I'm just wondering. If you do the move slowly is it not obvious what you are doing especially when doing the move with the gimmick?

I had a ball in my hand all day today and I didn't seem to make any progress with the ball roll. It's a very difficult flourish especially going around the backs of the fingers.

Steven.

As the old wise saying goes.. Rome was not built in a day nor does a great manipulator learn a difficult move in a day either. =)

You have to give it time. The idea is that the more you practice and the more you have the ball in your hand, the more your fingers will loosen up and get used to the moves you are trying to accomplish. It took me a few months before I could even begin to do some of the moves I had wanted to do. The idea is to stick with it, rehearse and practice every day and keep on trying and learning the moves. It will come with time.

As far as the move and gimmick becoming obvious when done slower, that is just the magician in you thinking that. Trust me when I say, if you perform the manipulation at a slower and more natural speed, and if done correctly, the audience will not suspect a thing. You will also be giving them more time to react to the magic that is taking place. If you perform too fast, then your audience sees a blur and does not have a proper time to react and enjoy.

If you can, watch some of the videos and acts of the greats like Cardini or Channing Pollack and others. They do the moves slowly and with a simple slow rythmn. The moves become magical and the magic becomes great because the audience still sees nothing but has the proper time to react and enjoy what is being presented to them.

Hope this helps.

Kyle

I'm having great fun learning the slieghts with silicone balls. But then when I move to the golf balls they slip from my hand and the ball roll is much much harder.

Should I just save up and buy the fakinis which I know will make it easier or should I stick with it?

Steven.

Fakinis are an investment. but I feel it is an investment well worth the money. If you plan on being in magic for a lonmg time and if you plan on learning and doing billiard ball manipulations, then Fakinis are simply the best in the market. I still have the very first set I ever bought years ago and they arestill as good as the day I bought them. But only you can decide if yopu are right for them and if now id the right time to get them. Moves and technique can still be learned with what you now have.

Kyle

Fakini's are the best. own 3 sets and out of all of my props they are some of my favorit

graham fishman

As kyle said, you might want to buy a bouncy ball to get a feel for the texture and motions you will do while accomplishing sleights. Try looking in toystores. they usually have those kind of balls. You can practice ball rolls and other sleights that don't require the use of sh****.

Thanks. I have some and have been playing around with them. It makes it easier to do the roll and to grip in general especially the classic palm. At the minute I'm practicing colour changes with them and the golf balls.

A questions about the downs-palm multiple production. The side of my index finger, at the last joint is getting sore from grazing off the coins. Should they be grazing off the coins or am I palming the coins wrong?

Cheers,

Steven.

On the McBride videos he tells you about different props to use.

Best, Jeff

The 1 3/4 inch bouncy balls are great for practicing moves and even better for color changes, as you are doing now. It keeps your cost down and the grip is still pretty good with them. I use them a lot fo color changes and general practice.

Kyle