New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby naquada » October 14th, 2009, 7:40 am

enjoyed the chat with David Berglas very much.. i'd urge everyone to listen to anything David ever says.. his words, however informal or conversational are always full of gems and enlightened thinking.. and theres some really great comments in the podcast!!
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Jack C » October 14th, 2009, 3:05 pm

Richard do you have a rough idea on the number of pages

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » October 14th, 2009, 3:59 pm

Not yet. But it's not going to be a booklet. Should be at least 200 pages.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Matthew Field » October 15th, 2009, 5:46 am

It has been one of the great pleasures in my life to get to know David Berglas since moving from New Yawk to England. He is a gentleman and knows more about magic than almost anyone else on earth.

I know how hard Richard has worked on this book, and I am really looking forward to it. I know a thing or two about cards and David has fooled me badly on more than one occasion with his card effects.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Joe Mckay » October 15th, 2009, 4:28 pm

Can't wait for next Summer. The World Cup and the Berglas book!

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Jonathan Townsend » October 15th, 2009, 5:56 pm

Lecture tour?
Mundus vult decipi -per Caleb Carr's story Killing Time

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » October 15th, 2009, 6:40 pm

David will not be doing a lecture tour.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Scott M. » October 17th, 2009, 1:25 pm

Just listened to Berglas's interview on The Magic Newswire. Excellent thoughts, memories and comments, and at the end he discusses for just a short bit the book. The interview really got me looking forward to this.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Nathan Muir » October 23rd, 2009, 5:56 am

Steve Cohen wrote:You're right, Richard. Berglas handles cards in a way I've not seen before. His think-a-card routines are terribly baffling. He and I spent several memorable late-night sessions, and I've concluded that there is no end to this man's genius.


Indeed. I have also concluded the same after several late night sessions.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Mark.Lewis » October 24th, 2009, 12:00 am

David Berglas once spent an evening teaching me magic when I was about 16 or 17 years old. I am not quite sure he has recovered from the shame of it.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Matt Colman » November 6th, 2009, 8:08 pm

Sincerely look forward to this Mr Kaufman.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Michel Asselin » December 2nd, 2009, 6:51 pm

Looking foward to it; but I do hope that the approach is a little more rigourous than what was in the Britland tome.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » December 2nd, 2009, 8:16 pm

David Britland had the extremely difficult task of encompassing Berglas's entire career in one book. An almost impossible task, yet he succeeded admirably.

Britland's card section is not that long, but the language is very dense and rich.

I have the luxury of an entire book to devote to the card magic and David Berglas's manner of working is antithetical to the type of nuts and bolts descriptions I normally write. However, I have discovered a way that suits us. It makes you aware of the dynamism and free flow of the card work, but also gives you the nuts and bolts to go down that road. Once you're on the road, you have to just start doing the material and learning it yourself.

I'll be giving you all the tools and teaching you how to use them, but you'll have to build your own boat. You'll understand when you read the book.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Mark.Lewis » December 2nd, 2009, 9:24 pm

David himself wrote a great little book years ago. I forget what the hell it was called. It seems to have vanished into oblivion which is a shame. Very slick paper and well printed.

All I remember about the old Berglas book was very good illustrations and he also explained how you tie a knot in a tie with one hand. The other thing that was quite amusing was a stunt he recommended when a group in an audience were not paying attention to you. You flip a ball of flaming flash paper over their head and when they look back at you look terribly innocent and the audience laughs.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Jim Martin » December 2nd, 2009, 9:44 pm

'The David Berglas File No. 1: Professional Magic for Magicians' (1976) has those items and several more.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Mark.Lewis » December 2nd, 2009, 10:00 pm

That's the one. It was very good and well produced. I don't think it made it to File number two.Shame.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby NCMarsh » December 2nd, 2009, 10:25 pm

What are the chances of David publishing his cigarette routine? I was surprised to see it not make the Britland book...

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » December 2nd, 2009, 11:28 pm

David gave me his cigarette routine for the Genii issue, but we ran long and I couldn't include it. It won't fit in this book, because it's entirely devoted to card magic. I may publish it in Genii at some point.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Mark.Lewis » December 3rd, 2009, 12:01 am

I can actually do David's cigarette trick. In my opinion it is his greatest trick. Far better than that silly card and number thing that magicians rave about for some unknown reason. It is just another card trick after all.

I saw David do it in a very large theatre in London. It was the Victoria Palace. Yep. A small tricks with cigarettes could be seen in the largest theatre. Skilled lighting was used and it worked well. I even remember bits of the patter and it was nearly 50 years ago. He said "If I rub my hand once a cigarette appears. (and it did) If I rub my hand twice two cigarettes appear" (and they did) It was an absolute masterpiece and Ken Brooke told me that it was the trick that made David famous on British television. He did it with his sleeves rolled up.

Many years later he did it again on British TV but it was a pale shadow of its former self. I got the impression that he hadn't done it for years. I know he is known as a mentalist but I always preferred his magic and pickpocketing. He did have some wonderful blindfold work and a some of his mentalism was fine but there were occasions he got a bit too complicated with it and that can lead to boredom.

I once was booked at a regular gig in Ireland to do children's shows. The same kids were there week after week so I eventually ran out of material. So in desperation I decided to do the cigarette trick even though cigarette tricks are a no-no to perform for children. To my amazement the reaction was fantastic. The kids kept laughing and gasping when all the cigarettes appeared one at a time.

I am now inclined to do the trick with miniture magic wands instead when I do the item for children.

It really is a wonderful trick.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby NCMarsh » December 3rd, 2009, 3:29 am

Appreciate the info., Richard and Mark.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Joe Mckay » December 3rd, 2009, 11:11 am

I am insanely excited about this book. Only a third volume of 'The Complete Walton' would excite me more! So - I was wondering, Richard, if you are pretty confident that the book will be ready by the Summer? Alot of books in magic get mentioned and then kicked into the long grass for years on end. I really hope that doesn't happen this time!

I just dunno' what to make of this book. Is there any chance of any peek details? It all seems very mysterious at the moment...

All the best,

Joe

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » December 3rd, 2009, 12:29 pm

And mysterious it shall remain.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Justin Wheatley » December 14th, 2009, 5:18 pm

Oh lordy lordy

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » December 14th, 2009, 6:53 pm

I spoke to David on the phone for an hour today, talking over details for various parts of the book.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Mark.Lewis » December 14th, 2009, 7:04 pm

He is mentioned in my book too. That should put him in a bad mood. I don't suppose he wants to be associated with the devil. In my meanderings I mention how I found out that he worked in a strip club a week before I did. I remember being quite surprised that a person of his stature would consent to working there. It seems that he was a pal of the owner.

No. Neither of us were doing a strip act I hasten to add.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Mentalism » January 4th, 2010, 11:09 am

Is in this book also a description of his ACAAN Version?

Thanks

Markus

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 4th, 2010, 11:18 am

David performs different versions of Any Card At Any Number--some of which are "The Berglas Effect" and some not. The methods vary depending upon whether he's onstage, closeup, working for one person or multiple people, the exact circumstance, and every other variable you can think of.

His methods are not some simple "secret" or "answer" that you can buy and go off and do the way you would a paddle trick or even a Center Tear.

There will be several methods in the book, but if you think that you can just read any of the methods and then run out and do them within a day, or even a few weeks, you're mistaken.

There is no gimmicked deck, no one secret, and everyone who reads the book starts with the disadvantage that they are not David Berglas.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Mark.Lewis » January 5th, 2010, 8:43 am

He showed me that card at any number trick. He seemed disappointed that I just shrugged my shoulders and didn't get excited. It seems like a good card trick but there are many good card tricks. I am still not sure why I am supposed to froth at the mouth over it. His banging on the wall to make the light come on is far better.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby DrDanny » January 5th, 2010, 1:27 pm

Thanks for mentioning that, Mark. I've often thought ACAAN is an underwhelming concept, of interest probably only to very analytical individuals (e.g. magicians). Without some thought about how "impossible" it is/was, it's just a location. Don't get me wrong: I am one of those analytical people, and I'd love to see someone do it justice in person. But I'd suspect the average paying customer would be more impressed by a good Invisible Deck presentation, to pick just one example.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 5th, 2010, 1:38 pm

Mark speaks from experience, even though I disagree with him.
DrDanny speaks from inexperience (apparently).
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby DrDanny » January 5th, 2010, 3:41 pm

I freely admit, I've never seen anyone do ACAAN, either poorly or well. I'd love to be proven wrong by seeing a lay audience go bonkers for it. Until then, I'll continue to think of it as an academic exercise.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » January 5th, 2010, 6:54 pm

You do that. The fact that it's been a staple of David Berglas's performances for the public for many decades should have no influence at all on your thinking.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Mark.Lewis » January 5th, 2010, 7:42 pm

I am quite sure, as I have said, that it is a good trick. I am sure that laymen would quite like it. But yet I also think that Dr Danny is right. I bet they would like the invisible deck just as much, or even better.

Of course I am a notorious non-reactor to magic. Very few magicians impress me and even fewer tricks. I think the reason that magicians like the Card at any Number thing is that they are puzzled by it and don't know how it is done. I also don't know how it is done. The difference is that I don't care how it is done.

I just don't get excited about watching tricks. Quite frankly magic bores the crap out of me unless I am doing it myself.

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Jonathan Townsend » January 6th, 2010, 7:48 am

i'm sure we'll have a chance to see YouTube commentary and performances of both tricks done side by side soon enough.

Imagine a cartoon character doing both tricks. which one impreses the most?
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Ben the Magician » February 24th, 2010, 5:49 pm

Richard,

Any idea how limited the book will be?

How will we get it?


Thanks,


-Ben

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 24th, 2010, 6:34 pm

You'll probably see advertisements both here and in Genii by the end of the year. Regular edition will not be limited. Deluxe edition will be,
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Joe Mckay » February 24th, 2010, 7:12 pm

By the end of the year? Does that mean a summer release is out of the question? I was hoping to combine the Berglas book with the World Cup!

Can't wait for the book (and the World Cup!)

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Ben the Magician » February 24th, 2010, 7:27 pm

Regular edition will not be limited? Oh my. I'm a little bit worried as to how common knowledge these wonderful secrets will be.



Oh well, I'm still exited.

Sounds like it is coming a bit later than originally expected.


Keep us updated. Thanks.


-Ben

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Jonathan Townsend » February 24th, 2010, 8:34 pm

...I'm a little bit worried as to how common knowledge these wonderful secrets will be....


And for that reason we should also ask that schools stop teaching folks to read, right?

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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Bill Mullins » February 24th, 2010, 9:16 pm

Jonathan Townsend wrote:
...I'm a little bit worried as to how common knowledge these wonderful secrets will be....


And for that reason we should also ask that schools stop teaching folks to read, right?


No, Jon, we shouldn't ask that schools stop teaching folks to read.


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