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Magic Oli New user Australia 84 Posts |
Hey Guys,
What would you need to buy to start learning the cups and balls and how much would it cost? No expensive cups or combo cups please Just want to see what you guys think is the best beginner set and training package Oli |
wwhokie1 Special user 512 Posts |
Bazar de Magia makes a decent and inexpensive Cups and Balls set - the best cheap set I found. The Aluminum version you can get for $25 at penguin magic, $40 at most other places. For another $35-$40 you can get the Bob White dvd on cups and balls. The Ammar dvd's (there are two volumes) would be another wonderful teaching tool, but to get both will be a bit more expensive, $50-$60, of course you would be fine with just Vol 1. Ammar also has a book version of his teaching for about $35, for those of us who learned to read in elementary school. I get the impression you are trying to keep the cost down. The cheapest combo would be Ammar Vol 1 plus the $25 cups and balls set which would be a total of $50. The cheapest way to get it all would be the $25 cups, White dvd and Ammar book, keeping you under $100.
To compare the Ammar and White dvds: White covers fewer moves but goes into a lot more detail about each move. I appreciated the detailed discussion by White and found him to be more helpful in learning to manipulate the balls. Personally, I like the White dvd to get started, and then would add the Ammar material to expand on your routine. But you cannot go wrong with either. When you are done with the White dvd you will be able to perform a nice routine, the tools in the Ammar set will give you the ability to develop any routine you can conceive. Some people would recommend the Ammar dvds as the place to start, as I said you can't go wrong with that decision either. |
Magic Oli New user Australia 84 Posts |
Thank You I've also found the NMS Vampire cups, they are black and made of spun aluminium and come with two sets of white and red crochet balls for around $23 does anyone know anything about this set?
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wwhokie1 Special user 512 Posts |
Not familiar with the Vampire cups, but I would have some concern about the black paint chipping off as I worked with the cups. Compare the dimensions of the cups, that will give you some information. The Bazar de Magia cups are a little bigger than your standard cheap cups, allowing for a larger final load. Each cup measures 3.25 inches tall and 2.75 inches in diameter at the mouth. Have no idea the dimensions of the Vampire cups.
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Magic Oli New user Australia 84 Posts |
Ah ok thank you
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55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Oli - if you are budget constrained, I would skip the cups and get the material. I'm a fan of Ammar, he is a great teacher. I haven't seen White's DVD. But I would buy both Ammar DVDs rather than one DVD and a set of cheap cups.
You can use regular cups - coffe cups, paper cups, plastic cups, anything. For balls, you can use any one inch balls. You can use olives if you like. Cherries. Go to a dollar store, toy store, whatever, and pick these up cheap or find something around the house. The knowledge is way more important than the props! Hudson |
Eric Caldwell Regular user Kentucky 156 Posts |
I have the Ammar DVDs. If this is your first foray into magic I could see a need for slightly more in-depth conversation about the moves. If, however, you are familiar with palming techniques and basic magic concepts I would unequivocally recommend the Ammar DVDs. I do not have both the Ammar and White DVDs, so I think wwhokie1's opinion should hold more sway than mine.
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frankvomit Elite user 485 Posts |
Yeah ditto to what Hudson said and just to add check out penn and tellers cups and balls I guarantee that costs less than 10 bucks.
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wwhokie1 Special user 512 Posts |
Quote:
On Nov 2, 2014, Eric Caldwell wrote: Agree,if you already have some experience with slights and palming, then the Ammar dvds would probably be preferred. |
KirbyKoolAid New user 54 Posts |
Is there a good one to learn the sleights and palming? It's something that I've tried to work out myself (but to obviously no avail). I have available to me a copy of Tarbell, and even that routine doesn't have an explaination of the palming techniques and whatnot.
I normally stick around cards, but I'd like to be able to do a couple of other kinds of routines well, rather than none at all. |
55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
I am a big fan of Al Schneider's basic vanish. It can be found in The Al Schneider Technique, vol 1 (DVD). I highly recommend this DVD and vanish - it is applicable to all small object magic and is the workhorse for my close up.
Hudson |
wwhokie1 Special user 512 Posts |
Ammar and AL Schneider Vol 1 would be a great combo. And as Hudson said, any cups will do. Just depends on your budget. I don't have the Schneider video but have heard great things about it. From what I have heard it would give the in depth discussion you need for a quality vanish - along with some other very good instruction.
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Malakim Loyal user 206 Posts |
Should one start with "large" cups (2 3/4 '') or does the size of the cup not change the difficulty?
Is a chop cup a good starting point since you just handle one cup and a lot of moves are useful for cups and balls as well? |
55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Malakim,
Regarding cup size, you need to try different ones. Everyone is different - hand size, comfort holding the cups, load size, your performing environment, all matter and there is no right answer as to the size of the cup. I think more that there are cup and ball techniques that can be applied to chop cup than the other way around. I'm a big fan of leaning cups and balls because there is so much fundamental magic going on in a well crafted routine that can apply to all areas of magic. I always recommend that people learn C&B before chop cup , but others have different views. They are different routines. Hudson |
BCS Inner circle 1083 Posts |
Lots of good advice above... The Ammar DVDs are great, I also recommend the routine from Mark Wilson (Encyclipedia of Magic) or Vernon's from Book of Magic. As to Cup size... Find something that feels good in your hands and excepts a final load that you can manage. I work best with Paul Fox sized Cups with 7/8" balls. Limes and lemons for final loads.
Better Cups are on the speedy side, but worth the investment.... They just feel better to the hand and have more heft to them. Good luck, Bruce |
Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
Mark Wilson book is around $20 and loaded with lots of magic. Get three coffee cups from Walmart (see Lance Burton's routine) for another $5. Tin foil balls. Now work on the routine. A lot. Skip the stacking phase.
Like a lot of true classics, C&B is not really super secret. The key is to figure out how to make it entertaining. I have and can recommend the World's Greatest Magic DVDs on cups and balls. Not so much for techniques as for the thinking behind each performer's routine. That is invaluable. Ammar's set is encyclopedic and valuable for that reason. Hocus Pocus Jr is also very interesting for a very early routine if that is your thing. Learn one routine really well and then start adding and subtracting until you get the reactions you want. Patrick |
KirbyKoolAid New user 54 Posts |
I'll have a look for some of the things, thanks. Don't think I'll get proper cups, so just regular ones will do for now.
Nathan |
Magic Oli New user Australia 84 Posts |
I've been practicing with plastic drink cups for a while now and want to get a nice looking set with crochet balls and that so I'd like a a nice relatively cheap set to continue with
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