Free Lecture Replay Now Available

Wanna hear a free lecture on impromptu magic?

It happened last night, but you can listen to the recording now at:

http://instantTeleseminar.com/?eventid=11937018

No need to sign in or pay anything. Just listen.

I recommend downloading the file and listening to it on your computer or iPod whenever you want. (However, make sure you get to it soon because the special deal is going to expire in a few days.)

Go spread some wonder!

How I Know You’re The Best Kind Of Magician…

I have the best customers in the world.

Really.

You guys actually care about learning how to properly PERFORM magic tricks and you’re not just out to learn a zillion magic secrets as quickly as possible.

I would take a magician who can PERFORM five tricks *really* well over a magician who can do five hundred tricks just okay. I’d make that deal any day of the week.

You know what?

So would your audiences.

Just a thought.

Go spread some wonder!

- Tim David

P.S. Any time I get a question emailed to me (and I get hundreds of emails per day) I know that for every one person to actually ask a question, there are probably a hundred people who would like to know the answer too.

That’s why from time to time I feature a “Question and Answer” segment in my emails to you.

So, let’s get to some questions!

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QUESTION: AM I READY FOR MAGIC COLLEGE?

I have been doing magic for almost a year now and have decided to make it my profession. I have purchased over five hundred dollars worth of tricks reaching from card
tricks to stage magic. As I am only 13 I have limited funds so if you could give me the prices for how much it would cost per month I would gladly appreciate it.

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TIM’S ANSWER:

Hey Zach,

Magic College is $1 for the first month and $9.97 a month after that.

You can sign up at:

http://www.CardTrickInsider.com

We’ll start you off with card tricks and then move on from there.

- Tim David

P.S. Spending more money doesn’t always make you a better magician. It’s spending time that makes the difference.

Also, instead of doing everything (close-up to stage), find what you like and specialize in it. Become the absolute best in one area instead of being good in all areas.

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QUESTION: SOS!

How difficult is the Sos? What about the other 8 tricks? Is the gimmick a gimmick coin, or something else? Is it uncomfortable to wear?

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TIM’S ANSWER:

Hi Sam,

The SOS is not difficult, although it isn’t a common “move” in magic. I just got an email from a beginner who was fooling magicians left and right with it at his 1st magic convention.

Like anything else, it should be practiced a few times but if a beginner can do it…then that should give you an idea.

The other 8 effects range in difficulty. There are some relatively easy ones and some relatively hard ones.

- Tim David

P.S. Yes, the gimmick is a gimmicked coin. Nothing to wear.

P.P.S. What am I talking about? Don’t listen to me…Instead listen to people who have bought it:

http://www.TimDavidMagic.com/sosreviews.html

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MOTION – The World’s Best Pen Trick?

Easily the most fun to perform. You’ll be making pens move with your mind all day long.

http://www.TheMagicTeacher.com/motion.html

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The Internet’s best card tricks. All in one place. Also includes killer exclusive effects that you can’t get anywhere else.

http://www.CardTrickInsider.com

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Could this be the best coin penetration ever invented?

http://www.TimDavidMagic.com/numismatic

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UNMAKE – The Unreal Coin Vanish

http://www.TimDavidMagic.com/unmake.html

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Tell your friends about our site!

http://www.TimDavidMagic.com

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Tim David’s S.O.S. DVD:

Unbelievable coin tricks with exciting and fun secrets

http://www.TimDavidMagic.com/sos.html

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YOUR AD HERE?

Over 92,000 magicians just read this ad. Got something to say to them?

Contact: tim@timdavidmagic.com

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More Magic Trick Categories?

After receiving many emails, I feel I should explain something about the “Fave Five” magic categories a little further…

Mentalism is not technically magic…it’s mentalism. That’s why I did not include things like prediction, psychokinesis, super-human strength, etc. in my list of the five most basic magic effects.

Also, I suppose a restoration might be considered a version of transformation (with a restoration, you’re changing a destroyed object into a whole object). However, the main difference is that you’re using just ONE object (transformation uses two different objects.)

Do you think restoration is worthy of its own category? Why or why not?

Go spread some wonder!

P.S. The voting results are almost all in! Right now there is a tie for first place. Place your vote by commenting on the “Fave Five” post below. Please no emails. Only votes placed as a comment on the blog are counted.

Q&A With Tim David

Every day I get questions about the art of magic or about my own magic.

Right now, I’d like to take just 2 of those questions and answer them.

Sort of like an interview…but much shorter.

If you have a question for me, submit it to tim@themagicteacher.com.

OR post it as a comment on this site.

QUESTION #1:

“Hey Tim, I have been doing magic for 9yrs. I just started learning about Hypnosis. It’s very interesting and I wanted to know if you can share some tips or some places where I can learn more about it. I want to infuse it with my regular magic to make something new.” – Brandon Beard

Brandon,

I use hypnotic techniques in my magic a lot.

It certainly elevates your magic to a new level.

I have some great info on how to use hypnotic techniques in your magic in my “Sly Art of Misdirection” videos.

These videos rock…

http://www.TheMagicCollege.com/slyart.html

Also, you can learn hypnosis here:

http://www.TheMagicTeacher.com/pages/Learn-Hypnosis

Be careful. Hypnosis can be powerful.

QUESTION #2:

“I believe that Youtube kill the art of magic. They must remove all ‘explanation’, ‘revealed’ magic videos. With this rythm in a few months no one will be interest to come and see our live performances. We must be doing something…” -Nikos

Nikos,

Okay, this isn’t really a question, but it is a common comment that I get.

I agree. Something should be done.

And that is this…

Make your magic better!

If your magic is being revealed on YouTube, then you need to make your magic better.

Add personality, come up with a new method, or make the trick more entertaining.

People don’t come to live shows to see tricks, they come to see the performer’s personality.

(Write that down and remember it.)

Your PERSONALITY is more important than your tricks.

If you are entertaining, you will always have an audience.

Go spread some wonder!

- Tim David

P.S. Here is a recent review from someone who took my “Sly Art of Misdirection” course:

“Hi Tim!
 
Very comprehensive course on misdirection. I enjoyed it very much. I have not seen anyone touch on the technicals as you have.
 
Your Truly
Al Durante”

Every magician must master misdirection and my course is the fastest way to do that:

Get it now at:

http://www.TheMagicCollege.com/slyart.html

Why Criss Angel’s Cirque du Soleil Show Was Bad For Magic

Last week, I wrote a post about the highlights of magic in 2008.

I briefly mentioned that Criss Angel’s Cirque du Soleil show was bad for magic.

I’ve gotten tons of emails from people asking, “Why was it bad?”

Here’s why magic suffers…

Because the show BOMBED!

Virtually no one liked it. Critics slammed it, audiences ripped it, even other magicians were down on it.

I think Criss has set himself apart as a television magician. Not just a good one, but a great one. (Face it, he’s great on TV.)

When he went back to the stage, people realized that he couldn’t do the same magic without those camera tricks and special effects.

There was a disconnect there. Instead of getting what they expected (and what they paid for), they got something different…something less.

Once you establish your performance character, then that’s what you should deliver to your audiences.

Are you the guy in a top hat and tux? Are you the sexy female magician? Are you the funny person who does tricks?

You can’t be all of them, so I recommend that you BE YOURSELF.

Your performances should showcase your PERSONALITY more than anything else.

Do that and you’ll never have to worry about disappointing your audiences.

Go spread some wonder!

- Tim David

P.S. Sometimes people accuse me of using camera tricks in my demo videos.

I NEVER use camera tricks of any kind and I never will. I consider that to be false advertising and unethical.

You should know what a trick REALLY looks like before you buy it.

What you see is what you get.

P.P.S. Speaking of demo videos, you’ve got to see the preview for my latest full-length DVD.

The demo only highlights a few of the 9 tricks taught on the DVD, but it’s really worth watching if you haven’t seen it already…

http://www.TimDavidMagic.com/sos.html