talkmagic.co.uk

Hi all!

Have been reading the forum for some time now, and decided to join in and throw some questions I've been struggling with at you guys, so I can finally get them of my chest... But please allow me to introduce myself first (haven't I heard this before somewhere... ) as is custom here I think...

I'm a 43-year 'old' resident from Belgium (the Flanders part for those of you who know Belgium consists of several regions), the land of beer and chocolate...
I got hooked on magic only recently, when I visited New Orleans in the spring of 2005, before Caterina wiped away half the city. One evening, when strolling through a shopping mall right beside the Mississippi, my attention got caught by a small boot selling magic items, probably no more then 2m²... I was curious and started talking to the guy behind the counter and before I knew two hours had passed during which he had completely stunned me with what I now know are relatively standard tricks... I ended up buying D'light and some other things, but the main thing was, I completely and utterly fell in love with magic and wanted to know as much as I could about it. So I started roaming the internet, bought books and DVD's (yes, I admit, I also got a serious degree of CUPS...) and have been reading and watching ever since in the little spare time I have left (I have a wife and two kids, a busy professional life and a badmintonclub to run...).

Someday I would like to perform in a kind of table-hopping way, in restaurants or pubs, but that's where my first concern comes in: since I'm a complete novice, isn't 43 'too old' to start doing magic? I suppose it takes a lot of time to set up a routine and practice until it's good enough, so I'm wondering whether it's a good idea to launch myself into this... I suppose I should at least give it a try, but still...

Any ideas or suggestions? All comments are welcome and appreciated...

Kind regards, and keep 'talking magic'...

Welcome to TM!

You are never too old to start!

I recommend a good coin book and a good card book to get started. Try Bobo's Modern Coin Magic and The Royal Road to Card Magic.

You then only need a handful of coins and a deck of cards, and you are away! I also recommend a close up matt of some kind.

Some sleights take longer than others to perform, and you should take care and time to learn a few routines until they are absolutely solid before performing them.

I am currently giving tips and advice to someone who is older than 43, and he is doing really well with all the new stuff. He has his Elmsley count down and his cuts and shuffles are working really well for him.

PM me for more advice should you want it.

Hi and welcome!

Dr Todd,

Thanks for the advice!

I have both books you mentioned (in electronic form on a kind of 'Magical classics' CD) so I could get on with these, but I already started in Giobbi's Card College some days ago... I'm only a dozen pages or so far though, so should I continue there or turn to The Royal Road?

you should take care and time to learn a few routines until they are absolutely solid before performing them

I think that's the major point... I should take the time to choose the effects I want to do and thoroughly practice these, instead of keeping reading everything I can lay my hands on... I'll try to keep this in mind, but besides CUPS I also suffer from a serious CUCS (Compulsive Uncontrolable Curiosity Syndrome) condition, so it will be hard...

If you don't mind, I'll take you up on your offer and will PM you for more advise...

Thanks again!

Mandrake,

Of course thanks for the welcome too...!
I'm not used to this posting yet...

Absolutely not. If you enjoy it, you are not too old to learn. Welcome to TM and Magic, I am certain that you will enjoy both. I have personally taught people older than you (note, I am only a couple of years younger than you are) and age has never interferred.

Well, I am definitely older than you are, and I am such a beginner that it's unbelievable!
I too have a case of CUCS, and that runs up credit card bill . . . but, I don't know what CUPS is so I don't know if I have that or not!
I don't think age is important where learning ANYthing is concerned. I learn faster than my students and they are in high school!
I think you just have to have the "want-tos" which is something I've had about way too many topics!

Thank you all for the kind words!

Marzoli, as far as CUPS is concerned, you can find all about that on
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic2676.p ... nnecessary

Hoi Alakazam and welcome to TM.
Didn't see you in Introduction forum, so I just follow the lead here.
Best greetings from Iceland,
Leve de Koningin!

Good point, I've moved this to Introductions as that was the way it all started.

Welcome

Welcome! It is never too late to start. Work on magic for a year or so in your spare time, and then get noticed by doing a few free shows at local charities and hospitals...Or at least that is what I am planning on doing hopefully starting sometime this winter. I wish you all the luck in magic, and I will warn you, magic takes time, money, and patience. Patience WITH practicing and time FOR practicing...lots of time. As far as money is concerned though, a) you have your own club so this should not be an object. b) If it is a problem, just buy books instead of DVD's they give a lot more "bang for your buck".

~David

Hello and welcome, i hope we can help you out to accomplish your goals. But dont let anyone/thing get you down. You are never to old to do magic. So hope we can help.