Before you begin reading and posting at MagicTalk,
please read the following. Then, read the FAQ's below.
This will make your time at MagicTalk much more enjoyable
as you will seem to instantly "fit in" to our magical community!   

Magic Secrets and MagicTalk:

    Often when you are new to magic and you read a lot of the posts on MagicTalk, it appears as though those who come here regularly are freely sharing magic secrets with each other, both here and privately. Yet, when you ask what you think is a simple and appropriate question, you either get attacked, or told not to do it, or have your post deleted. Since a lot of you are kids, and feel you asked appropriate questions but got put down, here's what is going on —

    Most magic tricks may have simple secrets for how they are done, but actually doing them can be very hard to figure out, even when you have the instructions in front of you. So here at MagicTalk we try to help each other figure out how to work and perform the tricks we have bought, or learned through books or tapes.

    Often, if you read the posts, what is really being shared is not the secret, but how to do those tricks. We expect everyone to purchase the necessary tricks, books, tapes, and then, if you have problems, we will be happy to help you out. But we had to buy the tricks, books, and tapes, and expect you to do the same.

    So, if you ask how a trick is done — we can't tell you — either here or privately by email. You have to buy the item first. However, when you are having problems, your description of what is the problem will tell us that you know what you are talking about, and have actually purchased the item, and we will then write you, or answer here, and try our best to help you out. — Courtesy of John Evernden, the "Olde Rabbit"

Here are some of the
Frequently Asked Questions here at MagicTalk.

Please go through these FAQ's as they will answer
some questions already on your mind.

"What is the secret to doing the [insert magic trick here]?"

I understand that this is a magic site and it's tempting to ask for the secrets to certain effects, but MagicTalk is not a clearinghouse for secrets. To find out a certain trick's secret, my advice is to buy the trick from your favorite magic dealer. Please, don't ask for secrets here. Thanks.

"What about Reparation or Reformation or Pristine?" (Or any of the torn and restored card effects.)

Reparation, Reformation and Pristine have been discussed here ad nauseum. Pristine is reviewed at MagicTalk Reviews.

"Who and what are the MT Assistants?

The MagicTalk Assistants (MTA's) are volunteers, hand-picked by Bryan Dean, who help in the administration of MagicTalk. Their identity is kept secret so that they are not bombarded with email and questions about this and that on MagicTalk. The MTA's, along with Bryan Dean, monitor the posts on MagicTalk to make sure that obscene and libelous don't remain on the Board. They also watch for posts violating the MagicTalk Forum Rules such as exposure sites being posted.

This is completely necessary as MagicTalk is getting several hundred posts a day and being read by literally thousands daily.

"I am a beginner in magic... how do I get started?"

Doug Atkinson and I (mostly Doug) wrote a wonderful article for MagicTalk called A Beginner's Guide to Magic. It can be found in MagicTalk's The Beginners' Corner. It's a great way to start your journey in the Art of Magic.

"I found a site that I need to enter a password to get in. Who is the guy who fooled Houdini?" (Or similar questions.)

Forget it. We don't give out passwords for protected sites.

"How do you make flash paper?"

You don't. Ever. You buy it for ten bucks and you stay alive. Please don't ask about it here.

How can I get copies of the past Archives?

Sorry, but we no longer have Archives past two months, however, you can download the Current Archive by going to the Main Index page. The link is at the top.

What constitutes an "ad" on MagicTalk?

It's come to my attention that many here are walking on "egg shells" about posting messages that are construed to be an ad.

Here's my thinking on this: An ad isn't, "I am going to put this information in my future book", or in answering a question, "... actually, that particular routine is in my video called...".

Ad ad is, "Visit my new website!" (and it's selling products), or "I've just written a new book! It's [title] and available from me for $22.95, plus shipping. I take Visa and MasterCard..." That's an ad.

Basically, if it's a blatant ad, meaning that someone just comes in and posts an ad and runs, it gets zapped.

If someone here posts an answer to a question and the answer happens to be in a product or service he or she has or performs, it's alright to mention it.

So, stop walking on eggshells and let's have fun! :-)

"My message is gone! Did Bryan delete it?"

Contrary to rumors of my heavy finger on the Delete key, I don't delete a lot of messages.

If you posted with ALL CAPS IN THE HEADLINE, I may have edited it to make the Board look better. It's probably still there. (Do a "Find" search in your browser.)

Now, if you didn't post with a valid email address, or you were asking for secrets, passwords, etc., or you were getting personal, it may have gotten zapped. Read the MagicTalk Forum Rules for clarification.

Okay, Bryan... Now Take Me To


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