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I love that line about wasting too much money on "worthless" gimmicks...

I invested the first 10-15 years of my career buying everything I could get my hands on. Between my mentor and I we had over 340 major illusions that did little other than collecting dust and costing us an arm & a leg to keep under roof. I guess I suffered from an extreme case of compulsive buying... (CUPS? I think you guys call it).

In that you are obviously still young and living with the folks buying a house full of junk isn't advisable. But, as several has already said, getting some books, maybe some videos... this is where you will find value as well as gain advantages most of the guys doing the "trick of the month" purchases, will never know. Too, if you are wise, you will find the material that can benefit you in school; there's a ton of stuff using math for an example, memory development and general communication skills. In other words, you are building value in and around magic for yourself but also as a way to help your parents, teachers and other important adults in your life, to see that same value and how it is HELPING YOU vs. detouring you from focusing and getting what must be done, done.

There are many ways of learning magic without having a magic book in hand; dive into science and learn everything you can there in that physics and chemistry are key resources when it comes to what we do.

Are you naturally mechanical in your thinking? If so, take shop classes and learn to become the best cabinet builder and welder you can... that way you could cultivate for yourself (over time) a situation in which you are helping build and even design magic for others.

In that you're still in school get into theater, debate and speaking classes; all of these will aid you in becoming a better showman as well as someone with greater confidence and understanding of the stage, working with the public, etc.

Dive into your language classes and build your vocabulary but, more importantly, learn how to use words, punctuation, the intonations of your voice, etc. so as to control, steer and manipulate others. This is a skill that's used by all show people but likewise doctors, lawyers, politicians and priests. Word power is practically the ultimate in power.

Not all "tricks" are mechanical things, most of the better ones employ both, our innate and learnt abilities in ways I've just touched upon. What you can do with such knowledge goes far beyond what anyone has or can do on stage with a hanful of billard balls and a pocket full of bird poop.

You could also take some acting lessons. I did this at night school, the little study really paid off and my presentation was so much better for it. Some effects became more convincing because of that small study.

I would also urge to you to look through this thread again. Really read it and consider what is being said and most importantly who is saying it. All of the posts so far have provided some great help and tips for you. The posts made by Craig, Seige and myself should be considered carefully. Between us we have a lot of experience in many forms of magic. We work in the Real World and know the problems you are facing now.

You also have some great advice from our other friends at TM and i hope you really consider what we are saying. So time to dig out RRTCM and start again after you have had a break.

You make an interesting point about being bullied for secrets but say you will still do street magic. Are you not more prone to this kind of verbal attack while performing on the streets. Once again i am sure we all wish you well whatever you decide to do.

thanks guys

it might be a little late for me to post anything but i would recommend you watching dvds. i do have magic books they are good but sometimes hard to follow, because they are mostly text. it's good to have someone teach you when you can see what he is doing. it is just like having a mentor or something.invest in dvds which teach u multiple tricks at a time and take your time to slowly master them. you might want the RRTCM dvd or michael ammar series. they are good. im just saying this because sometimes its harder to follow texts as compared to someone showing you how its done. it doesnt mean that books aren't good. its up to you to invest in them and wait for the right times to perform. you will really feel good that you have finally msatered some sleights and stuff, and this will get you back onto the track of magic

i forgot to mention also that sometimes not because the gimmicks are nice you should get it. sometimes its always much better to purchase gimmicks that can add in extra effects to your magic routines. for example you might consider to purchase something which can enhance your ambition card routine instead of just buying a gimmick which acts on its own. you should consider carefully everytime before u make a purchase. if you really want to purcahse a gimmick, you must look at it from all different aspects. how much does it help you build your reputation? how can you present this effectively in the environment you are in? what possibilities does the gimmick hold? and lastly, decide if it is worth the price before getting it. look at reviews for the tricks. that is why i love this forum. you can request or read reviews of the tricks you want to purchase. there are times when u make a CUPS purchase. you dont really get to use it. but it would not hurt to sit down, and think of ways to improve it so that you can use it. this is the beginning of you creating your own effects which you once thought was only available through buying gimmicks.

I don't think buying expensive tricks are the way to go if you want to become a good magician.

At 14 you are not going to be doing too many stage shows anyway. Your main audiences are going to be family and friends. Showing tricks at school and that sort of thing.

The key to regaining your enthusiasm is to perform good close up magic and get GOOD REACTIONS from people when you do it. Once you acquire this knack you won't want to stop. In fact you could even become too enthusiastic and want to show everyone and anyone tricks every opportunity you get!

However something doesn't sound quite right with the way things are working out. Having other kids threaten you if you don't give away the secrets doesn't sound quite the way to go. Not that you are choosing this of course!

I wonder if there is something in your personality where your rather awful sounding friends think they can get away with bullying you. Magic is a great confidence builder once you get good reactions. And once you get that confidence you can withstand the pressure.

I think the best plan at the moment is to regroup rather than give up. A strategic withdrawal and revaluation of the way to go. Although I normally recommend to kids that they should show people tricks morning, noon and night in order to get experience I think it may be wise for you not to follow that strategy right now.

Instead study magic in a simpler fashion for the moment and don't show anybody anything for a few weeks until you are ready to turn things around with a new approach.

First for the moment it should be close up magic only. Second if I were you I would try and resist the temptation to buy the latest dealer item. Spending money is not the way to become a good magician.

Instead study good basic books on close up magic, possibly cards which are easy to carry around and particularly because there is a lot of card tricks which are easy to do and are effective on laymen. I would study for the moment the easy stuff that gets strong reactions. You can worry about the sleight of hand later. Right now you have to get your confidence back. So master easy but effective magic. Just because a trick is difficult does not make it necessarily a better trick. Until you get your confidence back you should concentrate on self working, easy magic that has a stunning effect.

There is plenty of this kind of stuff available if you but look. I would suggest books rather than videos for this kind of thing. Remember look for the easy stuff. I would not necessarily recommend this course for anyone else but for your specific situation I have a gut feeling this is the way to go.

Don't rush out and show these items to anyone just yet. Practice them at home first. Put the old tricks you have been doing up to now on the back burner. You can always come back to them later.

Make sure you get good patter for your tricks. One advantage of doing the easy stuff is that you can concentrate on presentation.

Once you have practised the stuff then you are ready for battle. However choose your battles wisely. I would avoid performing for the sort of kids that are the threatening type. Don't show them anything until you get the experience with easier audiences. It is gasps of encouragement you want not threats of violence from brain dead teenage monsters.

After a while if you have followed this plan properly you will start to get positive reactions which should build your confidence. You mention that some of your spectators tend to make fun of you when you work. I would turn that to my advantage by learning one or two good sucker card tricks such as 3 and a half of clubs or Design for Laughter (in the Royal Road to Card Magic)

When you get heckled you turn the tables on your tormentors and that will soon shut them up for future tricks.

After a while when you get confidence in your ability you may be able to handle even the threatening types better because of your inner confidence and they might even gain a little respect for you if you become good.

It might also be a good idea to have a few simple items that you can expose to these threatening types. Not tricks you do personally but simple things that are of no great consequence if you give them away such as jumping rubber band, magnetic pencil etc; Personally I think you would be better off avoiding these idiots completely but if you feel you have to associate with them and show them tricks you can possibly buy them off by showing these simple items.

Mind you as I write this I am beginning to wonder if I am giving you wrong advice here because you may be rewarding bad behaviour by louts by doing so. Still you may also need something to protect yourself from the threats. You are probably better off keeping away from these idiots.

I wish you luck in your path.

I agree with everything you just said, except for the exposure of tricks to idiots....or anybody other than a fellow magician....Your final comment about staying away from the idiots is probably a pretty good one for a kid in school.....It would probably be better, however, for him to give the next one who threatens a good kick in the crotch.....Idiots cannot catch you, if they cannot catch their breath....

It is a damn shame that bullying is allowed in schools or anywhere; that is the reason countries (including us) bully other countries.....Duh! The world is messed up....

Walk softly or drive a tank........opie

...my advice is to take up boxing and/or a martial art (wado ryu is a good 'un)...

then just buy a couple of magic books and a few decks and start afresh...