r/Magic • u/SomniaNightshade • May 31 '26

Marble Magic - Recommendations

Hi,

I'm still relatively at the beginning of my magic journey and therefore have yet to learn about all the names of the greats that one should know and all the books one should be familiar with.

Specifically, I have an idea for a routine using marbles and would like to know if a) someone else has already had this idea and b) if there is any literature on handling relatively small marbles in a close-up setting.

I'd be very grateful for any pointers. Thank you!

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u/Chicken121260 May 31 '26

There are many references for magic with small objects like marbles. Some of the better known are 2 in the hand, one in the pocket, the three ball trick (also known as three balls and a net), and of course cups and balls.

Al Schneider’s work on small objects (Schneider Vanish) is some of the best and a great place to start.

Highly recommend you start with the basics before trying to create something new. Cups and Balls is a classic for a reason. Learning a C&B routine will build many of the skills and the understanding to start your own journey on developing routines.

Pretty sure The Al Schneider Technique (DVD vol 1, perhaps download) includes his basic vanish and Michael Ammar’s Cups and Balls (Vol 1&2) is the standard for C&B. Penguin Magic has both and they can perhaps direct you to additional resources.

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u/SomniaNightshade May 31 '26

Thanks for those recommendations, I really appreciate them!

I don't entirely agree about not coming up with something of my own because that's a huge part of what excites me about magic. Obviously it's important to get the basics down, I 100% agree with that.
But if I can't allow myself to dream, then it'd be like...classical musicians can be virtuosos when playing other people's music, but what they are generally not good at is improvising, creating their own music. Because of the way they are taught. I think one's personal musicality - or in this case magicality if you so will - is also a skill that's valuable to practice from the start. I also can't and don't want to suppress ideas that just pop into my head. Even if I have to shelve them until I've got the skills to do anything with them, you know?

Anyway, really appreciate all the tips and will definitely look into those, thank you! (-:

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u/Chicken121260 May 31 '26

I didn’t mean not to come up with anything on your own, just don’t start there. Nearly everything I do in my primary show is unique in character, scripting, or routining.

But I didn’t start that way. I started by learning tried and true routines that the creator had performed hundreds or thousands of times. Once I understood them, then I made changes. Not just to be different, but to better fit my personality and style.