Hello all

I've just joined this forum (obviously) and thought it would be polite to check in and introduce myself.
I'm Karl from Stoke-on-Trent in England. I only took up the wonderful art and craft of magic about two months ago. Those two months with magic has given the most fun and motivation to learn that I've ever had with any other hobby. In fact it isn't a hobby now for me, it's a way of life.
I must have spent about £200 on books on the subject ( which is alot when you consider I'm a 22 year old just out of uni) and I've become obsessed with studying and performing magic for family and friends.
So the next step in the ladder to becoming a fully fledged magician I thought would be to join a good forum such as this so hello! I look forward to getting to know you all and participating in the forum

I'd like to ask a couple of questions before I finish..........
Does anybody know of any good magic societies/clubs situated in the midlands that I could check out? Also what's the best way for an amateur such as myself to extend my magic into something which is more than a hobby because one day I'd like to go semi-pro? Is joining magical societies neccessary to gain the experience to achieve this?
Many thanks .