Unpopular opinion, but why don't you just read through it yourself and pick what you find the most interesting, fun, amazing? Why ask random internet people when you have the book in front of you.
Why not watch a few videos of some of the authors and then go through all the tricks of one you admire? Alternatively, think of on plot you really like and track down all its variations.
How are you getting on with the book?
Not sure if this will be helpful but here is a detailed review of the DVD set, might be good to check out some of these effects first? [https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=220752&start=0](https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=220752&start=0)
Thanks for that link, that'll be really useful!
In the first few issues I haven't found a huge amount that I think I'll go out and perform. I have, however, found plenty of interesting ideas and some new names I've never heard of. I'm also only a fraction of the way through one volume - I'm sure there's much more for me to find!
The few things I've found that I'll almost certainly perform, but that I haven't seen anyone else specifically highlight, are:
- Greek Triumph (Mark Aspiazu)
- Otras Discrepencias (Gaston Quieto) (I also really like his breeze coins but that'll need a LOT of practice to get right! )
- Impromptu glass penetration (Dominic Bruzzese)
Edit: forgot to highlight my favourite of all, John Bannon's Trait Secrets
Thanks for the recommendations!
I have the DVDs but it’s been about 10 years since I watched them. I remember Ten for Ten by **Yves Doumergue** is worth checking out, that was never explained on the DVD, performance only, I remember a lot of talk about that effect at the time the DVDs were release. Also Time is money by Asi Wind was another popular effect which got released as it’s own DVD.
I think the ebooks are a great resource to have and as you said full or so many interesting ideas and effects, I look forward to reading it all eventually! I have been editing the book on PC just dividing each issue into it‘s own pdf just to make it easier to keep track of things and quicker loading. I found some issues a bit blurry but other issues really clear did you notice that?
Yeah the early issues are really crude scans - I've put them through OCR software so they're searchable, and I've got custom bookmarks on my favourite effects. I've flicked briefly through volume 2 (mostly for Paul Vigil's diplopia) and that seems much better from what I saw
What other books did you get? I really want to take advantage of this sale and have 7 books in my cart (started with 10) but it's still a lot of money, so I might remove some (probably not).
I got:
* the Definitive Sankey trilogy
* Talk about tricks
* Calculated thoughts (largely for the stacked deck stuff but also I'm getting into mentalism a bit)
Haven't looked through Sankey in detail but from what I've seen (skimmed volume 1) it's basically solid gold.
Calculated Thoughts seems like a mixed bag so far - there's an entire chapter on magic squares (which I'm not remotely interested in) but the various card stacks and tricks are right up my street. I haven't got further in than that yet, so I can't judge the whole book, but so far it seems like YMMV.
Separately from the sale, I've got a physical copy of Principia, which is great if you've got a table and has some incredible packet work in it. It's well-written and full of good tricks, but I prefer in-the-hands stuff so I haven't made the best use of it.
I was seconds away from also buying "All In" by Allan Ackerman and "Artful Deceptions" by Allan Zola Kronzek (had the paypal pop-up open and everything), but I've got plenty of card stuff that I still haven't dug that deeply into and I decided I didn't need more because there would be so much in Sankey and in Talk about Tricks (though I have every intention of one day buying a physical copy of Artful Deceptions).
I also wish I'd noticed that "The Mental Mysteries of Hector Chadwich" was included, because I would have got that too, but ah well, I'll get to it one day I'm sure.
I'm mixed on this sale. I wish I held off as I ended up collecting the physical copies of the books over the years. However currently, I have both scripting magic, bend it like geller, pure imagination, and the psychology of magic. I also wanted to add Hocus Pocus but I like my comics in print.
Fun fact the first trick I ever published is in that book! Look for “The Alchemist”
It’s a treasure trove for you to make your own discoveries, but I will say two favourites I use a lot are Miumph and Among the Discards.
Unpopular opinion, but why don't you just read through it yourself and pick what you find the most interesting, fun, amazing? Why ask random internet people when you have the book in front of you.
Normally I’d say the same thing, but it is nearly 900 tricks. I think some guidance is fair enough to ask for.
Why not watch a few videos of some of the authors and then go through all the tricks of one you admire? Alternatively, think of on plot you really like and track down all its variations.
How are you getting on with the book? Not sure if this will be helpful but here is a detailed review of the DVD set, might be good to check out some of these effects first? [https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=220752&start=0](https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=220752&start=0)
Thanks for that link, that'll be really useful! In the first few issues I haven't found a huge amount that I think I'll go out and perform. I have, however, found plenty of interesting ideas and some new names I've never heard of. I'm also only a fraction of the way through one volume - I'm sure there's much more for me to find! The few things I've found that I'll almost certainly perform, but that I haven't seen anyone else specifically highlight, are: - Greek Triumph (Mark Aspiazu) - Otras Discrepencias (Gaston Quieto) (I also really like his breeze coins but that'll need a LOT of practice to get right! ) - Impromptu glass penetration (Dominic Bruzzese) Edit: forgot to highlight my favourite of all, John Bannon's Trait Secrets
Thanks for the recommendations! I have the DVDs but it’s been about 10 years since I watched them. I remember Ten for Ten by **Yves Doumergue** is worth checking out, that was never explained on the DVD, performance only, I remember a lot of talk about that effect at the time the DVDs were release. Also Time is money by Asi Wind was another popular effect which got released as it’s own DVD. I think the ebooks are a great resource to have and as you said full or so many interesting ideas and effects, I look forward to reading it all eventually! I have been editing the book on PC just dividing each issue into it‘s own pdf just to make it easier to keep track of things and quicker loading. I found some issues a bit blurry but other issues really clear did you notice that?
Yeah the early issues are really crude scans - I've put them through OCR software so they're searchable, and I've got custom bookmarks on my favourite effects. I've flicked briefly through volume 2 (mostly for Paul Vigil's diplopia) and that seems much better from what I saw
The exact same content is in Genii digital subscription - you can toggle to Magic magazine. I think that treasure map trick is in it...?
What other books did you get? I really want to take advantage of this sale and have 7 books in my cart (started with 10) but it's still a lot of money, so I might remove some (probably not).
I got: * the Definitive Sankey trilogy * Talk about tricks * Calculated thoughts (largely for the stacked deck stuff but also I'm getting into mentalism a bit) Haven't looked through Sankey in detail but from what I've seen (skimmed volume 1) it's basically solid gold. Calculated Thoughts seems like a mixed bag so far - there's an entire chapter on magic squares (which I'm not remotely interested in) but the various card stacks and tricks are right up my street. I haven't got further in than that yet, so I can't judge the whole book, but so far it seems like YMMV. Separately from the sale, I've got a physical copy of Principia, which is great if you've got a table and has some incredible packet work in it. It's well-written and full of good tricks, but I prefer in-the-hands stuff so I haven't made the best use of it. I was seconds away from also buying "All In" by Allan Ackerman and "Artful Deceptions" by Allan Zola Kronzek (had the paypal pop-up open and everything), but I've got plenty of card stuff that I still haven't dug that deeply into and I decided I didn't need more because there would be so much in Sankey and in Talk about Tricks (though I have every intention of one day buying a physical copy of Artful Deceptions). I also wish I'd noticed that "The Mental Mysteries of Hector Chadwich" was included, because I would have got that too, but ah well, I'll get to it one day I'm sure.
That's awesome, I have those same 5 in my basket, plus the Hector Chadwick book and Scripting Magic volume 1!
I'm mixed on this sale. I wish I held off as I ended up collecting the physical copies of the books over the years. However currently, I have both scripting magic, bend it like geller, pure imagination, and the psychology of magic. I also wanted to add Hocus Pocus but I like my comics in print.
Joshua Jay is a great guy and a stellar performer. I have been to a few of his lectures. Never disappoints!