I'm spending tonight and many days and evenings ahead in learning what I can from Mr. Colombini and apply it to my own routining. I bought the new Ganson book from L&L and a nice chapter/booklet of this Magician's routine is in it. At first scan through it I am greatly impressed and humbled by this man's work.

Does anyone here have further insights on this routine? I noticed that he starts with 5 balls loaded into various of the cups when stacked and in the travel bag. It seems a bit reminiscent of Ron Bauer's booklet that was published by RNT II some time ago.

One other question: I was told by BCS that he really likes the Mark Wilson C&B routine and bases his own performance of C&Bs is based on it. Is this the same as in his general Magic book/course, or is it in the title that seems just to be about C&Bs that I've seen advertised for sale at several different sources?  I'll gladly buy this other Mark Wilson book if that is where I find more material on his personal C&B routine. I'd really like a bit of guidance before I just go out and buy a book and hope it will be appropriate.

I've wound up with too many books that contain mostly card tricks in my search for instruction. I don't dislike card Magic, I just don't feel a great interest in learning and performing it. Most of my audience only recognize cards as something they see used on television poker fests. Cards man almost nothing to them (kids).

Now I've finally learned to ask the more educated in the Magic Arts for their opinions on the available instructional literature instead of just buying things that may seem interesting from the sales pitches. At least I have finally learned that!  )

Oh, before I forget, is there any literature extant that covers C&B "Combo" sets? I can find nothing and have to make up my own routines for my little 3 cup all chopped set. That's fun, but I'd sure like some serious instruction on this C&B sub-genre with at least one cup that is chopped.

I know, lots of questions, but I have a great desire to learn and few precious years left to cram into my head, everything I can learn about Magic.

There's a moment of silent ecstasy when we have worked real hard at a routine and know that we can "Fool" the heck out of our spectators and just keep doing it. I think that is a well kept secret about Magic that is seldom talked about. I am beginning to experience that with a few of the things I do and it is glorious to be able to run with a routine and know that you are safely in control as you take it to completion and beyond. It's almost a naughty feeling. I'm sure many of you know of what I speak. I don't know how else to describe it.   )


dsalley13

PS: That new L&L published Ganson book is amazing! I feel that every penny I spent on it was worth it....about 10X or more!

I considered the Ganson book but I have 90% of the material in it in it's original format bought back in the day from Supreme.  I'm glad you are enjoying it, it makes a change to hear someone saying "What's old?" rather than "What's new?"

I think Bruce uses Mark Wilson's Multiplication routine with the chop cup, perhaps that's what you mean?

Bri

Hey Bri… You are right, the go to is the CC routine from Mark Wilson’s book, however the C&B routine I have been doing the longest is from MW Encyclopedia of Magic… I am still working at the Vernon routine and the Johnny Paul rotine.


Since my mouth operations the medicines really wipe me out by the end of the day... my kids make fun of me being an old man going to bed at 8:30PM. So I admit, I have not been practicing all that much as of late. Brandon wants me to meet up with his magic friends, so I want to get back to being competent so I don’t embarrass myself.


Bruce

dsalley13,

John Mendoza has released his work on combo cups.

Tom,

Would you please provide me with a link to where I can obtain that info? I used Google and all it provided were cups made using his name for "Combo-Cups" sets, not info.

Thanks,

dsalley13

It's not an encyclopedic study of combo sets, but rather a teaching of his particular routine. You can find it here:

http://www.llpub.com/zenshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=27&products_id=2352

and here:

http://www.llpub.com/zenshop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=27&products_id=2591

Arrrrgggghhhh!!!!!!!!!!! DVDs! I hate DVDs. I never buy them unless forced to do so. I much prefer books. For this, I will make an exception and order both items you suggest.

Thank you for the link. I will at least find out how the combo sets are to be used. My own combo set is all 3 cups chopped. A bit overboard perhaps, but i see great potential in their use. It's been fun to learning to use them, but I have to rely on my own wits to do so. It sure will be nice to gain a bit of instruction, even if it's provided for the "Visual Only", usually younger generation. I never have understood that. Most Magic books have pictures/drawings, etc. That seems "Visual" enough for me.

I do thank you very much for your guidance. I'm old-school enough (on many levels) to wish that all DVDs would disappear and book publishing come back to it's rightful place at the helm of Magical instruction. I do like performance DVDs though. Then it's just a movie to study and watch, not try to learn to perform with myself.

Please don't take my personal feelings of DVD instructional disks as criticism of you or in any way indicative of your favorite way to learn. I appreciate very  much your helping me.


dsalley13

Dsalley13… try here for a book version of the Mendoza routine http://www.morrisseymagic.com/morrissey_books4.htm?zoom_highlight=cups+and+balls+mendoza , also RNT2 use to have a booklet, maybe you can find a used copy of it.

Good luck,
Bruce

Bruce,

Morissey has some great booklets. I have always loved those. They're small enough to take with you anywhere and lay flat for learning. I see a few on your link that aren't about Cs&Bs,but I would like to have anyway.

They are currently out of the booklet you recommended, so I sourced it on Amazon.com and just now finished the transaction. It's on it's way to me now.

Thank you!

If anyone else has any recommendations, I would appreciate them greatly. I also need the web  links to used Magic books sellers. I went to the only one I know, H&R Books, but they didn't have this booklet by Mendoza. I'd like to find all I can to learn from. I'll repay your kindness in helping me by making you all proud some day (I hope!!"


What I have so far:

The RNT II booklet by Ron Bauer, Ammar's big  C&B book, the complete works of Eddie Joseph in his "Advanced Lessons in Cups and Balls" (Thanks to Sean Dale!), Larry Jennings' "Single Cup and Balls" routine (I had to print that one out from a .pdf file). Dennis Loomis' C&B Routine booklet, Don Alan's Chop Cup book, Morrisey's Chop Cup book, and another Larry Jennings piece that was in an old issue of Genii, that shows the original Al Wheatley(sp?) Chop-Chop cup routine, and probably 1 or 2 others. I've learned a lot from each and that is what I have been using to get to my own routining.

I've been writing my first scripts. They are usually far too long, but I think that's why we write them down, to be able to pare them down to a real working routine and avoid redundancies. I find this part the hardest. I also made a little flow chart to keep my self on track as I practice. That has been a great help.

With my small, but growing skill set and library, I am making progress. That's a delightful thing to see in your own work. It can also show you how far you really have to go before becoming proficient. I'm still fairly slow, but trying harder each time I run a routine to deliver it more smoothly. I perform very truncated routines at my volunteer job, but every moment spent doing it for an audience seems to help.

Thanks go out to all of you. Your eagerness to help in getting me there and attaining my goals in C&B Magic, has been fantastic! Old dogs can learn new tricks. I am proof of that.

I always used to laugh at C&B as a kid. The little plastic cups and the ridiculous tiny white pom-pom balls that came in my first Magic set (a hand-me-down from my brother, when I was 8 years old). I never saw anybody perform the Cs&Bs as a kid. I barely remember it from Mark and Nani Wilson's TV show. No one did a C&B act on Ed Sullivan's show and I never saw one of those school touring Magician's, that were popular in the late 50's and 60's, perform the Cs&Bs either.

Thanks,

dsalley13

If you can find a copy of Michael Ammar's book The Complete Cups and Balls, you will have one of the best books on the subject. Also, Frank Garcia's book is very good.

Bill,


I have the Ammar book, I just forgot to mention it.

I know I will never have all the books on Cs & Bs, but I am trying to get the best of the best. Thank all of you for your suggestions.

dsalley13