It seem magic can be learned instantly by buying copy version of dvd from "reputable" magic shop, download from internet, buy from auction site, classified page, learn from cheap magician and so on...
Now a day ppl want to learn more on the stylo mylo of the tricks being done rather then the proper way.
They want the Ninja series rather than the basic card handling series.
Some even do not know what is mechanical grip compare with snap change.
So my suggestion maybe smc can put up area for beginner to learn the proper way on learning magic . We give them advise & recommendation on dvd's,courses available, person who teach and so on. The thread is good for the beginner and maybe can increase volunteer for the pay forward scheme in future.
The topic should include.
The Basic Handling Skills:
Knowing the proper dealer grip.
Shuffle.
Basic Sleight of Hand.
Flourishes.
Control.
Type of Counts.
False Shuffle and so on.

There will be no expose on how trciks being done but more on making ppl interest on learning magic.

It's maybe cause Brad Christian have this kinda of "Style", a Style which newbie would look up to and not to someone like Daryl (Magician's Magician) whom just teaches sleights but overall i started with his volume 1 and 2.

I think the most basic stuff which newbie should get is Volume 1 and 2 of Daryl Encyclopedia of Card Sleights. :) Follow on by other of his volumes. :)

I could support this as I'm a poor poor magi myself and resources are always damn EXPENSIVE, but I'm committed. So this would benefit quite a handful of really committed magis alot. And yeah, we should help fellow magicians here who are having problems and who wanted to learn truly.

Yup, it's GOOD, I might say!


I think it would only be advisable if all this guiding and sharing is done in private, not online. ;)

B)

Morphine, what do ya think?

Resouce are expensive, but practicing a resource as many time as possible makes you a better magician. :)

Agree with Winder got to listen to the pro you know lol~ :D

This was told to me by a magician when i started out and his name is Daryl (Magician's Magician). Of course on his video Encyclopedia of Card Sleights volume 1, hahaha. ~

I ain't any Pro man ~ Hahaha ~

I'm a little confused.
Are you proposing a section that TEACHES basic sleights and techniques?
If that's what you meant then no, i dun think so. This topic has been beaten to death and i dun wish to revive it B)

If you are talking about just helping each other, that's what the whole forum is about B).
And then there's the all important attending of smc meetings ;)

Friends, dudes. SMC is a place to meet with friends with a passion for magic. Attend a couple of meets and you can meet with people who are more than keen to give you tips on moves, sleights and resources as long as you have an interest.

Btw Morphine, I don't think Zinally is intending to propose a thread that practises online exposure... correct me if I'm wrong but I think he's suggesting a beginner's thread where more conscise advice can be given online pertaining to learning stuff the correct way.

Although I personally feel that it's redundant because beginners can post in any of the given threads in this forum if they need help, I do agree with Zinally on one point: It's true that many beginners ignore basic handling and cast them aside for visual (and many-a-times, impractical) moves like colour changes.

Well, I'm old school. I'd be more interested in learning a new method of forcing than to learning a new variation of the Snap Change. :D

Sad truth:

The only way to get better in magic is to GO OUT AND DO IT. If you just stay at home and play around with yer little red balls, you can't get very far in this art. Go out, show yer stuff to people, and risk failure. Like someone (I don't think it was Clarence Oh) said, "Failure is the Stepping Stone to Success"

Go forth, my young grasshoppers.

-Kev

yes, once u have practiced and rehearsed your routine to perfection, should go and perform mainly to develop self-confidence, experience and put theory to practical use.

I should like to add on...

I think everyone should start from scratch and all alone at first, then slowly can they develop a yearning to learn and real passion rather than infautation at first sight. Then they will learn everything they manage to get, well and perfect and value it. Rather than spoon-feeding them everything and they should abuse it and take everything for granted.
So, maybe we can wait until they have became really committed to magic for a period of time, then step in.

B)

one of the reasons magic is exclusive is the price factor. magic shud only be taught for free to other qualified magicians to your discretion. direct all interested to resources.

be careful about "guiding and sharing" though, if its a marketed effect, the originator is losing potential income and if its not, rmb to credit (and correctly).

Please read my post

My suggestion is just to giv a reference or guidance on how to learn magic the correct way rather than buying download material say like from penguin. Furthermore we have 197++ member & I believe some of them new to magic but keen to explore more. These thread is just helpful for beginner to post very basic question which maybe they afraid to ask.

i agree totally with kev abt going out there to practice. its sad to admit that i kinda lost a bit of touch with magic at the moment as im so so so so so so into flourishes now... every single min im with my cards at the dining table, watching tv... at my computer on my bed in the toilet (opps.. shh.... ;) ) ... haha everyhwere man!

i still enjoy magic and still show people magic... but the same old street magic kinda tricks.. which is kinda boring to me already. i want more challenging ones... but its just that i rather practice flourish than magic now... sigh... onces in a while ill relook at my magic vids but my hands are still fourishing rather than following the vid instructions lol.

but im not loosing interest in magic.. its still in me... just need to start again soon... as soon as i can improve my flourish then i go back to more powderful magic! hehe...

hmm i think i off topic liaw... :off:

yeah... abt learning magic... learn it the hard way guys! those interested... u should really start with books and get the basics rite first. going straight to vids can be easier but ur knowledge of the real terms of magic might not be accurate. alot of moves have been renamed. example the shift is now known as the pass... etc. and yeah i agree that lots of new magicians out there do not know some easy terms like mechanic grip or biddle grip. sigh... they must have learnt it from some cheap magician or the easy way. in short.... for those beginners.. if u wanna learn the art... learn it well man. its important to know how to do it and be able to do it.. but u must also learn its theory and terms and sleights of magic.

im not vv well verse with magic term.... and from wat i see or notice so far, i realise that CLJ... man... he is so so knowlegeable... he knows a lot.. even though i have not seen him perform. im sure this guy reads a lot! and tat is wat we should all do... read and try to dont just depend on vids if u are just starting out. learn the theory first and get some background knowledge first.

wah... now that i mentioned this... i should go back and dig out my old magic books and start reading again.. i have a few in my house...hehe

in short,... most importantly its not abt how and where u learn magic... its all abt ones passion for the art man. go for it... all the way man! Never give up or spoil this beautiful art if u ever get frustrated. it takes time to improve and to be good... its all abt ur dedication and passion. Im proud to be a magician and I really look up to other magiicans for such creative minds.... *peace*

sorry, my post was just out of concern of what vampire said, her 2 prev. posts.

but zinally, i do think that it would be very helpful for beginners to ask questions and be answered. maybe morph can look into this, create a newbie section or something?

That's the way! Thx u guy..I think now u know wat I am getting at..

this ought to be under the "feedback/suggestions" area, but anyway, its a cool suggestion.

considering now more and more ppl taking up magic, its better that they do good magic than bad magic.

Maybe we can compile a Beginner's FAQ on magic?

Yeah.

That'll be helpful, but we should also concentrate on the guys who just want secrets. Any FAQ we write must have the all-important magician's code.

It's an idea worth some thought. A simple one would be OK to push some budding magician to learn and perform some things.

I'm sure many of us (me included) can share on what newbies should know, and then our circle will truly help more people.

OK. I can't help but go off-topic slightly. We're gonna cross the TWO HUNDRED MEMBER mark very soon!

Therefore, a newbie FAQ will be useful, and I'm sure parts of it would benefit everybody, even seasoned performers.

But we all know that the most Frequently Asked Question that usually hits new magicians is:

"How did you do that?"

Grr.

:)


iamthewalrus

Yeah, a FAQ would be helpful. Just the basic magic terms and some important information. :)

Umm...what an interesting topic!!

You guys up there (mostly) are senior member here and have posted 150+
and off corz it means u do know more about magic in general.
So might be a little different way of thinking between the senior and newbie.

So...as a newbie (in magic)...i'll try speak up a little share:
Ya...i think we need a thread / sub forum / beginners FAQ (or any other name).
I beleive all of the pro :) member willing to help us. And morph has provided more than enough section here to ask various type of questions.

But truely sometimes me (or maybe us)...feel afraid to ask even a very basic questions. I saw many of different posts in this forum and met many kinds of "magic term" from u guys and sadly didn't know what are u talking about. Have a little bit affraid asking a silly basic question sometimes.

So if we have a special there/sub forum built up for newbie, it's gonna give a suitable ATMOSPHERE for us...since we know the thread is the real place to ask "silly basic questions" and surely the senior will help w/ love :)

Reference or guidance not the ethic questions: "How did you do that?"

I think that's all we (upps..i mean I) need.

--dee--

ps: I have a ton of questions about magic in my head, which has to be answered soon ;)

Actually you can just ask in the various posting section, i believe SMC is full of friendly and doesn't mind anyone asking any basic questions.

Somehow i would rather like people to clarify any doubts, be it basic or advance. I believe someone in the forum would reply helpfully. :)

I guess, at MOST, you may get a 'I'm sorry, thats exposure' if you ask a TOO blatant question...

Actually dee, what Winder said is correct. :) You are more than welcome to post the most basic questions that you have in any section and I'm sure many are willing to help out someone with difficulties that they have.
What is not encouraged is questions that purely fishes for methods, e.g "What is this DL you all keep talking about", to which the most generous answer would be "It stands for D**b*e L**t, a card sleight, very commonly used in Ambitious Card Routine". B)
It's tricky because we are trying to strike a balance between being useful and helpful, without breaking the magician's code. Personally, i think the best way to ask for help and advices is attend outings. While they are not a "no holds barr" exposure events, it is much easier for people to help you with your difficulties. :)


A series of FAQs for beginners in magic? Good idea. But i need you all to help me with it, i cannot possibly write it all alone. B) So if anybody is interested in having their article in SMC's FAQ, please post them in the Theories and Philosophy section.

:)

Another problem arise was that the exposure during outing is "ALOT" and its very diff to contain any exposure during outings.

Somehow there must be some way to contain exposure during outing while trying to be helpful and not seem to be known as selfish. Hahaha ~

Just having thought on why we need beginner thread . A lot of basic question can be ask & the senior can explain to them. Furthrmore we can be helpful.
Here are some of the question that a beginner might ask..

3. How many Type or Different Kind of Magic we can learn?
4. How to Learn Magic Skill in Singapore?
5. What is the Magician Code?
7. What is the Basic Magic Book we can learn?
9. What is your recommendation on best tools in learning magic?
10. Why magic cannot be exposed?
11. What is IBM, SMC, SMC...?
12. How much is the fee for learning magic and where?
16. How to join Magician Club?
17. Where is the place to perform magic?

Ya..I beleive ppl here are more than welcome.
I felt it when i introduced my self :)

OUTING...would be a great learning, live visual experince.
I'm willing to join it. Unfortunately i can't be there at all.
Since i live outside SG. So the beginner thread would be a real benefit for me.

Good news...i've found the local club here. Might the biggest and sadly the only one in Indo. But i don't think they do any outing. Since it's not a custom yet to meet a magician performace in the street or restaurant/cafe. Street Musician ---> A LOT

I wonder how do u guys doing ur outing. In the mal and cafe? Is it legal? Do u guys asking for money/offering from the specs after the show? I'm thinking whether it's like the street musician who brought his hat/box to collect the money? :ph43r: It should be under permission, rite?

PS: Soon! i'll try to start some topics out there...looking for helpful answers

--Cheers--

Our outings are all free and easy, you may come early or late, leave early or late. It's your choice. And performances for the specs (most probably friends or friend's friends or maybe strangers) are just for fun, no tips are expected or anything... If they insist to give tips, who doesn't want them? hehe...

Chill, dee!

-- Ling.