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Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Get quality - and yes, sometimes quality is expensive
Cards never lie
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PirateJohn Regular user Anaheim, CA 156 Posts |
The first time I went to a magic shop I bought some cheap illusions that I thought would be good to get me started. I think I used them for a month before they ended up in the bottom of a box.
The best thing to do is to buy as many books and/or DVDs as you wish to spend from a small number of very good sources -- Jean Hugard, Jay Sankey, Richard Osterlind, Michael Ammar, etc. -- and try to learn about magic from those as much as possible. These principles will last a lifetime whereas a cheap plastic trick is going to last you a few hours. These days I generally try to buy as few "props" as possible. Most of what I'm trying to learn these days is the principles of magic, which ultimately allows me to do magic with ordinary objects, or at least ordinary-looking objects. I've been spending most of my money on DVDs from Jay Sankey and Wayne Houchin. |
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gardini Regular user Cornwall, Ontario, Canada 158 Posts |
I found tricks are cool, but most of them end up in the magic drawer, utillity items are a much better investment quality does tend to matter though, books and good dvds are the absolute best, the best investments in my magic collection are the Tarbell Books , and the Dai Vernon Revelations DVD set there's enough strong good magic in these to master to keep someone busy for the rest of his life. Or if your like me about 3 life times.
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JackScratch Inner circle 2151 Posts |
Cost does not equal value. Shop smart.
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jmuscold New user 86 Posts |
I would buy books, and if the item is a a multi-tasker (expanded shell, cup and balls, flipper coin, close up mat) then spend the big bucks. You will always get value from a book, if you find 4 tricks in a 50 dollar book then they only cost 12.50, what a bargain.
Also just because it is cheap that doesn't mean its not a good trick or even looks cheap. Just because it is expensive, doesn't mean that its a good trick. |
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apple123 Regular user 107 Posts |
Go for quality right from the start.
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apple123 Regular user 107 Posts |
There is a saying in selling: when you buy something of quality you pay for it once but when you buy something cheap you pay for it many times. Start as you mean to go on is the best philosophy.
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JackScratch Inner circle 2151 Posts |
I give this advice over and over. I often get static for saying it. Do not buy effects. Effects are a terrible value. Purchasing individual effects is the most absurdly cost ineffective way to purchase magic. Purchase source material. Purchase props to execute what the source material gives you. Do not purchase effects. Purchase your source material based on reputation in the community. As I am certain has been mentioned before, get yourself a copy of Mark Wilson's "Complete Course in Magic". If you still have an itch to scratch there is
Tarbel "Modern Coin Magic" "Royal Road to Card Magic" "Encyclopedia of Card Tricks" "Encyclopedia of Impromptu Magic" That just scratches the surface, but it's a good scratch. In case I didn't mention it. DO NOT PURCHASE EFFECTS. |
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Jailhouse Jonny New user 81 Posts |
Sometimes you can be a bit too cheap. I started out in magic with the walnut and pea from a cheap magic set. I finally bought a vernet version. WOW, what a difference. I also bought two cheap egg bags that are useless. Now you don't need to have a set of fox cups to do the cups and balls, but it helps to have adequate equipment. This is where a real magic shop staffed by real magicians can help you. They should be able to help guide you.
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Joker63 New user 48 Posts |
My two (Australian) cents worth:
I try to buy the best quality I can within my budget (though I try not to buy too many 'tricks' now, and concentrate on books). I bought colour changing chips (called 'Colour Deception' at Penguin magic) for my son a couple of years ago; bought the cheap verion and now regret it. Its a simple trick, and my son has performed it quite a bit. The problem with the cheap version (IMO) is that the finish isn't as nice as the more expensive prop. It certainly can't be handed out for inspection, whereas the better version can. It gets used quite often, and I think we should have bought the better version from the start. My first book on card magic was quite cheap (pity I hadn't found this forum earlier), even though I was recommended Card College Volume One by the person at the Magic Store. Should have listened to his advice (I do tend to now). I don't ever refer to the cheap book, but am never without Card College. Went mid-range with cups and balls and chop cup. These seem OK. I guess we all work to a budget, quality always looks better and can be worth it in the long run. Research and trusted advice can ensure hard earned case is well spent. cheers Joker |
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Lumas Loyal user NYC 202 Posts |
I started buying too many expensive things and that could have resulted in tons of money lost had I not enjoyed magic as much as I do.
I would suggest starting out cheap; Mark Wilson's "Complete Course in Magic" as it has every aspect of magic. How to build illusions, card tricks, sponge balls, etc. From there, you could see what areas of magic you enjoy and buy more expensive tricks if you like. |
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videokideo Special user 895 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-09-13 13:14, Jailhouse Jonny wrote: I worked in a magic shop about 15 years ago just out of high school. I did try to guide young beginners on the proper steps, unfortunately the owner disagreed with my actions. A 8 year old kid came in looking for a easy trick. I pulled out a Drawer Box. The owner told me to sell him a coin manipulation called Alchemist Dream in which was made for a professional coin worker. You see, it sold for 65.00 and the Drawer Box was 4.99. Profit was more important to this owner/magician. I was fired that day as I sold the kid the Drawer Box instead. |
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Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
Videokid,
very, very true - there is a lot of money to make out of the beginners. Especially as the goods promise something that money actually can not buy - skills. A discussion on this is also in http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......1&29 Andy
Cards never lie
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Sir Richard Special user 650 Posts |
Here's my "Non-professional" opinion on the matter. I buy most of my stuff cheap or make it myself if that's not going to be a problem. I actually spent $13 on a 50' length of 3/8th" rope that's a bright red color because the color will "draw the eye, the trick can be done with any rope. I'm getting ready to buy the Johnson cups because I like what I read about them and I'm planning on going "Pro". I look at it like I would buying any kind of a tool, (& that's what these are, right?) If it's just a home project I can get by with Black & Decker, but if I'm out working a construction job and need to use the tool on a daily basis then it would be something like "De-Walt". The amount of use something is going to be getting is, in my opinion, equally as important as the other things mentioned here. Just my two "vanishing" pennies. S.R.
"In the land of Murphy there is but ONE law!"
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shek Loyal user Los Angeles, CA 244 Posts |
There has been a lot of talk about the superiority of books over one-shot individual effects in this thread, and I would have to agree there. As with most beginners, I began by buying these single effects, which are now collecting dust in my closet. Not many people will realize that although videos are "easier" to understand in terms of handling, books will always offer more for less. Buying "Royal Road to Card Magic" has taught me much more than Crash Course 1 (Ellusionist) could ever teach me.
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scaevola Loyal user 251 Posts |
If you think about "genres" of manipulation (silks, cards, coins...) in each genre there are some key books and one or two gimmicks that if you read about them in a good book and ask for them by name, are very inexpensive.
Books books books are the investment. Then you find out what you can make yourself and what is worth spending the big bucks on and what can be gotten on the cheap. |
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docbarnes Loyal user 299 Posts |
I have read "buy books, best value." I am a fan of learning no matter what medium. Although I would never get rid of my collection of books I have learned such a great deal by my purchases of DVDs. Being able to what pros perform and express their opinoin about magic has been valuable for me.
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Jay Austin Regular user 184 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-10-13 14:03, docbarnes wrote: I think the major reason books are suggested over DVDs is thay they tend to be less expensive. There is useually more information found in books than on DVDs as well. (I know there are some DVD sets that have a ton of information them.) I have seen tons of DVDs released recently that only have one trick or move on them. To me that is expensive. The comment about doing what the pros do does make sense to me. However, many of the effects the pros use can be found in books as well as on DVD. The thing about learning from the DVD is that there is a tendency to copy someone elses style instead of developing your own. I have both books and DVDs and consider both valuable tools. I just think that books are a better value. Besides, books are more collectable. |
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Jay Austin Regular user 184 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-10-13 14:03, docbarnes wrote: I think the major reason books are suggested over DVDs is thay they tend to be less expensive. There is useually more information found in books than on DVDs as well. (I know there are some DVD sets that have a ton of information them.) I have seen tons of DVDs released recently that only have one trick or move on them. To me that is expensive. The comment about doing what the pros do does make sense to me. However, many of the effects the pros use can be found in books as well as on DVD. The thing about learning from the DVD is that there is a tendency to copy someone elses style instead of developing your own. I have both books and DVDs and consider both valuable tools. I just think that books are a better value. Besides, books are more collectable. |
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Lester Regular user Scotland. U.K 193 Posts |
Undoubtedly, buy books and make your own props.
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