Magician Stuff

So why a blog? Quite honestly I need a place to post shit, thoughts, work on moves, trick ideas, etc. This won't be original, I am certain that nothing will be original why? Cause an original thought is rare and arguable so why claim them.
Lets start with a book I have been studying intensely for the last few months
In an attempt to be a better magician I have hit the books, or book I should say. The Bible (more appropriate now than ever before with the Erdnase.com release), The Expert at the Card Table by S. W. Erdnase A remarkable book! So in studying Erdnase I am going to post some important points I come across.
Here is a favorite bit of brilliance from Monsieur Erdnase.
In the Introduction to the Legerdemain section we get this step by step list of things to study to be a great magician! Unbelievable! We are actually given a list of things to do to be a better or great magician eventually! Here is the steps as provided by Erdnase.

Step 1.
Study and practice "System of Blind Shuffles" this will accomplish proficiency in making and using breaks and jogs!
Certainly more effective than learning a pass as Erdnase mentions. A card returned and then shuffled leaves the card lost to the spectator. A card replaced and then apparently nothing happening leaves the card at a rough position. The shuffles, breaks and jogs are brilliant!

Step 2.
Take up the study of "System of Palming" with emphasis on the "bottom palm" These two techniques can more often than not replace the need for a shift! Allowing the conjuror to perform a number of brilliant effects!

Note: Erdnase now mentions an elegant solution to a common problem. The card is replaced and needs to be controlled. What do you do? As Erdnase mentions, most will hold the break above the card returned and shift it to the top. Erdnase presents a much more refined intelligent and most importantly NATURAL (Thanks Dr. Elliott!) solution! Have the card returned, break above the card, shuffle immediately, utilizing the skills learned in the "System of Blind Shuffles" to control the selection to top or bottom. Now you can palm off with our lovely work studied in Step 2. as mentioned above. Now the best part! You have the spectator shuffle the cards once the palm has been made! The palm is specifically made during the sqaure up! A surroundable, perfect, natural undetectable method to control a card. A walk-around performer's holy grail! The procedure described, fancifully, steps over the bete-noire of so many performers, surrounded performance and angles!
Step 3. The Diaganol Palm Shift
"Should the performer wish to palm off the selected card without employing a shuffle, we believe the "Diaganol Palm Shift" is easier and far more imperceptible than the shifting of the two packets and then palming, assuming that the different processes are performed equally well. For this reason we suggest early acquirement of the mentioned shift."
I have nothing left to say here! Other than the emphasis on early acquirement. These techniques should be worked on early on!

One more important passage;
"The finished card-table expert will experience little or no difficulty in accomplishing the various sleights that lie at the bottom of the conjurer's tricks. The prinicipal feats have been already mastered in acquiring the blind shuffles, blind cuts, bottom deal, second deal, palming and replacing, the run, the crimp, culling, and stocking; and his trained fingers will readily accommodate themselves to any new position or actions."

Finally a reason why the best magicians are the best at everything! They have remarkably trained hands with remarkable ability because of their muscle memory. The end result? It seems there is a point when your hands are stamped with the Erdnase seal of proficiency! A post-graduate degree in card-table artifice. Once you have worked and trained your fingers, magic isn't all that difficult! A crazy thought but a true one!
Brilliant!