A lot of magicians on this board recommend working with a three fold mirror to work on angles, etc. Where is the best source for this?

A cheap and easy solution would be to buy 3 regular mirrors and tape them together. I'd use something strong like duct tape. You'd have to be careful storing something like this but it would be very easy to throw together.

My mother used to have one that folded down flat. You might try a big-box retailer or a specialty store like Bed, Bath and Beyond.

You could get some cheap mirrors in wood frames (or buy cheap frames and insert mirrors) and use piano hinges to make your own. I haven't tried that though.

Deerbourne

I once saw a great practice mirror in the "old" online-shop of Tony Clark (I haven't seen the mirror yet in his new shop) .
So maybe he can help .

Cheers ,
Philipp

I bought three 12" mirror tiles at a hardware store for about a dollar each. I wrapped each with black cloth tape (Duct tape works well too) and then taped the three together making cloth hinges out of the tape.

Keep a small space between each mirror to allow for the thickness of the glass so they hinge properly. If you allow a large enough gap, you should be able to fold the entire thing onto itself.

STOP!

get yourself a web camera and learn to use it to RECORD your work, then can review on the PC.

Also, consider getting a director to critique your performance. Find out what works, and what gaps need some filling in.

I picked up one from http://www.davidsonmagic.com for $35.00 very nice.

I agree, but he was specifically asking about the mirror, so we answered.

I got rid of mine years ago. It really didn't help that much.

If you go to a place that sells plastics, such as A-1 plastics or Cadillac Plastic, you can purchase Plexiglass mirrors. Get three of them that are about the size of a piece of notebook paper and tape them together on the back edges.

I have one from Hank Lee's I like real well. Here's the link;
http://hanklee.org/xcart/customer/produc......p;page=1

Joe

While a camera is a great asset, so is a mirror. It is also more economical for a beginner. Guys have been learning magic long before the advent of a video camera.

Certainly get both, rather than one or the other, and a three fold is certainly better than a single mirror.

Kirk

I made one years ago from mirror tiles, but it had 4 mirrors. The extra one was hinged to the top of the center tile and and had wires that held it at an angle so you can see your hands from above. I think there is a diagram of it in one of Steve Beam's Trapdoor issues. I'll check later if anyone is interested.

I quit using it and started using a video camera instead.

Joe

The Amazing Randi suggests (in Henry Hay's Amateur Magician's Handbook) that you use mirror's AND video. The suggestion is to do this similar to the TV cooking shows where you tape yourself with mirrors setup so the camera can see several angles at once.

As Joe stated above, the one from Hank Lee is great! I've had mine for many years, and it has helped me in many ways...keep it in the sleeve it was shipped in, and it will last you a LONG time.

Yeah, $40, but #1, you don't have to build it yourself. #2, it's the right thing to do (not copy someone else's work). #3, Hank Lee is a great guy, and we need to support our brick & mortar Magic Shops more than ever!

Just my $.02

Doug

Hey Doug,
I love mine and as you said it has helped me more than I ever imagined. Not to mention Hank is starting to run 25% off sales and buy one get 50% off fairly regular and has Hankee Bucks. Where you earn credit towards future purchases with each purchase.

Joe

I use a combination of video and convex mirrors. I prefer to set up the mirrors such that they don't show up on the video and I video tape from the audience positions that I'm concerned about. When practicing, convex mirrors can be set where the spectator's faces might be, allowing you to see most of their field of vision. The convex mirrors are available at automotive supply stores.

The mirrors are not so good to practice as you get into strange habits of blinking and twisting yourself when doing sleights.

Here is a bit better idea: Take a part of the wall and cover it in mirrors, even the 12x12 inch ones. This gives you what the dance people use... a pretty much free range of motion as you practice.

I still recommend getting a webcam and watching replays when you can.

I made my own the same way that Dave built his in a post above. One difference though, I cut angles on my side mirrors which are wider and taller, and the center mirror is a "wide screen" being wider than my sides.

This mirror sits at a perfect angle towards me on a table in front of my close up pad. All and all its perfect for checking my angles, and it is wide enough that I can move around on my chair like I would in a close up setting. It cover's the width of my dining room table, and allows me to keep my head up while practicing.

The forward tilt gives me a view from slightly above, just like a view would be from the audience. Normal close up mirrors always bothered me because you had to fight to get a slight view from above, propping up the mirror, knowing that it may fall down.

My mirror is 5 years old and still work's fine. Cost me about $20 and an hour's work-try to make one yourself. A web cam or video tape monitor with your TV are also recommended when available as stated above.

All manufacture/commercial rights reserved. (always wanted to say that!)

MM