How do I learn magic?
July 15, 2006 6:51 PM Subscribe
I want to learn magic.
All the posts tagged with 'magic' are either about (1) specific tricks, (2) the history of magic tricks, or (3) Magic: The Gathering, at least as far as I can see. (Knowing me, I'm probably wrong...)
So I'm wondering: if someone wanted to actually learn to perform magic, what would be the best way to go about it? Would the recommended course be different if one were interested casually versus professionally? Is there a good way to start/practice on the cheap (websites) or is some investment necessary (books, equipment)?
I'd like to start slow and see if I enjoy it or I'm good at it. Secondary question: what are the traits that make a 'good' magician and require practice? (Manual dexterity? Performing ability?) Are
All the posts tagged with 'magic' are either about (1) specific tricks, (2) the history of magic tricks, or (3) Magic: The Gathering, at least as far as I can see. (Knowing me, I'm probably wrong...)
So I'm wondering: if someone wanted to actually learn to perform magic, what would be the best way to go about it? Would the recommended course be different if one were interested casually versus professionally? Is there a good way to start/practice on the cheap (websites) or is some investment necessary (books, equipment)?
I'd like to start slow and see if I enjoy it or I'm good at it. Secondary question: what are the traits that make a 'good' magician and require practice? (Manual dexterity? Performing ability?) Are
Best answer: The best way is through a combination of reading, watching videos and being mentored by one or more existing magicians.
But if you want a simple low-risk, inexpensive way to get started then buy one of the following books, or get them from your library:
The Royal Road to Card Magic by Hugard and Braue, available in a very inexpensive Dover publication. Card magic only.
Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. The best all-round introduction to all kinds of magic.
Card College Volume 1 by Roberto Giobbi. The entire set of 5 books is a more detailed, more modern version of the Royal Road to Card Magic, but is also more expensive.
Modern Coin Magic by Bobo. Coin magic only.
Any one of these books will get you started, and there are magic techniques and tricks in them that are used by professional magicians today. I can give you a list of videos if you want too.
If you are lucky enough to be anywhere near a magic shop, buy your books there, along with a deck of cards if that's the way you go. You don't have to spend money to hang out, and you'll meet magicians there, many of whom are also beginners.
Regarding the traits that make a good magician, natural dexterity is not a requirement, although it wouldn't hurt. Mainly you need to be willing to practice doing specific manual moves until you achieve some technical proficiency. (There are magicians who use very little compex dexterity in their professional work, but you will need some, and you'll be a leg up if you get good.)
You would also need to develop some kind of entertaining persona - this is the same for comedians, singers, magicians and most of the performing arts. You need to be good at what you do, and likeable to the audience for some other reason as well. You could buy one additional book, Magic and Showmanship by Henning Nelms, also available as a cheap Dover book, to help you with performance aspects, but you probably don't need that until you find out whether you enjoy magic or not.
All magicians would agree that the worst way to start is to buy a bunch of one-off store-bought tricks - start with books, which are cheap and are packed with information.
posted by lockedroomguy at 7:19 PM on July 15, 2006
But if you want a simple low-risk, inexpensive way to get started then buy one of the following books, or get them from your library:
The Royal Road to Card Magic by Hugard and Braue, available in a very inexpensive Dover publication. Card magic only.
Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. The best all-round introduction to all kinds of magic.
Card College Volume 1 by Roberto Giobbi. The entire set of 5 books is a more detailed, more modern version of the Royal Road to Card Magic, but is also more expensive.
Modern Coin Magic by Bobo. Coin magic only.
Any one of these books will get you started, and there are magic techniques and tricks in them that are used by professional magicians today. I can give you a list of videos if you want too.
If you are lucky enough to be anywhere near a magic shop, buy your books there, along with a deck of cards if that's the way you go. You don't have to spend money to hang out, and you'll meet magicians there, many of whom are also beginners.
Regarding the traits that make a good magician, natural dexterity is not a requirement, although it wouldn't hurt. Mainly you need to be willing to practice doing specific manual moves until you achieve some technical proficiency. (There are magicians who use very little compex dexterity in their professional work, but you will need some, and you'll be a leg up if you get good.)
You would also need to develop some kind of entertaining persona - this is the same for comedians, singers, magicians and most of the performing arts. You need to be good at what you do, and likeable to the audience for some other reason as well. You could buy one additional book, Magic and Showmanship by Henning Nelms, also available as a cheap Dover book, to help you with performance aspects, but you probably don't need that until you find out whether you enjoy magic or not.
All magicians would agree that the worst way to start is to buy a bunch of one-off store-bought tricks - start with books, which are cheap and are packed with information.
posted by lockedroomguy at 7:19 PM on July 15, 2006
Sorry, that's assuming you might have kids at hand. But the kid tricks are useful anyway.
posted by snsranch at 7:27 PM on July 15, 2006
posted by snsranch at 7:27 PM on July 15, 2006
Magic is misdirection.
Misdirection is mainly helping your audience believe what they want to believe anyway.
posted by paulsc at 9:34 PM on July 15, 2006
Misdirection is mainly helping your audience believe what they want to believe anyway.
posted by paulsc at 9:34 PM on July 15, 2006
As a lover of magic and an actor might I suggest when you are confident as a magician that you take a theatre course? At least take a basic course and get comfortable putting on a performance in front of an audience. Speech class might also be a good.
The only reason I say this is because I completely feel that it's the performance, not the trick, that makes a great magician.
posted by freudianslipper at 10:00 PM on July 15, 2006
The only reason I say this is because I completely feel that it's the performance, not the trick, that makes a great magician.
posted by freudianslipper at 10:00 PM on July 15, 2006
CrayDrygu's advice is all great. I haven't kept up with my slight of hand for years now, but if that's the direction you find yourself attracted to, I'd found Bill Tarr's "Now You See It, Now You Don't" Series of book to be the best at explaining the moves (though there aren't a lot of actual tricks.) And I think the magic books of Harry Loyrane, which you'll have to track down from magic specialty shops, to be the best. His "Close Up Card Magic" is full of fantastic, pro-level tricks, all done with ordinary decks. It's not a beginners book, but it's a classic.
And I'll add this piece of advice, which I've found applies to a lot of endeavors-
What is the difference between a professional magician and an amateur? There are amateur magicians every bit as skilled as the pros. But the professional magician gets to show the same twenty tricks to different people each night, while the amateur has come up with different tricks to show the same twenty people.
posted by bendybendy at 5:58 AM on July 16, 2006
And I'll add this piece of advice, which I've found applies to a lot of endeavors-
What is the difference between a professional magician and an amateur? There are amateur magicians every bit as skilled as the pros. But the professional magician gets to show the same twenty tricks to different people each night, while the amateur has come up with different tricks to show the same twenty people.
posted by bendybendy at 5:58 AM on July 16, 2006
Response by poster: Good answers. Sorry it took me a while to get back to this. :)
posted by spiderwire at 4:54 PM on July 17, 2006
posted by spiderwire at 4:54 PM on July 17, 2006
This thread is closed to new comments.
It only took me a week or two to really mess with people at work after having practiced with my kids. This will at least give you an opportunity to see if you like it.
posted by snsranch at 7:18 PM on July 15, 2006