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Terrible Wizard Inner circle 1973 Posts |
The magic literature is vast - really, really vast. And that can be quite frustrating, especially for beginners and hobbyists, when they realise that there is no single resource that's ever going to compile everything into one easy place. they will always be searching, buying, hunting out new things or forgotten old things.
Is this 'spreading out' of magic a good thing, or a bad thing? |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
The assumption of your post seems to be that a person needs "everything" on a subject to know that subject. But, that's not really true. A fairly small core selection of books and then a LOT of practice will in time help you select the next level of books, etc. that will work for you.
You have to remember that what "fools" magicians is different from what "fools" the lay public. It is VERY easy (I've done it!) to fall into the error that you have to learn stuff that will fool other magicians in order to insure that you fool a lay audience. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is much to be said for leaning what you find in: The Amateaur Magician's Handbook by Hay The Tarbell Course Close-up Card Magic by Lorayne The Magic Book by Lorayne Greater Magic by Hilliard There's a life time of material to mold into your own routines, etc. The problem is not the plethora of material. The problem is that it is too easy to not understand what the foundation material of the craft is. Guys like me (I'm 63) were largely dependent upon a very small selection of books WAAAAAY back then. Thus we tended to learn pretty much everything that each book offered. Try to get the broadest level of knowledge of magic that you can. You might be surprised at the amazing material that you can find in Tarbell or the Royal Road to Card Magic. Best,
Brad Burt
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seraph127 Special user 587 Posts |
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On Apr 29, 2016, Terrible Wizard wrote: I can't definitely say whether it's good or bad, but with the advent of ebooks, the contemporary student has more access to the literature of conjuring than ever before, not only in terms of availability, but cost. Who would have imagined twenty years ago that a complete file of The Sphinx, one of the most notable periodicals in the history of magic, could be had for $50?
There are many tricks, and many effects, but rarely a Grand Effect. There are many entertainers, but few real magicians. Many technicians, but few artists who use their art to explore their vision. - Derren Brown, Absolute Magic
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BalloonThief New user California 63 Posts |
Personally, I think find it valuable that magic has such a vast literature tradition. The range of magic material allows the seasoned performer to choose only the material which fits their character and performance style. I admit that as a beginner or novice it can be quite overwhelming. But for the amateur historian it can be fascinating to watch style, patter and props fall in and out of use over time. For example, a favorite pamphlet of mine includes magic done solely with cigarette papers. These have fallen almost completely out of use by the modern performer.
All in all, I think it is a good thing as long as you realize that the audience does not judge your performance based upon the size of your library. |
Stanyon Inner circle Landrum, S.C. by way of Chicago 3433 Posts |
If it's worth learning, then the hunt is half the fun.
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!" |
JassTan Regular user Singapore 105 Posts |
It is all about the fun of discovery. You should always be searching for new stuff.
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danaruns Special user The City of Angels 808 Posts |
The explosion of resources is GREAT! And really, in any serious endeavor there is no single source for all things; no tidy, organized, give it to you on a silver platter database of all knowledge.
BUT, if you want that kind of thing where you can go to a single source and learn a tremendous amount of content, I suggest you go to school . . . a magic school, where teachers will spoon feed it to you as fast as you can suck up the knowledge. That school can be an actual school (like the Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas) or it can be in the form of intense learning from an expert mentor who has already spent decades obtaining and collating all that knowledge that they can spoon feed you. But as for the explosion of knowledge and resources itself, I think it's a wonderful and amazing thing. You can learn so much more, now, than you could before. How could that be bad?
"Dana Douglas is the greatest magician alive. Plus, I'm drunk." -- Foster Brooks
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Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
One thing the "spreading out" of magic suggests is that a lot of inventive people are coming up with new things to contribute to the art. If there could be a single resource that compiled "everything" in one place, the world of magic would be a much narrower and less interesting place. It's great that there are resources that provide a broad overview (like Tarbell, Mark Wilson's book, Lorayne's "The Magic Book," etc.), and then other resources that let you dive in really deep once you find something that interests you. There are more opportunities to learn magic today than at any time in the past -- we're living in an age of abundance, and that's a good thing.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
Anatole Inner circle 1912 Posts |
I think a good approach would be to show an potentially interested future magician some performance-only videos of a variety of magic effects--close-up; cards; coins; small objects (dice; safety pins; string; mental magic; etc); platform (rope; jumbo cards; insurance policy; newspaper e.g. afghan bands). By watching performance-only videos (available on youtube or on DVD) they would have an idea of the entire range of what falls under the theme of performing magic. In presenting card or coin effects, include both tricks with ordinary cards and coins and tricks with gimmicked cards and coins.
----- Amado "Sonny" Narvaez
----- Sonny Narvaez
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friend2cptsolo Elite user Spent all this time on the Cafe' and all I have to show for it is 445 Posts |
Not only effects but many different stlyes of magic can be found....That is helpful for many. I know this too has it's downsides but I would not want to deny myself the option of watching performances with a simple click of the mouse.
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RobertlewisIR Veteran user Colorado 367 Posts |
It seems to me that this is true of any field of study, and that it's not only necessary but beneficial. There is no "book of law" that contains everything a lawyer needs to know, no "book of science" that contains everything a scientist needs to know, no "book of music" that contains everything a musician needs to know. In all cases, there are introductory textbooks that put beginners on the right path to knowledge, just as there are in magic (consider Tarbell or Mark Wilson's big book of magic). For the amateur, that's all you really need to know. But if you're a professional...well, what is a professional? There are many definitions, but I think one piece of the puzzle is that the professional has devoted a significant amount of time to study. The professional has learned where there knowledge is hidden away in much greater detail than the amateur has. This is a good thing. It gives value to the professional's work, and allows for increased specialization.
~Bob
---------- Last night, I dreamed I ate the world's largest marshmallow. When I woke up, the pillow was gone. |
AsL Special user 680 Posts |
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On Apr 30, 2016, Stanyon wrote: I agree! |
Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Quote:
On Apr 29, 2016, Brad Burt wrote: Brad and I have never met, but, I find it interesting that we are both in agreement! I had only Hay, Tarbell, and Hilliard when I was getting started. Harry hadn't written those two, yet! I wasn't, and am not, that interested in cards, however if Harry's "The Magic Book" had been available, I'm sure that it would have found space on my "two foot shelf"! Much of what I have performed since I was a teenager, came from Tarbell, but, I found material in Hay, and, Hilliard too. I could never recommend that "trilogy" enough. Brad didn't mention works on theory, showmanship, presentation, etc. but, I'm quite sure that he would consider Maskelynne & Devant's "Our Magic", Fitzkee's trilogy, and, Ken Weber's "Maximum Entertainment" deserving of space on that 'two foot shelf". I'll add one more that most of you young folks probably never heard of! The late George Anderson, who wrote the Don Alan "Magic Ranch" TV show, and innumerable radio, and TV mysteries, also wrote a little pamphlet, "IT MUST BE MINDREADING". The Ireland Magic Co (now MAGIC INC.) published it in the mid '40s. It may now be out of print. (Jay gifted me with a copy, about 40 years ago) George covers all, or almost all, of the principles of mental magic, which are worth knowing, (here comes the BUT:) He also writes about show BUSINESS! (That should be spelled: "$how bu$ine$$"! In the midst of the Great Depression of the '30s, when some experienced professionals were glad to book a $10.00 club date, George, as a 17 year old was doing $100.00 one nighters in small town midwestern theaters, with a blindfold, and, later a few props like the Dr. Q Slates. I hope Sandy Marshall reads this! He may have a few copies which may have turned up when Inc. moved two months ago. When Karrell Foz died, he had sold off all his books, EXCEPT Tarbell, Rice's "Encyclopedia of Silk Magic", and, the books which he had written.
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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