So much out there, so little knowledge...

[darosa.justin]

I started a similar thread a while back, but since it is pretty much dead, i just started a new one.

After getting into magic forums and all for the past 6 months, I've realised that there are actually amazing tricks found outside of theory11, Ellusionist and Penguin magic. I hear people talking about effects which sound great that come from books I've never seen and artists I've never heard of.

Anyway, could you guys discuss how all these wonderful (but less marketed) tricks come into your knowledge, and how you pick on what to get?

For example, there are definately more than 30 different methods for a TNR card. SOme are hugely marketed, while others are created by someone, somewhere and kept to themselves. How am I supposed to find out about the best TNR (simple & effective) method besides creating a thread about it?
[Any suggestions for a TNR would actually be really good tahnks]

Take AOA by Paul Harris. It is something I would've never heard of 6 months ago, but because it ahs been discussed so much i forums I took a look at it. It seems awesome, tons of amazing effects, but I'm not sure whether to get it or not. What to do!?

 

[Addy]

Well, first off, I usually just stumble on to some less marketed material as I look around sites. Like the L&L stuff, which are not greatly marketed but are awesome. I just happened to find them as I look around magic sites.

As for the best Torn and Restored, in my opinion, are the DVDs put out by Huron Low. Go check out his site. huronlow.com

And regarding the AoA, I personally think they're amazing, however you need to have basic knowlege on sleight of hand, because it doesn't teach you the sleights. If you're too lazy to read books though, don't buy the AoA and wait for the Deep Astonishment DVDs (i think that's what it's called) coming out soon this year. It's also by Paul Harris, with some new stuff, but of course it's not gonna carry as many material as the AoA books. At the end of the day, it's just up to you.

 

[sourboarder]

I look at places where you purchase E-books. Those effects are normally more original... and in origianal I don't mean in the method, but less sought out for by other younger magicians atleast. Hmmm... as for a good torn and restored... paul harris does have a good one in his book, but only 3/4 of it come together, but you can figure out the last piece using a dupe. I don't suggest going out on a limb, and buying effects from magicians who are unknown to you unless you research them or the effect. I have been burned far too many because I would think... hmmm, cheap effect, sounds cool, a card vanishes from 2 other cards with holes cut in it and gets sent to a card box... then when I receive it, its impractical for real work and I could have bought something for the same price, like an e-book with 6 effects and I would find a use for one of them in my show/ routine.

 

[Shodan]

Most often, I will search the review forums at the magic cafe for opinions on a trick/DVD/book I may be thinking of getting. If I'm interested in a specific kind of trick, I'll research all the options on that trick and use that in conjunction with reviews etc.

Most often I buy books or DVDs with a lot of material on them, so it's less about a specific trick - tnr for example - and more about what that performer has that I want; the tricks themselves, the setting that their material is designed for, their performance advice and examples, how I can relate their approach to my own in order to become a better magician.

So what I'm really trying to get it is that if you find a magician who has a great reputation, then its worth investing some time studying their approach and figuring out whether you can adapt it for your own magic. I usually immerse myself in the work of one magician at a time, try and find out what makes them tick, and I come out of the other side a better magician because of it - even if I don't necessarily use the tricks they show. Of course, in many cases you do pick up something that you like; then maybe the influence of the next thing you study could cause you to re-visit that and put a fresh spin on it.

My repertoire hasn't changed much at all in the last year or so. Some items come and go on a bit of a rotation, and every now and then I'll let something go or add something new. But all the tricks in my repertoire are under constant evaluation as I get more experience as a performer and as I see ideas from the work of other magicians that may strengthen them.

I have got far more out of absorbing the lessons from watching great magicians perform than from actually adding their tricks to my repertoire. It was just a couple of nights ago that I really felt like I'd made progress in the area of getting a tough crowd on my side, and that came from studying Bill Malone and David Stone. The tricks I used didn't come from either one's published works, but the lessons learned from their performance experience helped me to find a way to turn the situation around.

 

[Brad Henderson]

There are many types of people who love magic. There are people who collect magic. There are people who like to watch magic. There are people who like to perform magic. And their are people who like to create magic.

Today, a lot of people are making money simply by creating tricks for other magicians. They spend their days coming up with ideas that they can sell. Some of these ideas are very clever, some awful.

Then there are magicians who spend their lifetime performing tricks for real people. They may spend 20 years on the same trick, changing a single word here and there, until it is guaranteed to devastate and entertain.

These two groups usually contain very different people.

Now, there is nothing wrong with someone who wants to create magic and sell it. However, if you are looking for real knowledge, then it is the other group you will want to seek out. These people have created/honed material that WORKS in the real world. They know how to get into the trick, they know how to get out of the trick, and they know how to make it play in all situations.

For example, one of the more popular torn and restored cards used by real world professionals has NEVER been mentioned on any of the forums you have mentioned. It has never been put on DVD, and most magicians (not just young ones) would not recognized the creators name - but he was responsible for a TON a amazing magic being put into print.

So, if you want "knowledge" seek out books (and in some cases DVDs) from people who are really making their living performing. But be careful, a lot of young creators advertise that they make their living performing, but the only performances they do are magic lectures. You want people who have been in the business and have fed their family for years. You won't get the amazing graphics that you find on some of the latest products, but you will get real experience, real knowledge, and you will be one step closer to producing real magic.

Brad Henderson

 

[Shodan]

Well said Brad - you articulated what I was getting at much better!

Out of interest, which torn and restored card are you referring to?