...for a newbie?
I've only started doing magic again recently (past few weeks), I'm 17 now but when I was about 13 or 14 I used to do the odd magic trick such as the Ash trick where you transfer somebodies name onto your arm, and various card tricks too, nothing overly complicated.
So now I understand more about what I'm actually trying to do I've been relearning some new tricks and sleights etc... but I find that other than basic techniques you already know, and adapting them (such as double lifts and palms - basic things which can be adapted for different tricks) and coming up with some good new patter, there seems to be an invisible wall which I'm trying to cross.
Namely, it's pretty hard to learn anything more than you already know, or variations on it, and I'm not sure what to do about it, so, I thought the best place to come (considering I don't know anyone else who is interested in magic) is somewhere like here, that has a collection of magicians who could assist me.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to ask how to do new tricks or anything like that (I've seen the rules - and what happens to the posts that break them

I was wondering if getting a couple of gimmicks would be a good place to start as far as ice-breakers or finales would go, I was thinking some IT stuff, but I wasn't sure what. Is it worth getting something like the Hummer, or something similar for levitating cards etc..?
Also, as far as the 'normal' tricks go, in the sense of tricks that don't use IT or other 'assistances' (for want of a better word), can anyone reccomend any books or dvd's to get started? Preferably card/coin tricks, or anything that is fairly impromptu, 'street magic' to coin a phrase.
Admittedly I wouldn't mind to throw cards through submarine windows (one of the most impressive tricks I've ever seen) or to make people levitate, but hey everyone has to start somewhere

Thanks for any help in advance

EDIT: This should probably be in the Miscellaneous section, sorry about that, maybe an Admin could move it?