Hello from Toronto
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Hello from Toronto
by TOJennie » Nov 8th, '06, 17:29
Hi everyone,
I'm 22 years old and I've been doing magic fairly intensively for about 8 months now. I initially got into it when I read a fiction book where the main character freaked out his enemy by sitting silently in the corner, knuckle walking a quarter. I thought that would be a fun thing to be able to do, so I learned how.
I currently do mainly street magic. I am focusing on coins and cards although I've recently started to learn some sponge ball tricks and the cups and balls routine.
I've only started going out into public over the past couple of months and I absolutely love it.
I don't know any other magicians in Toronto, so I'm looking forward to talking to people from all over who are just as hooked on magic as I am!
- TOJennie
- Full Member
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Nov 8th, '06, 17:19
- Location: Toronto, CAN (23: AH)
by mark lewis » Nov 9th, '06, 04:40
I also live in Toronto. I must say you are very fortunate not to know any magicians there. However if you insist on meeting them there is quite a membership drive going on at the Hat and Rabbit club. No doubt they would be delighted to sign you up. There are only two female magicians in the club so you would be a welcome addition.
I assume you know about the Browser's Den Magic Shop at Bathurst and Eglinton?
I assume you know about the Browser's Den Magic Shop at Bathurst and Eglinton?
- mark lewis
- Elite Member
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- Joined: Feb 26th, '05, 02:41
by TOJennie » Nov 9th, '06, 05:27
Hi Mark Lewis,
Do Toronto magicians have a bad reputation? I don't belong to any clubs yet, although I've been considering it, so I'm not really aware of who is around. I've been learning everything completely on my own, it'd be nice to talk to someone and trade ideas.
Only 2 females eh? Anyone have any theories on why that is? I really don't hear a lot about women in magic. Aside from the fact that we usually have small hands which makes some sleights bloody hard at times!
I actually haven't been to Browser's Den. I've spent most my time at Morrissey Magic, on Dufferin. I've actually only recently moved into gimmicky stuff. I decided to work exclusively with real coins and normal decks of cards first, to perfect the basics before I go on to the gimmicks, so I haven't really needed a magic store much (except to look at the products and drool). But now that people are starting to get to know me and I've had a few job offers, I've started expanding.
Do Toronto magicians have a bad reputation? I don't belong to any clubs yet, although I've been considering it, so I'm not really aware of who is around. I've been learning everything completely on my own, it'd be nice to talk to someone and trade ideas.
Only 2 females eh? Anyone have any theories on why that is? I really don't hear a lot about women in magic. Aside from the fact that we usually have small hands which makes some sleights bloody hard at times!
I actually haven't been to Browser's Den. I've spent most my time at Morrissey Magic, on Dufferin. I've actually only recently moved into gimmicky stuff. I decided to work exclusively with real coins and normal decks of cards first, to perfect the basics before I go on to the gimmicks, so I haven't really needed a magic store much (except to look at the products and drool). But now that people are starting to get to know me and I've had a few job offers, I've started expanding.
- TOJennie
- Full Member
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Nov 8th, '06, 17:19
- Location: Toronto, CAN (23: AH)
by mark lewis » Nov 9th, '06, 06:38
Ignore what I said about the Toronto magicians. I am just kidding. However it is not a bad thing to develop on your own for a while. When I first started I never met a magician for two years and was completely self taught. In a way I think this was a good thing because I did not pick up all the bad habits and daft ideas that magicians have about performing.
Browser's Den is actually the rival shop to Morrissey's but they are on friendly terms. Jeff Pinsky of the Browser's Den caters very well to beginners in magic and I suspect you will actually meet more magicians there particularly young magicians of your age group who seem to congregate there in greater numbers than Morrissey.
They have a card table in the middle of the shop where they show each other tricks while Jeff is busy serving customers. You will get to know some of the guys there if you visit the Browser's Den and I think in fact that Jeff has a magic club of some sort there mostly consisting of people your age. However you should bear in mind what I said about picking up bad magic habits from them. Although some of them have been doing magic much longer than you they aren't quite as good as they think they are.
I expect a few eyebrows will raise at the fact that you are doing shows (I assume paid) after only a few months. Be prepared for negative reactions to this and ignore them.
It is quite an oddity that there are so few female magicians and this applies world wide. I would say male magicians outnumber female ones ten to one. I have no idea why this is. I suppose the most prominent female magician in Toronto is Julie Eng although she has very little in the way of competition.
I had a female Toronto magician work for me for years until she went down to Las Vegas and married a noted person in the world of magic. I am not allowed to mention her name for various reasons I had better not get into.
If you go to Browsers Den tell Jeff I sent you. In fact I may be going there tomorrow so I will tell him that a female magician called Jennie will be coming in soon to spend loads of money with him. That should brighten his day.
Mark Lewis
www.marklewisentertainment.com
Browser's Den is actually the rival shop to Morrissey's but they are on friendly terms. Jeff Pinsky of the Browser's Den caters very well to beginners in magic and I suspect you will actually meet more magicians there particularly young magicians of your age group who seem to congregate there in greater numbers than Morrissey.
They have a card table in the middle of the shop where they show each other tricks while Jeff is busy serving customers. You will get to know some of the guys there if you visit the Browser's Den and I think in fact that Jeff has a magic club of some sort there mostly consisting of people your age. However you should bear in mind what I said about picking up bad magic habits from them. Although some of them have been doing magic much longer than you they aren't quite as good as they think they are.
I expect a few eyebrows will raise at the fact that you are doing shows (I assume paid) after only a few months. Be prepared for negative reactions to this and ignore them.
It is quite an oddity that there are so few female magicians and this applies world wide. I would say male magicians outnumber female ones ten to one. I have no idea why this is. I suppose the most prominent female magician in Toronto is Julie Eng although she has very little in the way of competition.
I had a female Toronto magician work for me for years until she went down to Las Vegas and married a noted person in the world of magic. I am not allowed to mention her name for various reasons I had better not get into.
If you go to Browsers Den tell Jeff I sent you. In fact I may be going there tomorrow so I will tell him that a female magician called Jennie will be coming in soon to spend loads of money with him. That should brighten his day.
Mark Lewis
www.marklewisentertainment.com
- mark lewis
- Elite Member
- Posts: 3875
- Joined: Feb 26th, '05, 02:41
by TOJennie » Nov 9th, '06, 06:54
Hi Mark,
Actually, I turned down the job offers I received. I have yet to earn a cent with magic and that doesn't bother me one bit. I mainly do magic for the fun of it, I love wondering around the subway system doing a couple of tricks and leaving. But I recognize that I'm probably not good enough to put a complete show together, nor do I want to until I feel completely confident in my abilities. I have my core groups of tricks now and I never go to a party or to visit a friend without a few sponge balls and a deck of cards, but I know I have a lot of work to do before I even think about going professional.
Browser's Den sounds great! I will definitely check it out.
It always bothered me as a kid that all the women in magic just got to wear skimpy clothes and dance around the magician. I always wanted to be the one with the cape making things disappear!
Actually, I turned down the job offers I received. I have yet to earn a cent with magic and that doesn't bother me one bit. I mainly do magic for the fun of it, I love wondering around the subway system doing a couple of tricks and leaving. But I recognize that I'm probably not good enough to put a complete show together, nor do I want to until I feel completely confident in my abilities. I have my core groups of tricks now and I never go to a party or to visit a friend without a few sponge balls and a deck of cards, but I know I have a lot of work to do before I even think about going professional.
Browser's Den sounds great! I will definitely check it out.
It always bothered me as a kid that all the women in magic just got to wear skimpy clothes and dance around the magician. I always wanted to be the one with the cape making things disappear!
- TOJennie
- Full Member
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Nov 8th, '06, 17:19
- Location: Toronto, CAN (23: AH)
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