Real Secrets year 1 has come and gone...

I didn't subscribe to it, but the magic world is pretty up in arms and split in opinion.

Although I'm glad for the people who did get their money's worth, I don't know if I'd want to spend 180 bucks on something I wasn't sure of.

In my opinion (read: opinion), there are better things in magic that can be spent with 180 dollars or less especially since you will know exactly what you are getting.  For instance:

1) Full year Magic Magazine subscription + full year Genii magazine subscription (56 + 58 = $114)

2) Any of the crazy Pick 2 or 3 of these 3-4 Volume DVD sets that are offered from the L&L Publishing email list ($80-$100)

3) Lorayne's Classic Collection volumes 1 and 2 (or 2+3, or 1+3) (90+90 = $180)

4) Ortiz's Lessons in Card Mastery + Strong Magic + Designing Miracles (55 + 45 + 45 = $145)

5) 6 Random Penguinmagic Live Lectures each ranging from 2-3 hours long - I'll even pick 6 for you: Osterlind, Roth, Wilson, Bizarro, Aragon, DaOrtiz (30 x 6 = $180)

So you see, my problem isn't spending 180 bucks.  It's what I'm spending 180 bucks ON.  I'd rather know exactly what I'm getting and not be afraid of the repercussions if I discuss how good the material is or what the material is on forums or on my blog.  I'll always know that Dani DaOrtiz gives a ridiculously good lecture chock full of material to learn and use.

Like I said, if you liked what you got from Real Secrets, that's really awesome and I'm glad because what's good to one person isn't always good to another.  As for me, I'm gonna stick with what I know.

Hm, good ol' magic

Now that the residency interview season is over, all there is to do is wait...and do magic!

I've begun cataloging all my books and tricks with a little more detail than the post-it suggestion by Darwin Ortiz in "Strong Magic" (I'm also adding impromptu/not, a brief description, and my own personal changes in handling if I have any at the time).  It's really coming along great and even though it's a super slow process because I'm doing all the tricks as I pass along them (not well at all but to see what it feels like), it's helping me organize what I really want or hadn't considered before when putting a set together, and issues with certain tricks I didn't think about.

Also, about Osterlind's version of bank night...I'm sure it's been suggested before, but I never realized (despite the fact that I am Chinese) what a ridiculously good presentation it was to use Chinese money envelopes instead of key envelopes.  I give a short spiel about why we give money to each other and why the holiday is important to us.  Culturally cool and fun!

I also want to reiterate how awesome the Miguel Angel Gea DVD's are.  Complex, but fantastic.  That coin stuff's gonna take me years to do.