talkmagic.co.uk

How did you learn magic then?

I was entertained by a magician at my first school, and that inspired me. But i had an unspportive family. After a few years of me learning a few tricks, i showed them to my family, and they were stunned, but kept saying "I know how that trick is done, and soo will everyone else. So there is no point in learning to perform it."

I was dissapointed. Then my necie came along, and now i start to perform to her, and my parents don't stop me there, because they know that she doesn't know how tricks are done, and she enjoys it.


But i had no grandfathers when i was growing up. My mum's dad died when she was 11, and so was not around when i was born. And my dad's dad lived over 150 miles away, and he was a drinker, and died in 1998 of liver posioning. My grandmothers were both cripled, and couldn't tell me anything useful. But i do know that none of them tried to perform magic.

So, i learnt it all myself


Now what about you?

I was bought up to believe magic was wrong. My Dad threw away all my Blaine videos when he found them.

I hadnt though about being a magician though as I thought magic was real and thought all magicians to be the spawn of Satan. Seriously

When I worked in sales a few years back, I knew this kid that was into hynotic suggestion and knew a few tricks which it only took a few beers to get him to let me in.

I was hooked. Since then magic has been my life and my parents now like magic as they know its not real. Or at least they can beleive the magic I do isnt real. They still have great reactions though, they wouldnt have been interested otherwise.

My wife was dissapointed that I 'ruined' what she thought magic was but she is warming to the idea its about entertaining people.

But in short, I'm self learned completely. I would loved to have had a mentor

Another self-learner here!
After adoringly devouring Paul Daniels magic sets and the like as a child, I used magic props on stage when I had a 12 piece cabaret band. Just things like appearing flowers, flaming wallet, spear through tongue etc then decided I wanted to learn magic properly and taught myself from various books, mainly the indispensable Tarbell Course In Magic which gave me a grounding in magic principles.
I have always been interested in psychology and hypnosis and try to incorporate this subtly into my magic.

I have refrained from joining any kind of society as it's a bit like having guitar lessons. You develop someone else's style. Although I like learning sleights, I'm not interested in performing for other magcians trying to out-do one another but try to provide mystery, wonder and entertainment for the layman.

As most people rarely see magic close-up and before their eyes I try to make sure it's something memorable and attach some importance to the moment. As with all magi, I'm still learning new things everyday.

I have only been involved in magic for a few years at this stage. I first got interested when I picked up a couple of books in the book shop about card tricks and I worked away on them for a good while. About a year and a half ago I got in contact with my local IBM ring, and a young magician in a nearby town who was working on going pro. Between them, and here, I have had plenty of recommendations for books etc, and thats where I do all my learning!

I can't believe how unsupporting some of your families sound. I've always been really lucky that I've been supported in everything that I've ever done.

for me, Paul Daniels was my big inspiration. I used to love watching his magic show on saturday night and used to walk around trying to make things vanish. One xmas I got a magic set and then I'd save up all my pocket money to buy those little Paul Daniels card tricks that you could get.

I lost interest when I was about 13 and only really got serious again a couple of years ago after doing a couple of shows as a magicians assistant.

I started with a Paul Daniels Magic set. Then i moved onto learning from 'Royal Road To Card Magic', 'Modern coin magic' and then when that material was learnt i moved onto '13 steps to Mentalism'.

Well my parents were/are neutral to magic is most ways.
When I first learnt a few tricks I showed them and they were like, "Hmmn thats cool", and no matter what effect I practice to then eventually perform to them, its always the same reaction.

The only time they really enjoy it is when they see other people enjoy my magic, like at a party sort of thing.

As for getting into magic, I read David Blaine's book and tried the simple card tricks covered in there.
I went onto the net and found magic shops so I bought a couple of items.

Then my friend Ross introduced me into the world of card flourishing (that was when I was about one year into magic), I found some free tutorials and I was hooked.
Purchased the Dan and Dave "System" half a year later and mastered all the cuts, with a knowledge of flourishes so vast and performing them so well (lots of practice), it allowed me to make my own flourishes, like using previous ones as building blocks and then I can eventually create something that is completely original.

Then I brought the flourishes into magic, introducing flourishes into magic allowed me to create a personal and unique collection of effects that were hand made by myself, for the creativity I thank flourishes in the first place as that is what made creating moves so easy.

And all of that was self learnt.

=D

Another Paul Daniels inspired story here too. My first magic set was the Hanky Panky magic set vol 1, follwed by vol 2, then the Paul Daniels set. I then got seduced by computers so magic fell to the wayside - typical teenager!!

When I started work I was based for a short while in Holborn and found Alan Alan's shop and he rekindled my interest. It is now some 20 years later and the fascination still holds!

Still learning, as I am only a few months in. My friend took me along to a few magic nights mainly cos she loved the performers as much as the magic, and I got hooked on the magic. Since then I have been coming here mainly for advice, got a couple of books and spent most of my free time when I'm home practicing my card sleights and various other tricks, all self taught and I hope to continue that way.

I had a card trick book when I was around 10 and have just gotten back into it a few weeks ago.

The Tarbell course has been the biggest help for me in creating a foundation in magic. I studied these first and when I bought the Royal Road and Bobo, I knew most of the fundamentals from Tarbell.

I'm self-taught. I got a magic set when I was very small. So small, in fact, that I can't remember how young I was when I got it! While it wasn't my first set, I had one of the 'Hanky Panky' sets Totally Mental mentions. I think it might have been the second one.

I suspect I started doing magic when I was about five or six. When I was coming up to seven, some relatives came to visit from Canada and they brought me magic, so I must have been quite into it around that time. I also had two books based on the TV show 'Magic Circle'.

I also used to go to Alan Alan's Magic Spot, although, being a few years younger than TM, I didn't get quite the same value out of it.

Cheers part-timer, you really know how to make someone feel old

I saw a David Blaine programme at the age of 13. I'd always enjoyed magic, but hadn't seen anything close-up like that before. I knew I wanted to be able to do it, rather than just watch.

Picked up a deck of cards and started to self teach, from watching tricks and trying to work them out at first, then internet, books dvds and other magicians.

Started standing in for a magician friend at 15, then working on my own bookings through school and 6th form.

I'd always known my grandfather who I never met was a magician. Perhaps that's where it came from. Last year I performed at a 21st birthday near to my home. I later found out that the house I was at used to be my grandfather's house! Spooky, but comforting.

I also started off with a HankyPanky set and Paul Daniels tricks when I was small. I was then given the Peter Eldin (Kingfisher) Book of Magic which as well as being brilliant introduced me to the wonders of Magic Shops etc. I started reading the Magigram (from the good ole Supreme Magic) and everything took of from there.

Like so many I had a good 7 years or so out in my 20s with other things getting in the way, but I have really enjoyed getting back into magic again in the last 3 years or so, and am gradually getting a little better again!