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minusthebear New user 23 Posts |
I've not read through it but it seems many people say it's a great book for starters. I was just wondering how many people have read through this. I also am getting Mark Wilsons, but I'm just curious about this book.
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Cyberqat Inner circle You can tell I work on the net from my 2209 Posts |
Too new for me to have much of an opinion.
The one caution that occurs to me however is this: The "Dummies" books are mass marketed to the general book reading public. Is this going to mean that there is a fair chance of anything you learn from it being known by your audience?
It is always darkest just before you are eaten by a grue.
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55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
Minusthebear,
It depends on what you want out of magic. You've asked a number of questions over the past month, without a clear focus on what you are trying to accomplish in magic. Do you want to be a magician or someone who knows a bunch of tricks? Magic for Dummies has a number of easy to do tricks that most anyone can use and certainly some that could complement an amateur's body of work -- but probably won't do much to move you down the path of becoming a magician (at least it didn't for me). There is an sticky topic on books for beginners. Why don't you start there? Mark Wilson is a tremendous reference and has more in it that you can possibly learn over the next 2 or 3 years -- if you spend a minimum of several hours every week practicing. You've previously asked about cards -- I personally can vouch for Card College by Roberto Giobbi and highly recommend volumes 1 & 2 for a start. CC will take you a year or more to get through working at least 4 hours per week. You should also consider joining a magic club. Most cities have either IBM or SAM clubs and many have both. Nothing will speed your learning like sitting down and practicing with a few other magicians. Hudson |
minusthebear New user 23 Posts |
I am interested in being a magician but I am looking for something that compliments performance as well as tricks and it seem from what I heard that magic for dummies offers some advice on it. Currently, I'm not looking for anything too deep obviously because I don't want to be scared away from magic as a whole because I tend to over due most things I do, as I'm a perfectionist. Also, I'm very introvertish so I need some help with the performance aspect, as I mentioned. Lastly, I've looked at I think a IBM club out here in Grand Rapids, but it wasn't really clear all that takes place at the meetings and I've been kind of busy recently. At any rate, I think what I'm trying to find is something that will flow with my personality which is why I am looking not just solely for tricks but ideas for my personality type. Which I said is sort of introvert so it's more a reserved, quiet type mentality. I don't want the tricks to necessarily speak for themselves, because there's the whole psychology behind magic that intrigues me. I'm just trying to get as well equipped as I can, as a whole, and I have an allotment on books every month, so I'm trying to get the books while I have the allotments.
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55Hudson Special user Minneapolis 984 Posts |
In Grand Rapids you don't have SAM, but you do have the IBM Ring. Go to a couple of meetings and see if you like them. All it will cost is a few hours. You'll know after two or three meetings if it is worthwhile - it was for me and for most magicians - new and old.
Regarding learning the magic craft, my recommendation on Card College stands. The final chapter in Vol 2 is all about performance strategy and how to go well beyond skills. However, if you want to focus on what it takes to be a magician, I highly recommend Michael Ammar's DVD, The Complete Cups and Balls, volumes 1 & 2 (Book by the same title is out of print and very difficult to come by). Cups and Balls is the oldest of magic and anyone who understands that effect(s) truly understands magic. Ammar is a tremendous teacher and every DVD of his that I've seen not only teaches the skills very well, but also the underlying principles behind the magic. Ammar has a two for one special on DVD's, so for $30 you can get Vol 1 &2 -- most shops charge between $20 to $25 for one DVD, so that's a very good deal. http://www.ammarmagic.com/ Sounds like you are on a budget, so you can buy some inexpensive cups or even use coffee cups. Or you can go to RNT2 and pick up a set of aluminum cups for about $50, plus the cost of the balls -- they make great products that will last a lifetime. http://www.rnt2.com/index.php All depends on your budget and interests. You won't find yourself doing a C&B routine much when hanging out with friends, but you sure will learn a lot about magic. Good luck! Hudson |
octave Regular user 172 Posts |
Lybrary dot com has an ebook with a list of recommended books for cards, coins and mentalism.
Some comments from those who have read Magic for Dummies in this thread, http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......orum=110 -octave |
gaddy Inner circle Agent of Chaos 3526 Posts |
It's a good book that teaches one the larger spectrum of magic, not limiting itself to cards or coins or mentalism etc. I can't attest to any "greatness" the book might possess...
It's very much worth reading.
*due to the editorial policies here, words on this site attributed to me cannot necessarily be held to be my own.*
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Andrew Eng New user 50 Posts |
Maybe someday I shall give this book a try. The review seems not that bad haha.
Thus the whole moon shines in every lake,
For it stands high enough. |
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
When I first got going I had no access to magic shops, catalogs, etc. I went to the local library and checked out all the books on magic in both the children's and Adult sections. I have found over the years that the worst book on magic I ever read offered something of value. I always learned something.
I highly recommend the library thing. That said, MFD's and Mark Wilson are both terrific, but the nod for primacy HAS to go to Mark Wilson's book. An amazing resource. Best,
Brad Burt
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DWRackley Inner circle Chattanooga, TN 1909 Posts |
Another vote for the Mark Wilson book.
If you don’t have a real direction yet, this will give you a fair sampling of the different arena’s of Magic, from close-up to parlor to stage illusions. It will show you how to build props for yourself, and most likely give you some ideas of your own. I don't know about the "Dummies" book, but my question would be pretty much the same as Cyberqat's: "Who in my audience just bought this book at BAM?"
...what if I could read your mind?
Chattanooga's Premier Mentalist Donatelli and Company at ChattanoogaPerformers.com also on FaceBook |
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » How many people can attest to the greatness of "Magic for Dummies"? (0 Likes) |
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