Hi All. I'm a 60+ yo newbie who is working their way through the RRTCM. I still work so my time and energy is somewhat limited. However, it has taken me about one year to work through only about 2/3 of the RRTCM. My question is, for those who worked through the book, how long did it take you? I'm not just skimming, but reading and trying to work through the descriptions and the tricks in order to develop a somewhat basic repertoire of, e.g, about a dozen tricks. I am even storyboarding the tricks I really like.

My impatience is due to the fact that until I finish the RRTCM I cannot move on to other excellent sources such as Erdnase, Harry Lorayne, Darwin Ortiz, Vernon and others.

So...how long did it take you?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Hi Ted
Did you know there is a DVD set by R Paul Wilson, where he goes through the book and performs the tricks? I don't know if you like learning from DVDs but it is an excellent set and I found it very useful as sometimes I found the book a little confusing in the explanations. I am no expert, just a hobbyist, but I started reading it a few years ago. I have read it from cover to cover but my personal journey has not finished as I often refer back to it.
Don't be too hard on yourself - get a copy of Harry Loraynes The Magic Book, some excellent stuff in there, not just cards, and it will give you something else to think about.
I also like the Complete Card Magic DVD set, taught by Gerry Griffin - I found some great tricks on there too, plenty of classics also such as Triumph, Twisting The Aces, Out Of This World etc.
Hope this helps

Best of Luck!

The advice that's given too often is to work through the chapters in order, only moving onto the next chapter when you've finished the last one.

That advice is lousy. Royal Road is a good book, but it's not perfect, and one of the real problems with it is how the material was ordered. There is simply no rational reason for why you should have to learn the palm and the pass before learning a Tipsy Trick or Double Reverse, or before techniques such as the Cross Cut force or the Hindu Shuffle.

If you've arrived at something that doesn't suit you or is too difficult, don't worry too much about moving on.

This might be a bit too late for you Teddyboy given you say you’ve read two thirds of it, but the below link is an excellent study guide for RR which I followed and reflects The Burnaby Kid’s comment that the published order is a little odd at points:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......220089#0

It might also be worth investing in Giobbi’s Card College Vol 1 and 2 - it covers pretty much everything in RR but has lots more of “the basics” too and I think the example tricks for each sleight are stronger and a bit more up to date than RR’s.

I couldn't agree more!

Mark

After working through most of Royal Road I jumped into Harry Lorayne books. They are not that difficult and the effects are top notch. I am not a card guy, but I do entertain people with them. I don't do most of the harder moves and it suits me fine at the moment. Maybe later though.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement. I will check out the RR DVDs -- I actually have them. I like Giobbi as well and will look at his books. I am still curious as to how the RR ends because it appears that the last part of the book concentrates on putting routines together. Man, there is a lot of good stuff out there! Maybe I'll take a speed-reading course!!

Pay attention to Andy Young, Teddy Boy. And this may help: (By Merc Man)

"Said it before but it's probably worth saying again.

In 1978 (aged 14) my Christmas present was THE MAGIC BOOK by Harry Lorayne. Maybe hard for teenagers these days to believe but back then, there were families who did not have a lot of money; and apart from a few sweets (candy) a book would potentially be your main present.

When I started reading Harry's The Magic Book, I felt as if I'd been transported to a parallel universe; whereby superb close-up magic, with every-day items, was indeed possible.

We are now nearly at Christmas again - almost 40 years later. As I type this post sat at my kitchen table, there are 2 books in front of me - may the Lord strike me dead on the spot if I'm lying. Harry's 'The Magic Book' and Quantum Leaps (I was cross referencing something last night). I'm looking at The Magic Book as I type. It's battered and bruised - having been regularly read. More than any other magic book that I own, there's bits of torn cigarette packets with notes written on, sticking out of it. The odd torn playing card with other references scribbled. And of course, the more recent post-it note.

The fact is this book has been my inspiration in magic for nearly 40 years. I have used literally everything within. Despite, like many of us in our adult lives, having wasted a lot of money over the years on the latest magic 'flim flam' it IS the material within this book that I return to time and time again. Because one thing I have learnt about how magic is perceived by an audience is that you earn the greatest respect by performing with borrowed, or 'normal' items. For example, there is hardly anything within the card section that cannot be performed with a beat-up, borrowed pack of cards. Nothing within the coin section that needs expensive gaffs (in order to produce a similar effect in the eyes of spectators). Where else can you get so much workable material with a piece of paper & a pencil? A handkerchief, table items, etc.

What's more, it taught me the most important elements of magical entertainment - presentation, routining and misdirection.

It also taught me a very, very important lesson. That it is the basic, clearly defined easy to follow plot that gets the best reaction.

Over the years, I've spent time and money learning different versions of 'The Colour Changing Deck'; or buying gaffs to get Aces to transpose, etc. I've spent money on further gaffs to get coins to go through a table; or pass from hand to hand. I've bought (and sold on) these gimmicks and flim-flam; along with countless others that achive matrix-style routines, etc. The reason being that all most gimmicks do is over-prove what you don't need to be over-proving anyway.

The classics of magic will live forever; because they have an easy to follow plot. When you use ungaffed or borrowed items and throw them into the mix, it's just so much more rewarding. Added to which 'less is more'. If you can go out with minimal props, you will generally work harder on your presentation - because you are building upon the basics - by actually using the basics. Does that make sense? I hope it does. In other words, you tend to put more energy into your performance. A prop isn't doing the work for you. I've worked with other magicians that rush at break-neck speed from prop to prop; akin to a magic dealer demo (only to then vanish to re-set their gimmicks). However, arrive at a table; borrow a few contrasting coins and a table napkin, and you are ready to entertain. And what I can genuinely say to guys (still reading my rambling here) is that people aren't stupid. If they can see you are working AND entertaining them with what are clearly not 'magic props' you will get one hell of a lot of respect.....and in many cases, you will stand out.

Harry (I believe) wrote this book for people who had an interest in starting out performing magic. It has the clearest of instruction; and covers so many useful principles of magic.

I would not only unreservedly recommend this book to people starting out; but also to any magician that wants to make a living as a professional, magical entertainer.

Indeed, it's title of 'THE Magic Book' could not be more deserving.

It is, in my honest opinion, the GREATEST book of magic ever produced.

Words cannot express my most sincere gratitude and thanks, to the Master himself.......Mr Harry Lorayne"

The Royal Road DVD's are an excellent investment. There was on occasion where I misread or misunderstood something in the book but by watching the DVD it all came together.

Doubt if you'd need a DVD to understand all in THE MAGIC BOOK.

I've only read the first couple of chapters in your book Harry, but yes, so far very easy to understand.