The Diamonds of Performance: Insights from a FISM winner

This week on Erudite Magic, we're examining a 2-book set that will improve your magic if you give them the attention they deserve. These books break down what makes magic and magicians better, and provides the tools to help you!
🛒 Shop this week with the sponsor of this episode - Don's Magic & Books. Discover OOP and hard to find magic book on his website: ⭐ bit.ly/DonsMagic ⭐
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📖 Want to purchase these books? Get them directly from Christian: christianbisch...
⏰ Timestamps:
0:00 - Improving magic
0:33 - Who is Christian Bischof?
1:39 - What about the books?
2:24 - Don's Magic & Books
3:44 - What's the approach?
4:16 - Why diamonds?
4:52 - The diamonds explained
5:58 - How do they work together?
6:24 - What's in Volume II?
7:02 - What tricks are taught?
8:16 - Author self-reflection
8:33 - How to get the most out of these books
9:02 - Will you get value out of them?
9:33 - Who are these for?
10:28 - How can you buy them?
11:01 - The deluxe edition
12:03 - Conclusion

[@EruditeMagic]

📰 Can't get enough Erudite Magic on Sundays? Join my Newsletter and be part of the conversation as often as you'd like: eruditemagic.substack.com

[@KieronMiller]

I bought these books off the back of this review- I would never have known about them had I not been subscribed to your channel so thanks for covering books like these that aren't in the mainstream.

[@EruditeMagic]

So glad to hear it, Kieron!

[@arielsfr]

As a publisher whose clientele is mostly abroad, I can assure you that the shipping costs Christian charges are quite reasonable. I just sent a book - less than half the weight of Diamonds - to France and it costs me just over $40. Plus, I corresponded with Christian over several months, got to know him a bit, and found him to be absolutely honourable.

[@EruditeMagic]

Yup, Christian is very honorable! International shipping is no joke, that's for sure.

[@dougclark4146]

Great review, Jeff! I bought these books back in August, 2023 based on a review in The Linking Ring, I think. With the shipping at the time, the 2-volume set was a little over $180. However, they are very interesting books and I appreciate having them.

[@EruditeMagic]

So glad to hear that, Doug!

[@robmagic1018]

I got reccomended Maximum entertainment by a friend and what a book that is improved my performance no end. So if Diamonds of performance is the next stage. Looks like I will have to invest in them and study them. Thanks Erudite magic for bringing diamonds of performance to my attention

[@EruditeMagic]

You're very welcome - thanks for watching!

[@ScottLuvsRenFaires]

Great review! I especially appreciate that you point out another book that may be a better fit for some people. 👍

[@EruditeMagic]

Thanks - I try

[@georgeyounts9391]

Great review. "Scholarly" is my take away. I always say to myself after hearing about books like this every magician should have just been a theatre major in college taking acting, voice, movement, playwrighting and design so these type of books are just redundant. Anyway, the diamond approach to his writing reminded me of this quote about creativity by Mark Twain- "There is no such thing as a new idea. It is impossible. We simply take a lot of old ideas and put them into a sort of mental kaleidoscope."

[@EruditeMagic]

If we had all been theater majors, there would be no need for these books. And, we'd be missing a great deal of the diversity that makes magic so great, IMO.

[@PhilipTaylormagicianscorner]

00:02 The Diamonds of Performance, written by FISM winner Christian Bishoff, helps us understand the difference between good and bad magic acts. 01:36 Insights on self-published books in magic 04:23 Three diamonds of performance: trick, performer, situation 06:05 Understanding how the three elements create synergy for outstanding results. 07:50 Christian Engblom's performance insights and tips for magicians. 09:21 Implementing learned tricks for enhanced performances 10:50 Two editions available with different price points and additional items.

[@EruditeMagic]

You didn't like my timestamps? 😄🤷

[@stephanel6637]

Standard version is 97 Euros and the shipping to Canada is 57 Euros!!! 57 Euros come on!

[@redblack8414]

Bishof wont get my money. I've had enough of those abusive shipping fees.

[@EruditeMagic]

That's quite pricey. Have you tried reaching out to him to see if you can arrange another option?

[@twatmunro]

Yeah, that's how it works when Europeans try and order stuff from the USA as well. Nobody wants to use the postal service -- they all want to ship via UPS or such like. And two volumes of a book will be heavy. I'm betting he's not making a profit on the shipping costs.