Learning Magic Tricks - Where to start

So, you want to be a magician. Maybe you want to entertain friends and family, perform children’s shows, or maybe you have aspirations to perform professionally.

Where do you begin?

Well, just by having a keen interest in magic is just the beginning of the journey. What with there being so many different areas and styles of magic, and so many different ways of learning, at first, it all seems like a minefield.

The first thing to do is decide upon the area you wish to focus on. Once you have done this you can crack on with the fun part –selecting the magic tricks you wish to learn, practicing them and then performing them.

Here are some great starting points to get you well on your way, whichever area you wish to focus on.

Card Magic.

Every magician knows a good handful of card tricks, some even know hundreds. Personally, I love `good` card magic. But the question is – what is `good` card magic, and what is not? Again, this is subjective – I believe any card effect is `good`, but only if it is `performed` well, so it is important that you start from the right point, and learn from a good, reliable source. Any of the following suggestions will get you well on your way to performing some excellent card magic, whether it be quick close up effects, or full-length routines. Also, they will teach you the essential `sleights` and moves required, which once learnt will always be a useful and essential part of your arsenal.

If I were asked by a beginner to recommend a starting place, it would be the following.

Amazing secrets of card magic by Michael Ammar. Michael Ammar is a name well known amongst professional magicians, and for good reason. He is rated as simply one of the best teachers of magic to date, and on this DVD he performs, and then teaches, some excellent material, that is not only easy, but will get you used to handling and perfoming with cards in no time at all.

If you are looking for a more in depth approach, then Michael Ammars Easy to master card Miracles DVD set, volumes 1 – 9 contain, quite simply, some of the greatest card routines ever, fully performed and explained in Michael Ammars excellent style. These are classics for good reason, and you couldn’t learn them from a better teacher.

Coin Magic.

The beauty of coin magic is that it can performed at a moments notice with the coins in your pocket, or the spectators own money, and, you can practice just about anywhere!

If your looking to get into coin magic as quickly as possible, and want to learn all the essential moves and some top quality routines, you cant go far wrong with any of the following –

The complete introduction to Coin magic by Michael Ammar is again, expert tuition, expert performances and excellent value. By studying this DVD you will be taught the fundamental essentials of coin magic, along with routines using these techniques.

Alternatively, for the more serious student, wishing to learn the essentials through a progressive and detailed journey from beginner to expert, then David Roth’s expert coin magic made easy Volumes 1 – 3 will take you step by step. Volume one teaches you the basics of coin magic. Volume two takes you from beginner to Intermediate, and finally Volume three will take you from Intermediate to Advanced. A thorough course. David Roth is renowned as the worlds greatest coin magician, so, rest assured, you couldn’t be in better hands.

General magic.

What is general magic? By this we mean mind reading, magic with cards, coins, sponge, string, finger rings, rubber bands, balloons and more. Focussing on general magic will show your audience that you have diversity. Also, it means that you could apply the tricks you have learnt to either adults or children. The beauty with this magic is that it appeals to all.

The Exciting world of magic by Michael Ammar is the perfect place to begin. Covering a large range of effects using all kinds of different objects, and covering a whole range of styles, you could very easily take a handful of these effects and put together an entire act. But it doesn’t stop there. Michael has also gone to the lengths to offer advice on magic clubs, magazines, attending conventions, practice tips, psychology, and the golden rules of magic. An excellent package.

Fooler Doolers by Daryl volumes 1, 2 and 3 are the next level. Daryl (the magicians magician) performs and explains some of the most entertaining magic out there. Every routine is commercial, and again, a full professional routine could be made from just some of the effects included here. The hardest part will be choosing just which ones you wish to use. This set comes highly recommended.

These are just my personal recommendations, but all of these have stood the test of time. Any of these will get you well on your way into magic. Don’t be mistaken though. These are not just for beginners. I personally know many professionals who regularly revisit these classics, and who regularly perform routines straight out of these products for paying customers.

So….what are you waiting for?

Paul Knight

 

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