BORN STANDING UP
What does this book have to do with cards? Keep reading.
When Steve Martin released his book Born Standing Up, I picked up a copy immediately, dived right in, and didn't put it down until I turned the last page. What a great read! When I later discovered that it was available as an audio book I took the chance to "read" it again. Listening to Steve Martin tell the story of his rise to meteoric heights as a comedian is like being transported back in time. From his childhood interest in magic and his earliest performances, to his years spent developing his material, and climbing the ranks of the comedy (and comedy magic) club circuit, the book made me feel as though I was there for every step along the way.
Why am I mentioning this book here? Well, there is so much in it that I can relate to card magic, especially the process of developing one's craft. The journey he describes takes you through his process of developing material, the importance of self-critique and testing, the endless re-working of ideas, the attention to detail, the precision, and general obsession required to get things right.
And it has ( mainly in the early parts of the book) plenty about his time spent in learning and performing magic, that I think all magicians will enjoy. Although there is not a great deal of discussion of card magic specifically, I really enjoyed his stories of visiting and working in magic shops, meeting, watching and learning from other performers, time spent on stage, backstage, pre-show and post-show, and the ups and downs of a performer. I had known previously that Steve Martin started out as a magician, but I was not aware that his interest extended to card magic. I was especially surprised to read how he spent four months learning the faro shuffle, which he was shown by Leo Behnke at Merlin's. It is easy to tell from his writing that he has a real appreciation for sleight of hand with cards. I'd be interested to know if he still enjoys practicing sleights and/or performing with cards.
If you have not read it, if you have any interest in performing, get it. It's a fun read an will make you think. If you read it and do not see its relevance to developing skill with cards, there is something wrong. And if you enjoy a good story and a laugh, it's hardly a risk with the audio book available, as you'll even have both hands free to practice while you listen.
