theory11 — Magic Tricks & the World's Finest Playing Cards

The Fastest Way To Learn v.2.0

William Draven

William Draven

Dec 1, 2008
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Las Vegas
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dispite the horrible presentation in the other thread of simular title, i believe there is a valid point of conversation to be had here. What is your prefered method of studying and practicing your magic? Motzart would be woken up in the middle of the night to have music theory drilled into his fresh and unpreoccupied mind. Do you study by your self, with a friend, for how long? Do you use mirrors and video to review your moves? what dosnt work for you?
 
I never like to say, okay I am going to get and practice for an hour, I like to get inspired then my desire to practice longer and harder would be up to the roof, example any time I watch a derren brown special/episode I instantly want to get up and practice my own magic. I rarely ever practice without some sort of inspiration. I could say I would pick up a deck and just play around with colour changes and false shuffles etc but I would like inspiration before I intensly practice infront of mirror.

Everday I like to practice for about an hour, intensely like doing each move and speaking my patter, if I would perform after I "master" an effect I would practice a lot more.

Sometimes when I am practicing more loosely I would have a magic tv show or some music, just as a side note, but I still like to focus on my hands and moves.
 
Heh, there was a day when I would practice 2-3 hours every day. I've made some healthier boundaries since then.
I have put together a new show for February. It will be my largest parlor show (400+ ppl) with adults and kids (Kids are a new element for me as I mainly do corporate). I have broken it into sections, and practice each out loud, just like on stage. I do each routine a number of times, trying out new lines and material, and I write the best ideas down on a notepad. I use my basement to practice and I don't have mirrors or anything, and to be honest I just in the last couple of Months have purchased a video camera (my last digital camera only took 4 minutes of video), so I haven't tried that approach much yet, but it will become common practice I'm sure.
Any sleights I practice in front of a mirror if need be, but to be honest in my paid show I do very few sleights. I don't want to have anything go wrong during a show, or get caught by anybody. Although for this new show I am going to produce a fish (Jim Diamond's) and a sponge dove. I haven't done this before so I'm working on misdirection for the load. I would have to say it is really difficult to practice misdirection without someone to misdirect. So my wife is going to help by watching and giving feedback. It's like having another magician watching you, so it's really tough to fool her.

Great topic.
 
Kind of obvious, but as many have already said (Lee Asher, Aaron Fisher...), NOTHING replaces performing for laypeople, whereas it's to perfect your patter, verify if your misdirection works, try a new sleight... Performing in the real world will make you a better magician faster than rehearsing in front of your mirror or camera.

I'd love to know what Sir Fansalot thinks on this subject ! :p
 
houchini said:
Kind of obvious, but as many have already said (Lee Asher, Aaron Fisher...), NOTHING replaces performing for laypeople, whereas it's to perfect your patter, verify if your misdirection works, try a new sleight... Performing in the real world will make you a better magician faster than rehearsing in front of your mirror or camera.

I'd love to know what Sir Fansalot thinks on this subject ! :p
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I agree but sometimes you cant always just see a explanation then perform it for lay people then get good at it, if that was what you meant. When I perform for a laymen its like my tryout phase, I have practiced, now lets see if I am good under pressure and sort of nervous.
 
Very true about performing for real people.

In terms of misdirection on stage, it is very difficult to judge it's effectiveness because you don't know where each set of eyes are looking. You might fool most but not all. Verbal reaction and applause are all you can use to judge if it was effective.

And I hate "testing" on a paying audience.
 
I just practice however long I feel like it.

I think it's VERY important to enjoy what your doing also. That way you really put forth all your effort, instead of practicing it off and on a few times.

Also, don't perform in a mirror all the time. I learned this the hard way. If you do, you become dependent on your image and watching yourself do the sleight. You can practice in front of a mirror, but don't rely on it.

Video practice is very helpful, as the camera don't lie to ya. It helps you see your body language as well as the sleight itself. If your hunching over when you do your pass, you might not notice it in a mirror, as your focusing on your hands. A camera lets you see the whole picture.

And, of course, perform for family (or friends). It's ESSENTIAL that you do this, as it will help you really work out the angles of the move.

That's all I got...
 
I like to practice multiple things at a time whether it be card magic or gambling sleights. Also I dont really schedule myself for practice or have a time limit for it... Im more laid back. I don't just say "Oh its 2:00 time to practice my strike second deal for an hour!" I like to practice in front of a computer. It inspires me somehow... Also if I ever have an urge to see how something looks I can record on my webcam. For me the fastest way to learn is "practice how you want, when you want, and where you want"
 
Truce

houchini said:
I'd love to know what Sir Fansalot thinks on this subject ! :p
Click to expand...

I'd like to ask for a Truce with William. A lot of the stuff I said before was just messing around and frankly tasteless. I feel there shouldn't be anymore need for bickering back and forth if that's acceptable.

I do have some thoughts on the subject. And since, the other thread got off on a terrible side-track maybe we could focus here in this one?

When I set out to learn a technique, trick or routine. The 1st thing I focus on, after I get a good feel for it, is tempo/timing. Each technique or trick has an inherent feel to it depending on the timing that's used.
 
I practice whenever, I always have cards on me, despite peoples thoughts of this being odd, I can practice whenever, where ever and as long as I want. I always practice hours a day in almost a "set fashion." If I am learning or making an effect I will work on it alone for days until I have it down pat. Then I will practice in front of the mirror for a spectators perspective, and then continue several more days without the mirror. Then I'll present it to a family member and it's good to go (as long as it works properly). When ever I am not doing something else I have cards so any time really I am practicing wheather it be before in the morning or midnight.
 
An area I feel that most magicians usually fail to pay much attention to are the transitions. Instead of barraging a spectator with a bunch of trick you know and that you think 'go together' well, actually creating a reason to move from one effect to the next.

Magician's who don't practice, will miss this aspect all together.
 
It depends on what you define as practice.

I'm currently working on a stand-up copper silver transpo routine. I have tons of ideas of where the coins could go, how to transfer them back and forth and can do so well. Now that I have a dozen different things I could implement I've been spending today (at work) thinking of which ones would flow well together and create the most impact. I have scrap paper with notes all over it and even though I'm not 'practicing' I am working on my magic.

As far as sleight of hand goes, I have from 6-9 to do as much practice as I feel needed 3 nights a week while my girlfriend is in her CNA classes. I have time outside of those windows, but those are the best in terms of sitting and doing whatever I need to work on without fearing interruption.

I use my bathroom mirror, any given wall, and occasionally my video camera. I have my girlfriend and roommate to practice for, my girlfriend hates to know the secrets and my roommate has a bit of practice in magic so it's a good balance. I also tried out a lot of material over the holidays with family and friends which was good to get my new handling of OOTW, ace cutting sequence and routine, and a few other card tricks out of my practice sessions.

What doesn't work for me:: I can't go through entire routines until I've practiced each individual phase, move, and script until they're second nature. I could easily sit and switch two coins with the bobo switch 100 times in a row, paying attention to as much as I can while doing it, and not get bored like some magicians do. But if I'm going through a routine I might cover it 5 times before I get tired of doing it for nobody.

Just a few thoughts.
 
I think "practice consists on 3 parts:
Research: You research the explanation and the performence aspect of a dvd or book, you then begin to understand how everything works. You concentrate to try and cramp everything in your mind. You try out for the first time, its okay.
Development: then you add your own aspects and patter on a trick. You try and make personal. You begin to understand whats makes the trick.
Practice: you then practice it in til you master the trick and know your patter, you know what to do if you get a heckler, you go onto the next stage PERFORMENCE.

I do like to test any routine I have made on friends and family but sometimes they can say that you are the best or you are bad, and you neither.

If you dont have a sort of drawing room audience then you will have trouble, Never use a paid audience as a drawing room audience, some may invite people for an evening of magic for free then ask them what they thought of it, some may just go to people and show them magic and ask what they think.
 
Buy a few note book's, and then write out each effect you want to learn by hand. Describe it as they are written or talked about in whatever book or DVD you got them from. Then turn off the computer and put the TV on some relaxing music and then just practice and take notes.

It's what a lot of pro's do and if it works for them, it should also work for you.
 
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