Also finding sleights very difficult, going to look for the book you suggested. Thanks for the tip!

I found Bill Tarr's "Now you see it, now you don't" really helpful when I was starting out with sleights.

David Stone gives lots of good advices on coin work on some of his dvds. Once you feel comfortable with sleight, try to perform it for video camera, record it in different angles and see how it looks. Look for distractions when polishing your sleights, because you constantly get them during real time performances. If you still can perform effectively, you can probably be happy with it.

Mirrors, videos and a trusted friend. 'Nuff said.

Also, I would not practice similar tricks or sleights at the same time. For example, if you are learning two sleights, both of which begin with holding a coin between your two middle fingers, then your basal ganglia--the part of the brain that helps automatize skills--becomes confused. The various phases of the sleight do not become entrenched or automatic as quickly.

Flyswatter, on handwashing techniques: what I did was have someone film me while actually washing my hands or brushing dirt off them, just to make sure what looks natural. I then tried to figure out how to copy these motions while moving coins around.

Gerald, thanks for the link to the Ostsich Factor book.

Good luck,
Mark

Oh, and I found this thread instructive:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&forum=3

Hello bro..

this be my problem to when I start magic..

until I read and watch several video..

Such as..

Tommy Wonder books and video
eugene burger books and video
Dai vernon books and video..

after that I really like my practice time..

cheers

I only practice when I'm in the mood, which is a lot of the time anyway but if practice becomes a chore its a bore and if practtice is fun its.... a... well you see my point.

Lots of great advice listed above. I want to reiterate something mentioned above: you should consider purchasing The Ostrich Factor by Gerald Edmundson. It is well thought out and could be quite helpful. Good Luck.

Just ordered The Ostrich Factor. Looking forward to receiving it!

Hudson

There is a point that Eugene Berger makes - a good one I believe. There is a difference between practice and rehearsal. Both are necessary.

Bad habits are hard to break but they are also hard to discover that you have them.

I learned that the hard way. I knew I had problems but didn’t stop to try and find out the why. Until I found someone that was able to help me. He pointed out what I was doing wrong and helped me correct it. Sometimes you just need someone to help you along.

Is the Ostrich Factor available on PDF download? I've searched to no avail...

Go to geraldedmunson.com and place a paypal order. I received my copy a few days later (hardcopy)

Hudson

I like what another posted wrote about keeping a journal -- great tip. When I practice, I treat it like practicing a sport. I decide what drills I'm going to do (DL, palming, dbl under) and decide how many times I'm going to do them (200 DLs, etc.) Once you get proficient enough to perform the sleight, adjust your goal to 'complete 200 perfect DLs.' Finally, because it's so important to be able to manip cards while talking casually, practice while watching a movie. Just be sure that you're performing the sleight correctly so you don't develop any bad habits.

Ekuth, there is no .pdf version available. Sorry, but I have no plans to publish it in that format. I do want to thank all you folks again for your interest in The Ostrich Factor. If you haven't found this link, you can still read reviews and order at http://www.geraldedmundson.com/tof1/TOFReviews.htm

Thanks again. I do appreciate your continued interest in my book.

Best regards,
Gerald

I used to think that my hands were too small or that the gaps in my fingers would show a palmed card in my hand (before I started learning coin sleights). I eventually learned to properly palm a card, but the "windows" would flash the card. I eventually learned how to get the heat off of my hand that is palming. There have been a couple of times where I know I didn't palm the card right, but you know what? No one noticed.

I know I'm not perfect when I CP a coin, however I haven't been called out on it yet. I still practice it and I hope to one day CP perfectly. For the time being, I've gotten by pretty well.