talkmagic.co.uk

Good evening (or good morning, if you're on the other side of the pond, or even elsewhere),

My name's Andy, I'm 24, and am a bit of a layabout. I pretend to teach English in a couple of schools in Austria whilst I study for my PhD in English. It's a terrible job, but osmeone's got to do it.... long hours, longer holidays, poor pay and even poorer... well, everything.

I must admit, magic is not my main hobby. I guess I would have to list music above it. I compose music, I play an obscene number of instruments, most of which are too heavy and large to carry around from one venue to the other... you try strapping a church organ on your back! I conduct a couple of choirs (for this dubious task, I get to call myself "Kappelmeister"), and am a bass in a number of semi-professional choirs in England and Austria.

But magic would have to be my second hobby. Passion. Oddity. Time filler, call it what you will.

I don't really know how I got into magic. Maybe it got into me. A good friend of my father was a locally famous children's entertainer, and I always stayed behind for an embarrassingly long time, after all the other kids had disappeared (in no bad way.. I think they just went for supper), and kept trying to work out how the hell he managed to pull 6 doves out of a top hat. Naturally, I saved my pennies and bought the Paul Daniels magic set, which broke almost instantly. I was sorely disappointed. Eventually, another old friend left me EVERY SINGLE COPY of Magigram. Right up until the fine establishment in Bidmouth closed. HOw lucky was I?! I spent hours, sitting up in bed, reading about Svengali decks and Okito Boxes, when other boys were possibly thinking about Kylie Minogue. I went on search for shops that would provide the goods, and started giving magic shows at childrens' birthday parties. I think I was 10 when I gave my first show.

I've now progressed. Due to university, alas, magic went on the backboiler. But now I'm back with a force. HA! I'm back with a force! I like that one!

What types of magic interests me? I've got to confess, I'm not a huge fan of card magic. I'm too clumsy for it. But I have a particular penchant for impromptu horror magic. Sticking needles into my arm, cutting it off with a butcher's knife, that kind of thing. Tricks that turn people green, as well as shock. Maybe I'm just a freak.

What do I expect from this community? I don't expect anything, really. Unless David Copperfield is a member, and wishes to leave me his illusions in his will. What I would like, though, is to meet people who are possibly into the same area of magic as me, and who could perhaps share some thoughts on a few of my routines, criticise my techniques, and generally get an old affecionado back on the rails.

Well, I've now spoken for far too long.

I'll shut up now.

welcome and thanks for a great introduction

Welcome

Welcome to the mad house

*throws open the doors*

Welcome to the Talk Magic forums!