And you were working your way through Bobo and you had a choice of these 4 DVDs, which would you choose?

Michael Ammar Complete Introduction To Coin Magic

In The Beginning There Were Coins by Jay Noblezada

Expert coin Magic by David Roth

Modern Coin Magic by Ben Salinas

If you want to learn some tricks fast
Michael Ammar Complete Introduction To Coin Magic
In The Beginning There Were Coins by Jay Noblezada

If you want to have a reference guide in the form of a set of DVD's
Modern Coin Magic by Ben Salinas

Expert coin Magic by David Roth is ok, I just don't like his approach to teaching


I have all of them

Thanks Tree!

Theodore, I started with Roth's DVDs, as many here did. Never regretted it as a great foundation. Still study them once in awhile to brush up on handling.

If you only had access to those DVDs, I would start with the Roth series. The set is actually made up of three videos combined into one DVD, and is very thorough. Nothing against Ammar, who by the way dedicated his own DVD to Roth. Many people prefer his laid back style. However, if you compare the contents I think you would find Roth's DVD more thorough. Ben's excellent DVD series I think would be best used as a companion study guide to the Bobo book, and may help you to understand any parts of Bobo that you having a hard time with. I don't know if you are just limited to these DVDs, but my own encyclopedia of coin sleights remains to this day the most thorough collection of coin moves available in one place, and in my own biased opinion will improve your ability to perform the most modern and useful sleights. Both Giacomo Bertini and Reed McClintock learned their coin magic from this series. Note that there are no tricks taught, just over 100 coin moves. For tricks, you have the basics with the DVDs you mention and the Bobo book. After that there are a million DVDs that teach great tricks, just depends on what you are looking for. Good luck with your journey!

Thank you both

I am looking for something that has moves and tricks so I can get a visual of the sleight and then practice it in the context of something, but I'll definitely keep your work in mind Michael.

To be honest, after working through those DVD's and Mr Rubinstein's DVD's over the last 3.5 yrs,
I went with Marion Boykin's work. Why, because it's fresh, clean, new, and in your face kinda stuff.
Myself, I just don't want to be doing the same type of coin magic everyone else is doing, ie...flurries, coins across, etc.
plus, It's easy to learn and Marion teaches very well. His Crimp move, The Crimp routine, Tap Wave, Jump, MB Transpo, Grandpa's Coins, and much more. His stuff is hot!
I'm not telling you to not get those excellent resources you asked about.
I say get them all as you can afford them, every coin worker needs to have them.
But there's allot more out there to cut your teeth on...
Have Fun Theo

Yes Marion has some great routien's for sure..
Todd

My own recommendation is Dr. Mike's "Encyclopedia of Coin Sleights" and David Roth's "Expert Coin Magic Made Easy". After that I would say that Eric Jones's Metal Series is great for learning sleights also. And then, the New York Coin Magic Seminar Volumes.

Jim

I started with the Bobo book and Ben Salinas' matching dvd set. Got Roth's set next.

1) Ammar's Introduction to Coin Magic
2) Roth's Expert Coin Magic Made Easy (3 dvd set)
3) David Stone's Coin Magic DVD's (2 dvd set)
4) Jay Sankey - Revolutionary Coin Magic vol 1

Curtis Kam's Palms of Steel was one I liked.

While I like Mb's stuff and use bits and bobs of it, it is restricted to smaller groups of spectators. It's not angley in a camera only sense; it definitely works in the real world. But you can't do it surrounded on all sides, which is the same for most of the modern routines with an emphasis on chest high magic. In contrast, classics like a standard coins across can be done completely surrounded. I work in a school and sometimes perform stuff at lunch time. I may start a coins across performing to two people, but by the final phase, I'll be surrounded by 20!

So to a beginner, I would say make sure you learn the stuff that is practical in as many situations as possible first, as that will give you more performance opportunities and you'll never be unable to perform. Now I have a solid base of routines for all situations, I can throw in the others when the opportunity presents itself.


Ammar was my favourite when first watching all those, although at that time I hadn't seen the 3rd Roth video. With that included, I think Roth wins. Both of those teach a routine where the magic happens in their hands (4 coins across/copper&silver) and teach the subtleties to make this possible (turning their hand over). This elevated my magic from beyond Bobo and made my magic a lot more powerful. All of my regularly performed coin magic ends in their hand or involves some body loading. People talk about that stuff more than any other. Both dvds give various tips on magic and misdirection in general, which is what makes them such great dvds.

One negative about Roths is that the majority of routines require an extra coin. There is nothing wrong with that of course, but for a beginner, there is extra pressure. Ammars 4 coins across is a lot less pressured to perform than winged silver because if you get caught out in a middle phase, you can carry on with the rest of the routine.

Thanks again for your replies. Mb had recommended Michael Ammar, I was just looking for some opinions on these other vids.

Decisions!

All good choices. I would say whichever way you go, take it slow. A quick survey of the material to get an idea of what you like and they pick a couple of sleights and effects that use them and get them down solid. That will give you motivation to continue and is just a lot more rewarding than drudging through it all at once.

Hi Theodore! I'd go with the Roth set. If I was new to Coin Magic, I recommend Dr. Mike's "Encyclopedia of Coin Sleights" and the New York Coin Magic Seminar Volumes.

Doug

Thanks guys.

Doug- I think I may get the Ammar video at first, but definitely planning on the Roth DVDs after I know a few tricks. As of right now I just keep practicing different palms and I started to work on the French drop after reading Ben Salinas' thread.

If I could The 1 St thing I would do is See if there where some one around I could that Lesson's From!

That's sooo much Better then A DVD or even a book!!!

Ben's DVDs are still my favourite, but anything by Doc Rubenstein and of course Roth, is well worth your attention.