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@salam: "Thank you so much, however, i do feel i could do better." I suspect that any artist down through history who has aspired to become a master has felt the same. @salam: "Well, just practice and practice i guess." Absolutely. Whether it's music, dance, painting, acting, Marshall arts...

Try this, but it looks like you will need to purchase a whole deck of many different kinds of gaffed Tally-ho cards. http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/6808

As far as teaching a layman who knows next to nothing a card trick, I definitely agree that we shouldn't be tipping double lifts or other very important moves to them, especially since the majority are unlikely to give the devotion necessary to do it well and are likely to perform it poorly when...

Quinn, That is great! I would advise working your way through the Royal Road to Card magic first, which will give you the fundamentals and some great tricks, as well, and wait until later for the other two books which are more advanced. Enjoy the Royal journey!

I will always teach a trick to someone that asks me to. If there are straws around, I teach them the one (and I can't remember where I learned it) where you take two drinking straws and wrap them around each other a number of times until it looks like they are hopelessly entangled in knots...

Excellent and Insightful post, L M. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

I would agree with the super high rating other members have given the Monarchs. When I buy Bicycles (which I use most often in my performances), I order Bicycle Rider Back, not Bicycle Standards. I find the Rider Backs to be superior to the Standards. I own a lot of beautiful custom decks...

Laymen like and enjoy displays of skill, such as the Sybil Cut, pressure fans, springing, spread and turnover flourishes, Faro Shuffles, coin roll, coin star, etc. However, these are spices which helps make the magic tasty and delicious, but the main course is the performance of the tricks and...

@Lord Magic: "Most importantly...does performing magic bring any real change in the world?" If it changes even one person's world, if only for the moment, by making them forget their cares or puts a smile on their face, then that alone makes it worthwhile.

The hand should not be closed, which would be suspicious, but relaxed and cupped, just the way your hands would naturally be if they were at your sides and not holding anything. It can also be a good idea to give the hand that's palming the card something to do like holding the deck, or a drink...

My reasons for doing magic are pretty simple and straightforward: It's fun, I love it, and I love entertaining people and seeing a smile and look of wonderment on their faces.

I thought you did quite well. Some very nice cardistry, especially the changes, and you have good taste in custom playing cards. I wish that I could have handled cards as well when I was as young as you. Keep it up - You have a great future.

Sarmoti, Scarne on Card Tricks is loaded with baffling and entertaining card tricks requiring minimal or no dexterity. Here is a link where you can get a copy in mint or brand new condition (paperback) for under $15 including shipping. Have fun...

I imagine there are those who might feel differently, but I always thought the glide looked suspicious, and have been concerned that spectators would feel the same. And, if a move doesn't look or feel natural to me or I don't feel comfortable doing it, I believe that this will somehow be...

Magic for Dummies - A ventriloquist takes up magic as a hobby and attempts to astonish and entertain his dummies with an endless array of bad card tricks. Night after night, the dummies heckle and boo him, but he continues on, undaunted, but fails to ever fool the dummies with a single trick...

Well, actually, Bannon is an Al e cat Dabra guy. LOL. Actually, I do perform Bannon's Play It Straight Triumph, which is a beautiful effect, although it does require a set up. RealityOne has a list of excellent tricks in his post above.

MatrixAddict, Yes the mats have a good amount of give - really good for matrix and other table coin routines and moves. I have come up with my own routine, but it is based on the original Al Schneider routine using 4 playing cards and 4 coins, usually 1964 Kennedy half dollars, sometimes...

I think it is worthy of mention that some of the most amazing and baffling card tricks I know require neither sleight of hand nor gimmicks.

I have a wonderful collection of custom decks, including some that I've acquired from T11. There are some real beauties and some pretty valuable ones. But I didn't get them for an investment to resell for a profit. I got them because I love and appreciate fine custom playing cards for the...

Matrix is one of the mainstays of my performing repertoire. I have tried out a lot of close up pads in the years I've been performing magic. I have been using these pads for a long time and have had excellent success with them. http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/8216 They come in black, red or...