Gerald,
I have read the reviews of your book and was pretty much sold on it before reading your above post. I just like the thinking in that post and I'm sure the book goes into greater detail.

I also wanted to make a comment in regard to this comment

Re: “. . .the answer may be different for different performers. What works for one, may be a complete waste of time for another.”

As Gerald used a sports reference, it got me thinking...why is magic any different than other things. I know that in sports ,baseball for example, we were all taught to position ourselves the same,to hold the bat the same and to field grounders the same. It isn't until we grasp the game of baseball a little later on that we start making changes to the way play the game..sometimes for good but other times for bad. I know what I'm trying to say in this post but have a feeling that it isn't translating into typed words very good.
Wade

Stop jumping around!!!!

Paul.

I think learning a single trick and it's sleights one at a time is a great way to learn. I can't stress enough the importance of learning the WHOLE THING well. Not just the sleights but (mis)direction of the specs and patter etc. Learning direction is one of the most important things you can do and it really does become a "feel" thing. You apply the rules, see what works and develop a sense of it. Once you have, you can get away with loads more.

When I learned my first ambitious card routine, I would stare at the pack throughout, cringing at the double lifts etc. It was technically OK but that was it. Once I'd learned some misdirection (from doing simple effects that relied on it, like card to wallet) I altered my AC routine so that at the end, it now has the card vanishing from under my hand, appearing in my top pocket, then in my trouser pocket and then the whole pack vanishes leaving just the chosen card in my hands. To be honest all this flashy stuff is way easier technically than the double lifts etc - it is simply moving cards around that aren't even really hidden, except the spec is looking in the wrong direction.

By learning a small number of effects inside out you give your brain the chance to think about the various elements whilst under fire. If you can't remember the effect then your sleights will be sloppy, if you have to think about the sleights then your patter is stilted, if you are thinking about the patter you won't observe the spectators attention - and so on.

That's very kind of you Vinny. Thank you

In flames:
Listen to Paul!

I stopped learning moves, for the sake of moves, long ago. Any move that I learn is for use in a specific effect or effects. When you have an effect that you're working on, this gives you a reason to master the move.

Do you think it's worth working through card college one sleight after another then?

Winstonwolf,

You might work through Card College, not trying to perfect each sleight, but only to familiarize yourself with card magic in general. This might be an overwhelming project, but if you enjoy a challenge, then have a go at it! If you make it, you will have a good idea of the ways of card magic and the possibilities that are available when you are constructing your routines.

If you are a beginner, you might want to consider this approach: Select a few tricks which utilize basic classic sleights and techniques. For example; learn a key card location, a control and a force. These would be good basics with which to start. There are good tricks in Card College and Royal Road which use these methods. Many terrific tricks can be performed with any one of these basic techniques. When you gain performance experience, develop your persona and discover the situations in which you are likely to perform, you’ll begin to see other tricks and sleights would be useful to you. Then you will you probably want to expand your repertoire and begin to add more tricks which use advanced basic techniques, i.e. a top palm, the classic force, a top change, a double lift, etc.

If you are advanced in your handling of sleights, you might want to concentrate on improving your performing skills rather than trying to learn more sleights. There are many facets in learning to perform. For example, it is a real challenge to explore your own personality and learn how to develop it to entertain with magic.

Even after many years of performing, you may be surprised to find that the simple methods and simple plots which you first learned will always have a place in your repertoire.

As an exercise, there is nothing wrong with learning sleights, just for the sake of learning them. If this is what interests you and you enjoy the challenge, fine. However, if you want to be a performer, it is important to remember that learning sleights is only a very small part (but an important part!) of learning to perform. Don’t try to perform unless you have done your best to prepare yourself in all areas.

Best wishes and good luck with your practice and rehearsal!

Gerald

I have faced the same type of predicament. Over the last 15 years I have purchased roughly 300 books and 80-90 DVDs, but I found that I was performing very little of the material. There is so much good material available these days that it is very easy to fall into the trap outlined in the introduction of "The Dai Vernon Book of Magic" (where you jump from routine to routine, but you don't actually perfect any one routine).

To resolve this situation, I was lucky enough to find a very well known, and influential magician who has agreed to take me on as a student. Over the next year, he will help me learn to perform three routines at a world class level. That's right - only three routines ... but at the end of the year, I should have three routines that can be performed anytime, anywhere, and for any audience.

I'd suggest that you consider doing the same - try to get a mentor or teacher to help you learn, and perfect, a small number of routines. I first read about this strategy in one of Michael Close's books and I think that it is some of the best advice I have ever received.

Are you talking about Michael Close's eBook?

Is there anyone in the Toronto area willing to teach me proper practice and a routine or two? I would be willing to pay.

Thanks again for the advice everyone.

I'd recommend learning to do a double lift really well. There are soooooo many tricks using this simple sleight, I didn't learn almost any other sleights for several months after I first started and was still able to blow people away. After that, I'd recommend learning some forces, the pass, some basic card control, and maybe throw in a few flourishes. Really, just learn moves that relate directly to what you want to do: if you want to seem like you've been a card shark since birth, learn a lot of flourishes, while if you want to present simple, straight-forward magic (as if you're doing real magic rather than just being really good with cards), maybe focus more on perfecting card controls and such, and not even worrying about flourishes almost at all. I'd also really recommend checking into Michael Ammars "Easy to Master Card Magic" series, as it shows really effective tricks with minimal sleights. Hope this helps!

Dai Vernon told Albert Goshman to learn ONE THING better than anyone else in the world. He did, and it paid off.

In a practical sense, to entertain, you don't need a dozen moves... just pick some solid material and do it.