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Walker_TX New user Tustin, CA 5 Posts |
A friend of mine highly recommended I get "Totally Out of Control" by Chris Kenner. We're both fairly new to magic and wanted to get your opinion. Ebay's got one for 99 cents, I guess I can just get it and quit being so cheap.
P.s. I posted this in the wrong section the first time around. Sorry for the double post. |
DavidKenney Inner circle 2178 Posts |
Ebay has one STARTING at 99 cents - its a $40 book easy, the cost will go up - More copies of this book were sold prior to its publication than any other book. His material is very powerful and sometimes quite difficult (so as a beginner - beware that this is going to require mass skill). His methods are always interesting, if sometimes unorthodox.
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Walker_TX New user Tustin, CA 5 Posts |
Not really a beginers book, huh?
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DavidKenney Inner circle 2178 Posts |
Check out this thread
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......;forum=3 I would say it depends on what you want to do - what you want to pursue with magic, cards, coins, stage a little bit of everything? If I were you, I would start with some of the "staples" that are mentioned in that thread. |
MagiCanada Regular user Vancouver 140 Posts |
For a beginner, start with Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic.
It's GREAT! |
matt kemp Veteran user 312 Posts |
I agree, Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic is a great book. It was my first book and I absolutely loved it. The only downside of the book is that the first third of the book is card tricks so you become a "card guy" right away.
If you already know which type of magic you would like to try, then you should probably buy a book specifically for cards, coins, cups and balls, sponge balls, stage, etc. However, Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic is probably the best overall book for a beginner. |
Brandon Delgado Loyal user St. Louis, Missouri 293 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-10 17:09, Walker_TX wrote: I'd say no. Definitely not. It's a great book, but it's not beginner's material. There are maybe one or two things in there that you might get down with few problems, but overall, I'd say you're better off getting your sleight of hand foundations down before working Kenner's book. Mark Wilson's book is an excellent choice as it has all different types of magic, from close-up to stage, and it's all pretty easy stuff to get you started. If you're into cards, you might look at Royal Road to Card Magic, or perhaps the Card College series by Roberto Giobbi. For coin magic, there is always Bobo's Modern Coin Magic. If you can find a copy of Shigeo Futagawa's Introduction to Coin Magic, I'd start with that before Bobo's, but it's not always available. Another good book is Bill Tarr's Now You See It, Now You Don't. All of these will help you get a good foundation in sleight of hand. You'll be surprised at how much you'll be able to do with even a little knowledge of good sleight of hand. And Kenner's book won't seem nearly as daunting as it would without these skills... -Brandon |
Joshua Barrett Inner circle Cincinnati, Ohio 3631 Posts |
If your new, I'm not sure there is a single thing in there you will be abel to do. however with more experience, its one of my fav books
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RJ Hunt Elite user Lakeland, FL 466 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-07-10 16:38, Walker_TX wrote: This is one of my favorite books and CK is one of the best in the biz...One of the only guys that fooled the crap out of me...THIS IS NOT A BOOK FOR THE NOVICE OR BEGINNER...But if you can score a copy for 99 cents or even under 20 bucks, and you plan on sticking with magic then by all means jump on it. Then keep it on the shelf until you think you are ready to dive in...One thing about this book is that even if you don't attempt learning the effects there is plenty of humor and Kenner even included puzzels for you to solve...He is Out of Control....no wait...He is Totally Out of Control...Either way Kenner ROCKS!!! Later, RJ |
ChristopherM Special user UK 844 Posts |
Mark Wilson's and Harlan Tarbell's books could last us all a lifetime and longer. Definitely required reading for everybody.
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PirateJohn Regular user Anaheim, CA 156 Posts |
For a beginner, I definitely have to echo what many have said around here and recommend "The Royal Road to Card Magic" by Hugard & Braue. When I was sixteen, it was the first magic book I bought (recommended to me by the folks at Hank Lee's Magic Factory) and I have read that one many times. Even though the sleights are pretty basic and easy to learn, I still use many of the tricks from that book on a regular basis.
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Salby Inner circle New Jersey 1254 Posts |
Here is my 2 cents worth $200:
As for Coin Magic for Beginners.... Get BOBO'S BOOK OF MODERN COIN MAGIC. As for Card Magic for Beginners.... Get Hugard & Braue's ROYAL ROAD TO CARD MAGIC. Each of the above books also have a separately 4-5 DVD set as a companion to the respected books. As for Magic in general that dabbles in every type of magic (for the person not knowing what to really get into) and is also for Beginners.... Get Mark Wilson's COMPLETE COURSE IN MAGIC. Price-wise: Each of the above books cost $10-25 a piece and your local Borders or Barnes & Nobles do carry these titles or, at least, will order them for you. Each of the noted 4-5 DVD sets cost $40-70. These, however, canNOT be purchased at general stores, like the 2 book stores I mentioned just above. Other books to consider for beginners are: - CARD COLLEGE (5 volumes) by Roberto Giobbi ($25-30 per Volume) - NOW YOU SEE IT, NOW YOU DON'T (2 Volumes) by Bill Tarr ($10-15 per Volume) - TARBELL COURSE IN MAGIC (8 Volumes) by Harlan Tarbell ($20-30 per Volume) Again, these books canNOT be bought at general book stores (although maybe Bill Tarr's books can). Also, you can buy each Volume Separately from each of these 3 book sets and each volume does NOT need to be bought in order. This becomes helpful to both choosing where to allocate money and what in particular interests you most. My suggestion is to look at the contents of each volume of each of these book sets and choose what you want to learn now. You can look through the book contents of these and many other books (including Chris Kenner's: TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL) at this website: http://magicref.tripod.com/books.htm My other suggestion is to read through the reviews (and ask us Café members) of each of these Beginner Magic Books & DVD's and then decide. In my own opinion, you canNOT go wrong with any of the books/DVD's mentioned in my post here. Money is probably your biggest factor. PM me if you have any questions also. Although TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL is a fantastic book, it is by NO WAY a book for beginners.... I feel for you starting out with this book, you will get more frustrated than anything and thus may lose interest in magic altogether... We do NOT want that to happen. Chris Kenner will use terms like "Double Lifts" and "The Pass" and the "Classic Palm", etc. that he will assume you know how to do. The above books WILL teach you more patiently how to learn these "basic" and popular sleights. If you are adamant on getting TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL, then do so, but put it aside until you know how to do the Sleights from the other Book(s) or DVD's I mentioned above.
You know how to make God laugh?........... Tell him your plans!!!
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One Man Elite user Frederick, MD 491 Posts |
And all the okes and puzzles would be lost on you...
Kevin |
Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
I can not recommended as well. Mark Wilson is the way to go
Cards never lie
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Barrett_James Loyal user Southern Arizona 242 Posts |
Although maybe not for beginners this is a GREAT book to have in your collection. A lot of good material that people (magi included) just aren't used to seeing. I purchased the book looking to learn SYBIL but have kept the book because there is just soo much good stuff in it! Cards, Coins, Ropes, Business Cards...etc. Have I said enough great things about this book yet? Also for the magi drooling over CoinONE - have a look at 'the Deep' coin routine - could this be CoinONEs humble beginnings?!?!
Regards, Barrett James
"...let us now rejoin our foolish friends and commence the book properly." G.H.
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jmoran76 New user West Palm Beach, FL 69 Posts |
I agree with the posts above...while it's a good book, it's defintely not one to start with. If you're looking for some stuff to cut your teeth on, go with Mark Wilson, The Royal Road, Bobo's, or Harry Lorayne's Close Up Card Magic.
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Steven Leung Inner circle found the Magic Rainbow after 1614 Posts |
Besides, it is out of print now...
Most memorable moment - with Maestro Juan Tamariz & Consuelo Lorgia in FISM Busan 2018.
"Being fooled by a trick doesn't always mean they are having a good time" - Homer Liwag https://hhpresents.com/ https://www.glitchstudiohk.com/ |
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