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madmartigan New user 2 Posts |
Hey guys Im about to get the Tarbell series. I have been interested in magic for a long time and I think now is the time to get serious. I listened to the magic newswire podcast and heard nothing but good things about the Tarbell course from Denny Haney. I figured I would study these books like crazy.
My question to you guys concerns the props involved in the Tarbell course. I know that I need to buy decks of cards, thumb tips, and sponge balls. What else should I buy prop wise for the course? |
Daniel Ulzen Elite user Berlin/Germany 493 Posts |
I would suggest first get and read the Tarbell Course. There are several hundred or thousends of tricks in it you can do with things you have at home like a deck of cards.
For some tricks you need special props like sponge balls etc. Get these props when you really like a trick and want to learn that trick. |
rklew64 Inner circle 1265 Posts |
Wouldn't the books provide that information. I bet if I look through my Tarbell books, I could ascertain that list - don't you think so. I know for a fact that someone else will spoon feed that in 3...2...
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madmartigan New user 2 Posts |
To the poster above, thanks for stating the obvious. I wanted to get a jump on the props since I do not have the books in my hands just yet. I wanted to order them and some props at the same time.
I do have another question though. What is the best way to learn from the course? Should I pick out a couple of tricks from each lesson, or just learn mechanics first. If anyone has any advice on the best way to study the course I would be much obliged. |
Cipher New user 50 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-11-30 00:56, madmartigan wrote: There is no right way to approach learning. I would recommend sitting down with the complete series in front of you, and skimming around at first. Read and try whatever piques your interest. Don't amass a ton of props that you will never use. Find a trick that you like, and then buy the prop. Take your time with Tarbell, and work at your own pace. These books will last you a lifetime. |
volto Special user 603 Posts |
What Cipher said. I'm about to say it again, only I'll use more words...
Having just had a quick peek at the first few lessons, the props are pretty much what I recalled - coins, cards, string, rope, rings, paper napkins, ribbons, newspapers, balls, bowls, cups, handkerchieves... the most practical thing you could do right now is research a local hardware store, a good stationers and a good haberdashery. Or just keep your eyes open in places like Wal-Mart. Quite often, although the props are common, easily available items, they will need to have some property that you can only test if you're buying in person - and only when you know exactly what you're looking for. For instance, some tricks call for a very lightweight "magicians" silk handkerchief (the kind that's almost transparent). Some call for a silk pocket square, that's opaque and stretches a little. Some call for something more like a cotton bandana, that will hold the shape of an object once the object has been removed, for instance. The size might need to be 6" square, or 16" square, or 36" square, or 18" diamond. Even something as simple as a piece of string comes in many different types, and you need different string for different effects. Twine, basting thread, silk cord, leather string, shoelace... should it be easily cut? Slippery? Have a jazzy pattern? Round or flat? Fat or thin? How long, exactly? Should it have those plastic tips at the ends, or just be cut? You see what I mean? Don't even get me started on balls The important thing is to read the effects, understand the principles and try to absorb the lessons. Figure out what you want to perform, then go out and buy the stuff you need. It's good to try things out with props in hand, but if you're just trying to understand how something works, you can probably get by with things you already have in the house as stand-ins. Tissues = silks. Shoelace = twine, rope or string. Balled up tissue = ball. And so on. Of the early lessons, lesson 3 can literally be done on a shoestring. In terms of how to use the course - I'd just read through everything and try to work out what fits you, in terms of the character you want to portray. Is it you? Is it you with magical powers? Is it you as a conman? Is it someone with a different accent, background and history to you? Does this person have magical powers, or do they just own magical objects? Or are they simply the subject of a gypsy curse inflicted by an old woman with a savage sense of humor? Is it a top-hatted magician archetype, intended for kids? Is it a trickster archetype, intended for adults? Is it a geek or sideshow act, performing strange feats with your body, or a psychic, or a medium, or a seer? You get the drift - you have to know what you want to portray before you can pick the material. With the material in Tarbell, you can portray pretty much whatever you want. In my case, I'm me, and I have magical powers. Really. |
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