Archini: I am planning to wallpaper my office in the next week or so.... hopefully with a vinyl paper or maybe a flock victorian effect if I get another booking soon. Could you advise on the best adhesive to use? My dad reckons that polycell are still the best but I believe that Vernon used a simple mix of flour and water. I know the preference among a lot of the younger set is for a bees wax solution or even sticky blue glue but I really don't want to redecorate the hipster pad again too soon. I hope you can help on this but I will fully understand if you don't want to tip your paper paste secrets on this forum.

Also, do you think that artex has had its day as a ceiling finish. I rarely perform card on ceiling in my office so this is not a consideration.

“DIYley” yours…

Pete Firman: Go with the flock, you are a magician aren’t you? Owen says blue glue is the way forward! Hope you are well.

Skorpion: Firstly lovin’ the stuff you've done, dirty tricks secret, world of magic etc.

Ok my question:

As a younger magician (26) a lot of the older (80+) guys in my circle look down on some of our routines, I frequently hear "what’s wrong with the classic routine?" One routine I do is ambitious card to stomach (with blood) Have you ever had this problem with the "older" generation looking down on your take of tricks?

Pete Firman: Young at 26? I'm 25 and I feel old! 80+, man, those guys are 3 generations away from you or I. What do you expect? What do you care what they think anyway?

I wouldn’t let it bother you, stick to what you believe in, do the effects you want to do and you'll get so much more out of magic.

Sticking to a set of rules is boring, be a rebel. Burn that Mark Wilson Course, wipe your bum with Bobo! The revolution has begun, no Dover reprint is safe!

Pb149: What do you do in your spare time, and how long do you spend practising your magic?

Pete Firman: I'm one of those people that finds it hard to switch off from work and relax. My girlfriend says I love magic more than her. She’s right.

I'm joking I love my girlfriend very much, and as she leans over my shoulder to see these words of wisdom she reminds me that I ought to mention her a bit more!

When I'm not thinking about magic I like to go to the cinema, watch a DVD, walk in a park, hit a Starbucks, hang out with friends (this usually turns into a magic jam). Just regular stuff really.

Time spent working on my magic? Every day, I treat it like a job. I start at 9 and finish at 6...usually!

BrucUK: I love magic, but cheese is also excellent, and a passion of mine.

Assuming you are not lactose intolerant, what's your favourite cheese, and what's your favourite way to consume it?

PS - If we have to talk "magic stuff", I like your presentation of Sander's Fiber Optics.

But I prefer a good Camembert, (if presented correctly).

Pete Firman: I love a Mighty Cheese.

The Sanders routine is old school baby. I've never seen Fibre Optics. I bought a booklet from Richard years ago, when he first put it out it was called '3 Ropes and a Baby'. A great routine.

Sam C: Pete, of all your routines, Mr Ball has been my favourite to date. (I also really did enjoy your misers dream too)

However, back to the ball, where did the inspiration come from for that particular act?

Pete Firman: Mr Ball is one of my faves too. He came about as a 'Magicians at War' rehearsal piece that I wanted to do. Originally I wanted to have a puppet that looked just like me but it was going to cost a fortune to make. Our Art Director made Mr. Ball on the spot. Its actually an idea of Terry Seabrooke! I had so much fun with him, I improvised about 10 minutes worth of rehearsals with him and decided I had to use him in a routine.

The first Mr. Ball routine was in MM2 and the one you probably saw was in Secret World. The Secret World routine was developed by Ali and myself. I perform that routine in my live show, its always well received, the fact I move my lips when he talks is of course deliberate. I see it as a post-modern evaluation of ventriloquism in popular culture.

McDermott: With monkey magic and dirty tricks , a lot of the tricks are so original or inventive. How do you come up with these ideas for originality ?

Also what key advice would you give to a 16 year old thinking of turning pro ?

Many thanks.

* pete swallows cigs and fish*

''choke , choke , choke !''

Pete Firman: Check out the thread on Brainstorming for how we go about coming up with stuff. A 16 year old going pro?

I say get world experience, go out, go to Uni, have fun with chicks, mess about. Still do magic, but I don’t think a 16 year old pro is going to get enough work in the current marketplace. Work semi pro and see how it pans out.