By: Olde Rabbit
This is a standard post/lecture I put on the board here every so
often, for the beginners, who are getting into sleight of hand or
manipulation magic, and need to know what's ahead, and how best to
learn it.
Manipulation and Sleight of Hand magic are performed by so few magicians because they are difficult to learn. It takes a lot of practice, discipline, and patience. Which most magis, both pro and amateur, don't have.
The advantage to learning this type of magic is that it looks more like true magic to audiences, and the magis will hold you in great respect for having the determination to get it down.
When you first learn sleight of hand, your first big worry is that you try the sleights and they don't work. Your hands are too big, or too small, or the object just won't move right, or won't stay where it should and falls on the floor.
The truth of the matter is, no one can do most sleight of hand and manipulation moves the first time. Sometime you won't be able to do it for a week. But if you keep trying, you'll eventually be able to do it, maybe even only 1 time out of 10, but you'll be able to do it. And if you keep practicing, your chances of doing it successfully will increase, until you can do it correctly and successfully each time.
The problem with doing the move isn't really that your hands are too big or small. It's that you have to use different muscles than you have used before, or use the same muscles in different ways. This takes training, and training takes time.
So when you are trying to learn a sleight or manip move, first follow the instructions to the letter. Pay attention to each detail, such as what part of the card or coin or ring touches what part of which finger, etc. This is important. It is detail which can overwhelm you if you let it, but don't. Take it very slow, and get it right.
Then, each day if possible, set aside some time to work on your moves. You want to be relaxed, and in a good mood. Tommy Wonder suggests putting on favorite music to help you relax and feel comfortable.
You want to work on your new moves for only about 10-15 minutes each, and keep the session down to about an hour at the most. If your hands start to get tired, or you get tired, or your concentration drifts, stop. You can't force yourself to learn new stuff when you're not at your peak, or your hands are stiff and/or sore.
Don't worry about the whole effect yet, and don't worry about not being able to "get it". Just keep working on it, and telling yourself it will come. It will, believe me, if you do keep working on it.
The first stage you'll reach is when you realize you can do the move without looking at the instructions or pictures. As soon as that happens, you want to sort of shift gears, trying to make it all the way thru the trick each time. Divide up your practice sessions so you go thru the effect a few times, then work on specific moves which are shaky, then go thru the whole effect or routine again.
Starting to do the whole trick or routine as soon as you can do the moves without looking at the instructions is very important. Sleight of Hand and Manipulation rely on the routine to provide the magic. Most sleights or manip moves by themselves are not magical, and often wouldn't fool anyone. But when presented as a series of small mysteries within a routine, each mystery builds on the previous ones, ending in an effect which is truly magical, and leaves your audience totally fooled as to how you accomplished it.
As you practice your routine, you'll still find the moves work some of the time. Just keep working. After a while you'll find they work most of the time. And finally, perhaps several weeks or even months down the road, you'll realize they are working every time. But don't stop there. Keep working on the routine until the handling becomes automatic, so you don't have to watch your hands, or think about what is coming next. You just start the routine, go into automatic, and it progresses to the end.
At this point you can perform for your friends and relatives. You'll be comfortable enough doing the routine you won't have to think hard while doing it. You'll have confidence as you've done it so many times. And while you're performing, you can watch the faces of your audience, come up with entertaining things to say, judge how you are going over, etc.
So that's how you learn sleight of hand and manipulation. It takes a long time, and a lot of work. But when you have an effect mastered, you'll be doing it for the rest of your life. You'll knock your audiences over with incredible magic, and knock other magicians over with your skill and determination. And you'll be so proud of yourself, you won't be able to sit still!
This applies to sleight of hand with all different types of objects, such as coins, cards, ropes, balls, parasols, anything you can think of. Also Routined Manipulation effects like Cups & Balls, Linking Rings, etc.
Think of it as similar to learning to play a musical instrument. You go thru an awkward stage, when people would probably prefer you don't perform. Then you start getting it down. Then you increase gradually until you impress the Heck out of everyone, including yourself.
Good Luck!
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