by Barry Allen » Apr 21st, '22, 19:53
Due to having a lot of free time on my hands thanks to early retirement; coupled with a desire to leave the rat race; I've been reading through many older posts on this forum. Obviously, the contributions from Mark Lewis are always worth a read. He truly is a constant source of entertainment.
However, I have noticed words of wisdom from others; but to the most part, these people appear to have vanished into the ether.
It got me thinking - I wonder how many people take up Magic as a hobby; but simply thereafter lose interest?
Now let me be completely honest, there have been times when my interest has not been fully focused. That isn't because of any other hobby that took up my time; probably more down to the fact that upon starting work in my teens, I became more interested in booze, birds and speedway. However, even when Magic was taking a back seat, I can't honestly remember not having a Magic book by my bed; nor going out without at least a pack of cards and a TT in my pocket. Without these, I would never have felt fully dressed. I might not have been putting the practice hours in - but the interest was never completely lost. Whenever required, I could entertain with some pretty decent card tricks; make a flaming match disappear; or vanish a lit fag into someone's coat.
It was a few years later that I started going to the Magic Circle. This would have been around 1986; when I was 22. Quite honestly, I think that place was the start of my dislike of other Magicians; the majority of whom (sadly) were quite unhelpful and particularly cliquey. What I can say however, is that the majority of these 'offish' individuals at the Magic Circle weren't very good anyway! This dislike of magic clubs, conventions and (most) other magicians has stuck with me throughout the decades. However, time spent chatting to Bobby Bernard and Johnny Cooper always made the visit worthwhile.
Anyway, getting back to what I've been wondering about - how many people who start out in Magic, continue with their interest?
Maybe some of the people who posted on this forum at one time, just no longer visit Magic forums. Maybe they only contribute now to (un)Social Media. Or maybe, they just lost interest and moved on to something else.
Personally, the Art of Magic is just so diverse and interesting, I can't have imagined myself ever having fallen completely out of love with it. However, that also begs the question would I have even fallen into this game had my Dad not have been a Magician? He certainly did not push me into it - but I knew he was delighted when I took such an interest in Hugard's Encyclopaedia of Card Tricks at such a young age. In contrast, my own Son (now a grown man) loves to watch me performing Magic BUT has never once asked me to even teach him a simple card trick. Therefore, I've certainly never pushed it - I respect his choice.
The path that we take is also possibly a contributory factor as we follow along the magical steps. Once I was earning a wage, I could afford to buy all types of flim-flam; the majority of which I never used. That said, there are certainly more brainfarts released in this day and age, than I remember from the days when I was cutting my teeth (1970's/early 80's).
What changed my outlook was probably three things.
1. Working in a joke shop demming Magic from the age of 14, provided me with a lot of confidence. Not just demming/performing Magic BUT having the guts to perform in front of adults AND how to become a salesman.
2. I adored practicing pure sleight of hand from books. Particularly with cards, coins, cigarettes and thimbles; I used to push myself to handle these items as faultlessly as possible. More importantly, I would enjoy this branch of Magic more than the plastic gimmicks sold at the Magic Shops. Practice was enjoyable; the end goal a personal achievement.
3. Joe Riding - who taught me that presentation and routining an act was more important than forever chasing what was 'new'. His advice around how to deliver one-liners led to my confidence growing into becoming a Stag Comedian in later years - but that's another story.
There I go, rambling again.
Maybe people lose interest because they try and learn too much at once? I can see how this is a problem these days, given the amount of new(?) releases.
Perhaps they've been inspired because of the amount of Magic that has been covered on TV over the past 20 years; and it is now considered 'cool'? However, other hobbies (new or otherwise) take priority - particularly when they realise that the performance of Magic requires effort and a degree of skill.
Whatever the reason (or reasons) for someone to lose their interest, I don't think I'll be giving it up anytime soon. As 'she who must be obeyed' said to me the other day, "I knew you wouldn't be bored taking early retirement - you're so lucky to have a hobby that keeps you so interested".
I think she's right......she normally is.