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Coin Magic
This class will go over coin sleights and manipulations. It may also cover how to handle gimmick coins and different ways of presenting coin tricks for inspection. Specific tricks will be covered as well. New comers will start with the basics and practice with the help of a magician.
Materials Needed: 5 coins (quarters for small hands, half-dollars
for larger hands)Ages Preferred: 10 and up
Sponge Ball Magic
Sponge balls have a lot of possibilities! Manipulation and presentation of sponges will be covered. Beginners will be taught basic sleights and will be given time to practice with the help of a magician.
Materials Needed: 4 Super Soft Sponge Balls
Ages Preferred: 10 and up
Card Magic
Possibly the largest branch of magic. For beginners, we will start with some basic sleights. I suggest bringing a paper and pen for notes and your own deck of cards (the newer the better). We'll be covering quite a bit. These are not tricks that are exposed on television. Professional sleights and tricks will be covered along with some practice time.
Materials Needed: deck of cards
Ages Preferred: 10 and up
In order to make sure you get the information you need, here are some links below. Just click on the buttons to view the information.
Answers who, what, when, where, and cost.
Fill out a form and schedule a class!
Tells you about the person teaching the class.
Lists the types of magic classes available.
Lists the benefits of learning the art of magic.
Don't know what to sign up for? Here's what I suggest...
By appointment. Call:
719-351-2478
or fill out the form below by clicking here.
When?
Where?
For now, it will be held in the Blackthorn Magic shop located in the Citadel Mall (Lower level of the food court in front of the escalators beside Cyberstation).
After the store closes starting February 1, 2010, I will be holding the classes anywhere you would like to meet, including your home if you prefer.
Cost?
1st class= $15.00/ per student
Every class after the 1st = $30.00 per student
Parents of minors are welcome to sit in for free.
Who?
Ages 10 and up preferred. I can teach younger kids and I do have a class where they learn simple tricks with everyday objects.
Students must understand that the magic I teach is just illusion. (I avoid saying, "not real" because what you see as magic is a real illusion. Reality is a matter of perspective.)
Practice is a MUST for the classes to be effective.
What?
Every class is one hour long.
Papers are handed out to help the student review and practice what is taught.
Students practice each move or trick taught with the instructor during class.
Copyright (c) 2009 Blackthorn Magic. All Rights Reserved.
Call us: 719-351-2478
Mail: 6565 White Water Ln., Colorado Springs, CO 80911
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Bret Blackthorn
Instructor
Born: Indianapolis, IN, 1978
Education Level: Bachelors of Science
Previous Job: High School chemistry & biology
teacher (6 years experience)Experience in magic: 13 years with equal experience in close-up and stage
Largest audience: approximately 500
Cups and Balls
What? A class on this subject? That's right. This old trick has unlimited possibilities. Some of the top performers today use clear cups! Considered the oldest magic trick, magicians where once judged on how creative they were with their own cups and balls routine. There are routines without manipulation and many more routines possible with manipulation. Beginners will start out with the basic, no manipulation routine. Afterwards, basic manipulation moves will be covered.
Materials Needed: 3 identical cups, 4 identical balls, a wand
Ages Preferred: 10 and up
Everyday Objects
Didn't bring much with you? Bored at the office? Here are some simple tricks you can do when you have nothing special with you like sponge balls or cups and balls.
Materials Needed: skinny, tan rubber bands; coinage; toothpicks, etc.
Ages Preferred: 5 and up
Benefits? What the heck?
When you perform magic, you are performing for other people. Magic is only gratifying when you have someone to show. Most close-up tricks require you to give people instructions on what to do for the trick to work. Therefore, magic helps with the following skills:
- public speaking (speaking to strangers or small groups)
- communication (verbal and non-verbal)
- giving instructions
- If you're shy... this might get you out of your shell!
Not all tricks are taught on video and are learned by reading. Many tricks require practice. There is a rule in magic that the trick is 10% of the entertainment. Presentation is 90% of the entertainment. What you say and how you say it can make or break a trick (communication is seen again and we're not talking about texting). Given these circumstances, here are a few more benefits to practicing magic:
- following written instructions (when learning a trick, this is great practice for school homework and science labs)
- improving motor skills (practicing the slight of hand tricks or just working out the rough spots of a routine)
- increasing imagination (how do you make the trick more interesting? How do you tie 2 or more tricks together?)
Just by doing a trick or routine (a routine is several tricks performed together) over and over, people naturally get better at it. Suddenly showing other people what you can do becomes a piece of cake. By this time, your friends will ask occasionally for you to do more. At this point, some people get tired of it or others find it as a drive to learn more. Maybe you'll stop for a while and pick it back up later. Here are a few other benefits to magic given these circumstances:
- Self confidence (once you've performed something enough times, showing a stranger becomes easier because you know you're good)
- Keeping busy with a hobby (if you find you like it, maybe you can earn a few bucks one day a week at a restaurant... It only takes a few tricks!)
What do I sign up for?
If you've never done magic before, you should start out small. Cards will only cost you a couple of dollars. Coins you can find, ... well, you know where to find coins. There are easy tricks with each that require little to no slight of hand. I must admit, there is no better feeling when someone accuses you of using gimmicks and you're able to hand them the deck of cards or coins for examination!
No slight of hand please!
- Card classes - just let me know you would like to learn key-card effects. You're still using a regular deck, but almost no skill is required. Many tricks require the deck to be set up before hand.
- Cups and Balls - you can make your own set at first. If you like it, you may want to buy a set made for performing. Carrying them is not as easy as cards, coins, or sponges, unless you get a small set.
- Everyday Objects - when you're on the go and don't want to carry anything with you. You don't have to buy much if anything. However, you can be limited to your environment. If there are no rubber bands and you need them, you can't do that trick.
I don't mind practice.
- Card classes - Slight of hand opens a whole world of possibilities to card tricks. If you don't mind playing 52 card pick-up, this might be for you!
- Coin classes - Everyone knows about money! Coins tend to be easier to carry. Timing is everything when making a coin vanish. That's where most of the practice comes into play.
- Sponge Balls - A classic and basic of magic... The nice thing about this is the magic happens in the spectator's hands! Same as coins, timing is everything. For some, sponges are easier to handle than coins, but many of the moves are the same.
- Cups and Balls - Another classic of magic! Once you add slight of hand to this trick, much like cards, a whole encyclopedia of tricks become open to you. Wands become common with this trick (sometimes I use a marker instead). Misdirection is critical and that is what involves the most practice.
- Everyday Objects - Yep, even everyday objects can require slight of hand. As with coins and sponges, many of the moves are going to be the same.
Fill out the form below to sign up for a class. Please choose at least 2 dates for the class just incase I am busy on the day you want.
Any personal information is only for use by Blackthorn Magic and will not be shared with third-parties.
Choose the class that you are most interested in by clicking on the circle to the right. You may call and ask for a second subject. (The class may be split between the two topics.)
Choose two dates and times that you can meet for a class. Put your most desired first. I will e-mail you and let you know which date I can meet with you.
Reminders:
- First class is $15. Every class after the first is $30.
- Each class is an hour long.
- Classes are held where you would like them... even in your own home!
- You may want to plan for more than an hour.
- Parents of minors are welcome to sit in the class for free.
- You may pay at the time of the class. Cash or check (with current ID) can be accepted.
I have read this online application and understand the cost involved and what is being offered. I also understand that without practice, the classes offered will not be of any use. All sales of classes are final. I can quit taking classes at any time. There is no subscription needed for these services. Each class is scheduled individually. If I cannot make it to the class I scheduled, I will contact Blackthorn Magic (719-351-2478 or e-mail) as soon as possible to cancel or re-schedule.
