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A few days ago I saw/ordered Street Magic by Paul Zenon on Amazon and kinda got hooked on the idea of learning magic. The book came this morning and I sat down a read through some of the chapters, practised some of the sleights and ran through some of the self-working tricks.

One of them, don't know if you're familiar, was where you wrote three predictions of answers to questions and a "random" card that was forced to the spectator. Of the tricks I read in the book it seemed like it was one of the more subtle tricks. I decided I try it out on my mum - it seemed to work pretty well and I don't think my performance gave all that much away, yet when I got to the end of the trick she told me exactly how I'd done it.

I was well gutted.

I kinda don't feel too enthusiastic about putting more time/money into it, I still want be able to do magic like I see others doing, I know it takes a lot of time and practice. I guess I'm just wondering where I should go now - do I keep practicing all the tricks in Paul Zenon's book? Get another book? try different styles of trick? Perform to different people? I guess in general - how do I get started in magic?

Thanks

I would say when you are starting off, read through a variety of books. See what authors you like best, and experiment with different branches of magic. Then when you have decided what you like, stick with some moves and effects in one field for a year or more, if you can. Learn to perform just a very few items really well (You can still mess around with other stuff in the background).

Don't get discouraged because you got caught out. It happens to the best of us occasionaly but I think you set yourself up for it by performing something just the same day. I take it that you described a one ahead effect. It may only take a small amount of hesitancy to tip that. It might seem a simple idea but the timing and the confidence you perform with could give it away especially if the person has an inkling about forces or magic in general. I'm sure people here will advise you the same that you really have to work on an effect, and iron out all the possible pitfalls before you perform it. That could take days, weeks, or even months.

Anyway, best of luck, and don't give up

(By the way, someone will probably ask you to post an introduction if you haven't already done so)

BlackShadow has it right.
I bought so many different range of magic items, I learnt almost nothing.
Before you start, try and think what you want to perform, and the reasons why. Then buy a couple of books, and learn these. I bought self working tricks and books. As they are "self working" it is easier for someone to work out how it is done. If you put in the practice, so that you can do a few of these without being caught out, then buy the books.

If you don't put the time in these now, you will find that you will try to perform more complicated routines without enough practise.

Don't let the fact your mum caught you out put you off. Instead, think that it has shown that you need to put the time in to get results.

Good Luck

Trust me, we've all been there at some point!
Don't let it get you down, with time and practice this won't happen anymore.

Click here, here and here.

Finally, click here.

And, remember, you haven't failed until you've given up.

Mike.

Start by just giving what material you have already more time. Magic doesn't need to be expensive, only when you own desire to learn new material ("secrets" too ) takes over. It could be easy for you to decide you just need a different book.

However at this stage that one book will suffice. There are many effects in there which you can pick and choose from to create a nice flowing routine (series of effects).

Dont be discouraged by your first attempt, after one day of being into magic! The problem with performing for your mum is that she knows you don't have any powers

Also The effect you choose is very performance based and requires confidence to pull it off, something you won't have in your magic at the moment even if you do have it in yourself.

However once you perform some more, that will grow, and you will get the reaction you deserve for the effort you have put into it.



I decided to post a reply for you because i liked your post. A lot of people who join this forum want to know what is the easiest, quickest and hopefully free way of getting into magic and request a list of "good magic tricks". You seem to have your head screwed on. You understand the challenge that leaning magic will involve and want some guidence. Well you have made a great start by joining this forum .

So to answer your above questions i reccomend you carry on with the Zennon book (i own it )i will be honest it is not a book that would have been reccommended if you had come on and asked for help in getting started. Personally that would have been This book click me!basically a more involved version of the book you have purchased a starting guide in many areas of magic. Get yourself a notepad(one of my best purchases for magic, 59p!) Go through the book fairly slowly and find some effects you feel you would like to perform.

If i was you and starting from this book i would have chosen:

Aces high
Big deal or "a poker puzzle" for those that own Royal Road
Stabbed in the deck

Find some effects you like an run through them again and again untill you are familiar with all the steps and could never get it wrong, test yourself on 10 times in a row. Then make sure you also know what too say, You are trying to clearly explain what is happening to the spectator and be entertaining in general. This part is hard to practise then once you are confident with them show them to people, friend collegues or school chums! anyone you feel would like to see one. Then you can work on making them flow together so if someone really likes your first effect, you will be ready to go onto a second or even third! Think about how easily Aces high perfomed with kings could flow into Big deal.

You can now do one of two things. Your choice will depend how hard you want to work and how much you think you will enjoy performing magic. You can either half heartedly try to learn magic and give up in a couple of weeks consoling yourself that you didnt give it everything and if you had tried harder you would have been able to do it. Or you can commit yourself fully to magic and really give it the time and energy it deserves and you will get there.

It is easy to turn back, but I think you might be a keeper . Put a post in the introductions forum and stick around you will learn alot and people are always willing to help. From broad areas of discussion, reccomendations down to help with a specific effect. We all started where you are now, some more recently that others and we wolud all like to see another new face(?) who shares our passion for magic.

Phew i think that will do for now

the zennon books a big pile of poo.
If you are interested in becoming a magician, it would be worth sourcing some better books from your local library, or from your book shop.

also, a thing to remember is.

IT TAKES PRACTICE TO BECOME A MAGICIAN, SO DONT EXPECT MIRACLES STRAIGHT AWAY.

Your mum spotted how you did it, because you didnt practice enough. Its as simple as that.

However, Best wiishes for your magical future.

Since you have seeked out advice, its a reasonably safe bet youl have one.



D.

Dont be afraid to say how you really feel dale

I restrained myself. I think its much worse than that.

Some chat about this book Here

Ouch...

Quack: Have you considered buying the Royal road to Card Magic? Or any other book like that? I would advise you to buy a book that teaches you the basic card sleights. Perform in front of the mirror for as long as you can keep awake ( ), making sure that your angles are correct, etc.

This is exactly how I started. I bought a book, learnt a few sleights of hand, such as the DL, performed an effect. I would advise you to start off with the Ambitious card routine. Its simple, straightforward, and can be made in such a way that every routine is different from the other.

If you are interested in the Ambitious Card routine, I would advise Darly's Ambitious card video. He teaches all the basics and more, to get you started.

Hope you have a good time on the forum, and enjoy your magic. If you don't mind, could you please pop over to the introductions forum and post a little bit about yourself?

Thanks!

Lot's of good advice already. Venkman's post say's it all really.

I'm new to all this too, and have used the very book you have recently to learn some new (to me) effects. So stick with the Zenon book for now, as there's a bit of variety in there, and you already have it.

You'll also see in posts elsewhere, that the mechanics of the trick are only a small part of making it successful, and delivery, personality and artistry all add together to produce the whole effect.

There's a better description of the routine in Penn & Teller's How to Play With Your Food too. They suggest getting one wrong, as a convincer It's sometimes better to do this for more people, asking each a different question, and take your time, don't rush.

Don't be disheartended, don't give up, just give yourself a bit more time

My first purchases were Street magic and BoBos modern coin magic, I have used both but prefer Bobos.
Street magic is much easier to read and gives you a glimpse into what you need to do to start performing magic which astounds but I did find the card tricks in Street Magic hard to master straight away and got a much better reaction from the chain scam toward the end of the book, bending key trick works well too
If you really want to amaze your mum, and also build your confidence back up, then go for a gimmicked trick like the Invisible deck but keep working at the "real" stuff. Good luck and merry christmas.

Mark Wilsons complete guide to magic is also a good book to pick up. But like so many have said before keep up the practice and have some confidence in yourself, don't trip up at your first failure because a few more are ahead of you.

Mark Wilson is not bad for a general look round the branches of magic and it has enough detail in quite a few of them to make an excellent start. I wouldn't recommend Bobos to start with though. There's enough material to last a lifetime, but it is somewhat disorganised.