talkmagic.co.uk

Good evening knowledgeable people.

I'm Shaun and have just discovered this forum. My story is perhaps pretty common in that as child I was always amazed at magic and loved trying to fool my parents with a badly performed trick. (Of course I always received rapturous applause for my efforts and they never once mentioned the fact that in reality they saw me stuff the coin or card down whichever hideous item of 70's or 80's clothing I may have been wearing at the time)! Unfortunately as most schoolboy fads do, the novelty soon wore off as I had neither the patience nor the attention span to practice these tricks before the next amazing thing grappled for seniority in my busy life.

Now as I approach 42 years of age I find my interest starting to grow once more. For the last couple of years I have been taking a mild spectators interest in magic, (television, dvd's, youtube etc.) then as the last few months have gone by mainly due to watching an acquaintance of mine perform a couple of close up card sleights I really got the urge to learn some myself.

I have no desire to perform in any sort of professional role as I have a very good job at the moment that I enjoy immensely but as I get to a certain age and my social circle matures I like the idea of doing impromtu magic for friends, family and work colleagues. Also having a job that gives me quite a bit of free time I now have that attention span and patience to learn how to do something well.

My interest mainly lies in close up card magic and mentalism and my influences are rather predictably Derren Brown and just about any decent cold reader.

I'm sure I can't be the oldest dog to suddenly take up magic and I'm still hoping I can be taught new tricks. Hopefully I will find this forum a help in my struggle to learn...

Thanks for reading, I'll catch you all with my first stupid question sometime soon I expect!

Shaun.

Hi and welcome, any age is a good age to start with magic and no age is too young or too old!

Mandrake wrote:Hi and welcome, any age is a good age to start with magic and no age is too young or too old!

...But, of course, Mandrake *would* say that

Ahem! Yes...well, a MASSIVE welcome to TM, Shaun - you're in amazing company!


Wait - what? 42?!!!! ...But I'm 42!!!! Old?? NEVER!

Both of you are in the very prime of life!

Welcome to the forums pal. I'm only 19, but I can say that any age is nor too young or old to start learning magic.

Any questions, please feel free to PM me.

Mike.

Hi there Shaun. Hope you enjoy your journey here. Like yourself I never started magic until late in my life, but have been a keen a follower all my life. I never started till I was 37 and I am now 47. But have learnt so much magic, and also collected lots of items.. Good luck Garry

Thanks for the welcomes guys.

I should start by saying I'm actually only 41 at the moment so I still like to think I'm fairly young. Not like anybody who is say already 42!

I do realise of course that you're never too old to start doing something new but just wanted to get a feel of peoples general view on starting something like magic at a later age as I'm sure it will be a few years before I actually become anything near competent.

As far as things are currently going I am trying to learn a few common card sleights before I move onto other stuff as I feel without them it is akin to learning to run before you can walk so to speak. I have spent the last couple of months learning the back palm and the Erdnase Colour Change and can now perform both pretty well. (I know these probably aren't used much but I like the look of them and they give me instant effects that I can amuse people with while I learn the more basic stuff). I am currently practising the Classic Palm and the DL which I'm struggling with a little. If anybody has any suggestions for other sleights that will come in handy I would appreciate it.
Performance wise I have a few rudimentary tricks that I can perform but nothing fancy. I can do Derren's invisible force from 'The Devils Playbook' and I am attempting the 3 of Diamonds mental force every now and again when I get chance with mixed results.

I have to say I'm enjoying myself at the moment though and hope to stick around for a while.

Thanks again,

Shaun.

Welcome to the forum, from another late starter

42: The meaning of life!

(Sorry, but someone had to say it!)

Yes, but what's the question?

Welcome to TM!

Welcome Shaun...come over to the dark side, drop the cards, and learn mentalism/bizarre

DrTodd wrote:Welcome Shaun...come over to the dark side, drop the cards, and learn mentalism/bizarre

Thanks DrTodd, To be perfectly honest I drop the cards very regularly! I enjoy the cards though and I'll keep at them as I feel close up card magic is a great thing to have in your bag. (or top hat)!

I actually fully intend to learn Mentalism as it is something that fascinates me. Unfortunately I'm offshore working at the moment though for another 5 weeks so I can't do much studying but I have got a copy of 13 Steps and Practical Mental Magic waiting for me when I get home along with one by Fulves as well but I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head. Those will give me a starting point to work with over my next 2 month trip offshore...

Hello Magus,

I'm 54, but I look 40

Never too late to learn.

CArl...

Thanks Carl,

I'm the opposite way, I'm 41 but I look 54!

Poppadom wrote:42: The meaning of life!

(Sorry, but someone had to say it!)

Forgive me, but that is not the meaning of life. It is just the ultimate answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything.

Two very different things...