i was just wondering if i should pick up The Expert at the Card Table : The Classic Treatise on Card Manipulation by erdnase and Expert Card Technique : Close-up Table Magic with 318 Illustrations by jean hugard and frederick braue if i already have a copy of the royal road to card magic?
Are these 2 books worth buying?
- Thread starter thanatos
- Start date
Expert at the Card Table would be too hard for you if you're a beginner.
Royal Road is good, but I've seen you've studied that. I think the next thing you would like to get is Card College by Giobbi. It is a five book series on card magic, and it's very well written. It teaches A LOT of techniques and follows them with tricks, many of which are very good. I've never read a bad comment about these books. Can't go wrong.
Royal Road is good, but I've seen you've studied that. I think the next thing you would like to get is Card College by Giobbi. It is a five book series on card magic, and it's very well written. It teaches A LOT of techniques and follows them with tricks, many of which are very good. I've never read a bad comment about these books. Can't go wrong.
Only thing about Card College is, it's expensive, if that's an issue. Addy's right about effects though, they probably won't satisfy you if you're looking for effects - I know in Expert at the Card Table that the patter provided is only good for comedic effect since it's outdated. Still, sleight-wise they're extremely good.
Thanatos - not doing something because it is hard...it like not eating something because it is healthy. It may be less enjoyable, but worthwhile in the long haul, so please don't think of terms of hard and easy - nothing in either book is out of your grasp with enough practice.
Expert at the Card Table is considered a more advance read, because - the more you know - the more you get out of it, as people have discovered much by reading between the lines and filling in their own gaps. It is a book that can be studied 1000 times, and you will learn something new each time - I even have the mini-bible like version that I carry with me at all time. If I was stranded on an island with a deck of cards and that book - I would be happy...maybe add in a super model for when I get tired of reading.
As for Expert Card Technique - that book kills also - Charlie Miller was one of the main contributors - along with Theo Annemann, Harold Lloyd, Jack Merlin, and Dai Vernon...just to name a few. It has just about everything you can need - and I have used it as a main resource for techniques and theory for years.
Card College volumes 1-5 (and even Card College Light) are also a good source - they are more updated, have attached theory concepts and packed with effects you may use. The books aren't really that expensive if you compare it to other great modern day works - you can get all volumes (and a deal if you get them all at the same time) for about $200.00 - if you take another great book like David Regal's new book - it is perhaps the thickness of 2 volumes - and it will run you almost $100. If you consider that if you master EVERYTHING in the volumes you would be one BAD A$$ magician with cards, then it is worth the investment on that alone. Again, it is more than just moves - you get tricks and theory for each thing - the amount of detail put into CC series is SICK.
Nevertheless, if I had to choose between the first two - it would be difficult - it really depends on you as a reader. Also, are you interested in gambling sleights - as half of Erdnase focused on table artifice. If you aren't - and you don't mind a bit of a dry read - I would recommend ECT - Hugard and Braue - as the technique that Charlie Miller used was so natural and disarming, with so much, that it would even fool those in the know.
Anyhow - as always - the choice is yours - but never choose the easy path, because that only makes you the majority - and do you want to be remembered like many others...or stand out when you entertain?
Expert at the Card Table is considered a more advance read, because - the more you know - the more you get out of it, as people have discovered much by reading between the lines and filling in their own gaps. It is a book that can be studied 1000 times, and you will learn something new each time - I even have the mini-bible like version that I carry with me at all time. If I was stranded on an island with a deck of cards and that book - I would be happy...maybe add in a super model for when I get tired of reading.
As for Expert Card Technique - that book kills also - Charlie Miller was one of the main contributors - along with Theo Annemann, Harold Lloyd, Jack Merlin, and Dai Vernon...just to name a few. It has just about everything you can need - and I have used it as a main resource for techniques and theory for years.
Card College volumes 1-5 (and even Card College Light) are also a good source - they are more updated, have attached theory concepts and packed with effects you may use. The books aren't really that expensive if you compare it to other great modern day works - you can get all volumes (and a deal if you get them all at the same time) for about $200.00 - if you take another great book like David Regal's new book - it is perhaps the thickness of 2 volumes - and it will run you almost $100. If you consider that if you master EVERYTHING in the volumes you would be one BAD A$$ magician with cards, then it is worth the investment on that alone. Again, it is more than just moves - you get tricks and theory for each thing - the amount of detail put into CC series is SICK.
Nevertheless, if I had to choose between the first two - it would be difficult - it really depends on you as a reader. Also, are you interested in gambling sleights - as half of Erdnase focused on table artifice. If you aren't - and you don't mind a bit of a dry read - I would recommend ECT - Hugard and Braue - as the technique that Charlie Miller used was so natural and disarming, with so much, that it would even fool those in the know.
Anyhow - as always - the choice is yours - but never choose the easy path, because that only makes you the majority - and do you want to be remembered like many others...or stand out when you entertain?
the only reason why im gauging the tricks on difficulty is because im a beginner 
and i do not want to get advance material before im done with easier stuff. but thanks anyways ill keep your words in mind if i had the cash ill get card college but unfortunately im still schooling and 200 bucks without shipping and conversion from US dollars is gonna burn unsealable holes in my pockets
and i do not want to get advance material before im done with easier stuff. but thanks anyways ill keep your words in mind if i had the cash ill get card college but unfortunately im still schooling and 200 bucks without shipping and conversion from US dollars is gonna burn unsealable holes in my pockets