talkmagic.co.uk

Dear Magis,

I have recently become very interested in magic and have learnt a few card effects and understand the mechanics now of some coin magic. I am in awe at the moment of magic, I can't believe I didn't discover it before. I am not a teenager and am in my mid thirties and hope that within a couple of years I could perform at some level. I imagine starting at childrens partys. Is this how most people start out? A few questions.

How do find out about local performances etc? This I imagine is the best motivator to practice. ( I'm based in the Northampton area ).

As far as I understand magic clubs require a performance before you can join. I feel way off that. Are there any workshops for relative beginners? Is there any way to get to know more experienced magicians?

What would be a normal progression for someone starting out?

I have a full time job and as such could not practice more than an hour or so each day?

So many questions, so little time!

Adios magicos! ( vanish stage left )

Samurai Sam.

Hi Sam

Firstly, you're never too old to begin learning magic. With some dedication, lots of practice and some judgement in what you spend you money on you'll find that you pick up the basics in not time at all. The rest is up to you.

I'll recommend that you spend some time looking through the different areas of this site and you'll learn lots about beginning, what to buy, where from etc.

I'm sure that many of the members will recommend that you get in contact with a local magic club or society. Most have different levels of membership so it's always worth making an enquiry or two. However, if they don't accept you to start with then don't be put off!

AS to what's on in your area, check out the Magic Week web site at http://www.magicweek.co.uk for up to the minute news on what's happening (well nearly up to the minute).

Finally, you'll also find that many of us here also have full time jobs but haven't let that put us off.

Good luck!

Magic is for anyone, you don't have to start at 15, it worked out alright for me when I was 15 because I have big hands, and thats a nice thing to have when doing card magic.

The key is to just play with cards, coins, or whatever your heart desires, every day. I honestly never leave home with out a pack of cards, and I even sit on the bus playing with them, and the odd person will ask to see a trick and what not.

Just practice, be confident, and just giver.

Firstly id like to say your not alone in being a late starter.. i was about 30 when i got interested in magic.
Magic clubs generally arent looking for highly polished acts as audition pieces.. what they are looking for is simply a willingness to put the time and effort into learning magic... when i auditioned for the dundee club i never really did a full audition.. i sort of showed a few effects to various members of the club at different times but never did a "performance" as such.. what i did do was try and show how much i wanted to learn and let that speak for itself... as i said this was how i got in, other clubs may have more stringent rules but give it a go... contact your nearest club and ask if you can pop along to one of the meetings to have a chat/look around.. you may find that you end up auditioning there and then.. one bit of advice though... dont try to blow them away with the latest and greatest effects.. just stick to simple stuff that you know and can perform without thinking about it too much.

i also only practice for maybe an hour a day.. but it seems to me not to be a question of how long you practice its more a question of WHAT you practice.. start out with simple effects using cards coins etc and just keep at them until you can do them in your sleep...ok so maybe they dont knock spectators for 6 but whats the point in trying to learn something your simply not ready for.. dont run till you can walk etc etc

and last but not least


practice practice practice!

Believe me, Sam, an hour a day is way more than most club magicians do.

I started in my thirties too and have won club competitions etc.

Don't be intimidated by clubs - you may find, when you join, that you're better than most of them. I just hope that you're not too disappointed with them.
Good luck.

An hour a day? I wish...

Actually, no I don't. My username comes from the fact that I've got lots of interests and I need to spread my time between them. However, the sort of stuff I do isn't sleight heavy, so there's no need. I often run through scripts or ideas and can do this while doing other things, like eating, so I get in a different type of practice, I suppose.

Sam,

I too was a late starter. I took up magic at Xmas 1990 at the age of 35. Two and a half years later I joined the IBM. In 1995 I was demming for a magic company and in 1997 I lectured at the Mystic Circle of Magicians Convention in Ireland.

Although I've never joined a club myself I would recommend you seriously consider it if there is one in your area.

As you've no doubt seen mentioned before on the forum I'd recomend that you learn to walk before you can run. Learn how to control the top card/s while shuffling, learn false cuts, basic sleights like the glide, DL and the Emsley count. Learn to do them well and then practice in front of a mirror and learn to do them even better. Just learning a couple of tricks using those sleights, and doing them well, will get you into any magic club.

Books like Royal Road to Card Magic and Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic are both excellent.

PM me if I can help further.

I would suggest you get in contact with Mark Farrar at the Northamptshire Magician's Club.

List of Magic Societies

I have found that just being able to talk about magic with people that share your interest is one of the best ways of moving forward with Magic. If you give Mark a ring he will tell you about the dynamics of the Northamptonshire Society, and you will get a feel as to whether you think it is for you.

Whatever you decide though, please let us know how you get on...

Gentlemen,

Many thanks for all your helpful advice. I have ordered a copy of 'the royal road' and have got the details of the nearest clubs. Once I've got a small routine that uses some of these effects I'll go and visit the local club. I just received an email of Mark Farrar a week or so ago and he has been very helpful.

Regards,

Sam.

Well, I was 27 when I started with magic.....

I would seggest that you start with Marc Wilsons book "Complete Course in Magic". This book touches a lot of areas inmagic, so can decide which of them you like and which not.

Magixx

Hi Sam,
I agree with everyone else's comments. Just practise whenever you can. I know exactly what you're talking about. I'm 37, only started magic very recently, and am a Languages teacher in a high school. I've found after working in the steel industry then teaching, I've a better idea of how to interact with and have more confidence in dealing with other people. Also being a teacher has helped: 5 performances every day, different audience every hour ! I have shown some kids some trickes when they see my cards, can be impressive, but must always work first time! I'm also going to get royal road to card magic and bobo's modern coin magic asap cos of the excellent reviews I've read.
As someone with a similar job and interests. I'd love to know how you get on.
All the best,
Derek

Hi all,

I'd just like to add to this. I'm a new member (I'll also introduce myself in the introductions thread!), I'm in my late 30s and have always had an interest in magic. My trouble is that, like someone else said, I have other interests and a full time job so I often find it difficult to juggle magic practice with my other priorities. I have many books and a few DVDs, but rarely get chance to properly sit down and concentrate on practicing.

I have lost count of the number of "self-working" tricks i have brought, used a couple of times and then left in the drawer! My colleagues and friends know me as "that bloke who does magic" which is nice, but I would like to be able to do more.

My main problem is lack of commitment and motivation to actually sit and learn a trick properly. Tricks with gimmicks are good, but I want to sit down and learn more "real" tricks with everyday objects. My favourites are coins and matches etc.

I did, however, persevere and properly learn the Colour Monte trick which is about the only "real" trick I can currently perform, but even then I go to fast sometimes and mess it up!

It is heartening to know that even though I'm a beginner in my 30s I'm not alone!
Any advice on how to help would be appreciated, cheers.

Great site by the way!

Hi there!

Have you looked into purchasing a DVD? I find that they're much easier and more fun to learn from than books.

I would recommed Born To Perform by Oz Pearlman, but this may be below your skill level - don't know.

Kati

I, like some of you, started about a year or so ago, and am really enjoying the experience.

I'm in my late thirties and have always had an interest in magic (blame Paul Daniels and that Hans Morretti I guess). What got me really started in actually doing stuff was seeing a friend take the top card.. push it through the pack (face down) and then show that it had changed from the ace of spades into the ace of hearts. I had no idea how to do this then (I do now..) so started to look for books. Then I found this site on the internet along with the many on-line retailers and I was away.

Now I have so much stuff that it'll take me yaers to master half of it. Some things really interest me (but I have no desire to perform) like the big illusions of David Copperfield (especially the one where he's cut in half and wheeled round opposite his legs etc..) other things I instantly want to learn.

For me it's a hobby that I have to balance between my limited spare time and real life. I keep my stuff for dinner parties, eating out trips, the pub etc.. so I do some performances but I really like the challenge of mastering it all.

I guess it's what you want to do with it that will determine how much time you have (professionals I guess practice all the time). As for starting late in life.. no problems there.. in 10 years time maybe I'll be earning some "pocket" money from it all but that's not my main aim.. my aim is to enjoy and entertain to which maturity can only add.

Slippery