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I have only been doing magic properly for just over a year now, but I now have lots and lots of tricks in my repertoire. But why are these not enough? Why should I learn more? I want to learn more but form a practicle point of view, I will probably never show everyone all of the tricks I know. I'm sure that it's because I'm a hobbyist, and as a hobbyist I don't have a consistent flow of spectators. On the other hand, is it not possible to build a whole career on only a few tricks? Maybe even just one?!

So why learn more tricks? I know I enjoy it, but the tricks I perform most are the ones I've been doing for ages, not all the new stuff. I know obviously I want to find more and more powerful magic for different situations, but I still use the same old tricks. I mean they are not old to my audience are they. To be honest I'm not sure what point I am trying to make. Just to ask the question why we always want more magic? It must surely be for ourselves rather than our audiences...

Just that I am going to cool off for a bit and stop looking at new material all the time.

Books are the way to go once you reach the stage you're at.

Then, once in a while, get some 'contemporary' stuff just to see the freshness of ideas.

Sounds like you're at the creativity crossroads—you want more, but you're also bombarded. I predict that your next move will be writing your own material...

A good friend of mine recommended that you learn 6 effects and really perfect them. Perform them in front of an audience 1000 times (not in the same show, mind you )

I agree, it's better to know fewer tricks and perform them flawlessly, than to perform many tricks poorly

I realise that I didn't really answer your question. I read the subject and then just skimmed through - sorry

As a suggestion - why don't you start to look at the kind of effects you want to do - what you want to 'say' with your magic. I suspect you're looking for more than just more tricks - like something's missing and you're not sure what it is.
What do you want to do with magic? Set up some criteria as to the kind of things you're 'able' to do. Do you want stuff that is believable - how do you want people to perceive what you do. How does the magic happen? What is your definition of magic etc. etc.

Once you've answered these kind of questions - look back at what you know and start filtering out that which doesn't fit and maybe look at how you can change some of it to fit what you're trying to project. Also based on that it makes it easier to look for new material in that something might look awesome, but it just doesn't suit who you are.

Maybe it's time to focus on who you are as a magician and how people perceive you. Essentially no magic carrer can be made from a few tricks - although a few tricks may be all that is performed. The guys that have made it have made it because of who they are and how people perceive them. The tricks are a tool..

Hope that helps..

hehe the only problem with learning very few but very well is that because you perform them well people want more.

And if you dont show them more in the near future, then they back off. You've lost a fan!

But i DO agree. Seeing someone perform 1 effect but perofrming it extremely well is better than watching a naf magician perform hours of stuff!

I think the probelm with being a hobbiest is that your audience is usually limited to a few people. So - yes, doing the same effects for the same people would then be a bit odd. However - there comes a point where you just aren't satisfied with that any longer. I think that's when you need to consider being a bit more than a hobbiest (on a part time basis)..

In answer to your question (which I didn't do in my first posting!) I'd say, all I really need is a deck of cards.

I can keep friends and even close relatives amused for hours with just what's in my head and some cards—no need for other stuff.

Like I said, learning coin/card/vanish/etc. skills, you'll find that impromtu magic comes easy.

Eugene Berger will tell you something along the line of "the law of 6" i.e. six solid coin routines, six solid card routines, etc.

Now in my youth I lived by the philosophy that "he who dies with the most toys wins"... it's actually a very quick way of working yourself to the grave in that you end up working just to support all your junk vs. your junk supporting you e.g. it is not wise to be too big of a pack-rat. Yet, I firmly believe we need to know (KNOW) the material we work with most. That is to say, if you are going to do Dove work, then become a sponge and find everything you can on that topic and learn it! Work with it, find what works best for you and what don't... along the way, as you become more and more familiar with your given field, you will have a peculiar thing happen -- Creative Impluse! That's when you can honestly start calling yourself a "Magician" because it is this little element that allows the "artist" to blend in line with technician and actor so as to bring about the miraculous. When you've created six "miracles" within your given field of study, shift your focus and do the same in a new field e.g. the Law of Six lends to you both, variety as well as a means towards evolution.

I know many in this business that own only the dozen or so items they use in their shows and that's it... that's all they need. I can appreciate that just as I appreciate something seige stated previously... our investment becomes books -- information -- rather than a single effect here and there. As I've stated before, when you move into the deeper realms of magic sticker shock will throw you big time... a page or two of hand-written notes explaining a technique can fetch as much price wise, as a brand new stage illusion... so let's not complain too much about the high cost of magic until you actually find yourself in the position of having to fork out some real cash for seemingly little to nothing

Thanks for all the advice everyone.

I think the thing is, I thought I knew what I wanted from magic when I started. I wanted to do cool tricks and that was about it. I've found now though, that I am enjoying performing for people more and more. I think it's because I'm not so nervous anymore. I used to just perform at people, it was all about the trick, but now I almost don't care if it's magic or not, just that they are entertained.

I think if you just do the trick and leave it at that, then you end up wanting more and more tricks because you think that is what you need. I think it is very important that the performer enjoys what he's doing also. If you're doing loads of packet tricks, you end up wanting loads of them, so that you have something new to 'fiddle' with. I certainly have tricks that are 'just for me' and have no intention of performing. I just though that is was good to have the option or whatever.

I am definately finding books more fulfilling, and certainly more useful! I don't want to get into another 'gimmicks vs. sleights' argument, but I see that it does relate closely to the number of tricks you know. It is quite obvious to me now that if you want to perform original, great magic, that you can be enthusiastic about also, then you will certainly get more from books.

As seige was saying, just knowing the various moves, means you don't even have to learn 'tricks'; you can make magic.

Craig

A great post that everyone would be wise to read and remember.

Should be a sticky!