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Double O Magic Veteran user 365 Posts |
Keeping track of all my favorite tricks is a little hard at times. I just recently took a couple week break off of magic and I feel kind of a little rusty and feel that when someone requests a trick I need to think a little before getting my deck out or whatever I am using. I am working on sponge balls and other things but the main things I have forgotten are the card tricks...it will take me a little to write them down somewhere but what is the best way to keep track of tricks and routines?
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Michael Graves Regular user Minnesota 150 Posts |
The best way is how one of my Students does it.
Write down the effect name on a note card and what the effect does, for example ambitious card Ambitious Card Full Deck Card Selected and shown as well a signed Card put back into the deck via ( insert your slight here) So on and so forth, you do not have to go into the whole effect and slights, just enough to jog your memory. Also taping your effects works as well and then you can go back and watch. |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
I understand the problem! For me it's a matter of just remembering the 'name' of a trick and then I'm fine. At one time I always carried a little, tiny notebook with me that I wrote down the names of my favorite routines inside. They all I had to do was take a quick look and bang I had it.
I just knew so many tricks that they would kind of push each other aside. I even had cheat sheets for my shows! This is not an uncommon problem by the way. I have know a great many magicians over the years who did the same thing! Best,
Brad Burt
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Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
I have a list of the names tricks I use and with resource where they can be referenced.
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
I have an Access data base program for handling that. If there is enough interest I could change/enhance it to a generic program that anyone could use.
However, it started with creating a personal index for Tarbell which sits inside of Volume One.
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
Double O Magic Veteran user 365 Posts |
Thanks for all of your replies and I have a generic idea of what to do know...now It is just a matter of jogging my memory and writing them down.
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tomboston New user Fort Lauderdale, FL 90 Posts |
I write down the name, creator, effect, and the main sleights (if any) involved in the trick. Hopefully that will jog my memory!
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Irfaan Kahan Veteran user 346 Posts |
I have a detailed spreadsheet. The sheet lists the name of the effect,
the creator, the name of the author who wrote the book (or presented it on DVD) Book & Pg no. (or DVD mins) A code for whether I think the effect is excellent, good, or fair another code for whether I feel the effect is interesting / or gets added to my favorites (an excellent effect may just be interesting because it doesn't fit my style - e.g. billiard balls, One or two keywords to describe the effect (sandwich, transposition, spellbound, etc), A short description of the main effect. This make it easy for me to sort through and sets together.
I'm a Magician playing the part of an Actor
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GamingNinja New user Hayward, CA 35 Posts |
I have a battered old notebook I keep in my case, has a summary and a few have notes and instructions in case I totally forget.
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55john55 Regular user 137 Posts |
What a wonderful question and (no surprise) some mighty fine answers. Whether you are a business with an extensive inventory or a library with a million books, finding what you know is not an easy matter. If a battered old notebook works for you then you have achieved the most important part of the process- finding what works for you. I don't know about others, but I've been through a number of systems trying to find what works best for me. Because of this, I'd recommending not entering everything until you find what works. Like one of the previous posts, I wound up with a coded system in a data base (a spread sheet would work also)because I'm such a slow typist. The computer is useful for me because I can add a new catagory, like how difficult it is to do or audience reaction, at a later date.
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Irfaan Kahan Veteran user 346 Posts |
I used to have a difficulty rating for each effect, as well. However, over time that rating changes so I've since deleted that column altogether!
For example, I used to have Dai Vernon's Triumph rated as a 4/10. Now it would be a 1/10 for difficulty.
I'm a Magician playing the part of an Actor
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GamingNinja New user Hayward, CA 35 Posts |
Using the comp will probably be my next step, once pages start falling out of that notebook.
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