etc. Regards, José
"It´s kind of fun to do the impossible". Walt Disney
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MarkTirone Inner circle palming not 1 coin, but 1139 Posts |
Just a heads up guys, I just got a copy finally of Wayne Kowamoto's book. I'm not one to compare two great magicians but I will be writing a comparison review for you all to read to really see if a $30 beginner's book is better or worse than the $15 magic book, both including inctructional DVDs.
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edh Inner circle 4698 Posts |
Should be an interesting review. I'm looking forward to it.
Magic is a vanishing art.
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mumford Special user 652 Posts |
I want to see a review comparing Jay's and Kowamoto's book with the new Gabe Fajuri beginners book, and see how they stack up to the classic Wilson course.
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Peo Olsson Inner circle Stockholm, Sweden 3260 Posts |
Great review Mark, thanks.
Pictured to the left my hero and me during FISM 2006 in Stockholm.
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acchessor Elite user Nebraska 402 Posts |
I just picked this up from the library, and from first glance, it appears to be a great book. I'll follow up in a few days with my reaction.
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noble1 Special user 651 Posts |
Jay did a great job on this with many quality tricks and a low fee you can't go wrong, just hope not too many of the general public buy this.
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chrusa Special user Connecticut 736 Posts |
Is this the book at barnes and knowble or is it a book at a magic shop
Thanks,
<BR> <BR>Chris Hrusa |
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Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
It's at your normal book store (AND magic stores!)
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
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Kjellstrom Inner circle Sweden, Scandinavia, Europe 5203 Posts |
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