After reading without registering I'm taking the plunge and signing up. I'm 42 (much like another who just posted here) and was into magic as a teenager but let it slide until this year. I've watched Jerry Sadowitz's "Card Tricks Made Easy" DVD and am working my way down the Royal Road, it's good to see that I've got the book everyone recommends.
Currently I'm enjoying practicing and at a recent party I showed a few tricks (the poker routine and poker voice, and a little reverse) to very warm reception. It feels good to be learning something new, and it feels good to entertain.
I've looked at YouTube, and come away with the following lesson - sleights aren't routines. Patter, engagement, eye contact, perosnalisation - these are all things I think matter as much as being able to do a Top Change (can't do a top change smoothly yet, myself, but I'm working on it).
Anyway, nice to meet you all, and I'm going to go raid the search function again now...
