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linhong New user Seattle 74 Posts |
Sorry if similar topic has been discussed before and I meant no disrespect to book authors.
A lot of book authors write their own magic or moves. On the other hand, I know some authors who wrote a lot of books on other people's work. I'm just curious if these authors can do all these moves/effects (the real difficult ones for example) very well. In order to deliever accurate and better descriptions to readers, I have to assume these book authors can execute those moves very well, even they didn't come up with them? Thanks, Bill |
Vlad_77 Inner circle The Netherlands 5829 Posts |
Hi Bill,
In my experience as a demonstator and a pro magician I have met many of these authors and they can perform every single effect they write. Just one example: I had the privilege of seeing Derek Dingle lecture roughly a year before his untimely passing. Derek did practically everything from both the Lorayne and Kaufman written books of his material. David Roth will tell you a cool story of Darwin Ortiz's daily practice regimen. He can do the tale more justice than I. Harry Lorayne certainly can do all the effects in all of his books. What is amazing about Lorayne is that not only does he do all of his own effects - literally hundreds - but bear in mind that he also wrote Best Of Friends (3 volumes) PLUS (along with with Richard Kaufman in the first year and Meir Yedid in the final year) 20 years of Apocalypse. Lorayne learn every routine before he writes them. While I have not read every book on magic nor met every author, each author that I have met can definitely perform everything he writes/creates. Yes you are correct that these authors need to be able to able to perform the sleights they are describing. Once again I will turn to Harry Lorayne and mention that in Apocalypse, Harry Lorayne talks about his difficulty in acquiring the Side Steal. He worked on it and found a solution that works beautifully. So the best authors will even tell you when they have had to adapt a sleight etc. Also, the best authors and here I mean people like Lorayne, Lovell, Ortiz, Lovell, Francis, Wesley James, Giobbi, Youell, etc., go through such painstaking detail that there is no way they could describe the finesses of a sleight without having acquired mastery. If I were to write a book and I have thought of it, but I am a hack so I won't , there is no way that I would even invent a theoretical effect with the bottom or Greek deals because I cannot do them. Sure, I COULD just say "do a bottom deal here," but there are so many approaches to that sleight that perhaps just "any" bottom would not work. I do think your question is fascinating however and I wonder what others have to say. I would hazard a guess that the greatest writers of our art however could really do everything they wrote. Ahimsa, Vlad |
motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
Vlad,
I interpreted his question a different way. For instance, Lorayne has written many books on his own magic, but also authored Derek's book "Dingle's Deceptions". He's also written books on David Regal and Doug Edward's magic. Eugene Burger is another example, he wrote one of Dave Solomon's books. In their case, I believe they have the ability to do many, if not all of the effects and moves they're writing about. How well an author can do the material of the performer he's writting about would, I think, depend on his magic background.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
linhong New user Seattle 74 Posts |
Thanks, Vlad and motown.
First, maybe I didn't say it clearly in my original question. I was only curious whether authors can perform tricks or moves which were created by OTHER people. I have no doubt that for example Darwin Ortiz (my favorite magician) can perform every single trick in his books (books which only describe his own magic), or Derek Dingle can perform everything of his creation in books by Lorayne and Kaufman, even he didn't write those books. I have no question that Harry Lorayne can do all the effects in his books, including Apocalypse and Best of Friends. I saw his videos and his magic is simply amazing. But some authors wrote a lot of more work of other magicians, such as Richard Kaufman, Stephen Minch, etc... I'm not questioning these authors but just learning every single trick/sleight of those many books they wrote probably takes a lot of time, not to mention putting it down in text. Well, I guess that's the life of full time authors Bill |
Ben Harris V.I.P. The Land Down Under 2126 Posts |
I stayed with Darwin for a few days back in the mid 1980s. It is true, his daily practice regiment is astonishing. This is discipline of the highest order.
Cheers Benny
+Inventor of the world famous Floating Match+
+Author: Machinations (Vanishing Inc, 2020)+ EVERYTHING BEN HARRIS |
MagicSteve84 Loyal user 290 Posts |
What is his practice regiment? Just curious...
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panlives Inner circle 2087 Posts |
Do you think Erdnase could do everything in his book?
"Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?"
"To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time." "The dog did nothing in the night-time." "That was the curious incident," remarked Sherlock Holmes. |
Steven Keyl Inner circle Washington, D.C. 2630 Posts |
To my way of thinking the question isn't relevant. It doesn't matter whether or not Mike Maxwell can perform every routine from The Classic Magic of Larry Jennings, for example. What does matter is that he can explain all the moves well enough so that the reader, through diligent practice, will be able to execute the routines flawlessly.
In other words, of far more importance than the author's dexterity is his ability to articulate through the written word all of the arcane movements necessary to achieve "the effect." I believe that was panlives' point... I went with verbosity.
Steven Keyl - The Human Whisperer!
B2B Magazine Test! Best impromptu progressive Ace Assembly ever! "If you ever find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause, and reflect." --Mark Twain |
Sean Macfarlane Special user 880 Posts |
Darwin writes about his practice regime in one of his books. It might be "Gambling Scams"... something like 6 hours a day. I called him once and his voice message said that he was busy practicing and would be available after a certain time. The guy is the real deal.
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linhong New user Seattle 74 Posts |
I would be a little bit disappointed if Erdnase can't perform 90 percents of the moves in his book. Not everybody is a great wrtter. But at least I'd like to see the creator works together with the author to make sure the written descriptions are accurate and include all the subtitles and hints to help readers understand.
My impression is Darwin wears more than 300 decks a year Bill |
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