BOBO STUDY GUIDE - A Study Guide by Opie Houston

BOBO STUDY GUIDE

This is a general study guide of Bobo's MODERN COIN MAGIC.  The book, reprinted in paperback by Dover Press, is available from most book stores, for less than $10.00 and is considered to be the basic manual of coin work.

OBJECTIVE:  Participants will learn selected sleights and tricks from Bobo's classic.  The selected readings, of course, are subjective and represent what I consider to be the essentials. The more-serious student of magic may want to seek supplemental sources of material related to his or her own interests.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN:  Dig out or order a paper-back copy of Bobo's MODERN COIN MAGIC (Dover).  I recommend an inexpensive paperback so you can jot notes in the margins and underline key passages.

     Gather the following materials to start:  A few American half-dollar-size coins; a few American dollar-size coins; two half-dollar size copper coins; other assorted coins; and a handkerchief.

                          WEEK ONE - Basics

1.  Read the Preface, Braun's Introduction, Acknowledgments, and the Prologue.

2.  Skim Chapters 1 and 2.  Read every word, and do not stop reading to try some of the sleights.  It is very important that you understand Bobo's theories and philosophy, before you tackle the hard stuff.

3.  Review Chapter 1, Coin Concealments, and practice all the sleights, with emphasis on the following:

     a.  Classic Palm; b.  Edge Palm;  c.  Downs Palm;  d.  Finger Palm.

(NOTE:  Give the various Clips and Front/Back Palms a look, but concentrate on the sleights listed above.  Carry a coin at all times for practice.)

4.  Review Chapter II, Basic Technique, and learn the following techniques:

     a.  Bobo Switch; b.  Utility Switch; c.  Click Pass; d. Bottom Steal;  e.  "Fumble" suggestions.
       TEST YOURSELF ON CHAPTERS 1 & 2

                   WEEKS II & III - More Basics

1.  Read Chapter III, Coin Vanishes.  Read every word before beginning a re-read and emphasis of the following effects:

     a.  Standard Vanish;  b.  Thumb Palm Vanish;  c.  Illusive Coin Pass;  d.  A Coin Vanish;  e.  Gone;  f. Flyaway Coin;          g. Vanish for Several Coins.

(NOTE:  Play around with all the material in the Chapter, but concentrate most of your efforts on the items listed above and the basics from the previous chapters.)

2.  Read Chapter IV only after your have at least a working knowledge of the material in the first three chapters.

(NOTE:  If, at the end of three weeks, you have not gained a working knowledge of Chapters 1 through 3, it would probably be best to continue practice and review of those chapters.  But, do not become frustrated, because all of us have or have had problems with some of the material.  JUST PLAY WITH IT.  It is not life-essential material, but it does form the important basic foundation for more advanced coin work.

    TEST YOURSELF ON CHAPTERS I - III

WEEKS IV & V - Putting it Together

1.  Read Chapters IV, V, and XVI.  Wow!  There is a lot there, isn't there?  And we haven't even scratched the surface yet.  So, it is time to start putting it together, so to speak, and begin tailoring our own performances, complete with compatible routining and personalized patter.  But, before we do that, let us do a little self appraisal.

2.  Rate yourself on the following more-or-less desired skills, using three grading levels:  Excellent, Good, Needs Work.  Make a list of the "Needs Work" items and practice them before proceding to the next week's level.

     a.  Chap I, Coin Concealments:  Classic Palm, Edge Palm, Thumb Palm, Finger Palm.

     b.  Chap II, Basic Technique:  Bobo Switch, Utility Switch, One Hand Switch, Click Pass, Bottom Steal, "Fumbles"

     c.  Chap III, Coin Vanishes:  Standard Vanish, Simple Vanish, Thumb Palm Vanish, Illusive Coin Pass, A Coin Vanish, Pinch Vanish, Gone, Flyaway Coin, French Drop, Handkerchief Coin Vanish, Vanish for Several Coins.

3.  Using all the knowledge you know and information from Chapters I through V and Chapter XVI, put together a Single-Coin Routine, using the first three suggested routines in Chapter XVI.  If you do not know the effects suggested in those routines, look them up or substitute an effect you already know. 
(NOTE:  When you have organized and perfected a good Walkaround/Standup routine, per 3 above, you will be ready to proceed to the Conquering Bobo Checklist which will take you to the remainder of the text.
    
CONQUERING BOBO

1.  If you have completed the "Weeks IV & V", you are ready to plan your own personalized advanced study through the remainder of the Bobo text.  This checklist will assist you by suggesting some short cuts, and, most importantly, it will point toward the classic coin tricks you should know.

NOTE:  Spend about a week on each of the following items with emphasis on learning at least one new trick per week or the number suggested for the item.

2.  Week VI -
     a.  Read Chapters VI and VII.
     b.  Play around with the material in those chapters.

3.  Weeks VII and VIII -
     a.  Read Chapter VIII.
     b.  Spend two weeks on this Chapter, and, as a minimum, learn four effects.  (Some may require you to visit a magic shop.)

4.  Week IX and X -
     a.  Read Chapter IX.
     b.  Spend at least two weeks on this chapter and learn at least three of these classics.

5.  Week XI -
     a.  Read the remaining chapters that you have not read.  JUST READ!
     b.  Now, go back and make a list of effects you wish to learn from those new chapters.

6.  Week XII - and forever thereafter...
     a.  Begin on page 1 and Re-Read the whole book.  Stop and play whenever you like.
     b.  While you are playing, however, make a list of the tricks you really like, and play around with different patter/presentations of each one.......

........that is the secret to learning magic----constant evaluation and improvement.....opie

Wow, Thanks sir.

Thats a really comphrensive guide.

I guess Bobo is kinda hard to read for this generation. But I had found many valuable things inside, which are in Dvds.

The name is opie....

You are welcome to the material........Personally, I prefer books and have many dvds and videos that I have not even looked at........I grew up learning magic from books, because I did not have any magicians around.....When I was 14 and 15, my family moved to St. Louis (from a small country town) and I discovered magic shops there....I was fortunate to get a job after school and on weekends at Town House Magic. That is where I soaked up the basics of magic...

We all need a plan to get the most out of whatever we seek....Hopefully, my guides will get people to make those plans....

opie

I think your study guide is most helpful.

I have a few books at home which I have yet go past more than 3 chapters... like Expert Card Technique, Card Manipulation and Buckley's Card Control.

Maybe you can help me with those too?

Those particular books are more reference books than Royal Road and Bobo.....

Once basics are learned, a person needs to do his/her own selections and adaptations to a unique presentation, kind of like grad school, where you are pretty much on your own.

I tried doing a guide through Erdnase's The Expert at the Card Table, over on the Woods, but there were so many differences of opinion about almost everything that I realized that advanced books must be poured through by a dedicated individual....

I can suggest that you browse those books and select three which you might want to really make your own....Other than that, good luck....

opie

Thanks Opie. I beilieve many of us here already have the book but not many have finish reading it. I have the hard cover and I have not even read everything in it.

I hope with your study guide more people will read it again. I always believe that books are a better choice as compared to video.

That is a really good guide Opie. Thanks so much for sharing. I will print it out and have it stuck on my noteboard for reference.

Wow. Thanks Opie!

I'm going to study my copy of Bobo with this guide and let you guys know what happens.

Wow, absolutley fantastic guide Opie... Many Thanks...

All coin workers both beginners to seasoned workers will find your guide extremely useful. I'll start re-reading my Bobo book with your guide after my exams...

Many Thanks again Opie... :D

Cheers
Jerome

Thanks to all for you kind comments....

In exchange for the guide, please share your ideas and criticisms here, so that we all may share in your experience.....

Just remember........nice and easy; there is no prize for speed........opie