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I am new to the practice of magic. I discovered this forum while searching for information about the "Asrah Levitation". I have been a magic fan all my life. I'm now interested in learning magic as a hobby. There are so many books and tricks for sale online that I have no idea where to get started. I'd like to learn the basics and proceed from there. Please help me by compiling a list of easy, inexpensive tricks that can be done impromptu for small groups. Thank you! I look forward to reading your responses.

It is often best to start with a good book. Books such as Royal road to card magic and Mark Wilson's complete course in magic will serve you well. It will be much less expensive than buying a bunch of packet tricks and remember that many tricks will require an element of sleight of hand (which the books will teach you)

You need to get two books; The Royal Road to Card Magic by Jean Hugard, and Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. Those two alone will give you a huge start.

Magic for Dummies or Teach Yourself Easy Magic Tricks are also aimed at the adult beginner, and might be worth a look, but really you can't better the first two.

If you are interested in mind-reading and mentalism, then try Karl Fulves Self-Working Mental Magic.

In six months we can recommend further studies!

Im with Stephen and Tony on this. You can pick up both Royal Road and Mark Wilsons very cheaply. Both are considered required reading amongst magicians. Royal Road will give you a firm grounding in card magic. Mark Wilsons will introduce you to everything from sponge balls to stage illusions, with many classic effects explained.

You will be surprised at the amount of stuff in Mark Wilsons, for such a small price

jim

Thank you for your recommendations!

I am still interested to learn of your favorite easy to perform tricks.

For myself, I can say that the Dummy's Guide to Magic by Tom Ogden has been extremely useful. It starts with very easy tricks (which can be quite impressive) and goes up in the skill-level required. I think that in a week of learning, you can already start impressing your friends with some nice stunts.

I am also studying Tarbell's Course of Magic at the moment, and find it quite extensive.

You wont find a better place to start than Mark Wilson's book, it covers a huge range of magic and has enough to keep you going for a long time.

Mark Wilson's book is great. This one, along with "magic for dummies" got me started, years ago.
I still prefer the dummies, though, despite the title.

Mark Wilson Complete course and Royal Road to Card Magic are the two I would also recommend. There is nothing else to add to what has been said previously.

Nic

If you are just starting then get hold of a copy of The Pocket Book Of Magic by Peter Eldin - it will give you a good grounding in many areas of magic - coin and money magic, card magic, impromtu magic, close-up magic, stage magic, rope magic and mental magic and teaches you a few of the good classics effects and important principles. You'll find it for a pound or two from online bookshops.

Mark Wilson's Complete Course In Magic is also good as stated above, it also covers most areas of magic well, but I think it concentrates far too much on card tricks and may overload the beginner with trick after trick and far too many choices rather than just offer a smaller good classic selection for you to choose your favourites and perfect. Remember you might end up looking like a clone of alot of other magicians if you just do card tricks.

Whichever of the above two you choose you will be able to see which area of magic most suits your style as they both cover the main areas of magic.

Only get 'royal road to card magic' if you want to do card magic.
Lots of people do close up magic, but it's not everything.

the 'Mark Wilson' book mentioned has sections on all types of magic. I also really like books by 'Nicholas Einhorn' there are two out, and they have lots of varieties of magic in - close up, cabaret, stage, kids magic, mentalism.
The tricks might look simple, but trust us that's what we do, we just add our own spin and personality and polish to them.

Good luck. Let us know how you get on.