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I am going to try to join my nearest Magic Club.

Can anyone tell me what I should expect please? What will I have to do to show my level of competence? What do clubs look for in terms of ability and knowledge? Will I have to be able to demonstrate a specific number of tricks?

I appreciate that there will be variations between clubs but a general guide is what I am looking for. I suppose I am trying to prevent making a fool of myself if the average club requirement is way out of my league!!!

After exploring Nottingham's magic clubs, i found that I have to audition for them. When I am older and matured (well, more matured) I will have a go. Most magic clubs/societies require an audition to prove you are a magician. Good luck!

Hi Johnny

First up you are right. All societies differ, so I can only talk with authority about the ones I know.

The first fe meetings are like just be for meeting people, and taking in whatever event has been organised for the evening. I think it unlikely that yuou will need to do an audition until at least after a couple of meetings, if not more, howvere as I said this aspect is likely to differ from club to club.

You almost definitely will be asked to perform a short audition. Normally about 6 minutes. What you do will be down to you entirely - in other words you will perform what you are comformtable performing. If you are a childrens magician you will do a few of your effects for children.

At the audition they are not looking so much to be impressed and bewieldered by magic, but more ensuring that you have a keen interest in magic and are not just a method seeker. To be honest the fact that you have the guts to get up there and actually do it says much about your committment.

Some societies (such as the Magic Circle) will perhaps have slightly stricter entrance standards than others - but I suspect most local societies look more for the commitment to magic aspect rather than the skill side of things.

First, I'd like to echo everything that Bananafish has written as this is exactly my experience of joining a magic club. Everyone that I have met so far has been warm and welcoming.

Secondly, don't put it off! Now that I've joined I really wish that I had joined much much sooner!

By the time that you will need to audition the majority of people will not be strangers and as Bananafish said, it is the way of ensuring that those who have a real interest are admitted and having seen a few auditions they are not usually after a perfect delivery, it's more to demonstrate that you have understanding and commitment.

Thanks both for the reassurance.

I will call the local club tonight. Sadly I don't seem to have a club in Oxford and have to go about 15 miles to Bicester but thats not too bad

Take the plunge and have a go! Most magic clubs are very welcoming if you have a genuine interest.

I have learnt more in the 6 months that I have been going than I ever expected. Also its a good evening out where you can share tips methods etc. with like minded souls!

When I first visited a club as a guest I was worried that I would be out of my league, but I was up there with a lot of the members! OK that club was not for me, but I found one the following week that was.

I really cannot recommend joining a club/society enough!

Ok, well most do have auditions, but if it’s a young magicians club you need to know so many tricks. If it' an all in one then they may not do auditions, even if you do have to do auditions - there’s nothing to worry about, its all harmless fun.

And don’t be afraid to mix in with others because there older than you, when I was young I did lots of mixing with adults, such as lawn bowls.

But give it ago, and remember you’ll never know exactly what it’s like until you try it.