talkmagic.co.uk

Hi,

well I just found the place and registered. As for my background, well I've been doing magic for over 30 years. My speciality is cards (although, I must admit I still can't make a perfect one handed faro shuffle).

I am friends with someone who makes everyone believe he doesn't speak (while he is an expert in history of magic)... who by the way, his first name is Raymond Joseph

I am also buddy with Simon Drake (who not only is older than he looks, but is angry at the guy above for taking over his time slot on Channel 4), and friends with Paul Zenon (whom I got his new book for x-mas). If that wasn't enough, my ex-girlfriend's uncle is the late Gary Ouellette (who used to produce all these american magic TV specials and was a magic developer for other magicians).

In any case, why the title "not sure if I'll stay". and the reason is this:

While I think the idea for a forum such as this is great, from what I read, I am beginning to think this place is strictly for hobbyist and people only interested in knowing how tricks are done. This isn't a bad thing, but what about people (like me) who are beyond those kinds of needs, let me explain:

When I first started doing magic, all I was interested in was knowing how a trick was done and how I could amaze my friends and family. I used to buy new tricks every couple of weeks. As time went by, I became more serious and actually spent more time practicing than performing.

Today I rarely visit magic shops because if I need something (like a double-backed card), I simply strip and make my own. And I am less interested on what the 'secret' to a trick is: because frankly, when I see a trick,i find it's either a new version of something old or if it's something new, i can usually devise 2-3 different ways of doing it.

No, today I am more interested in the performance, the delivery and clever ways to achieve deception. Maybe that's why I admire Derren Brown so much: he has a way of performing a card trick which appears to be a different trick to the victim and a mentalism trick to the viewing audience.

It's all about performance... but is there a place for this on the net?


In any case best of luck and continued success to this forum.


trebor (obviously not my real name)

Well in answer to your question Trebor, you will find all sorts on this and similar forums, I myself am full time in magic some others are and some work it part time, then there are those for whom it is a hobby.
As to people using this forum to discover how tricks are done, I can assure you they won't have much luck.
If you want a particular type of discussion, my suggestion is that you start it and see where it goes.

trebor wrote:While I think the idea for a forum such as this is great, from what I read, I am beginning to think this place is strictly for hobbyist and people only interested in knowing how tricks are done. This isn't a bad thing, but what about people (like me) who are beyond those kinds of needs

Well Trebor,

All I can say is maybe you haven't read much of what goes on in this forum as Happy Toad has said, this forum won't put up with anyone just wanting to know how tricks are done......

As for this being a place strickly for hobbyists......I think you will find that there are more than a few working professionals and semi-professionals registered here, but as you are probably aware we all started as hobblyists at one time or another......

Maybe with your wealth of experience, you could enter into a discussion or two and help some of the young hobbyists become better perfomers....I am also sure that with all the famous people that you know you could maybe draw on some of their experiences to offer tips and advice......

Other than that........I don't see the benefit in knowing lots of famous people....it doesn't make you a better performer....I for example wouldn't condider myself to be a great perfomer....sure I have lots of experience and have been interested since I was young which is approx 40 yrs and been semi-pro and now pro for the past 9 or 10 yrs.

I also personally know Mark Paul as we were in the same magic club before he was famous, I also personally know Peter Duffie and would consider him a friend as we are from the same home town and have met and exchanged emails for years, I knew and considered a friend the late great Joe Riding......not as famous as the people you know Trebor, but I never mentioned it because knowing these people personally didn't change the way I perform and didn't make me a better performer.

I suppose someone will say that I must have got something from Joe at least that changed the way I perform for the better, the answer to that is yes I have, but the difference to knowing of him and knowing him personally has not changed the way I perform...I would have still sent for his manuscripts etc....and still practiced his routines. So knowing him personally didn't change anything....except for maybe what I thought of the man himself.....it made me admire him more.

I just hope that I may be able to offer some advice when I can and who knows learn something from the other members as they say you never stop learning and I certainly am not frightened of asking for help when I need it.

Just my two pennys worth.....

I don't personally know anyone who's famous (have met loads and loads though)

Anyway, I'd very much be interested in any posts that you can contribute to (or start for that matter), as I'm sure many others will be. You will note elsewhere on this site that only part of what we discuss and review is the trick or illusion itself, and a very hefty part of what is debated is the skill that is necessary in delivering or performing magic effects.

I agree with much of what has already been said and again, we definately are protective about revealing secrets on this site which in my view sets us above most other forums, without us trying to be elitist.

I for one would ask you to stick around, at least for long enough to make a better formed judgement of this site and contribute where you think that you can add value through your experience.

Just a little note to say i am glad to hear that the main purpose of this site isn't to reveal tricks. For some reason, this is the impression I got and I want to thank everyone for their reassuring words.

Second, I wasn't mentioning my friends simply to do name dropping. it was just to show a bit about me and the fact that I am not new to the field. Nothing more.

I'll prepare something for the group and post it next week. Hopefully it will be of some use to the readers and perhaps spark more posts of the same kind.


cheers.

Hi Trebor (and others!)

It was good to read your introduction (how many friends?) and I completely understand your views with regards to your initial concern about the use of this forum.

I'm one of those 'hobby-ists' that you talk of - having bought my first trick at the age of 13 (ooooo 21 years ago!) which was 5 5ps (as it was then) that jump from brass top to brass top. This led me to the coin unique and then to card magic. (Which I have always battled with as I have small hands for a guy - no smart comments here, ok!)

The thing is that hobby-ists like myself are often in awe of anyone who is semi or fully professional with magic. I am never too interested in how a trick is actually done, but more interested in how it is performed. (As it is often said - all the good tricks are re-invented with a new way of performing it!)

The point I'm making I suppose is the fact that I hope you stick around! You've obviously made that leap that guys like me dream about - you've moved away from performing to your girlfriend/mates (at a poker game)/the bloke next door and have progressed onto bigger things. I for one would love to know more about how I could make this happen.

Anyway, thanks for reading (you and all!)
Regards
Dante

Hi Trebor,

I symapthise with your fears but can support the fact that this isn't a place where tricks are divulged willy-nilly and though there are many hobbyists, I haven't met a professional magician (yes I have really, this is for effect) who didn't start off as a hobbyist doing wierd things in his bedroom, chasing relatives with cards, sores and the like.

The strength of this place is this:

if you're good you can improve and help other too improve.

If you're a beginner and absoloutely naff at everything, then as you dialogue you'ee improve and become good.

If you want to dialogue with, become friends with and find youself part of a family of fellow sufferes - take your shoes off - you're home.

Hope you stay, contribute and help others to grow as you too will certainly also do.

Welcome,

Vic

I should add that I met someone famous once!

Problem was that as I wasn't he didn't bother to stop and find out why I should be ,

Vic

Welcome Trebor to the forum that is TM as you can see it gets a little bit Heated sometimes but i think you should stay and share your wealth of Knowledge. I have only seen Simon Drake perform once and that was with Iron Maiden about 12 years ago (can't Quite remember) but he was one of the people that sparked my passion for magic, I'd still love to know how he put that knife through his arm and finish so cleanly at the end of the illusion but that is performance and not just the trick. And as most of the pros and yourself will know its not the mechanics of the trick but how it is performed that what gets the work.
SAM