Before you go off and start practicing double lifts and passes, make sure you can just handle cards normally and not look like you terrified of dropping them all the time. Practice the following, and many sleights will come easily:
Overhand shuffle
Riffle shuffle (both on the table and in the hands (standing) without fumbling)
Kick Cut
Riffling the cards, dribbling the cards.
Fanning/spreading the cards (in the 'pick a card style')
Spreading the cards on the table.
When I say learn these, I mean REALLy learn them. Most people can sort of shuffle and cut, but not to a 'professional level' (whatever that means). You could do a really bad shuffle and then a dodgy DL and nobody would be impressed and it would look clumsy. But do a smooth riffle shuffle and a swift kick cut, then perform a self working key card trick and you will look like you have way more skill even though the trick itself uses less sleights. Being able to handle cards smoothly and make it LOOK LIKE you have great handling skill is part of the performance (unless you're Lennart Green, which nobody is...).
I do find it odd that most people recommend learning a force, control, DL etc before anything else. Sure, they are VERY important moves, but you see so many people on YouTube who have obviously taken this advice and tried to the learn a DL or a jog shuffle before even learning to hold a pack comfortably, and it just looks awful.
I agree with what someone above suggested. Get 'Royal Road to Card Magic' and work through it. It actually teaches the basics of handling before moving on to any sleights. Plus, it's really cheap.
Card College Vol 1 has most of the same stuff in, though I know this only through hear say as I don't actually own it (Yeah yeah, I know, 15 years in magic and I don't own Card College. I'm ashamed and ordering it now.... I really am....)
Anyway, good luck on your journey through card magic. Remember to practice lots, perform for real people and, above all, don't take it too seriously.
Rev
)
