Hi all, just a general guideline, let's discuss about how long did it take you to get your sleights to a decent level, doesn't mean master level but able to perform it without getting caught in that sense.
And also what is the first move/sleight/control technique do you guys think all beginners should learn?

1) overhand shuffle
2) double l***
3) in the past, the classic pass was the minimum of all tricks
4) self working tricks
5) rifle shuffle/faro
6) glimpsing/key carding

In my opinion, what's necessary is probably a means to force, a means to control card to the top and probably DL. That's good enough for a start. Don't have to bother about false cuts, zarrows and all that. That can all come later.

Yeah, learn to hold a break and control a card. No point faro-ing when you cannot even riffle shuffle.

Isn't the Classic pass too difficult for a beginner?

How about a simple force---->Criss cross force?

I judge magicians based on their DL. I think it should at least be decent and naturalistic.

The next thing is the b***k, it should not be too obvious (I don't think that is too much to expect - ie. don't stick your whole finger in and/or cause the d**k to become two visible chunks).


[COLOR=red]Careful about exposure here.

Hmmm...

1. I would say overhand shuffle is the first thing beginner should learn.
It can be used as a control or f***e shuffle or in my opinion, best way to secure a b***k. Once you have all that, you are ready to perform quite a no of effects. Furthermore, it's one of the easiest thing to learn.

2. After that, learn a couple of good Fs and you can do mentalism with cards. For that, Riffle and Slip F are my favourites, also among the easiest to use.

3. DLs are of course, one of the most versatile weapon for any magician. Inevitably, you have to learn that. Learn a few, but generally you only need one.

4. Seriously, I think learning The Pass is not a must. It can always be substituted using double undercut or some other cuts. But of course, it's a good thing to learn.

All the other things like colour changes, multiple card controls, zarrow or push-throughs can be picked up along the way once you learn more.

Anyway, depending on what you like to perform, you may not use every sleights that come your way.

i'm begining to feel the uselessness of a pass, anyone here knows the secrets about the pass or it's history? Because i heard it was like the cup and balls grade of tricks in the pass

The pass is not useless. And while it SOMETIMES can be substituted with other controls, it is not always possible while achieving the same "effect".
There were a few threads around that discusses this extensively.

However, there was a tendancy for too much emphasis to be placed on the pass, sometimes as a bragging right (i.e. see how invisible my pass is!). And even worse, sometimes the pass was used by some in cases where it is absolutely not necessary (e.g. doing a pass then follow by a shuffle control).

When someone tells me: HARAPAN PLEASE TEACH ME MAGIC I AM VERY SERIOUS ABOUT IT, I smile and say, "Sure!"

"Here's Lesson One in card magic: Holding a deck of cards. Go back home, hold on to a deck of cards for the whole day. Come back to me when you've done that."

So my point is: most important "sleight" a beginner must learn: The Grips.

Anyway, no one answered his first question:

It took me a few years. But after that, it got faster and faster.

- harapan. magic!

Hmm, I suppose this could be a good thread for beginner.

Anyway, personally, I would vote for the double lift. There is no correct answer again. Although generally, the cliche: a force, a control, etc.

Hmm, am I the only one who saw the second part of the question? Well, if you are interested, it took me more than a year and 10 re-read of the description of the overhand shuffle to get it to a satisfactory level (to me).

Reminds me of a particular "notorious TV magician". Haha. I agree with Aloy, the pass do has its use.

Harapan's view is interesting too, but its not exactly a sleight.

Hara did mention a good point alot of dvds and books failed to mention. "GET TO KNOW YOUR TOOLS" Anyways, does anyone agree with me that go slow is important? smoothness will bring about the speed.

Yup, know your tools. First thing to learn in magic is to know how to grip the cards. Learn to do some cuts in the hands. Swing cuts, under cuts. Learn to dribble the cards. Learn to spring the cards. Learn. to shuffle the cards. Overhand shuffle and in the hands riffle shuffle

Only when you are comfortable with the cards, then you can move on the more difficult sleights. If you surf youtube, you'll see that so many of them cannot even grip the cards or square them up elegantly but already attempting to do a pass or a control.

But kuang, i am sure you've already mastered all that so now you need to move on to more 'advance' sleights likes DL and break and all the stuff that everyone else mentioned.

The pass is not useless. Classic pass is good but apparently the turn over pass is even better. Don't be lazy...learn it!

At the end of the day, you should learn as many sleights as possible. Even if you don't use them, you should at least know how to do them la.


ZiAn

I can only do the invisible p*ss. cl*ssic p*ss still practising. I can do DLs, br**ks, shuffles, simple Fs, ways to get a card reversed. And a simple combo of ego change and p*ss to control a single card.

*** MOD'S NOTE: POST EDITED ***
I think everyone here needs to please be more mindful of what you post - this is still very much a public forum and lots of laymen are lurking in the shadows reading all these posts.

what's the difference between invisible P*** and Classic P***?


ZiAn

The "Invisible Pass" is one of the most ambigious name i think.
I've heard people call the Top Cover Pass, the Pass Substitute, and the "golf swing/bai ti gong" Pass all as the "Invisible Pass".
:lol:

So basically any pass that is done invisibly is called an invisible pass? But all pass are suppose to be invisible.

I think it's E that made people think that invisible pass is actually the correct name???
Or is there really such a thing?


ZiAn

Maybe Invisible is just an adjective given to the pass, means that the pass is carried out invisibly
I agree with ChanZian, all well done passes should be invisible, so?
I think the term invisible pass used is just to create a hpye for the material taught

Don't bother with the invisible pass, its not a unique pass per se. Aloysius is right, everyone likes to call their pass the 'invisible pass' either because the pass they saw was marketed as invisible (for obvious reasons), or because they would like to think of their pass as being invisible.

As an additional note, it has been said that no pass is invisible, therefore it has to be covered with misdirection.

We're getting off topic btw...

If no pass is invisible, what do you call Akira Fujii's...?

- harapan. magic!

You must see Akira Fuji's pass. He can do it under your nose and you'll never realised it.

Have u seen Akira Fuji's pass live? or on a video? its easier to fool the camera. Although i admit that even that is quite a feat.

Opps, I shldn't have continue this off topic "topic". Haha.

Hi all,

First off, an pologies for being unable to turn up for the meet-up last month. Been really bogged down with work and illness.

I'm still struggling along the way with RRTCM and some videos, and it's been more than 3 months (quite a feat for someone with less nimble hands..hehe)

A question that is boggling me is, any of you have employed any form of hand strengthening and stretching exercses? I personally feel that could be quite a help especially for people with clumsy hands like me, so it would be helpful if anyone have any exercises to recommend.

*If this is the wrong thread to post it in, please let me know:)

Regards
E

I only do it secretly before performing or practise. Just put ur hands together as if you're praying and push left and right then bend your fingers abit as well and do a short meditation to get "in the zone" if you watched "school of rock" there is one part where jack black was requested by his students to do his song, you can try that warm up session it has(minus the humming device) :lol:

An effective way to strengthen your hand muscles, get used to the feeling of cards and improve general card handling is....

Do some card flourishes.

- harapan. magic!