I'm going through Tarbell and have gotten into the card magic area. This is the first instance where I can't tell what's happening by his illustrations. I think this is partly because I've always SUCKED at handling cards. the truth is I've never really cared all that much, so it's always been a joke how badly I shuffle cards. So my question is this. Is there such a thing as BASIC CARD HANDLING for people who need to learn how to crawl before they can even walk to learn to run?

I just got to the place where it says to do a false shuffle and my mind freezes up because I can't even do a NON-FALSE shuffle:-P. Can anyone offer some suggestions on some pre-magic shuffling "for dummies" resources?

Thanks!

Ken

Hi Ken!
There are a few resources out there for you. If you are set on books, you might want to look at Card College by Roberto Giobbi. There are 5 volumes. Volume 1 & 2 were initially written together to be one book, but you could start with just Volume 1 to get things rolling. It starts out as if you have zero experience, showing you how to hold a deck of cards, handle them, and builds upon the experience you gain. If you are more visually stimulated, there are DVDs such as Born to Perform by Oz Perlman. You'll learn basic handling, as well as routines to add to your repertoir. There are plenty of other examples, but these two should be more than enough to get you started. I hope this helps!

Cheers!

Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic has a great card intro describing card handling and you can pick it up really cheap.

Since it's not exposure to learn how to shuffle, there may be some benefit in YTube here - especially those channels that are to do with poker playing skills rather than magic per se. You should be able to grip, deal, table riffle and strip cut, in the hands riffle and bridge, overhand shuffle and spread the cards smoothly from hand to hand in order to look polished. Additional simple flourishes might include: table ribbon spread and turnover, one handed Charlier cut, and kick cuts.

This sort of thing (there's a series):
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pVyu6VWTfoU

You could always get a copy of "Magic For Dummies"!

I would absolutely recomend Roberto Giobbi's Card C0llege series, if anything else comes to my mind I'll write.

Thanks guys! I already have the Giobbi Card College series on my list, but don't want to inundate myself with more books just yet. I noticed a thread yesterday where someone said they were drowning in so many references and books that they didn't know where to start:-P. That's why I'm starting with Tarbell. But I can't really do the card moves even in Tarbell yet.

Terrible Wizard - thanks for that reply. I don't even know what ANY of those terms mean (I've made a note of them, though). I'll check out the YouTube channel link you posted though. But it's good just to know the names of things I need to learn. What's the saying about knowing the name of a thing gives you some power over it?:).

Stanyon - does Magic For Dummies have the basic non-magic card moves in it?

Theodore - Really? That's great! I got a copy of that book from a friend who got it at Half-Price books, AND he used his employee discount:). So I got it for $5:).

Onion - Yes, that DOES help. Sounds like Vol 1 of Giobbi has what I'm looking for.

Awesome answers! Thanks again for being so helpful!!!

Cheers,

Ken

Ken>>> Re: things like card "moves". May I suggest that when you come to something of that nature in Tarbell, bookmark it! Then "bypass" and come back to it. It's not critical that you master every sleight of hand move before you proceed!

Keep notes on what you've bypassed and then return.

Walter Gibson ghosted the Mark Wilcon Course. He was well qualifeied! If I remember, Gibson wrote more magic and magic related books than ANYONE ELSE! I only met him once, at Jay Marshall's, but I was thoroughtly impreseed. (He also wrote "THE SHADOW", a radio show, in the '40s, ("nom de plume" MAXWELL GRANT -- Maxwell from Max Holden's first name, and Grant, from U.F. "Gen" Grant --both magic dealers. Orson Welles was the first "Lamont Cranston" (leading role as the "SHADOW".

Lord, I love it when I come across little nuggets of information like this. I never knew that about The Shadow. Thank you Sir!

Thanks Dick. I have an Evernote note in a Magic folder specifically for Tarbell. I've been keeping track of what page I'm on as I work my way sequentially through the course. So it will be easy to annotate what I need to come back to in Evernote.

I started the Wilson book's card section this morning. You guys were right! It starts with the absolute basics like: "what is a card?" That's what I need! Well, not specifically, "what is a card?":-P. But THAT level of instruction at this point. I'm psyched!

Cheers!

Ken

Oh, I forgot to ask. Dick - what did you mean by "ghosted the Wilson Course?"

Ken

Ken - I believe he meant that Gibson was the ghost writer.

Check this free PDF!!!

http://eugenemagicclub.com/Giobbi_Card_Magic-Intro.pdf

Additionally:

http://magicagora.com/2011/12/21/your-fi......?lang=en

Awesome!!

Aaron Fisher gets into almost painful detail on how to overhand shuffle cards, amongst other things, in this download. It is very good, he talks about exact finger placement, everything. http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/3220

Friend Remillard!

Vous avez raison! Gibson started writing, EONS AGO!

Check your copy of Wilson's Course. Page 13 is a "one page" biography of Gibson! I just read it again! He's listed as "co-author", but (just between thee and me) I think was "a bit more than 'co' author!

He autographed a copy of "THE SHADOW ANNUAL" to me. that day at Jay's.

Dick

Ken! As you're discovering, there are many sharers of information here. As long as it is apparent that you are not looking for a "free ride", just ask!

Terr. Wiz and MVoss have jumped in to help!

Ken! As you're discovering, there are many sharers of information here. As long as it is apparent that you are not looking for a "free ride", just ask!

Terr. Wiz and MVoss have jumped in to help!

You state that you never really cared all that much. I am not sure if that means you never cared about not being able to handle cards well, or that you never cared about card magic. If its that you don't care that much about card magic, then my recommendation would be to simply skip it. There are so many areas of magic that you cannot learn it all. Find what you love doing and focus on that. Put the time and effort into what you enjoy, you will benefit from that and so will your audience. You can always learn a handful of relatively simple or even self working card tricks. Have 3 or 4 on hand in case you feel the need or get a request. Then find the area you enjoy most and put your effort there. There are some powerful card routines that are fairly easy. Check out Ammar's Easy to Master Card Miracles. Each dvd has one or two tricks that require little skill. I have also heard that the first volume of "Ultimate Self working Card Tricks" by Big Blind Media, has some great routines. The great thing about books like Tarbell and Wilson, is that it exposes you to many types of magic so you can find what you enjoy and what doesn't inspire you. You will also find some good simple card routines in those books. Just don't feel the need to become an expert at everything. That will get frustrating.

I really enjoy card magic, it is what first inspired me to get into magic. But some people just don't care for it.

Wow! I pop away (I wish:)) for a couple hours and all this additional help is here!? How many times can I say how awesome you all are? Since my last visit I have learnt the proper way to do a overhand shuffle (from Wilson and one video that taught it exactly like Wilson, but that I could see for myself) and have practice it about 100 times. And I am finally starting to get the riffle shuffle. I'll probably start a new thread on the issues and questions I'm having with that:-P.

But yes. I had a spark of interest, but you guys are keeping me motivated by fanning the flame:). Thanks again.

BTW - I'm only dipping into card magic (heck, not even "magic" yet - just learning not to spray the cards all over the room) as part of my intro to all the aspects of magic, as folks advised. And I'm going through Tarbell, and that's where I am. I don't know what I'll eventually specialize in. I just don't think I have enough experience trying it all out yet.

Cheers!

Ken

Harry Lorayne's "The Magic Book" has some good instructions for the basics of card handling. Plus the rest of the book gives a good insight in to other aspects, so gives a good break from cards if/when you feel getting in a bit of a rut.