McComb, Billy: The Professional Touch ©2003 Revised Edition, William McComb, Martin Breese, England Hardcover, no dj, 6x9", 144 pages

Image courtesy MartinsMagic.com

Comments: Available as an eBook from Lybrary.com. The 1987 original edition is listed separately. Transcribed from Billy McComb's Magicassette(TM) audio cassettes and edited by Martin Breese. Illustrated by JAT.

Contents (from the ebook edition, courtesy Lybrary.com):

4 Contents
7 Foreword
8 Introduction

11 William's Words of Wisdom
11 What Are You Going to Wear?
12 A Beginner's Tricks

14 McComb on Patter
14 Where the Patter Comes From
14 Tape Recorders
15 Timing and Pointing
16 Keep It Clean
16 Learning Your Patter
17 Repetitive Gags
18 Pinching Patter

19 McComb on Misdirection

22 McComb and the Professional Touch
22 What Went Wrong?
22 Signs of the Amateur
23 Knowledge is the Key
23 Working Out a Presentation
23 The Rice Bowls
25 William's Torn and Restored Newspaper
26 William's Presentation Wand
27 William's Fantastic Fez
28 William's Hot Book
28 William's Square Dancing
29 William's Fizzling Firework
30 The Eggs and Glasses Inertia Trick

31 McComb on Close-Up
31 Introduction
31 Cigarette Through Handkerchief
33 The Shrinking Napkin
34 Challenge Silk Vanish
35 Oliver Mackenzie's Drink Trick
36 George Blake's Recurring Card
36 Thought on the Pea Can
38 The End

39 McComb on Cruising

43 McComb on Opening Effects
43 The Six Card Repeat
44 Golf Ball Through Handkerchief
44 The Torn and Restored Airmail Letter
44 Pat Page's Easy Money
45 Leopard Silk
46 Just Chance
46 The Professor's Nightmare
47 Invisible Card Trick
47 Red and White Ropes

49 McComb on Cabaret
49 Be Bookable
49 Dealing With Your Audience
52 Humour
52 Cleanliness
53 Your Trademark Trick
54 The Role of the Compère
55 Get Organised
55 Learn From Everyone
55 Be Bold
56 Cabaret Defined
56 Contracts
57 Travel Light
58 Nerves
58 Get Them to Relax
58 Be Sneaky
59 Salesmanship
59 Heckler-Stoppers
59 Please the Ladies
59 What Is Right?
60 Comments and Suggestions

63 The Professional Nap Hand
63 Requirements
65 Preparation
65 Presentation
70 Playing the Hands
74 Final Comments
75 References for Further Reading

77 The Professional Ring on Stick
77 The Effect
77 Introduction
78 What You Need
79 Preparation
80 Presentation

88 The Professional Bill in the Lemon
88 The Effect
89 Method
89 Requirements
89 Preparation
92 Forcing the Lemon
93 Switching the Bills
94 Vanishing the Bill
95 Cutting the Lemon
96 Revealing the Bill
96 Where Everything Is Placed
96 Presentation
98 Patter
99 Conclusion