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MattSmith New user Baltimore, MD. 5 Posts |
Hello. My name is Matt, and I'm just getting started in magic. I've been interested in magic as long as I can remember. I've tried a few times to get started learning, but it never really stuck for some reason. Recently my son saw his first magic show at a school picnic, and said he wanted to learn to do some himself. I took him to a local shop to get him a few cheap tricks to try, and ended up walking with them, and a copy of volume 1 of the Tarbell course, along with a thumb tip and red silk. I've been trying to work through the book, and had a couple of questions. I'm on the section about coin concealments and vanishes. First, how do you practice this stuff? Do you spend time just shifting the coin in your hand from one concealment to another? Should I stick with just the concealments before moving to the vanishes? Sorry if this sounds like a dumb question, but coming from playing he mandolin, I'm used to to a structured way of practicing. The other question I had was if there's anywhere I can see the vanishes in this chapter performed. I only looked at the first one in the book so far, the one where you're supposedly throwing the coin into your hand, and I can't understand the timing of it. Sorry for the long post, and thanks for your time.
- Matt -
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hello Matt!
Apparently you have found the magic shop. That's a good beginning! And, you bought aa BOOK! That's even better. There used to be a magic club in the "city of white steps". Ask at the magic shop--they certainly should know. I've lectured for the club several times 20 or 25 years ago. Dpn't panic! (You aren't under any "schedule"). Doc Tarbell (he was a "naturopath") didn't just write a BOOK. He wrote a COURSE! There are SIX MORE VOLUMES IN THE COURSE! He wrote the course in the '20s. So, the patter is somewhat dated. Never mind the patter, Absorb the psychology (magic is about 85% psychology, 5% sleight of hand technique, 5% perceptual illusion, and 5% esoteric science principles. Sleight of hand skills are "tools" to help perform a trick. "Buy' tools as you NEED them. (i.e. learn a sleight as you need it to perform a trick.) It may take you a LIFETIME to learn everything in Tarbell! It's not necessary to learn EVERYTHING! As you read, "bookmark" items that interest you. Remember the Chinese proverb: "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step! I "inherited" the "first edition" of Tarbell when I was a teenager. (I'm now 82). BTW: Back then, it was a "correspondence course". I still haven't read every word! But, I made a living with magic most of my llfe. So, "FESTINA LENTE" (that's a LATIN PROVERB --It translates: "MAKE HASTE SLOWLY"! Browse around the Café and get acquainted. Don't get involved in technicalities at this point! That's enough "advice" for today. (SOCRATES gave advice, and they poisoned him!) Dick Oslund Sneaky, underhanded, devious and surreptitious itinerant mountebanc
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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MattSmith New user Baltimore, MD. 5 Posts |
Thanks for the reply. I don't know if this is the club you're referring to or not, but the Denny and Lee magic shop, which is where I went, has a full stage in the back where different people come to lecture. He also has a magic club that meets there once a month. I certainly plan on taking full advantage of this, as well as Denny's willingness to help out if you stop in with a question.
So are you saying that I should pick out a trick in the Tarbell book, see which sleights it calls for, practice them, and then practice the trick as a whole?
- Matt -
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Stanyon Inner circle Landrum, S.C. by way of Chicago 3433 Posts |
What Dick said is sage advice. Start on page one and follow along. You have to learn to crawl before you can walk.
Jay Marshall once said that, "If you learned only 1/10th of all the Tarbell material you would be the greatest magician extant!" I've been doing this stuff for over 45 years and when I'm looking for something "New" I'll most always search through the Tarbell books. FWIW
Stanyon
aka Steve Taylor "Every move a move!" "If you've enjoyed my performance half as much as I've enjoyed performing for you, then you've enjoyed it twice as much as me!" |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Steve>>> 10/4 on Jay's quotation!
My first mentor, STUART ROSS, was a full time pro. and had been involved with the promotion of the original correspondence course in the '20s. Stuart performed nine tricks in his 50 minute show (he was a great talker!) Five of the trcks were direct from tha Tarbell Course. Stuart opened with the vanishing wand., Then he did the Tarbell Cut & Restored Rope, a routine of fancy card shuffles, the card in orange and the Misers Dream. He helped me to learn those five! (The others were "prop" tricks like the passe passse bottles and the Thayer Super Vanish Extraordinary (doves). I've used four of those five all my life in my school show. Plus, I've used many other bits from Tarbell, when I work close up, hospitality suites, etc. I only met Doc twice, he was a gentleman. Denny will treat you right, Matt, He has been around a long time.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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mormonyoyoman Inner circle I dug 5,000 postholes, but I have only 2440 Posts |
Best thing you could have done: shopped at Denny's.
Second best thing was starting with Tarbell. Then again, when you shop at Denny's and he thinks you have the makings of a magician -- you're going to HAVE to buy at least one volume of Tarbell! Denny told me that he mentioned to Lance Burton's manager that Lance's act was 70 or 75% from Tarbell. Lance disagreed. "Uh-UH," he said. "90%!!" *jeep! & God Bless! ---Grandpa Chet
#ShareGoodness #ldsconf
--Grandpa Chet |
55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Matt - excellent decision to see Denny. He will (has) get you headed in the right direction. Join the club and participate in the meetings when you can. Lectures are nice, but don't get sucked into buying more magic than you can learn (most magicians have drawers full of props they've never gotten around to using). Also, see as much live magic as you can. That will help in understanding the entire presentation of a routine.
Regarding Dick's advice, yes learn one trick and the slights that go with it. Most professionals perform a small number of tricks - but so them extremely well. I believe you are working on the Tarbell trick where the coin disappears in a glass of water. Fine trick, but I suggest you use a quarter instead of half dollar - which you will never be able to borrow! You will also need to make sure you have a quarter on hand in case no one has one - many people don't carry any change today. You will need one prop, which Denny can provide or help you fabricate. Then you carry that prop and a hank and you are good to go at any time. The next thing I would would work on is vanishes using the thumbxtip. There are a number of simple tricks that Denny (or magic club members) can point you to that use this prop. Good luck! Hudson |
MattSmith New user Baltimore, MD. 5 Posts |
Thanks for the responses guys. Denny is a great guy, and so willing to help. I definitely feel lucky to have him and his shop 5 minutes from my house.
Hudson - The trick I was referring to is the first vanish taught in volume 1 (it's lesson 21 in the original course). It's called the "Front Thumb Palm Vanish" It's the one where you hold the coin between your index and middle fingers, and pretend to toss it into the other hand. During the motion of tossing the coin, you get it into the front thumb palm. I just cant seem to get the timing of when you get the coin into that position. Thanks again for all of the advice.
- Matt -
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Right Matt!
We don't get "detailed" about techniques except in the SECRET SESSIONS forum. (This one is 'open' to the lurkers who maybe aren't interested except in learning "secrets".) I'll PM you with a few tips on your problem. O
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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MattSmith New user Baltimore, MD. 5 Posts |
Ooops, sorry about that. I would edit my post, but I don't see that option anywhere.
- Matt -
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mormonyoyoman Inner circle I dug 5,000 postholes, but I have only 2440 Posts |
If Dick's tips don't help your timing (and I can't see why they wouldn't - Dick knows his stuff!) you might beg, whine, and plead with Denny to show you - not this specific effect (though you can, if you wish) but timing. And he's always good for a discussion of Tarbell. He might even give you points on how to read/study Tarbell.
Go, Matt, go! With such a solid start, you have a magnificent future in magic! *jeep! & God Bless! --Grandpa Chet
#ShareGoodness #ldsconf
--Grandpa Chet |
Paragon New user 67 Posts |
While we are talking about Tarbell, I wanted to ask about trick called Dissolving coin. Is it possible to buy the gimmick? I searched thru many sites but didn't find anything.
Or how to make one? |
mrsmiles Elite user 442 Posts |
Matt,
If you want to work with your TT and see the timing of things there are many DVDs and two that I own & recommend are Gary Darwin's (tripple dvd) Encyclopedia of TT Magic which covers many, many things that you can do with a TT. Jay Sankey's '$100 dollar miracle' dvd is also worth investing in (or just on its own) as it covers some original ideas and routines whilst also covering the bill switch (the latter is also on GD's dvd though he has a guest performer running through it). If you like things in written format Gary Darwin has a booklet on it as does Melbourn Christopher '50 tricks with a TT' I'd expect that Denny's shop sells all of the things I have mentioned
mrsmiles
(UK) |
MattSmith New user Baltimore, MD. 5 Posts |
Thanks mrsmiles. I'm trying g to flow the Tarbell couse as written. I have a tendency to get side tracked and go off on tangents. For example shortly after getting the Tabell book I thought I might better off focusing on cards to start, and almost bought RRTCM, but I held off figuring that Denny new Bette than me which is the right path to get stared on.
- Matt -
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mormonyoyoman Inner circle I dug 5,000 postholes, but I have only 2440 Posts |
It's MR Smiles? All this time, I thought it was Mrs Miles.
*jeep and God Bless! -----Grandpa Chet
#ShareGoodness #ldsconf
--Grandpa Chet |
Harry Lorayne 1926 - 2023 New York City 8558 Posts |
If you're interested in cards ... I've written quite a few books JUST FOR YOU!!
[email]harrylorayne@earthlink.net[/email]
http://www.harrylorayne.com http://www.harryloraynemagic.com |
RobertlewisIR Veteran user Colorado 367 Posts |
I've never practiced *sleights* and I've never tried to work through a book from page 1 to the end. I read the book, pick an item or two at a time that tickle my fancy, and work on *routines*. I learn all the sleights in that context. Why? Because even as a lover of magic, sleights on their own bore me to tears. I'm only excited about then in their proper context as part of a piece of magic--and a piece of magic that suits my own style to boot.
That said, it's well worth *reading* a lot more than you *practice*. Why? Because you never know when you'll see some opportunity to connect things up in some new way, so it's good to *know* as much as possible, even if you don't actually work on being able to perform every single trick you know.
~Bob
---------- Last night, I dreamed I ate the world's largest marshmallow. When I woke up, the pillow was gone. |
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