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Becoming Better

Book by Chris Dugdale
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Becoming Better

39.95 usd

Book by Chris Dugdale ()

 In stock.

A decades worth of learnings compiled in one book designed to help magicians and mentalists avoid the same mistakes that can waste time and money.

Becoming Better by Chris Dugdale is a detailed look at the evolution Chris underwent after losing $5,000 at his first Edinburgh Festival. In the 9+ years that followed, Chris worked harder than ever to learn everything he could about the art of magic. He returned in every proceeding year, eventually winning the Edfest Boquet 4 times, selling out multiple show runs, earning National press and even securing the biggest contract of his career.

With this book, he shares the innermost secrets he discovered along the way like:

  • The one thing you can do to improve faster, no matter what level you're currently at
  • A system for uncovering and eliminating lags that will make your act significantly better
  • The importance of authenticity and how you can create a memorable character that remains authentic
  • How to take notes and a system for implementing them that will effectively improve your performance quickly
  • Creating natural scripts and the best ways to combine words with movements
  • How to get your audience to gel together as a cohesive group and respond to you in a powerful way
  • Incorporating star moments that make your act shine brighter than ever
  • A full analysis and psychological breakdown of his most successful Edinburgh show
  • And so much more!

For the first time ever, Chris also shares his full system for quickly reading people to optimize your chances of selecting the best volunteers. He learned this was studying under one of the UK's leading profilers at Leicester University and has charged corporate groups $1000s to learn it. Yet, it's included in the book at no extra cost.

This book is 148 pages long, offering ideas and concepts that quite literally could improve your performance immediately. Designed to be easily and quickly consumed, digested and acted upon, Becoming Better is an invaluable read for anyone looking to improve their performance. From beginners to full-time professional magicians, there is something for everyone within these pages.

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Customer reviews for Becoming Better

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Reviewer

Derek

This book contains material assembled from years of professional working by a seasoned pro. A panacea of concepts and ideas are covered: about you (personality, authenticity, commitment, self-help) - through to guidance on performance, showmanship, staging, approach, and character; as well as bigger issues such as lighting, music, and stage choreography. It is not a book about tricks and methods, but how you as a performer can learn and improve. Chris drives you to think about you and the person you are. By critiquing everything you do (including self-analysis by video) it guides you to evolve and be the performer you aspire to be. In places it’s brutal; in others it’s that light bulb moment. Contextual quotes set the scene for each section, which ring true. Energy and impetus are the order of the day, with a focus on an honest assessment of what you do and how you do it: examine it, review it, improve it, and set yourself on a path to enhancement.

The style is casual, written by someone who has much to impart and has got the words down quickly, and in places is clearly an unloading of what needs to be said before it’s lost - almost a ‘brain dump’ with structure and clarity - but very readable.

The principles and the approach offered fit any genre of magic: from stage to close-up. How you dress, the personality and warmth you display, the skills you demonstrate, the way you interact with people - as your assistants, your guests and as your audience. All magic requires an audience who want to be entertained - so by following the advice Chris gives, you can up your game and take many of the ideas to your close-up performance. If you are a stage magician, then much can be directly translated.

The section “101 Ideas Expanded” is 40 pages of absolute gold and I have not seen a collection like this elsewhere: ideas we may have considered, others that are well developed and some that are completely new (to me anyway).

I believe it complements current literature, but also adds new ideas (‘lags’ for instance). 150 pages long makes this book very accessible, with chapters that are short and that incrementally build; it is a great read. Are there better books out there? Probably. Are there books out there that are as candid? Maybe not. Think of ‘Maximum Entertainment’ by Ken Weber and you are in the right ballpark; but written in a very simple direct way by a current working pro in the twenty first century who is currently ‘walking the walk’ – and at the height of his career.

I have read this in one afternoon and came away inspired. I now intend to read it again with a notebook and pencil and find all my takeaways - there are lots.

This book has motivated me to not only expedite my ambitions but improve and focus on what I am good at and leave behind what I am not, so time is spent productively. Take heed from the advice given in here about taking action and get on with it - an inch moving forward is better than a mile planning it!

This is like having an honest mentor in your hands! Read at leisure; re-read to develop. But enjoy, I did

 
Reviewer

Gerard

I would like to be able to be positive about this book. It takes a lot of effort to write a book and so a poor review can seem harsh. I had high expectations based on what I knew about Chris. However, the production quality is nothing like a vanishing inc publication and I am a little surprised they sell a book like this. I was still excited when I opened the book because Craig Petty was so positive about the publication. Alas, the more I read the more the author's ego eclipsed any useful information he wished to share. I do not doubt the author has useful experience that deserves to be shared, but not in this format.

 
Reviewer

Michael

I'm afraid that this will be a negative review, and I want to emphasize that your mileage may vary.

When the book arrived and I realized it was a Createspace-published item I was disappointed and a bit concerned. Createspace is a Print on Demand system used by many people publishing themselves.

Physically Createspace books all look pretty much the same. Many magic books are objects of beauty. No Createspace volumes are. Fine, fair enough, what about the content?

Everything in the book seems fine and sensible, but the author doesn't really go deeply into anything. Paragraphs are short, most often three sentences or less. Perhaps that is a silly critique, why don't I talk about the font? (It's quite large), but the fact is that while the book is full of useful and actionable advice, probably hard-won by the author, there's very little in the way of ideas or new ways of thinking.

Bottom line; I regret the purchase. But your mileage may vary.

 

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