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Hello everyone

I have just joined the forum and I am new to magic. I love seeing card and close up magic. It amazes me and I want to learn myself to amaze others. I am looking for advice on where to begin is there things I should learn first before progressing. Such as shuffle techniques, false cuts etc I am learning these at present and don't want to try and learn too much at once. Is there any advice anyone can give on getting started and where to begin.

Thanks

Hiya Liam, I'll give you my usual recommendation.

Grab yourself a copy of Mark Wilson's Complete Course, it's a brilliant book that'll give you the basics of everything from cards and coins to stage magic and mentalism.

Hi Liam, same here on that book from Lady M. Great book on everything you ever need to know about magic etc.. Welcome aboard by the way.. Stay in touch if you can.. Sadly so many just making one or two post and then disappearing, just like magic, if you know what i mean.. Good luck on your journey.
Regards Garry.

In addition try the Karl Fulves books of self working effects, all published by Dover Publications. After that look out for Nic Einhorn's Encyclopaedia of Magic by which goes under several other names but contains loads of routines, all well illustrated - enough to make a magic career for anyone!

Here:

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic19847.php

Boris wrote:Here:

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic19847.php

Also a very good suggestion and don't be put off by the title, it's a great book regardless of age with some very good material.

Lady of Mystery wrote: regardless of age with some very good material.

sounds like you're talking about me !

Another vote for Mark Wilson's Course. Another book that I started with was Henry Hay's Amateur Magician's handbook (don't let the title fool you, it was surprisingly challenging my first time through it). You'll pick up some important nuances. After that, you can move on to books like Eugene Burger's Mastering the Art of Magic.

Henry Hay's book is excellent but, as you say, challenging for a beginner. Another one you could look out for (secondhand) is The Complete Magician by Marvin Kaye.

I was born too early for Mark Wilson's Course, but that's certainly what I'd recommend now for a serious amateur. Nick Einhorn's book is also very good, and perhaps that's the best one to start with for a young person. My grandson will get a copy when he's old enough to read it.

Barry

Hey, I'm up to 1100 posts here!

There are so many books I could recommend for a beginner but for now I will just stick to two. My bible is the Royal Road to Card Magic if it is card tricks that interest you but I can also wholeheartedly recommend "The Magic Book" by Harry Lorayne which has far more varied material with not only cards but coins, mindreading etc;

Oh, while I am at it, an excellent book if you can find it is "The Magic Digest" by George Anderson.

magicofthemind wrote:Hey, I'm up to 1100 posts here!

The drinks are on you Barry!

Thanks for the input guys. Much appreciated I have purchased the Royal Road to Card Magic and also Karl Fulves Self Working Mental Magic picked them both up for less than £5 from eBay. Been going through the Royal Road at the moment. It's slow going but I'm learning.

There is a DVD that used to get recommended for beginners on here. It is Born To Perform by Oz Pearlman. It is available now as an updated version which I haven't seen but if it is anything like the original it is a very good tutorial.

Johnny Wizz wrote:There is a DVD that used to get recommended for beginners on here. It is Born To Perform by Oz Pearlman. It is available now as an updated version which I haven't seen but if it is anything like the original it is a very good tutorial.

I think you can get it as a free download from penguin.