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The Effect
The Ostrich Factor - A Practice Guide for Magicians by Gerald Edmundson

The blurb on the website says:
What can we do to make our performances everything they can be? The answer is easy! We can practice creatively, systematically, intelligently and apply the well-known ancient axioms. But that is easier said than done. The Ostrich Factor book explains how to approach these challenges in practice, rehearsal and performance. This book can help anyone who wants to use their time efficiently, practice creatively, rehearse intelligently and pursue that persistent illusive goal: perfection.

Cost
$35 plus shipping ($4 US - $8 UK)
Available from
http://www.geraldedmundson.com/tof1/order.htm

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)
N/A it is about how to work rather than any one particular effect. However like a lot of worthwhile things you do need to work at it. I think a lot of people will find the rigor suggested by the book to be quite difficult, especially if they are the sort that needs instant gratification.

Review
This is my first review, so please excuse any slips on my part.

The Ostrich Factor is something a bit different. It is not an effect or a gaff or something you can show an audience at all (except indirectly in your performace).

I must admit I’ve not come across the author at all, but the book says he is a working magician with 50 years of experience. (I’d be interested to hear from anyone who has seen Gerald work – from the correspondence when buying the book he seems a genuinely likeable guy – showing he sticks to the principals in his own book).

The book is a look at how you practice to perform.

You get a fairly flimsy comb bound book (more than likely assembled by the author himself). Altough this is a little disappointing, I personally think the format works really well. The comb binding opens completely flat so you can have it open while you actually do what it is suggesting. Also it is probably the only format which has allowed the author to get his work into print.

For me this was just what I was looking for. It is a logical and analytical look at performance. There is nothing particularly earth-shattering inside it is rather a bringing together of “good practice” and “systematic method”. Lots of books touch on similar elements (usually on pages 3 and 4 before going off to talk about specific effects). This book looks at the subject in much greater detail. Concentrating on building on the quality of the practice that you do. You are left with a sense that this is the way to do things properly rather than merely “playing at it”.

I cannot judge whether more experienced performers would get as much out of the book as I have. Not every page will be useful for everyone but the overall approach is sure to be thought provoking even if it is not adopted.


Overall

There are a heck of a lot of 10/10s on here and I reckon this product is up with most of them. I personally am a critical person and therefore I’d give it a solid 9/10. Nothing is perfect and the D-I-Y nature of the book does leave room for improvement but if you are trying to improve your performance then this is a “must have”.

At $35 for a laser printed “book” it appears expensive. However, I think it contains enough quality, original material to make it easily worth the price. I just hope I can put some of what it preaches into practice.

Finally I’d like to thank photius who tipped me off about the book in the first place.

xpyre and Forum Members,
Thank you for the review. I most certainly appreciate your thoughts. BTW, a complete description of the book (its construction, comb binding with photo etc.) is included in the ordering section on my web site, so that people know what they are getting.

Although I had a number of offers from publishers, I chose to self-publish for a number of reasons (profit margin being the most obvious.)

Here are a few quotes from other reviews:
“As fine an exposition of this kind of material as I have ever read . . .”
Mike Close, MAGIC Magazine - March 2005
“Fifty years from now this might be right on that shelf next to 'Magic and Showmanship'.”
David Goodsell, MUM Magazine - May 2005
“It will turn you into a better magician.”
David Regal, GENII Magazine – April 2005
"Whether you do close-up for friends and family or present a full-evening illusion show, you need this book. Highly recommended.”
Fred Rosenbaum, THE LINKING RING Magazine - July 2005

There are more complete reviews of The Ostrich Factor at:

http://www.geraldedmundson.com/tof1/TOFReviews.htm

I have had inquiries about an e-book version of The Ostrich Factor. I have no plans to produce an e-book version of the book.

Again, thank you for the fine review. I appreciate your interest in The Ostrich Factor.
Gerald

Anyone for tennis?

Seige,
That is a revealing comment on so many different levels.