I learned a very valuable lesson tonight

[S3al]

To many times, I look for the new trick that everyone is talking about. To many times I buy things and never learn or master what I already have. Instead I go off, and buy the new thing, because it must be better! its new! Well, I was looking to buy "The Devil’s Picturebook from Derren Brown" (no its not new, but the point is im always looking for something new to buy)

And I read how people said that he is the king of misdirection. Now I'm not really new to magic. I am working on stuff on the trilogy, so you know my skill level.


But I'm stupid some times, I really am. Because tonight, for some reason, I tried to do something that has a lot to do with misdirection, well sort of. It's card to pocket. Simple yes, but for someone like me who thinks everything needs to be hard, and very complicated to be respected, its something I really never tried before.

So I did it, I palmed the card and got it in my pocket and did the trick, and they liked it and called me a freak (in a good way). They enjoyed them self. And to me, this is something I am most proud of. I learned a very valuable lesson tonight. Its about the magic, and the wonder, not the new shiny dvd case the trick may have came in. Or the word "NEW!" on the site to buy it from, its the magic. And thats all you ever need.

[MANDARIN]

Seems it's always more fun to "graze" the new stuff than to engage in the repetition of perfecting. And the "new" frequently isn't - I've bought lots of effects only to find them to be no more than a glittered rehash of ages old magic. I've also watched better magicians than I perform serious magic with effects I passed over as not good enough or too simple. Lessons to be learned...

[Kolisar]

It is always tempting to purchase the "latest and greatest" effects out there. I believe you have just discovered one of the reasons those of us who are not new to the art often recommend the "classic" books. If you really look through books like The Royal Road to Card Magic, Modern Coin Magic or 13 Steps to Mentalism (depending on your chosen focus) you will find plenty of excellent, workable material. You also mentioned that they enjoyed themselves. For the working professional (which I am not), that is the key. While it is fun to spend hours perfecting a knuckle-busting sleight, if your goal is to make money performing, your time is best spent learning and perfecting items based on the effect and the entertainment value (this is not saying that difficult sleights have no place in professional performances, but there has to be a reason for them to be there other than "it's fun to do").

[SHANE BLACK]

THANK YoU!!!! for posting this thread. About 70% of the magicians out there don't GET THIS! I hope you help others understand this. This is one of the points I am so adamant about.