by dean.allen.jones » Aug 3rd, '12, 10:13
Hello Everyone. My name is Dean Allen Jones and I'm a 36 year old Welsh guy living in Colchester, Essex. My journey in magic has been a little convoluted but great fun. Just over ten years ago I along with many 20 something guys became fascinated with Derren Brown. Like other naughty boys I picked up his book, Absolute magic. I knew it contained no tricks (or effects as I now know they're called), I just liked his manner, the way he talked and presented himself. I had a great interest in watching magic at this point but believed myself too clumsy to perform r even try magic as a hobby. I read the book and instantly fell in love with magic, deeply in love. I relaised it could be a way of connecting with people, on taking then on a journey and letting them see the world in a new way (something I love doing myself). I picked up a Svengali deck and started performing for friends, throughout out the booklet that came with the deck and using my own ideas to form a mentalism routine (or as I saw it, performance psychology). I then started using decks with 'one way' backs to perform more mind melting effects. During this time I found out about many slights and even bought a bicycle deck to try and perform them but just could not pull them off. I continued like this untill 3 years ago.
Whilst watching a documentary on magic, alone at home with a bad back, I decided I was going to start practising and not stop until I performed a DL. Something clicked, I have no idea what but even though I'd tried for months a few years before without success I suddenly pulled it off. Other slights soon followed. I began to study more books and DVD's and never looked back. Since then I've performed at bar openings, weddings and other parties as well as a corporate gig. Every gig feels stronger than the last and I enjoy performing tremendously.
So there you have it. Not a full time pro yet, but performing once every other week or so, and it's building fast. I have no other work at the moment and so am spending my days working on my magic, honing my routines and constantly trying to learn what I can.