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Tomo wrote:Brilliant post!

I'll add:
Never EVER perform a trick (whether it's magic or mentalism) exactly as it says in the instructions. Always change and mould it to suit how you are, rather than changing you to suit it.

Brilliant bit of advice! However may I add one more? Never perform a trick for anyone until you have had it for at least 3 months.
It takes that long before you can be sure of the mechanics, of even the simplest effect and to concentrate on the audience.

Lady of Mystery wrote: don't try to copy someone else or be something that you're not.

I do'nt like to disagree with someone who obviously knows what they are talking about.However, 'we all stand on the shoulders of giants'.
There are many top performers who started off copying someone else before developing their final unique persona.

No harm in learning all you can from those who go before but after that you need to be your own self and perform in as unique a way as possible.

My little tips would be;

Wash your hands before fiddling with your cards

Put them back in the box when you're done

Don't use your nice expensive cards for practising!

I'm not sure where I read it but "Don't just practice until you can get it right, practice until you can't get it wrong" is the advice I find myself coming back to again and again.

great advice on this thread thanks you it helps a lot to a novice like me, who has only just started magic

I think consistency is important.

Make your false shuffles and cuts look exactly like it does when you normally cut the cards for example. If you always do a riffle shuffle - it might look odd if you suddenly do a overhand shuffle. And don't do any of those fancy false cuts where you divide the cards up into several different packets and wave them around the place - sure it looks cool, but no one ever cuts cards like that.

I've been caught out doing things just from the inconsistency of it. I've learned to make my single lift look like how I do my DL (its easier that way round) if I am doing a trick that requires both actions because people do notice the difference otherwise....

Laurens

two things that I am worried about is; 1. Slight of hand, 2. cuts

1. I have seen slight of hand before but can't seem to be fast enough.
2. when doing card tricks where and when, how do you cut?

Raven1s wrote:two things that I am worried about is; 1. Slight of hand, 2. cuts

1. I have seen slight of hand before but can't seem to be fast enough.
2. when doing card tricks where and when, how do you cut?

1. Its not about speed, you can do a pass as fast as lightening but its still going to get caught if you don't direct attention away from your hands. A slow move with some good misdirection is much better than a fast move with none.

There are some good topics here on misdirection (just do a search), don't worry about speed so much - it all comes with practise. Its like when I first learnt guitar, I took ages to move my fingers from one chord to another, but eventually your muscles get used to it and it becomes smoother and easier. If you practise as regularly as you can you'll eventually get used to the moves. I'd recommend getting The Royal Road to Card Magic - it assumes no prior knowledge and will give you a decent foundation of sleights as you work through the book.

2. Cutting the cards is when you take the deck, split it into two or more piles, and change the order of the cards. So the original top and bottom cards are lost somewhere in the middle. I'd recommend the aforementioned book for some ideas on when to do it. Generally a cut is made around the centre of the pack, although it can also be made in different places if you're separating the cards into three or more piles. If you are right handed, hold the deck in your left hand in dealing position - move your right hand over grasp the pack at the top and bottom using your middle and ring fingers at the top (towards the right side of the pack) and your thumb at the bottom (in the middle). Move your right hand so now you have transposed the deck from your left to your right hand. Separate about half of the cards using your index finger, by moving it upwards and to the left - taking about half of the pack with it. This should separate the deck into two distinct packets. Take the packet held by your index finger by clasping it between your left index finger and thumb. Transfer this packet that you now hold in your left hand back into dealing position. Place the remaining packet on top. Thus you have done a simple cut.

An even simpler way would be to have the cards on the table in front of you, Take off half the cards and place them to the side, so you now have two piles. Pick up the bottom pile and place it on top of the cards that you just moved to the side. That's it! Any further questions feel free to PM me.

Hope that helps you!

Laurens

That does help thanks, I got another book today so am happy

Raven1s wrote:That does help thanks, I got another book today so am happy

No problem

Which book did you get? I think its far more useful learning from books than it is online. Of course you can ask questions here, and there are a few decent websites and youtube channels - but I'd say studying a book is far better than most of the tutorials you get online.

The way I approach learning sleights from a book is to read the passage once without a deck in your hands so you can get to grips with what it is you're meant to do. Then go through it again, step by step making sure you follow each part. It's also useful to make notes or highlight important parts of the passage, such as finger placement and movements etc.

Also don't be put out if you don't get it straight away. Just keep trying and you'll get there eventually.

The book I got is 200 magical illusions by nicholas einhorn.

i would add to this at the same time absorb the prinsiples, the ideas, methods that went into creating the piece, dont forget them because one day you can use those exact ideas to perform another trick "not as it says in the instructions" as Tomo may say...

If I were to contribute a little tip, I would echo something that was said earlier about over practicing.

It is essential to practice (until you can't get it wrong?), but it's also important to get out there and do it to real people. The sleights we enjoy practicing are such a small part of what makes the magic.
It's far too easy as a beginner to fall in to the trap of trying to get something so perfect that you never show it to anyone. A pass is a brilliant example. My card skills are c*** (not the best), but in the real world you can get away with so much more than in front of a mirror. 'If no one's looking at the cards when you do a pass, is it invisible?' A zen koan for card magic...

Get out there and do some magics.

In a similar vein, I'd say rehearsal is as important as practise...

It's paradoxical that sometimes magicians (I know I do this) get annoyed that spectators don't always watch the cards like hawks. I spent all that time practicing a perfect sleight and you're looking at my face? I could have pocketed your card and you wouldn't see it! But if what we want to do is entertain the layperson rather than show off to fellow magicians then we can set aside hours and hours of foolproofing and concentrate on how to turn a series of tricks into an engaging performance.

I'd rather watch someone fun with an ID and an engaging routine than a silent cardsharp run through passes without any banter.