New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

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Joe Mckay
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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!)

Joe

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

Postby Larry Horowitz » February 25th, 2010, 1:41 am

History has shown that the safest place for a magic secret is in a book.

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

Postby Ben the Magician » February 25th, 2010, 3:52 pm

That is a good point Larry.
People most often look for answers on DVD or videos or online.

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

Postby Jonathan Townsend » February 25th, 2010, 4:08 pm

Larry Horowitz wrote:History has shown that the safest place for a magic secret is in a book.


History as in written in books?

Or history as seen by the consensus as seen on YouTube?
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 » February 25th, 2010, 5:55 pm

Jonathan, you know exactly what Larry means.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Ben the Magician » February 26th, 2010, 11:20 pm

Richard,

On a side note,

I recall reading a while back on here an interview you did with Berglas. Is that still available anywhere on here?

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

Postby Richard Kaufman » February 27th, 2010, 4:15 am

Ben,
You can buy the back issue from us for $6.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby magicam » March 13th, 2010, 7:02 pm

Ben the Magician wrote:Regular edition will not be limited? ...

Ben, if it's any consolation, there's never been a physical book published in the history of mankind that wasn't limited in the number of copies printed.

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

Postby Richard Kaufman » March 13th, 2010, 10:07 pm

The regular edition will not be limited.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Manuel García » May 26th, 2010, 9:42 am

Richard, is your book going to includ the method's used by Berglas to perform his ACAAN effect?

When you say that we (refering to the lectors of the book) are not David Berglas, do you mean that we won't be able to perform this masterpiece as David used to?

One last question, what is your favourite method available to perform the ACAAN effect?

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

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 26th, 2010, 10:33 am

David still does the effect.

Will other people be able to do it? I imagine so, but it's not easy.

As far as I'm concerned, there is only one method for "The Berglas Effect," which is David's method. There are a million ways to do "Any Card at Any Number."
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby James Cotton » May 26th, 2010, 12:02 pm

What a wealth of magical riches this year. First Ben Harris has a new release and now this!

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

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 26th, 2010, 12:28 pm

Is that supposed to be a joke?
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Joneseymagic » May 26th, 2010, 8:36 pm

David is a brilliant perfomer and (more importantly) a wonderful person. I'm really looking forward to the book. Can you give us an estimated date of publication?

I'm intrigued by your comment "there is only one method for "The Berglas Effect," which is David's method. There are a million ways to do "Any Card at Any Number."

In what way do you think that "The Berglas Effect" is different from "Any Card at Any Number". What makes "The Berglas Effect" unique?

You also say that "there is only one method for the "Berglas Effect", which is David's method". This is really intriguing! I always thought that there were many methods according to the performing conditions. Are you suggesting that there is a definitive "core" method?

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

Postby Richard Kaufman » May 26th, 2010, 9:13 pm

In my opinion there is only one GOOD method for "The Berglas Effect"--David's method. In a sense, there is no "Berglas Effect" without Berglas himself.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Ben the Magician » June 9th, 2010, 1:59 pm

I was just thinking about this book again, so I came onto the forum.

Richard, you've made it clear that it will take a while to be ready to properly perform the effect. Will the book provide sufficient detailing on how to do it? Is it something we will need to research a lot for outside of the book, or does the book provide enough that with time and practice, we will be able to pull off the effect?

Thank you,

-Benjamin

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

Postby Richard Kaufman » June 9th, 2010, 2:58 pm

The chapter on The Berglas Effect in the new book is 22,000 words ... I think that if you work like hell you'll be able to learn it. It's not easy, to say the least.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby Ben the Magician » June 14th, 2010, 7:50 pm

Now that it is the summer of this year, when might we expect this book to be available?

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

Postby Richard Kaufman » June 14th, 2010, 8:10 pm

Working toward a release at the end of this year.
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Re: New Book Coming on the Card Magic of David Berglas

Postby John M. Dale » June 15th, 2010, 12:54 am

When does the "Pre-Pub" Sale begin? My Credit Card is ready.

JMD

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

Postby Richard Kaufman » June 15th, 2010, 10:05 am

Can't start selling the book until I know exactly how much it's going to cost, and can't figure that out until it's laid out and the DVDs are edited.
October at the earliest.
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