I skip the section on card history since it’s pretty much what it says – a couple of pages on history, nothing very new there. One interesting thing is that Giobbi says Tarot was derived from the 52-card deck and not the other way around as the fortune-tellers say.
Instruments and Tools notes
Hands
Skin type and size, while they introduce differences to learning, are not the main deciding factor. Thumb and little finger counts, double lifts and false shuffles are easier with drier skin while false deals and palming are easier to do with moister skin.
For dry skin various forums recommend Sortkwik (best fingertip grip) or any non-greasy hand lotions, with glycerine and aloe vera in particular. Someone mentioned “Chamberlain lotion”. I think any of these things should be ok and there is no need to buy any special preparations from magic shops.
Moister skin simply means you’ll be going through more decks – say a deck a week or quicker. If your palms are really sweaty, try some industry strength deodorant from a pharmacy, although I suspect it will simply make your skin thick and less sensitive. Wash hands before handling cards, with pH-neutral soap, and run cold water over hands to reduce sweating.
Manicure is your friend, it costs around $20 and takes half an hour. A bonus is that it will help you stop biting nails/cuticles, if you have this habit.
I am going to be doing some dexterity and finger strengths exercises, not in an extreme flourisher mode, but just to build up finger independence and a bit of card-bending force. Greg Irwin is the best authority on anything in this area, see his site. A quick summary of what he teaches is here (several clips). There are alternative exercises here.
If you happen to have DVDs
- Trilogy vol.3 Everything Else by Dan & Dave Buck
- Back To Basics Vol.1 by Capaso Casino
- Xtreme Beginners vol.1 by De’Vo
then each of them has a a few minutes on exercises as well, have a look. If you are going to buy a DVD for training, just buy a Greg Irwin’s one. I saw a ProHands Gripmaster Pro recommended a few times for strength (Irwin is about dexterity). You need to be able to handle at least the heavy tension version.
In Chapter 27 (book 2) Giobbi recommends a few more things – Chinese Therapy Balls, over-sized cards (I could not locate any references to what they are, could be just any novelty cards), metal bricks – a cool device used to be sold here. Any of these can wait until I get to book 3.
The general consensus seems to be that just by training the moves one gets to learn them, and all of the above devices can be skipped.
If you think your hands are small, click here.
Cards
A summary – just get a brick of Bicycles (Rider back or whatever you fance) or Tally-Ho, poker size 52 card decks, even if you are not in the US where this is the most popular brand. Europeans say that Carta Mundi Aces are ok, I have not seen them. An Australian note – no matter what people say on the ‘net, Queen Slipper are bad cards for training. If you buy local cards, make sure they are wider version – poker, not bridge size. It seems bridge-size cards are more popular outside of the US. Poker size is 2.5″x3.5″, bridge is 2.5″x3.25″. Card backs should have a border of the same colour as their faces, usually white (as Bicycles do), this helps with consealing some moves.
Keep cards in case, protect from moisture. A card clip may be a good idea (put cards in the case, then in the clip). Do not use cards for too long until they start sticking. My average seems to be a deck every week or two, YMMV. Fanning powder is for flourishers, not for card magicians.
Close-up pad
Useful, not essential, but will be needed for some table spreads. At least 16″ by 20″. I think this size is called “Large” by online magic shops.
