I have been Card College to help me learn more magic. Would it be suitable for me? I know how to do double and triple lifts, the braue reversal move, a few simple forces and an ace production followed by ace routine. I'm not sure whether to get Card College or work with what I know at the moment.

Of course, we all must take into consideration our budget. That said, I believe Card College is practically essential for anyone who wants to become truly expert in card magic. It is so important to build your skills on a good foundation.

Jim

You might even consider LORAYNE: THE CLASSIC COLLECTION volumes, 1, 2 and 3.

I'm just starting to work through Vol. 1 and it's a good as everyone says. I'm having to relearn a lot of basic handling and I wish I'd had these books when I was starting out. A bit pricey, but well worth the investment.

Sam

Card College is well worth the money in my opinion. I studied the course intensily and still refer back to it to this day.

As Mystoffelees points out Card College is an excellent resource to learn foundational to advanced card techniques and routines to use them in.

Another great resource is R. Paul Wilson's The Royal Road to Card Magic (5 DVD set) and the book Royal Road to Card magic by Jean Hugard and Fred Braue. These are also excellent resources to learn countless sleights and techniques and then the card magic to use them. Paul Wilson shows almost all the sleights and effects in the book.

Here are some links to discussions regarding Card College and The Royal Road to Card Magic

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&forum=2
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&forum=2
http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......&forum=2

Card College books are very much worth the money. Not everything in there is for the novice - but it certainly gives something for the novice to aim for. (I am still working on some of the sleights in there for over a year! Practice makes perfect...)

Giobbi provides notes in depth so even if he goes over sleights you are familiar with, you will get new insight. That was my experience, anyway.

I've also found the Card College books to be excellent. The most important part for me is the really solid foundation it will give for all your future work. He does a great job in giving extremely detailed and clear descriptions of the sleights along with tips on some of the most common problems you may encounter. On top of this he also makes clear WHY he thinks the sleight should be done a particular way - in terms of both the technical execution of the moves and the motivation/misdirection aspects as well.

Mark

Thanks for everyone's replies. I think I will buy one of the books and see how it goes.

Again, but kudos on your approach. Over the years I've spent countless money on tricks and gimmicks, most of which never saw stagetime and have been lost over time. However, I still have every book and pamphlet that I obtained over the last 40 years and their dog-eared condition speaks volumes to their value.

Sam

Card College series is an invalueable source for card magic, no matter what level you are at the moment.
So if you can afford it get it! Start with the first two volumes. You'll learn lotsa basic techniques along with some very good effects.

As someone else has already pointed out, Giobbi also provides numberless tips, pshychological implications and at the end of volume 2, you'll find a wonderful essay on audience management, routine contruction, problems you might encounter when performing and so on...

I've got all five volumes, and I really enjoy the fifth one. Plenty of complete routines of professional caliber, but probably still out of reach for you at the moment.

Lorayne's books are a good source for good material but, IN MY OPINION, are not always for the very beginner, since some subtleties are taken for granted. Once you've gone through the first three volumes of Card college, then you will be ready for some other stuff.

Good luck

mlippo

Interesting - I've been told, over the decades, that Close-Up Card Magic is probably one of the best beginner's books ever written. Please - I'm not saying that, others are, have, and do. That book, of course, is re-written, updated, etc., along with four other, plus new material - much of which IS for beginners, in TCC, 1. (Of course, much is NOT, but they'll have something to aim for.) I'm sure I do take some subtleties for granted, but can't think of any at the moment. Perhaps someone will point out "some." Best - Harry L. (PS: I'm told that my The Magic Book is definitely in that area.)

Harry-

I agree and would always recommend your books, DVD's etc., many of which I have. My response was to the OP and, when someone asks me for my opinion on Chevies, for example, I don't tend to tell them what I know about Fords. Just me, I guess...

Regards,

Jim

No problem, Jim. I'm just the opposite, I guess - when someone asks my opinion about Fords, I tell 'em about Cadillacs (or BMWs/Mercedes). Harry L.

No doubt: Card College IMHO is one of the best beginners book. It's an unvalueable serie of books. Giobbi covers all the main subjects on card magic. Do not hesitate for a moment.

greetings,

No doubt at ALL? Interesting.

It was a tough choice between Lorayne The Classic Collection and Card College, but The Classic Collection is a bit more expensive

You gets what you pays for!