My advice? If you're on a tight budget and you've learned basic sleights and material, grab a copy of Expert Card Technique (about $10) and also Harry Lorayne's Close-up Card Magic. You can get the digital version for about $15 I believe. That's a wealth of excellent material for less than $30. Both are classics and must haves.

Repeat - I think you should all listen to Mlippo - boy, does he really know!! THAT'S MY FREAKIN' OPINION AND I WANT TO TELL EVERYONE ELSE ABOUT IT!! IN MY FREAKIN' OPINION, he is just about the most knowledgeable schm..., sorry, person, in magic. And, as he says somewhere above - I'm entitled TO MY OWN FREAKIN' OPINION. So, listen to him - HE REALLY KNOWS. Good Lord, does he ever know - IN MY FREAKIN' OPINION.

Mr. Lorayne - you are in this thread, so I wanna ask you : does your Classic Collection vol. 4 have also most of impromptu routines & is the difficulty somewhere easy? No, I am not getting it now, but I am just asking, because there is your magic book in there which should be fine to have.

"Yes" to both your questions.

Paragon, like I said; if you're tight on money, at least get Harry Lorayne's Close up Card Magic E-book. You can't go wrong man. That'll give you a good sample of his material, and you can decide then if you want to continue purchasing his material.

@WesleyBryan: I thought about it. Yes, they are expensive, but they seem to be what I am looking for. I wanted impromptu card miracles. I am going to buy Card College 1 & 2. And with this order or next I will purchase Classic Collection. Once again - they are expensive, but I can save money for them. "Money given to education will return to you" ? Or something like that

@MrLorayne: So I can pick CC 4 if I am mainly interested in card tricks but want your magic book, also, instead of CC 1?

Good to hear Paragon. It's well worth it. To clarify, the entire series is MOSTLY dedicated to Card Magic. The major exception is The Magic Book in CC4. It teaches basic card sleights and magic, coin magic, mental magic, math-based magic, and some magic with other everyday items. If that's what you're looking for, then grab CC4. If you're specifically looking for Card Magic, then you're better off Just starting with CC1, where you'll find Close-up Card Magic.

Wesley just answered you, Paragon. Purchase Volumes 1 and 4 at the same time, and I'll give you a bit of a discount, plus you'll save a few bucks of postage.

It seems like Card Classics of Ken Krenzel which is in CC4 has advanced stuff , doesn'it?

Yes, some, not all. WHY DON'T YOU JUST BUY TCC, VOL. 1? Then, you'll have a bit of an idea of who it is you're dealing with. I already have a bit of an idea as to who I'M dealing with!!! Or, you know what? Don't buy any of my books - that's probably the wisest thing for you to do. They'll all be out of print by the time you "make a move," anyway.

Just get CC1 then, Paragon. You sound like a cool guy, but this back and forth is getting old and Mr. Lorayne (rightfully so) is getting a bit irritated. Just get the first volume of CC. I guarantee you'll find material that you can use, assuming you're serious about learning and performing magic with cards. In the very unlikely event that you can't make use of it, you'll have NO problem reselling it for close to what you bought it for. Just keep it in good condition of course. But seriously, Just get what you can from Harry. You can't go wrong. Peace.

Im really interested to see what ya got Mr Lorayne. I got some of your dvds alone and I really like the material. I have been through card college 1 a few years back and I'm ready to get something with some really good routines but I want a book this next time.

Good Lord, where have you guys been??!! Mymagician, go to my magic website - third one listed under this post, and click on whatever you're interested in - like "Magic Books." And - you'll see what's available. Then, if you have any questions, or even to order!) go to my personal email address - first one listed under this post. Best - Harry L.

"WHY DON'T YOU JUST BUY TCC, VOL. 1?"
"Wesley just answered you, Paragon. Purchase Volumes 1 and 4 at the same time, and I'll give you a bit of a discount, plus you'll save a few bucks of postage."

"They'll all be out of print by the time you "make a move," anyway."
- If they will be classics then no, they won't go out of print, for example: RRTCM is there for x years, also ECT, Expert at the card table, Card College, etc., etc.

"I already have a bit of an idea as to who I'm dealing with!!!"
Yes, you are irritated because of me. You would like to sell me the whole collection at once, but you do not know my financial situation. I do not say your books are bad, but I can not buy them at once.

"Don't buy any of my books"
Really? You want me to buy your books, don't you? And also you use reverse psychology to force me to buy your book(s), don't you? ( wanna answer for this step if possible )

Mr. Lorayne do not take me wrong - I do not want to think or write or tell anything against you, but I dislike your idea to force many of your books ( at once ) to a beginner who is asking for help, because:

1) You do not know his financial status, and your reverse psychology seems to work
2) He really doesn't need it to have them all together in one order - if he is going to use these books, not just read or to support the table ( ), he will NEED time for it ( a lot of time )
3) A lot of "askers" are hobbiest that means that they do not have so much time for magic as professionals so the time of learning from the books will be longer.

That's what I wanted to write. Also I will buy your Classic Collection ( most likely vol. 1 ).

@WesleyBrayn: I am not afraid, that I won't use the book, I know I will use it, but I do not hurry when I am waiting for my money.

Harry's books do go out of print. Apocalypse 4 volume set I would call a classic and that is out out print. So were many of his books until he published them in his classic collection. I am just thankful that I got into magic in time to get his Classic collection books. Now that Harry's books are in Pdf form perhaps they don't need to be in print, but I like solid books better.

Being a schmo as Mr. Lorayne says, I cannot understand why this thread on Card College has become a free advertisments for his books and a PERSONAL ATTACK TO MY PERSON. Is this allowed by the forum rules? Moderators?

Thanks

mlippo

Paragon: My books go out of print WHEN I STOP PRINTING THEM. And, please, I have no need to use "reverse psychology" on you or anyone else. I don't play those kind of games. Let tell you again - please, don't buy any of my books. Got it? Simple. As a matter of fact, I won't sell any to you if you want to buy them from me.

So far as Mr. Knowledgeable mlippo is concerned, I can't think of a better example of a jealous pot calling a kettle black. And what good does my "free advertising" do where you're concerned, Mr. Knowledgeable? You once posted here that you've BURNED ALL MY BOOKS. What a large bonfire that must have been! And seems our moderators allow THAT.

[quote]On 2013-04-27 11:21, Paragon wrote:
-
- My goals: I would like to be something between hobbiest and semi-pro:

Friend Paragon! I realize that your are relatively new to magic. And, I certainly appreciate that when you are starting out, and apparently in college, that money is tight.

First note: I AM NOT A CARDICIAN!!! (I do know a card trick! It starts with 3 rows of 7 cards in each row...heqq, I forgot what comes next!)

So, let me get serious for a moment. Back in the early '70s, Gene Anderson and I were sharing a room at Jerry Conklin's "YMCA" in Colon,Michigan. Gene was working on his first set of lecture notes. He asked for my thoughts on the term SEMI-PROFESSIONAL.

I can be very blunt! I said, "Gene, I'm sure that you already know what I think of that term!" He said, "Yes, but, I would like to hear you say it again!" So, I said it again! He agreed. He titled his lecture: "THE PART TIME PRO".

Here's what I said to Gene, that day: "SEMI = HALF. SEMI PRO connotes HALF PRO." --That is not quite the image that you, Paragon, want to "project", I hope! PART TIME PRO is a much more positive concept.

Gene inscribed my copy of his PART TIME PRO notes: "To Dick- My very first lecture notes! Many, many thanks for the help and advice in the 'noodling' stage." Gene Anderson September 16 1975.

PS>>>>> Here is a quote from the third paragraph of Gene's notes: "...professional is more an attitude than an entity. It consists of recognizing the requirements and exceeding them."

I was a part time pro from October 24 1945 to April 1967. Since then, until I "retired" in December 2008, I've been a full time pro. Now, I'm back to being a part time pro -- funny! I don't feel any different!