The guide on choosing when buying

I have seen a lot of people on penguin forums asking on what they should buy, Of course there is no thread that would do all "buy this instead of that" because it would take two time the eternity to make. So I just wanted to make a simple short guide on how to choose between products on penguinmagic. May i also recomend you to read, my Essay against exposure So you dont make a bad choice and learn the bad way.

EDIT: Thanks for the sticky, I'm honored! I will update the guide now as I just realised it was a sticky now .

Introduction

Have you ever felt lost in all the products availiable here on Penguin? There are so many good books and DVDs you can buy there, much of the time you can't decide, and of course you want to keep the price under the cart as low as possible. Some people are just going by to buy a gimmick for the sake of doing a magic trick, not learning to be a successful magician. Some are more interested in general grounding, they want to know all for the best price, they are not interested in a part of magic or another, they just focus on learning much as they can. Some focus on one aspect of magic Ex: Cards, so they are going to invest a lot in that part they want to know all, because they love that kind of magic. Some people are just looking for an effect and not really interested in the art, and will probably pass on the hobby. However if you are genuinely interested:
The guide is structured this way:
= Category.
-underline = Subcategory.
Some insight : = Some tips, suggestions.
Green color= From a different supplier then penguin.
Instant = Mean that this item is a instant dowload.
Whatnot = Used once in the whatnot section.


To make it more clear
You have to know what you are looking for:

Buying for fun : You are not a magician, you just want to get a reaction with one gimmick or one trick.

General grounding : You want to know a bit of everything. ( in this guide the general grounding part is a good place to start doing magic)

Specialization : You want to be an expert on one branch of magic and know everything on that portion of magic.

Single trick buying : Most likely to be a gimmick, or just one trick, like instant downloads, those are special tricks that inove, or some that you cant do with sleights.

Essay theory, good books to learn how to keep an audience and maximise your audience entertainment. These book contain no magic trick, but they worth ten time in gold.



Buying for fun
Ok so you are going by and looking for a nice trick? Well take a look here, simple trick that use easy or no sleights at all.
- The raven
- The vanishing handkerchief
- Scotch and soda
- The bat
- Spun
- InstantThe floating dollar bill
- The self tying shoelace
- The stealth pen
- InstantThe closer( if you have brough spun, dont buy this )

Some insights
- Bat or Raven:
Both are very different, The Bat is for psychokinesis effects, the Raven is made for vanish, production, changes. The bat can so some of the raven effect, but really not as good and as clean, In my opinion i would go for the raven, because the raven do very clean vanish, and it can do what the bat can do.

- Stealth pen or B2 bomber?
Well the stealth pen looks like a more common pen, and the B2 as a bigger pay load ( how far the pen can penetrate through the bill. ) I prefer to have a more common looking pen, it adds to the effect.




General grounding
If you want to know much on everything, Cups and Balls, Coins, Cards, Rope magic, IT tricks, etc... The best bang for your bucks will be books, not DVDs, of course there are some good DVDs out there, but in general, books give much more for your money.

-Courses
-Mark wilson complete course in magic
-MJM Tarbell course in magic complete set

-Tricks/illusions resources/bank
-Art of astonishment Volume 1
-Art of astonishment Volume 2
-Art of astonishment Volume 3
-Books of Wonder volumes 1-2
-Apocalypse #1
-Apocalypse #3
-Apocalypse #4

Some insight: Don't let the price of the books fool you, those books are filled with routines and tricks with premade patter, some stuff in it is extremly creative and very strong. I was sceptic about these book, as soon as Penguin got the first book in stock I ordered it, and I must says that it holds a high place in my repertoire. If you are looking for tricks to fill an act, or just passing buy to get a smart trick to show to your friends or family, this is it! I believe you must have a bit of knowledge so you should have Mark Wilson's book first, but you can start with these books too, because the teaching is excellent!



Essay, Theory
These book are must haves if you want to turn part-time or professional, these book worth thousands millions of time the price of the book. , those are the holy grail to sucefull entertainment.
-Maximum Entertainment by Ken Weber
-The art of krowd keeping ( MUST HAVE FOR BUSKERS! )
-Strong magic by Darwin Ortiz ( for serious close-up worker )
-Beyond Secrets by Jay Sankey



Specialisation
-Coins
If you like coin magic i have one book and two Dvd to suggest you.
-J.B bobo modern coin magic
-Jay Sankey's revolution coin magic
-Expert coin magic


-Cards
-Royal road to card magic
-Card College by Robert Giobbi volume 1
-Card College by Robert Giobbi volume 2
-Card College by Robert Giobbi volume 3
-Card College by Robert Giobbi volume 4
-Card College by Robert Giobbi volume 5
-Expert card techniques
-[url=http://www.penguinmagic.com/product.php?ID=913]Mnemonica by Juan Tamariz
[/url]

-Mentalism
-13 steps to Mentalism by Corinda
-Practical mental magic

Other great mentalism titles:
-Theater of the Mind by Barrie Richardson
-Act Two book Barrie Richardson
-Peek Performances book by Richard Busch
-Psychological Subleties by Banachek (out of print)
-Psychological Subleties 2 by Banachek
-Psychophysiological Thought Reading by Banachek and How to Read People's Minds by H.J. Burlingame

Great Mentalism Dvd:
-Banachek Psy series #1
-Banachek Psy series #2
-Banachek psy series #3
-Banachek psy series #4
-Richard osterlind store Mind mysteries 1-4 Richard osterlind
-Richard osterlind storeMind mysteries 5-7 by Richard Osterlind
-Richard osterlind storeEasy to master mental miracles by Richard Osterlind 1-4

-Suggestion/ Suggestion magic/ Suggestion Mentalism/ NLP
-Sleight of Mind by Ian Harling and Martin Nyrup
-Building Blocks Luke Jermay

-Hypnotism
-AmazonThe new encyclopedia of stage hypnotism by Ormond Mcgill.
-Speed Trance: Instant Hypnotic Inductions (2 DVD Set) by John Cerbone and Richard Nongard - DVD
-Learn Hypnosis by Richard Nongard - DVD

-Rope magic
-Tabary rope magic Volume one and two (DVD)

-TT magic
-Darwin's Encyclopedia of TT magic.

-Cups and balls
-Michael Ammar complete cups and balls dvd #1
-Michael Ammar complete cups and balls dvd #2
-Street cups Starring Gazzo

Some insights :I see many many threads about what they should buy to learn cups and ball, Much of the time people refers them to Michael ammars DVD's, other's refer's them to Gazzo's DVD. Then people ask the difference. Michael Ammar Dvd is going much more in the details, he teaches every sleights in cups and balls, he does lectures, he teach you the subtleties behind the cups and balls, a lot of work on the final loads, etc. While Gazzo teach HIS routine, the routine is made for laymen so it's basic, uses simple techniques, but Gazzo teaches you how to make your cups and ball routine entertaining. So if you want to build a routine of your own and learn a lot about cups and balls pick the Michael Ammar's Dvd, If you want to do Gazzo's routine buy his Dvd, But I suggest you to buy both, because each DVD set has things that are not taugh on the other DVD.

-Manipulation
Coins, Giant coins,Thimbles,Billard ball, multiplying billard ball, sponge ball is taught here.
-World class manipulation Mcbride vol 1
-World class manipulation Mcbride vol 2
-World class manipulation Mcbride vol 3

Some insights :What a chance you have to learn from one of the world best manipulator, If you want to learn manipulation THIS IS IT! there is no way any other video/book can beat this! You can buy all 3 dvds for 90$, while Jeff master classes go around for 1500$, so dont scream that it is that expensive...



Utility gimmick & props
These gimmick can be used for thousands of tricks, much magicians have them, it's more often referred as "props". I will put here the best props you can have here on penguin.
-Vernet soft TT
-Goshman super soft Sponge balls
-IT
-IET
-Magician Wax
-Bicycle brand deck
-Giant bicycle brand deck
-Stripper deck

Single tricks / gimmicks

- Gimicked decks
-Invisible deck
-Mind power deck
-Stripper deck
-Svengali deck

- Money gimmicks
-Greed
-Pen trough dollar
-Scotch and Soda
-Impossible matrix
-Expanded shell coins


Miscellanious section/requested section
-Bizarre/spooky magic
-Swami/mantra
- InstantThe haunted Dollar bill

-Ventriloquism
Both for puppets and for information I higely recommend you to visit the website Axtell Expression.
-SteevTaylorProThe Steeve Taylor Course in ventriloquism!
-cornellpublicationsVentriloquism 101

- Pk gimmicks
-The bat
-The M5 ( A.K.A pro pk kit )
-Wizard G2 pk ring

- XCM / Card flourishes ( extreme card manipulation )
-Xtreme begginerz by De'vo 2 Dvd's
-The system by Dan and Dave bucks
-Generation extreme with Brian Tudor
Some insights :a lot of people ask if show-off with card worth to buy, It is not, The move are skipped, taugh in one minute and plus they have the wrong names. Also get Extreme begginers to begin Xcm, And get generation extreme only if you are very very good at card flourishes!

- Hard to find props
Some hard to find props on Penguinmagic, you got to search a bit before finding them.
-Roughing spray
-Half dollar roll (20) ( kind of pricy 45$ for 20 halfs...)
-Closeup pads ( these one is my preference, very great pads )
-Performers pouch ( for cups and balls )
-Assasin's pouch ( Great for street or close-up )

What not to buy!
These are some tricks that people belive are rip-offs ( the list will get bigger over time )
-The incredible shrinking finger
-Zero gravity
-Crush and restored soda can

So that's it for my guide, for now it's still not complete, But at least it will give you a good idea on what you should buy, i tried to keep the price low and the quality high, Remember that the guide will never be finished, please give your suggestions so i can add it to the guide.

I cant forget the contributors!
-5magic5
-adjones and akirafist together
-davidcon
-PJHmarine
-nikiel

special thanks to odomenech

Blizt

Amazing post, should get a sticky.

that was great, I agree it should be sticky, it's a really helpful guide, for basic questions and whatnot.

For mentalism add Practical Mental Magic

I added a part about rip-off

blizt

Good post, almost worth stickiness! You have some very good posts (with the essays and all).

Well im going to make it worth a sticky.
I also made video reviews for some of the best book i own, I will also research more on the website to find stuff that really worth it.

Blizt

Hey, did you buy Electric touch and black widow?
I remember you sent me the questions bout them, but did you get em'

I got electric touch, but my cousin as the black window, so i asked him if i could borrow it for a test.

I might buy it, Very good gimmick, kind of surprised when i saw what it was, kind of sophisticated, i was thinking something like a overhyped raven or something.

Yeah, so did you like the ET?
Do you have the proffesional set-up?
Yeah, the Black widow is prob. the most complicated gimmick ive ver used, right under it is the et for sure.

Wow. Nice thread. Should be put as a sticky...

you have ET!?

I use electric touch everytime, i got it a day ago, and i used once in a performance where i do the impsible transpo, I shock the girl with the ET while saying that the pixelation of my hand can hold color, then she turned the card over she had a blank card then i said look, and i made an erdnase color change so it ended up being her card.

She cryed...

Make any normal trick into an imposible feat, truly a reputation maker...

Wow. Good post, sticky fur sure.

Thanks

Add Strong Magic to the Theory list. Also, Beyond Secrets would fit nicely there, too.