I want to learn a trick

[SquishyDave]

A magic trick, something simple, that can be done with no props, except of course the scarf or cards, but there are no magic shops in all of Canberra as far as I can find.

I want to learn a nice simple party trick like making a hanky disappear, can this be done without a certain digit prop? Any helpful suggestions on tricks I could learn or where to find them?

 

[Lavie Enrose]

Any helpful suggestions on tricks I could learn or where to find them?

I would suggest you start by taking a trip to your local library.

There are also some threads in this forum that offer advice for the beginner.

 

[rebecca]

A magic trick, something simple, that can be done with no props, except of course the scarf or cards, but there are no magic shops in all of Canberra as far as I can find.

I want to learn a nice simple party trick like making a hanky disappear, can this be done without a certain digit prop? Any helpful suggestions on tricks I could learn or where to find them?

What Lavie said. Most libraries will have beginner stuff, like Mark Wilson's Encylocpedia. If not, I've noticed large bookstores carry some decent beginner stuff.

I'm not familiar with Australian magic shops, but Hank Lee's ships worldwide, I think, and most people there are very knowledgeable and could help you pick something out.

Or, you could get in touch with local magicians at meetup.com, which I found with a quick search. Find out where they get their goods.

Have fun!

 

[Lavie Enrose]

Lance Burton has some good tricks for the beginner on his web site.

 

[SquishyDave]

Thnks guys,

There's threads in this forum and offer advice for beginners? Well, I feel stupid. Hang on let me check.....

I can't find any under Conjuror's Corner, so I don't feel quote so stupid that I missed them, I will check out the rest of the forum later, I will see what those links have to offer also.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

 

[Lavie Enrose]

Thnks guys,

There's threads in this forum and offer advice for beginners? Well, I feel stupid. Hang on let me check.....

I can't find any under Conjuror's Corner, so I don't feel quote so stupid that I missed them, I will check out the rest of the forum later, I will see what those links have to offer also.

Thanks for taking the time to reply.

Some of the threads in the Conjuror's Corner are gone. Nothing lasts forever.

If you are looking for the titles of magic books for beginners, I can start off the list with:

Magic With Everyday Objects: Over 150 tricks Anyone Can Do At The Dinner Table
By: George Schindler

Magic For Non-Magicians
By: Shari Lewis; Abraham B Hurwitz; Leo Behnke

 

[SquishyDave]

Some of the threads in the Conjuror's Corner are gone. Nothing lasts forever.

If you are looking for the titles of magic books for beginners, I can start off the list with:

Magic With Everyday Objects: Over 150 tricks Anyone Can Do At The Dinner Table
By: George Schindler

Magic For Non-Magicians
By: Shari Lewis; Abraham B Hurwitz; Leo Behnke

That sounds like what I'm after, thanks, I'll see if my local bookshops carry something like that. I will soon be astounding people at the dinner table with marvelous feats of conjury and misdirection.

I will be the coolest person there I'm sure...... well......at least I won't be the least coolest person there..........OK so I still will be the least coolest, but I should be able to manage a slight increase in my coolness...........who am I kidding?

 

[NoZed Avenger]

Mark Wilson's 'Complete Course in Magic,' as mentioned above, is a very good resource. The Encyclopedia of Magic, also by him, is less good.

Bill Tarr's 'Now You See it, Now You Don't' is pretty good.

'Magic for Dummies' may be slightly overpriced compared to the above, but it is a surprisingly solid resource.

Those are the ones off the top of my head that I could recommend.

N/A

 

[rebecca]

Mark Wilson's 'Complete Course in Magic,' as mentioned above, is a very good resource. The Encyclopedia of Magic, also by him, is less good.

Bill Tarr's 'Now You See it, Now You Don't' is pretty good.

'Magic for Dummies' may be slightly overpriced compared to the above, but it is a surprisingly solid resource.

Those are the ones off the top of my head that I could recommend.

N/A

I love "Now You See it . . .," but Mark Wilson's complete course is much easier for beginners and probably easier to find in bookstores.

OH, and check out Magic for the Complete Klutz. It may be geared toward kids, but IMO, it's better, funnier, more interesting then Magic for Dummies. (We all know those "for dummies" books are just ripping off of Klutz anyway!)

I had my first paid magic gig when I was 13 and I performed exclusively stuff from that Klutz book (as it's all I had).

 

[NoZed Avenger]

OH, and check out Magic for the Complete Klutz. It may be geared toward kids, but IMO, it's better, funnier, more interesting then Magic for Dummies. (We all know those "for dummies" books are just ripping off of Klutz anyway!)

Good call -- I got that for a friend of mine several years back when he was starting out; it was a good book -- totally slipped my mind.

N/A

 

[SquishyDave]

Thanks everyone, it's like I will have more luck finding Complete Course in Magic from the quick search I did.

Wow, I thought only about 12 people worldwide got paid for doing magic. I'm probably too old to take it up as a career though, at the age of 26 my life is pretty much over, but I feel in my declining years I need something to keep my fingers nimble, I can pick locks, it takes a while for some of them, a long while, but at least I get there, this magic stuff should be fun.

 

[SquishyDave]

I popped by a bookshop at lunch, there were only two books, one for kiddies, and one called "Practical Encyclopaedia of Magic" by someone Einhorn. It looked Australian, and was only 25 bucks, so I picked it up. Glancing through it, I was surprised that I already knew one of the tricks, the one where you make four cards come back to the top of the deck after sticking them all through it.

Anyhoo, I'm on my way, the book even lists some magic suppliers in Australia, but I doubt I will using those just yet.

 

[Lavie Enrose]

I popped by a bookshop at lunch, there were only two books, one for kiddies, and one called "Practical Encyclopaedia of Magic" by someone Einhorn. It looked Australian, and was only 25 bucks, so I picked it up. Glancing through it, I was surprised that I already knew one of the tricks, the one where you make four cards come back to the top of the deck after sticking them all through it.

Anyhoo, I'm on my way, the book even lists some magic suppliers in Australia, but I doubt I will using those just yet.

Go to the library! Australia does have libraries, and those libraries do have magic books! And those magic books are free to borrow!

I even did a search of The National Library of Australia Catalogue for you:

SEARCH RESULTS

 

[SquishyDave]

Thanks Mr Enrose, but if I borrow a book, they will expect it back, this way it's all mine.

I am pretty happy with the book I bought, it was cheap too, if I find I reach the limit of what this book can teach me, and still have an unquenchable thirst for ever more magic, the library sounds like a good option, getting the basics down with a book I own will make it easier because it will no doubt take me several months to master the art of shuffling, let alone actually doing a trick.

 

[rebecca]

. . . it will no doubt take me several months to master the art of shuffling, let alone actually doing a trick.

You could just carry around an automatic shuffler. Magician's secret. Don't tell anyone.

 

[NoZed Avenger]

Some pushy advice from a (mostly) amateur:

Books. You mentioned a magic shop -- do NOT go there until you've gotten a few books and gone through them. Get a feel for the type of magic and effects that you like for a while.

Books are worth far, far more than one-shot effects that may not be right for you. Once you've developed an idea of the type of stuff you are comfortable with, then go to the shops and look around.

The value for money equation:

Books > Videos/DVDs > tricks.

Also, you may want to check out eBay -- used magic books and effects on it quite often.

N/A

 

[SquishyDave]

You could just carry around an automatic shuffler. Magician's secret. Don't tell anyone.

I'm being let in on magician's secrets already! No doubt some misdirection keeps the punters from knowing you have a shuffling machine.

 

[SquishyDave]

Some pushy advice from a (mostly) amateur:

That's a grammatical nightmare, I will be kept awake by that for ages.

Your advice, however, strikes a cord with me, I think it makes sense and will no doubt save me money also.

 

[rebecca]

Some pushy advice from a (mostly) amateur:

Books. You mentioned a magic shop -- do NOT go there until you've gotten a few books and gone through them. Get a feel for the type of magic and effects that you like for a while.

That's a very good point. Skip the gimmicks, at first (or altogether, IMO). Learn simple tricks with easy to grab props, then learn some slight of hand for better tricks.

I'm being let in on magician's secrets already! No doubt some misdirection keeps the punters from knowing you have a shuffling machine.

I suggest hiring a lady to get half naked somewhere in the vicinity. For me, of course, this misdirection was DIY.

 

[SquishyDave]

I suggest hiring a lady to get half naked somewhere in the vicinity. For me, of course, this misdirection was DIY.

Like I don't think about half naked skepchics enough!

I could try going half naked for misdirection, but it defeats it the purpose of the trick if your audience is unable to watch because they are leaving in disgust, and Canberra has legalised prostitution, so attempting to hire a half naked woman for the purposes of "doing some magic" might lead to all sorts of expensive and awkward misunderstandings.