|
|
|
|||
| Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] | ||||||||||
lorenwade Special user 869 Posts 
|
Obviously, since we all do close up magic... we all use mirrors. Well, I'd only hope you've used a mirror. It's probably one of the best tools for practice. You might use your bathroom mirror or have one of those that hang on your door... but what about something mobile? It'd be nice to have a closeup mirror to practice my coin magic that's a bit more portable. Yes, I realize these are common, but I haven't seen any that's very potable... unless my google-fu sucks and I totally missed it.
Any ideas? |
|||||||||
Mb217 Inner circle 9682 Posts
|
Here's one...pretty neat and cheap.
http://sleightlymad.com/magic-diy-practice-mirror/ And if you don't want to make it, this will do the trick: http://www.hanklee.org/xcart/product.php?productid=30 **PLUS: Here's an old general thread on the old mirror, pro and con.
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=108
*Check out my latest: Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini-Magic Book, MBs Mini-Lecture on Coin Magic, The MB Tanspo PLUS, MB's Morgan, Copper Silver INC, Double Trouble, FlySki, Crimp Change - REDUX!, and other fine magic at gumroad.com/mb217magic
"Believe in YOU, and you will see the greatest magic that ever was." -Mb
|
|||||||||
|
lorenwade Special user 869 Posts
|
Some great options there, but I may be in need of something more portable and much smaller. Thanks Mb!
|
|||||||||
|
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27470 Posts
|
Quote:
On 2010-02-24 16:04, lorenwade wrote: Obviously? About all that's obvious is that someone has yet to be taught that such words belie a sort of humor at the reader's expense. Poof you're a dolt. Other such winks to the reader are "thus it plainly follows", "clearly", "it can easily be shown that", "as the reader will recall".... eyes up when you see that stuff - it usually means you will have some homework. Don't thank me - thank my ninth grade history teacher for that one. Since the advent of the webcam - and all of us here are using computers so what's a few dollars more to get a camera all set?... it's not so tough to do one's "watch and learn" exercises using a webcam to see just what we tend to blink and flinch and hope other folks never notice. FWIW I use a microsoft Lifecam xv5000 and find them on sale between twenty and thirty dollars every so often. Be prepared to be surprised by what you see when you playback your performances. Also - as a hint - turn off the monitor program while recording as it tends to distract your performing eye/gesture patterns. Best wishes and enjoy, Jon
...to all the coins I've dropped here
|
|||||||||
|
lorenwade Special user 869 Posts
|
Quote:
On 2010-02-24 17:55, Jonathan Townsend wrote: Thanks Jon, Actually, I'm well aware of the webcam option. I frequently use mine in fact. My original statement truly meant that we use some sort of device to watch ourselves... and a webcam is a sort of mirror. What I am looking for is something portable and a mirror can be portable and a pretty cheap option. You can pick apart my words... but I just simply meant that we all use or should use something to watch ourselves... and I'm in need of a portable device that would do that. Thanks.
|
|||||||||
|
KirkG Inner circle 1395 Posts
|
Jon,
My new lap top has camera built in, but the recording is very choppy. Does the one you mention do a better job recording? I may just buy a "real" digital video camera rather than a webcam. |
|||||||||
|
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27470 Posts
|
* have to know more about the camera, memory etc to know the source of the choppiness. I run windows vista with four gb of ram and the camera on a USB2 connection and don't see much choppiness.
Posted: Feb 24, 2010 7:04pm Loren, even a flip camera would be better than a mirror IMHO. The goal being a playback so you can see what others might see. The realtime aspect of a mirror is helpful in some ways but (IMHO) forces the viewer, you, to behave in ways which might not be to useful when performing for others, just to see what's happening.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
|
|||||||||
|
lorenwade Special user 869 Posts
|
Quote:
On 2010-02-24 19:04, Jonathan Townsend wrote: Great point, unfortunately I simply don't have the money for it right now... but let me ask, how does a flip cam provide a better view than a mirror? |
|||||||||
|
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27470 Posts
|
As far as I know, it's next to impossible to watch yourself do something while doing it. Try watching your feet as you walk and studying how you move your feet - when I try - I stumble.
I hear you about spending money in these tough times. Does your phone take video? Or how about a friend's phone? The camera permits you to pay attention to your performance as you do it and then review what was caught on video later. Different settings/setups on the camera allow you to get closeup/medium/distance perspectives. The goal here is to get the best view of what an audience can see so you can refine your work. Once nice use of the camera as learning tool is to set the camera for a medium shot and let a friend video a performance and see what they were looking at and what they saw.
...to all the coins I've dropped here
|
|||||||||
|
lorenwade Special user 869 Posts
|
Unfortunately, my phone only plays video (really well)... haha. I have the iPhone 3G with all my magic videos and DVDs on it... but can't take any darned video.
Great idea, Jon. I totally agree with this. I have a video camera at home actually and have done this... but it's hardly as portable as I was hoping. I suppose this kind of practice isn't really portable in itself? |
|||||||||
J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts
|
I bought a Flip Ultra at Amazon two or three months ago when they were on sale for half-price. Well worth the money!
Thanks! Jim |
|||||||||
rutabaga Inner circle Toronto, Canada 1327 Posts
|
I bought a digital camcorder instead of an expensive gaff a few years ago... one of my better decisions!
As JT points out, using a webcam or whatever REALLY shows up the problem areas! In particular, I found my "patter" or whatever you want to call it was atrocious!.. something a mirror could never highlight. Get a webcam, get honest with yourself, and get a HUGE improvement in your coin magic. |
|||||||||
MickeyPainless Inner circle California 6042 Posts
|
I've made and used a tri fold mirror in the past and still use it on occasion but agree with the proponents of the camcorder! If you're not ready to see how bad you may really suck, disregard the above suggestions!
MMc |
|||||||||
Sammy J. Inner circle Castle Rock, Colorado 1786 Posts
|
I find that when I am studying new material, it really helps to have a mirror in front of me. It's much more convenient at that stage than a camera.
Once the moves and routine are learned, it's time to introduce the camera. The Flip camera is nice because you can't watch yourself in the monitor while you do your routine. It is also brutally honest, which really hurts sometimes! Sammy
Sammy J. Teague
|
|||||||||
Wes65 Inner circle I've said very little in 1219 Posts
|
I have a very cheap full length mirror that I keep between the wall and a book case. I take it out and lean it up against something when I'm using it. I also prefer a video camera but that takes a little more time and effort.
I think I'll go find a web cam now!
Wes
|
|||||||||
|
magicjackson New user 63 Posts
|
Great stuff in this thread. So funny yet so true...
"Try watching your feet as you walk and studying how you move your feet - when I try - I stumble." "I found my patter...to be atrocious!" "If you're not ready to see how bad you may really suck, disregard..." |
|||||||||
|
Mb217 Inner circle 9682 Posts
|
That Logitech Webcam Pro 9000 is great, the best that I have seen.
Also, I've mentioned before as to how wonderful the FLIP vid cams are. Simple, simple, simple to use and render a quality video. I use it now all the time, carry it everywhere for when the moment it hits me. Easy to set up, easy to connect to a computer, easy to send videos, great quality.
*Check out my latest: Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini-Magic Book, MBs Mini-Lecture on Coin Magic, The MB Tanspo PLUS, MB's Morgan, Copper Silver INC, Double Trouble, FlySki, Crimp Change - REDUX!, and other fine magic at gumroad.com/mb217magic
"Believe in YOU, and you will see the greatest magic that ever was." -Mb
|
|||||||||
|
magicjackson New user 63 Posts
|
One bad thing about some of the specific FLIP brand (there are many just like it) is that with the HD version you can't reduce the resolution, so you may have quite a large file if you send to others.
|
|||||||||
|
Mb217 Inner circle 9682 Posts
|
Well, I have a Flip Ultra, don't think it's HD so if you don't' want to be bothered with all that (and believe me it's no big deal), then check this one out:
http://store.theflip.com/products/Ultra.aspx Lot's of options out there but this is the one I have experience with and spoke of...The one I've used is black and my ultimate point on this is that it's pretty easy to use with great results, nothing complicated about it...I would say that a good classic palm is much more of a challenge than this little thing. 
*Check out my latest: Gifts From The Old Country: A Mini-Magic Book, MBs Mini-Lecture on Coin Magic, The MB Tanspo PLUS, MB's Morgan, Copper Silver INC, Double Trouble, FlySki, Crimp Change - REDUX!, and other fine magic at gumroad.com/mb217magic
"Believe in YOU, and you will see the greatest magic that ever was." -Mb
|
|||||||||
|
lorenwade Special user 869 Posts
|
While these are all incredible options, I annoyingly insist on a small mirror that can be carried in a backpack or purse. Wouldn't that be nice to set at your desk at work?
Hehehe. 
|
|||||||||
| The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Magical Accessories » » Close Up Mirrors (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
| Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] | ||||||||||
Posted: Feb 24, 2010 09:04 pm 
| [ Top of Page ] |
|
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2026 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
|
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < 
|