Hi, I am fairly new to this area of doing flourishes with a deck of cards and would like to learn. I can do simple things like one handed cuts but would like to learn more impressive moves. I'd rather have a challenge so maybe something that would take a lot of effort so I guess the difficultly level can go up to high if I don't need any prior knowledge of how to do a certain flourish and everything is taught on the DVD. Thanks

Hiro

I believe the perfect DVD for beginners is de'vo's Cradle to Grave DVD. I'm a begginner also and things taught on the DVD are quite easy to learn, he is really a good teacher to learn from. It has many flourishes that can blow your socks off!

Venomal

I'm sorry to say I disagree. The moves in Cradle to Grave is easy to get the movements down SLOW. But it is difficult for many to do it right, smoothly and fast.

Many people think Cradle to Grave is easy, but many of them are wrong and most are doing the moves badly without knowing or admitting it.

If you want a good beginners DVD. I would have to say, start of by practicing any move or sleight-of-hand to increase your dexterity first. Then proceed to getting every good flourish dvds available. Mainly the Daryl dvds, Jeff McBride dvds and the future upcoming dvds by De`vo.

The keyword here is talent and dexterity.

Cradle to Grave is perfect for beginners. It teaches you 4 basic fans, basic openers and other easy stuff. But it also has some tough stuff that will keep you busy for a while. CTG is AWESOME!

Phantom

This is not exactly right : the CTG DVD doesn't teach you "4 basic fans, basic openers and other easy stuff".

To have access to these tutorials, you must first buy CTG from superhandz, you must then register to the HL forum and then you have access to these tutorials.

... just to clear things up.

Yeah but you get them with CTG, and De'vo teaches them so who cares. CTG is perfect for beginners. I had it when I started, without CTG I was still doing magic now. I'm happy I bougth it!

Imp

There are two places from xtremehandz.com and ellusionist.com to obtain the CTG DVD. They have so many bonuses and puzzles and prizes, it sure makes it the total package!

Venomal

I guess Cradle To Grave gets the votes. I was going to get the DVD a couple months ago but decided not too.

I was just wondering how practical is the stuff you learn? Do you guys use it often? Like I don't really see myself using the openers and closers, but that is just an assumption before seeing the DVD.

I was thinking a flourishy cut can easily be put into a routine or between tricks. If you wanted to learn fancy cuts, what would be the DVD to get for a beginner.

Hiro

If you just want cuts, then there's tudor, keone, bucktwins, and cap casino.

De'vo's DVD has displays and a full out routine either flourish routine or magical routine. It also has some magical stuff like an ungimmicked card rise, box vanish, packet vanish, floating fan and so forth.

Phantom

I use a routine with only XCM before some cardproductions, and then I end with a routine of armspreads. I get good reactions from it. Presentation is everything.

Imp

If you have no idea what to get, go look at what the dvd's have on offer. Don't always listen to what people say sometimes. See for yourself.

If you have a preferance over dvds, then go check out De'vo's Black Deck video and his CTG trailer here which shows the things you can learn on his DVD and see if that is what you want in your performances. And read around to see what you will get in your package. If you don't mind books, Jerry's bible teaches you the fundamentals on just about everything.

http://www.flourishman.com/

And see the Table of Contents to see what you can learn.

I'm sure the other flourish dudes have they're own clips of them in action so just compare and see who you would rather be.

I would buy the bible first, as it will teach you the basics properly. Then, like antz said, go look at what styles are out there. Superhandz style leans more towards creating new, original flourishes. Tudor style seems to be based more exclusively on cuts (?, I haven't bought any of his videos but from what I've seen from my friends and on the net this assesment is correct). It really comes down to your own taste, as you're the one whos going to be spending the hours getting the moves down . One other thing to remember is how the material is taught. The superhandz stuff is incredibly easy to follow; I watched the video through once with a deck in hand and learned the basics of all the moves without ever having to rewind. My friend who bought the tudor DVD says that he's a bit lacking in the teaching department.
My main point is to do some research and decide what appeals to you personally.

The thing about a DVD on flourishes Dedicated to beginners is really nothing to even think about.

I started learning flourishes from Capaso Casinos Cap Cuts, it was my first source for stuff. It teaches you sybils mostly but that's what us magicians is most intrested in when it comes to flourishes. At least how I look at it.

The Z cut is easy and can be learnt in no time, but then it moves on to harder cuts with transitons and stuff. You don't need some basic flourish video/book
If you practise enough, you will learn the stuff anyway.

But still Capasos Back To Basics seems nice, I have no idea how the teaching and all is and if hes eating in this one, but the material looks alright.

Get the Encyclopedia of playing card flourishes. by jerry.
Get it off http://www.flourishman.com/.

Thanks for the input guys. I'm leaning towards CTG and Jerry's book. I just thought that for the amount I pay for the Encycopedia of Playing Card Flourishes I could be getting two or even nearly three flourish dvds. But if I want it I should just get it shouldn't I.

Hiro

Are you the hiro I know?

I would as mentioned go with the Encyclopedia of playing card flourishes.

maybe also cap cuts, and when you have been into flourishes for a while, maybe get Generation X, the teaching is bad, but once you know flourishies and basic concepts, its all a ton easier.

Why not try Cap's Back To Basics or CTG? they look pretty cool..

Here's a look at Cap's Back To Basics and here's a sample of Devo's Work.

http://www.superhandz.com/
http://www.handlordz.com/