talkmagic.co.uk

maRk tHE mAGicK wrote:I might hire you out one day Jack, pay your hourly rate for some lessons

Hi Mark, we could just have a magic session, and you buy the beers!

Hi Mark - me again.

I'm very interested in your Magic Circle audition as it's something that I aspire to. Any tips etc. would be very much appreciated for yourself, or anyone else who has taken this route.

Thanks

dat8962 wrote:Hi Mark - me again.

I'm very interested in your Magic Circle audition as it's something that I aspire to. Any tips etc. would be very much appreciated for yourself, or anyone else who has taken this route.

Thanks

Dat, are you offering tips or do you want some?? I think your offering.....but it's the bit where you say any tips would be very much appreciated....sounds like your asking for tips!

Sorry for the confusion - I'm definately after tips as I am considering applying for membership myself.

dat8962 wrote:Sorry for the confusion - I'm definately after tips as I am considering applying for membership myself.

If you are considering The Magic Circle, I would be after tips myself as I still have to go down that route but have always put it off for some reason, is there any advantage of joining when I live this far away from London? I ask myself..........I would appreciate any comments on this.

If you are thinking of joining any other magic society I would say just go for it, most auditions are quite informal affairs, it's important to just be yourself and as long as you can show that you have a genuine interest in magic you should be fine.

I think The Magic Circle is about the only magic society where the audition is quite a daunting experience as you could be judged by some of the famous names in magic.....

When I was Royal Marine based in Poole, I was a member of the Wessex Magical Associaton, so maybe you could join that magic club Dat, its a great club or used to be.....

Unfortunately I got drafted to Plymouth so sadly I had to give up on that membership, but I loved the Wessex, I was a member for about 7 yrs, but that was over 15 yrs ago, about the same time Mark Paul was a young member and look where he is now!!

Thanks JB'

I've been planning on joining the Wessex but as you say, it's getting around to doing something about it. I'll do my best to join up within the next couple of months, time permitting.

I think that there is an advantage to being in the magic circle no matter where you live. I suppose it's the prestige of being a member that attracts me, a sort of 'I've made it' type accolade. Others may disagre but there you go!!!!

I agree that the audition does sound daunting and that's why I'm trying to get some tips - nothing like preperation, as you'll know from the Marines.

I personally think it's a good thing as I wouldn't have the knowledge I have now if it wasn't for the help and guidance of the fellow members of the magic societies I belong to.

It's all very well going it alone, but in a magic society you have instant access to advice and tips and can make lasting friendships too.

Also most clubs have star lecturers which is great as you get to meet some of the famous names in magic....sometimes!

As you say, some people may think otherwise, but I think the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages.

There is always a library that you can look at too and in some cases borrow books, this has helped me judge what books I want to buy etc etc.

As I said earlier, most societies only expect you to show a genuine interest in magic and don't expect anything ellaborate and amazing for your audition.

So good luck and let me know how you get on!

Hi again,

There are many magic circles around the country, the Wolverhampton one has 82 memebers at the moment, but they are linked with The International Brotherhood I believe.

If, or when I get through, I cant reveal anything obviously, but I'll give a clue as to what to expect, but then again each one will be different I guess.

Each circle has a boss, so to speak (cant remeber the word for it, its 7 am and just finished work ) and then the club secretary is who you need to apply for an application.

There is a registration fee, then an annual fee, and you have a month probation, but before hand, the audition is really to see that you are not just a one trick pony searching to exploit secrets

Like the sound of a magic session JB, its Guiness for me and what yours?

Mark (Shoot Ogawa taught me the muscle pass ) lol

maRk tHE mAGicK wrote:Hi again,

There are many magic circles around the country, the Wolverhampton one has 82 memebers at the moment, but they are linked with The International Brotherhood I believe.

If, or when I get through, I cant reveal anything obviously, but I'll give a clue as to what to expect, but then again each one will be different I guess.

Each circle has a boss, so to speak (cant remeber the word for it, its 7 am and just finished work ) and then the club secretary is who you need to apply for an application.

There is a registration fee, then an annual fee, and you have a month probation, but before hand, the audition is really to see that you are not just a one trick pony searching to exploit secrets

Like the sound of a magic session JB, its Guiness for me and what yours?

Mark (Shoot Ogawa taught me the muscle pass ) lol

Hi Mark,

Most magicians can become individual members of the IBM, I've been a member for about 10 yrs now.

The auditions for most clubs are different, the committee members usually set what the entry criteria is and that is usually only changed if at all at an AGM which is once a year, however as I said, unless it's The Magic Circle, the audition is usually quite informal (but don't hold me to that as all are different), and as you say, only to establish that you have a genuine interest in magic, so they won't expect you to be a budding David Blaine or Derren Brown....

The Boss you refer to is the President, and in some clubs or societies the President changes every year and in some he stays in the chair for a number of years, I am a member of a few societies but the local club is the Plymouth Magic Circle and the President changes every year, I was president about 3 yrs ago and have been a member of the committee many times.

The joining fees for most societies are different but the structure of those fees are usually the same, a joining fee and then an annual fee!

Mine is a Stella, or Fosters....I like the bit about the muscle pass, I love doing that for people it frys them........!

Jack

what sort of level do you need to be at to be considered for the Magic Circle? I would love this maybe its something i should set myself a goal for.

kems wrote:what sort of level do you need to be at to be considered for the Magic Circle? I would love this maybe its something i should set myself a goal for.

I think you have to be proposed and seconded by existing members and then you have to attend an audition and also a meeting with some of the committee members where you have to prove that you have a genuine interest in magic......but I am not 100% certain on this, I do know that you have to do the audition and it's quit an ordeal as you could have some of the famous names in magic judging you......which could be quite daunting for some people.

It might be a goal that you want to set for yourself, I could have joined many times over the years, but have chosen not to.....I am unsure what the benefits are to me, living so far away from London......other than the prestige of saying I am a member of 'The' Magic Circle. The magic societies that I do belong to provide sufficient knowledge and support and I can only say the decision to join is a personal one.....however I would advise joining a local magic club/society as the advantages of joining, far out weigh the disadvantages.

One advantage that springs to mind is that if you do wish to join The Magic Circle at some future stage, some of the members of the local club or society will probably be members of The Magic Circle and therefore, once you prove yourself to them as a member of the local club, they will have no problem proposing you which I mentioned is a requirement to join The Magic Circle.

JB Magic wrote:

One advantage that springs to mind is that if you do wish to join The Magic Circle at some future stage, some of the members of the local club or society will probably be members of The Magic Circle and therefore, once you prove yourself to them as a member of the local club, they will have no problem proposing you which I mentioned is a requirement to join The Magic Circle.

That's true and it is a condition of application to the Magic Circle that you need two existing members to sponsor you. I don't see that there is any other place to start other than a local magic club