🔥Burning question (answer below): if you don't perform memorized deck (memdeck) magic, why not? 🤷♂ If you want to learn how, check out this video!📚 Get Started with MemDeck Magic ▶ ua-cam.com/video/lsOTcy7Led0/v-deo.html
Thanks for the video. The obvious answer to why I don't do memdeck material is because I haven't memorized a deck. As for why not, I'm not sure it's worth it for me when I'm not really performing. First, it's going to take a significant amount of time and effort just to memorize a deck. Second, I'd have to do work to maintain recall of the stack lest I lose memory of it. Without actively doing magic regularly, it's hard to want to put in that kind of time and effort. I keep considering it though, so maybe eventually I'll do it.
Thanks for answering the question, James. What would it take to push you over the edge to try? I don't feel it's as hard as people sometimes build it up in their mind to be 🤷🏻
@@EruditeMagic Well, I did make an initial attempt with The Memory Arts, but I never exactly finished, so my knowledge is incomplete and my recall is pretty shaky. I'm not sure what would motivate me to finish and fully learn a stack to the point of being able to use it. Time constraints are part of it, but I think wanting more to learn magic than do magic is part of it, too; I tend not to put a lot of time into practicing, but I enjoy learning how things are done.
A thoughtful and honest reply - thank you for sharing. I would point out that there's probably even more magic you can learn if you have memdeck work in your arsenal. 😉 Regardless of what you decide, I wish you the best of luck!
@@Dronak There's no reason to play with The Memory Arts or anything like that. How to memorise stuff like cards, numbers, names, words from a different language and so on is available for free and the method is fairly straightforward, it's just that memorising really fast on cue takes practice. Memorised deck magic is so strong that I think it's worth memorising a deck. It takes just a couple of hours combined, no big deal. And besides, being able to memorise numbers, names, words and a lot of other stuff is obviously extremely helpful and a great skill to have. I would encourage you to try it out.
This is a book that I highly recommend if you want to do stack work. I do the Core all the time. Heavyweights is one I've always intended to do, but haven't yet. I would normally think that counting cards would get a little repetitive, but the kicker ending is great.
My wife and I are going to a mystery weekend event in about a month. After watching your review, I was reminded that there a routine in this book called Sherlock...perfect! Last time we did one of these weekends, I ended up doing an impromptu show. Now I have one on theme! Time to start practicing...
@@EruditeMagic Follow up: The mystery weekend is ending now. I performed Sherlock for the guy that runs them, as he is very familiar with the quote that the trick is based on. He tried to trick me by picking two cards and I got them both. He typically acts unimpressed, but his brain was fried. He gave us 30,000 points for it (points are mostly meaningless and handed out arbitrarily, but it's the most ice been paid for magic as a non-professional).
I performed The Heavyweight for the first time this week and it killed. I did it right after Sherlock, in which the spectator shuffles the deck, so it was a routine that masked the method. I got an email from Tannen's this week saying that both of Pit's books are back in stock. Both are great, but In Order to Amaze is really, really good. I now have three tricks from this book in my regular repertoire.
14:05 looks like a beautiful book. Your show is inspiring to get started, but man I’m lazy. Lol. Maybe after I get back from Magifest. See you there in a few weeks.
I cant stress enough how much i love this channel. Not only because of the wealth of information it gives, instead it is life changing. I see most of the information and learning techniques you share here can be applied not only to Magic but to any area of study in general. You are Amazing * 100000 :) A quick question; I am just starting with memdeck. I have seen the other video about memdeck beginner guide. I am wondering what if i memorize stebbins? :) I understand the difficult to follow books that are written for mnemonica or Aronson stack but other than that does it makes any difference rather than also having an additional advantage of having a memdeck + cyclic stack features?
Thank you so much for the kind words. 🙏 As far as your question, you *could* memorize Si Stebbins, But you would then have the disadvantage of being unable to show the faces to your audience, and therefore would lose some options and tricks. If you are looking for a cyclical approach, there are other versions that bear more scrutiny.
Thanks for this timely review. Just two days ago I re-memorized the Tamariz stack but wasn't finding new things in his book I wanted to learn and develop (except for maybe Mnemonicosis...) So I've ordered this one directly from the author and look forward to working through it. As a teacher of mnemonics and a magician, it is interesting to me to try and inspire more magicians to see just how easy it is to commit a deck to memory. But... certain things I've seen and heard still discourage me from taking out ads in Genii just yet. I won't name any names, but at a convention a few years back, I asked a particular magician if he used mnemonics at all for his memdeck work. I got a long lecture about how rote learning is the only way and mnemonics are a waste of time, etc. I find this very sad, but not exclusive to magicians. It's in the language learning world a lot too. Part of the problem seems to me that people interpret the word "mnemonic" too specifically. Any memory technique is technically a mnemonic, including rote. In any case, we all know the magician who forgets participant names, and no one has to be that performer if they don't want to. And as far as I can tell, learning the Major System and developing it into what is called a 00-99 PAO is one of the best mental workouts out there. 52 of the 00-99 can readily go to a deck of cards, and be applied to a calendar so you remember your gigs and even has implications in language learning. Such as for when you want to perform in another language, which I have been very blessed to do. Secondly and finally, I feel from a decade of teaching and using memory techniques myself the biggest problem people have is that they choose vague, limp and thoroughly forgettable associations. If you base them on celebrities that you've spent dozens of hours with, people who are already animated and easy to mentally animate, it's usually pretty difficult to forget. Unless you let it lapse. Anyhow, to give a quick example anyone reading this will probably get a kick out of, the part with 8D and 5C is Max Maven and a dog I used to know named Lily. The logic here is that all numbered diamonds (except 10) are in the category of 30. 3 is M and 8 is for or V hence Maven. Having Max Maven who I've spent oodles of hours reading, watching and listening to interact with a dog I once knew in a Memory Palace based on a very familiar location is as memorable as it gets. Now, I know people get confused with why 10D is 40 all of a sudden and then feel that they need a system to remember the system. And this is why thinking of mnemonics a bit wider can be so useful. In any case, not all things are for everyone, but much more direct and simpler ways of using mnemonics do exist. Thanks again for the great review and can't wait for the book.
@@EruditeMagic If only I had good memory. It required lots of attention to get going and continual upkeep. Fortunately, the ongoing practice is endless pleasure, and all the more so with memdeck work in play.
This book sounds great! Just the concept of quartets I feel has lead me to a path that will make my Mem deck work better. All of a Kind being one of my favorites, it seems that will be useful, and one of the tricks in this book seems like a next level routine version of that one.
This book is fantastic. As someone who is fairly new to memorized deck this book has been very helpful to me. The Core is one of my favorite routines as well. But my favorite item has to be the "quartets" concept.
@@EruditeMagic Thanks! I have always been a hardcore sleight of hand person so naturally I was drawn to that idea since it’s mental gymnastics combined with difficult sleight of hand haha. I only wish I learned a stack earlier.
A witty, funny book full of incredible magic. Really a fantastic contribution from a real master. I spent at least two years on this book (I translated it into Italian with the title Preparati a stupire, which is almost as good as the original one), and cannot recommend it highly enough.
@@EruditeMagic Nowadays younger guys in Italy all speak and understand at least some English, but having a book in your own language is usually (but not always) better. I mentioned my contribution not to brag, but to say that I can speak with some competency about the content of the book, which is amazing per se. I love it!!!
Great video, great book! Do you have any suggestions for routines that put you into stack from a shuffled deck? I know Patrick Redford has Thought Master, and Euphoria by Adrian Guerra. Do you know any others off hand?
Good question! I have not studied it extensively, though it may be worth me doing some research. 🤔 The routines that come to mind are one by Ken Dyne (don't remember the name), and John Guastaferro's Either Or
Love your work. And I know you like the Cards. & TBH, what? 70 percent or more of all new publications and/or products is about pasteboard? But have you already, or is there a book out, how to make Card Trick Presentation interesting to the laymen? I know 6 plus years ago was a survey that said card tricks faded in memory unless there was something (like an object) connected to it. Anyway, just wondering. Thanks again. www.magicconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Survey.pdf
I believe the key is always to paint a picture. "Finding" someone's card can be less than memorable unless you make the whole process memorable. 🤷🏻 For example, in Sherlock, you are banishing the participant to another room or to the far corner of the room you are in. This is a picture people will remember. I've made a point to state that tearing a card also has a similar effect, in that it's not something normal people do with playing cards. The problem with most card tricks is the do not provide a memorable picture. However, this can be a problem with any type of magic. But as you say, ~70% of magic is done with playing cards, so it stands to reason that most of the forgettable magic would be with playing cards. Just my $0.02 😄
🔥Burning question (answer below): if you don't perform memorized deck (memdeck) magic, why not? 🤷♂
If you want to learn how, check out this video!📚 Get Started with MemDeck Magic ▶ ua-cam.com/video/lsOTcy7Led0/v-deo.html
Thanks for the video. The obvious answer to why I don't do memdeck material is because I haven't memorized a deck. As for why not, I'm not sure it's worth it for me when I'm not really performing. First, it's going to take a significant amount of time and effort just to memorize a deck. Second, I'd have to do work to maintain recall of the stack lest I lose memory of it. Without actively doing magic regularly, it's hard to want to put in that kind of time and effort. I keep considering it though, so maybe eventually I'll do it.
Thanks for answering the question, James. What would it take to push you over the edge to try? I don't feel it's as hard as people sometimes build it up in their mind to be 🤷🏻
@@EruditeMagic Well, I did make an initial attempt with The Memory Arts, but I never exactly finished, so my knowledge is incomplete and my recall is pretty shaky. I'm not sure what would motivate me to finish and fully learn a stack to the point of being able to use it. Time constraints are part of it, but I think wanting more to learn magic than do magic is part of it, too; I tend not to put a lot of time into practicing, but I enjoy learning how things are done.
A thoughtful and honest reply - thank you for sharing. I would point out that there's probably even more magic you can learn if you have memdeck work in your arsenal. 😉 Regardless of what you decide, I wish you the best of luck!
@@Dronak There's no reason to play with The Memory Arts or anything like that. How to memorise stuff like cards, numbers, names, words from a different language and so on is available for free and the method is fairly straightforward, it's just that memorising really fast on cue takes practice. Memorised deck magic is so strong that I think it's worth memorising a deck. It takes just a couple of hours combined, no big deal. And besides, being able to memorise numbers, names, words and a lot of other stuff is obviously extremely helpful and a great skill to have. I would encourage you to try it out.
I see that Tannen's Magic Shop in New York has "In Order to Amaze" in stock.
Hey, thanks for the hot tip, Ron! 😃👍
That's where I bought it from.
Same!
I have this book and haven’t visited in awhile. I will now revisit.
thanks 🥰
That's what I love to hear!! 🎶👂
Great review thanks.
Sherlock is a crazy trick, so good
It is great!
Somebody in the comments last week was asking what they should read after Card College. This strikes me as a great option.
If they're interested in memdeck work, absolutely!
I have a signed copy - but must pull it off my shelf and study it!
🙌 Now you're talking!! Let us know what you find 😃
This is a book that I highly recommend if you want to do stack work. I do the Core all the time. Heavyweights is one I've always intended to do, but haven't yet. I would normally think that counting cards would get a little repetitive, but the kicker ending is great.
He has a great discussion on this exact point about repetitive counting - great stuff, Jim!
My wife and I are going to a mystery weekend event in about a month. After watching your review, I was reminded that there a routine in this book called Sherlock...perfect! Last time we did one of these weekends, I ended up doing an impromptu show. Now I have one on theme! Time to start practicing...
I get excited reading comments like this! Enjoy, and I'm so glad I was able to remind you of a trick you like 👍
@@EruditeMagic Follow up: The mystery weekend is ending now. I performed Sherlock for the guy that runs them, as he is very familiar with the quote that the trick is based on. He tried to trick me by picking two cards and I got them both. He typically acts unimpressed, but his brain was fried. He gave us 30,000 points for it (points are mostly meaningless and handed out arbitrarily, but it's the most ice been paid for magic as a non-professional).
🙌 Way to go, and thank you for sharing this exceptional follow-up!! 👏
Love your in-depth reviews. Keep up the good work. ❤
Thanks, Bennie! 💙
I’ve been eyeing this for awhile now, great review!
Woohoo 🎉! Hope you enjoy it - thanks for watching 👍
Thank you very much for the review. It just may have sparked interest in an area I've not really delved into much as of yet.
Love to hear it, Carter! 😃 Keep us posted on your advances in this area 👍
I performed The Heavyweight for the first time this week and it killed. I did it right after Sherlock, in which the spectator shuffles the deck, so it was a routine that masked the method.
I got an email from Tannen's this week saying that both of Pit's books are back in stock. Both are great, but In Order to Amaze is really, really good. I now have three tricks from this book in my regular repertoire.
Love hearing these stories, Jim! Thanks for sharing 👍
Really good exciting review.Well done Jeff 👏.Thanks.
Thanks, Kalvin! Hope you end up benefitting from its contents 👍
14:05 looks like a beautiful book. Your show is inspiring to get started, but man I’m lazy. Lol. Maybe after I get back from Magifest. See you there in a few weeks.
I challenge you to have 10 cards memorized by the time I see you in a few weeks! 😄 (Don't think I won't ask!!)
@@EruditeMagic that’s not fair! I’ll start messing with it. You have a mean streak! Lol
Ha! No mean streak (no consequences if you don't want to do it!) 😄
I cant stress enough how much i love this channel. Not only because of the wealth of information it gives, instead it is life changing. I see most of the information and learning techniques you share here can be applied not only to Magic but to any area of study in general.
You are Amazing * 100000 :)
A quick question; I am just starting with memdeck. I have seen the other video about memdeck beginner guide. I am wondering what if i memorize stebbins? :) I understand the difficult to follow books that are written for mnemonica or Aronson stack but other than that does it makes any difference rather than also having an additional advantage of having a memdeck + cyclic stack features?
Thank you so much for the kind words. 🙏
As far as your question, you *could* memorize Si Stebbins, But you would then have the disadvantage of being unable to show the faces to your audience, and therefore would lose some options and tricks.
If you are looking for a cyclical approach, there are other versions that bear more scrutiny.
Card fictions is back, only available directly from Pit!!!
Yes, he has had several printings - glad to hear it's back in print!
Thanks for this timely review. Just two days ago I re-memorized the Tamariz stack but wasn't finding new things in his book I wanted to learn and develop (except for maybe Mnemonicosis...) So I've ordered this one directly from the author and look forward to working through it.
As a teacher of mnemonics and a magician, it is interesting to me to try and inspire more magicians to see just how easy it is to commit a deck to memory. But... certain things I've seen and heard still discourage me from taking out ads in Genii just yet.
I won't name any names, but at a convention a few years back, I asked a particular magician if he used mnemonics at all for his memdeck work. I got a long lecture about how rote learning is the only way and mnemonics are a waste of time, etc.
I find this very sad, but not exclusive to magicians. It's in the language learning world a lot too.
Part of the problem seems to me that people interpret the word "mnemonic" too specifically. Any memory technique is technically a mnemonic, including rote.
In any case, we all know the magician who forgets participant names, and no one has to be that performer if they don't want to.
And as far as I can tell, learning the Major System and developing it into what is called a 00-99 PAO is one of the best mental workouts out there. 52 of the 00-99 can readily go to a deck of cards, and be applied to a calendar so you remember your gigs and even has implications in language learning. Such as for when you want to perform in another language, which I have been very blessed to do.
Secondly and finally, I feel from a decade of teaching and using memory techniques myself the biggest problem people have is that they choose vague, limp and thoroughly forgettable associations. If you base them on celebrities that you've spent dozens of hours with, people who are already animated and easy to mentally animate, it's usually pretty difficult to forget. Unless you let it lapse.
Anyhow, to give a quick example anyone reading this will probably get a kick out of, the part with 8D and 5C is Max Maven and a dog I used to know named Lily. The logic here is that all numbered diamonds (except 10) are in the category of 30. 3 is M and 8 is for or V hence Maven. Having Max Maven who I've spent oodles of hours reading, watching and listening to interact with a dog I once knew in a Memory Palace based on a very familiar location is as memorable as it gets.
Now, I know people get confused with why 10D is 40 all of a sudden and then feel that they need a system to remember the system. And this is why thinking of mnemonics a bit wider can be so useful. In any case, not all things are for everyone, but much more direct and simpler ways of using mnemonics do exist.
Thanks again for the great review and can't wait for the book.
Thanks for the thorough response and for sharing part of your story. I'm always impressed with people who have a good memory!
@@EruditeMagic If only I had good memory. It required lots of attention to get going and continual upkeep. Fortunately, the ongoing practice is endless pleasure, and all the more so with memdeck work in play.
🙌
This book sounds great! Just the concept of quartets I feel has lead me to a path that will make my Mem deck work better. All of a Kind being one of my favorites, it seems that will be useful, and one of the tricks in this book seems like a next level routine version of that one.
Very cool! I hope you get to check it out 👍
This book is fantastic. As someone who is fairly new to memorized deck this book has been very helpful to me. The Core is one of my favorite routines as well. But my favorite item has to be the "quartets" concept.
Quartet is quite advanced for a beginner - kudos to you! 👏
@@EruditeMagic Thanks! I have always been a hardcore sleight of hand person so naturally I was drawn to that idea since it’s mental gymnastics combined with difficult sleight of hand haha. I only wish I learned a stack earlier.
😄👌 love it!
A witty, funny book full of incredible magic. Really a fantastic contribution from a real master. I spent at least two years on this book (I translated it into Italian with the title Preparati a stupire, which is almost as good as the original one), and cannot recommend it highly enough.
Indeed - it's a great book, and I'm glad the Italians can now access it thanks to your work!
@@EruditeMagic Nowadays younger guys in Italy all speak and understand at least some English, but having a book in your own language is usually (but not always) better. I mentioned my contribution not to brag, but to say that I can speak with some competency about the content of the book, which is amazing per se. I love it!!!
Great video, great book! Do you have any suggestions for routines that put you into stack from a shuffled deck? I know Patrick Redford has Thought Master, and Euphoria by Adrian Guerra. Do you know any others off hand?
Good question! I have not studied it extensively, though it may be worth me doing some research. 🤔 The routines that come to mind are one by Ken Dyne (don't remember the name), and John Guastaferro's Either Or
@@EruditeMagic ok thanks!
Really nice book and an awesome review 😊👍😊👍😊
Thanks, Robert! 👍
It would be great to see you do a review on the Roy Walton books!
I would love to do that, but alas and alack, I don't own them! 😱
Can I do these tricks with Doug dyments stacks ?
thank you! is the book teaches his penn and teller routine?
I saw the Penn & Teller routine quite a while ago, but I don't believe it's taught here.
no. no penn and teller routine
Thanks for clarifying, Simone!
Love your work. And I know you like the Cards. & TBH, what? 70 percent or more of all new publications and/or products is about pasteboard? But have you already, or is there a book out, how to make Card Trick Presentation interesting to the laymen? I know 6 plus years ago was a survey that said card tricks faded in memory unless there was something (like an object) connected to it. Anyway, just wondering. Thanks again. www.magicconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Survey.pdf
I believe the key is always to paint a picture. "Finding" someone's card can be less than memorable unless you make the whole process memorable. 🤷🏻
For example, in Sherlock, you are banishing the participant to another room or to the far corner of the room you are in. This is a picture people will remember.
I've made a point to state that tearing a card also has a similar effect, in that it's not something normal people do with playing cards. The problem with most card tricks is the do not provide a memorable picture. However, this can be a problem with any type of magic. But as you say, ~70% of magic is done with playing cards, so it stands to reason that most of the forgettable magic would be with playing cards. Just my $0.02 😄