Search results

How long have you been studying magic and what resources (books, DVDs, etc) do you have? I often find that attempts to create fail because people don't have the necessary foundations and knowledge. My advice would be to seek out someone with a strong knowledge and collaborate with them.

Luis: Excellent. It goes to show how putting in that extra effort pays off. Well done my friend.

Royal Road is a great book, but Card College is tremendously better. The layout of the book, the level of detail in the descriptions, the style of the writing and the methods that Giobbi teaches (there are subtle differences) in Card College are excellent. If you are a serious beginner, get Card...

They both use the same technology. One is a ring the other positions the gimmick differently. Look at the Ellusionist website "In the Box" section and you will understand.

I use the word "effect" the same way you use "trick" because I don't like to trick my audience, I like to entertain them with the effect of what I am performing. So, to clarify... By itself, or as part of the "tricks" in which it is frequently used (pick card, find wrong card, change to right...

First off, a color change isn't an effect. It is part of an effect and, based on most performances I've seen of color changes the effects they become part of aren't very good. Those effects are pick a card, find wrong card, change to your card. It's the same effect regardless of which color...

I agree with this sentiment completely. However, I disagree about the effect in that I see potential there. I'm not sure how many times in a row it can be repeated, but I can see using this as part of an opener where I take the cards out of the box, hold them in my hand while talking and they...

Warping occurs when the moisture content on the edges of the cards is different than the moisture content in the center of the cards. Step one is to spread the cards out on a table overnight. This equalizes the moisture content. Then turn half the deck face up and riffle shuffle it into the...

It's in Volume 7 under "Impromptu" Broken and Restored Thread. Also check out Wayne Houchin's Thread which teaches the effect.

Because chances are nobody would pay attention to what was said after "That's awesome." I could have been more positive, but my first post was designed to get people's attention and make them think about what I was saying. My second post was designed to explain why I was saying what I said in...

You misunderstand what I said. I didn't say that people shouldn't create, but that people shouldn't FOCUS on creating, especially when they don't have the necessary background knowledge or performance experience. I disagree. We should be providing people with advice that will make them...

I actually think that most people should stop focusing on trying to create magic. The problem is that many (but not all) dont have the background knowledge to do this. If your learning consists of downloads and DVDs, you're not ready. If you havent read Tarbell or 10 books on card magic, you...

Then you have to read Steinmeyer's The Last Greatest Magician in the World. From the sounds of it, you've read Hiding the Elephant. If you liked that, you will love The Last Greatest Magician in the World. You can even get it iTunes. Its funny in that there are so many things I've read...

Actually, they can't and it can't. Simply put, you can't perform the effect with a pad of sticky notes, a dollar bill and calculator that you borrow from me without having done anything prior to the effect. Could you do the set-up on the fly? Maybe, but it is would be very difficult. Now...

Casey: I reread your post with that in mind and I get what you are saying. Sorry for the misinterpretation.

This is bad advice. If they have told you to stop doing magic and you don't stop, they will see magic as being the problem and will react more strongly. The fact is that you are 13 and you need to do what your parents tell you -- as unfair as that seems. Your post makes me ask questions about...

I do this routine in my kids shows... well sort of. Its called "Silly String of Death" by Stephane Bourgoin. It can be found in the January 2010 issue of Genii. It is a great piece because the magician can be blindfolded and the spectator selects the cans of silly string that they shoot at...

I've learned it from books, many of which were published in the 1940s and earlier. The books are the type of book that you can't buy in a regular book store. Sometimes it takes days, weeks, months or years to learn the magic.

The Magic Cafe has a section where you can sell books, DVDs and effects. However, you have to have a certain number of posts (I think it is 30) to have access to that section. Also, check out the Genii forum. You can also put something in your signature here. If you want, shoot me a PM...

I picked up a Stainless Steel Sharpie today at Staples. It was $6.99 for the pen and $1.99 for a refill. So for 25 pens it would be $56 (the pen comes with one marker) vs. $49 to $55 (assuming $1 per Sharpie) for the Sherpa. It's pretty nice pen for the price. Now, don't get me wrong, the...