Beginner's Questions Answered Here

[Patrick Ryan]

: : L e a r n i n g . M a g i c > >

You can learn magic. Magic is a performance art that can be taught, practiced and performed by anyone who has passion for astonishment. Like learning how to play a musical instrument, magic takes practice, devotion, and commitment. There is no “one trick” that will make you a magician and there is no “twelve step plan” that takes three months to finish.

To be successful in magic, you need to appreciate that hard work and commitment is all part of the deal. If you are willing to put forth the effort required to become great, you will BE great. Imagine. The person reading this right now could be the next Magic Superstar on TV. If it is your dream, make it your reality. Welcome to Ellusionist. We’ll take you there.


:. How do I know what tricks to get?

Go with your gut. If you see a trick that just blows your mind, write it down on a piece of paper and find out more about it. Take some time to read everything you can about it on the product page and search up some reviews on the forums. Ultimately, make a decision based on your gut reaction to the trick and what you have read about it. Remember that you are performing your magic for people who may have never seen magic before. If your gut reaction to a trick is pretty floppy, it’s time to move on to the next one. Be very selective, and only pick the magic that really inspires you to perform.

Many new magicians will also try to figure out tricks based on preview videos or by other means. Please remember that part of being a magician means we have to protect the secrets of magic. Many creators work for years on releasing a product, so it is considered to be an honorable show of respect to purchase something if you intend to perform it in any situation. This even applies if you already know the secret.


:. Books or Videos? Which are better?

There will always be an endless debate among magicians when it comes to whether teaching magic with a video or with a book is more effective.

When I first started magic, I found that learning visually with a video was much easier for a couple of reasons. First, you literally get to see the effect being performed, which allows you to get a feel for what the effect is supposed to look like as a whole. Secondly, you are able to learn visually, watching every little nuance of the effect as it is being taught by a master. This helps you get the technique down faster so you can spend more time practicing and smoothing out the wrinkles.

On the other side of the coin we have books. I appreciate that books are a tough pill to swallow as a beginner but as you gain experience, you’ll quickly see that books offer a great deal of magic for a far lower price. There are some truly excellent books for beginners out there, so don’t ignore them! If you’re able to learn a trick from reading the instructions in a book, then you will find that you really get a lot of “bang for your buck.”


:. Buying too much.

A major pitfall for magicians, both beginner and otherwise, is purchasing a large amount of material all at once and quickly becoming overwhelmed.

When you make a large purchase, it’s perfectly all right to watch all of your videos and browse through all of your books to get a feel for the material. In fact, this is a highly educational experience. Becoming familiar with all kinds of tricks and performances is very important to your growth as a magician. So much can be learned by simply watching another magician perform, whether it’s on the TV screen or out on the street. It will help you shape your own views on magic, point out key areas to work on, and inspire you to become the best you can be.

The problem arises when someone takes everything that they have watched or read and tries to learn it all at once. This can result in the magician becoming tangled in a whole bunch of magic, failing to take the time to fully learn and practice any one effect. In truth, this is a complete disaster and should be avoided at all costs. Remember that those performers on TV spent years working on their material and that you will have to put in some time to learn your tricks too!

Our advice is to take three effects that you REALLY like from a video or book and then spend all the time it takes to get them 100% perfect. Once you’ve done that, you can go back to your pile of magic and start learning more! If you isolate the effects that you really enjoy and spend some serious time learning them, you will find that you will be more successful in your performances in the long run.


:. Making Magic Affordable

Magic can be expensive. How do you make it affordable?
The most effective route to saving money is to buy DVDs that teach a wide variety of tricks and techniques, especially when you’re first starting out. This is highly valuable for a few reasons. First of all, when purchasing a DVD, you are receiving many tricks in one complete package. Consider the fact that a single trick often costs $20 at a magic shop, and you will quickly appreciate the value of a DVD. Secondly, when learning from a DVD, you are presented with the unique opportunity to sit down with a pro who personally takes you through every single step of achieving the trick, covering every little nuance that is essential to making the trick a success. In addition, you also have the chance to see the effect performed in front of real people to see how it is properly presented and how people react to it.

For those who have progressed beyond the beginner stages, books become a highly valuable option for learning magic. The sheer number of effects and techniques that are discussed in books make their prices an incredible bargain.


:. Value

Many people value a trick based on how much they like it. That is definitely not the right way to value your material. Instead, value your material based on how often you perform it, and how practical it is for your typical performance environment.

A trick that you spent 100 dollars on that you perform every single day to generate amazing reactions is going to be worth way more than what you paid for it. If you regularly use a trick in your show, then it’ll always be worth the money you spend on it. On the other hand, a trick that you spent 5 dollars on but never use is not really helping you much, now is it?

While some things might seem expensive, the value of them really comes from how much you use them.


:. Can I get it for free?

In magic, there are no free rides. Every successful magician started out as a beginner who didn’t have a bottomless bank account. They put their own hard-earned cash and time on the line to become the very best at magic that they could. Many of them have gone on to produce their own original effects that they have made available to the magic community. Their commitment to the art has produced a gift that the community must treasure and protect. When you purchase magic, you are not only adding another priceless magical gem to your repertoire, you are also saluting the years of practice, devotion and hard work that the creator has endured to become great and produce a great product.

With that being said, Ellusionist provides all our new members with a couple of free tricks to get you started. Remember to sign up for our newsletter, which will provide you with the latest Ellusionist news and insider tips into the magic community. Check it out.


:. What if I have small hands?

"Small Hands" are never a huge issue in magic. The whole "small hands" thing is completely cured through dedicated practice... trust me, I know! An example that I throw around a lot is how my brother (who was about 10 at the time) was trying to learn the "Charlier" (standard one-handed) cut with a full deck of poker-size cards. Considering his age, he naturally had fairly small digits. He could do the move fine with a deck of "bridge" cards, but couldn't *quite* do it with a poker-sized deck. I prompted him to continue practicing, despite how discouraged he was. So off he went and quietly practiced for a week or two. One day, he runs into my "office" (bedroom) with a huge grin on his face. I asked him what was up, and he whipped out a deck of bikes and executed a flawless Charlier cut. Bingo!

Human hands aren't naturally designed to contort and extend to the lengths that card manipulation demands. However, through practice and repetition, then muscles in your hands will adapt and your muscles will "learn" how to do this crazy stuff!



Utilizing the tips and starting points discussed in these forums, you will be quickly on your way to becoming a magician with your first few purchases and first few days of practice. Remember to read, ask questions, and make solid decisions. Good luck, and once again, welcome to Ellusionist. If you ever have any questions, please contact our customer support division by submitting an e-support ticket, here.

Newer magicians should also read this thread, written by one of our forum members. It discusses the different areas of magic, as well as their applications.



Patrick Ryan
T e a m . E l l u s i o n i s t

[Patrik_gammon]

I am pretty sure I already know what the first question that a newcomer will ask.
"What DVD has the best value for a beginner?"

I honestly beleive there isn't one. it depends on your interests. I you want to learn amazing street magic try this. http://www.ellusionist.com/html/text1.html

If you want to learn about cards try this http://www.ellusionist.com/order/Kar...ub1.htm?cat=42

For coins try this: http://www.ellusionist.com/order/Cul...-1.htm?cat=106

Those are the best DVD's (in MY opinion) for each subject.

[Chimpdaddy]

Hey everyone,
I am a beginner, and I recently purchased 'How to Do Street Magic' (haven't recieved it yet, but I can't wait!). Anyway, I was absolutely blown away by some of the cool tricks show on the previews, and I can't wait to put on a show for my friends.
So far, I recieved a few bonus material downloads, which were mind-blowing to say the least. However, I do have a few questions to ask:
1. How long should you spend practicing an effect before performing?
2. How do you devolp showmanship?
Most of the time, I'm the fairly shy type, and I realise that the actual 'magic' is not only the trick performed, but the show you put on for your audience. How do you practice presentation, and how do you devolp total confidence so that it all becomes second nature?

-Chimpdaddy-

[Lucian]

1. How long should you spend practicing an effect before performing?
2. How do you devolp showmanship?
Most of the time, I'm the fairly shy type, and I realise that the actual 'magic' is not only the trick performed, but the show you put on for your audience. How do you practice presentation, and how do you devolp total confidence so that it all becomes second nature?

-Chimpdaddy-

Very good questions. Here are my thoughts,

1. Personally, just about as long as it takes. It varies a lot. You need to focus on performing, and entertaining with the effect. Sleight of hand needs to be the last thing on your mind. If you can do the sleights seamlessly, and have some good ideas on presentation, then you will be ready to perform.

2. Showmanship is a process. You want to have your character (who you appear to be) develop throughout your performance. Your audience should like you, and your magic at the end of your show.

Confidence is self trust. You need to be comfortable with yourself, and with going out of your comfort zone. Confidence is something that you will acquire.

Houdini

[Patrick Ryan]

Chimpdaddy - Different tricks will require different amounts of practice. There are tricks that I have learned, understood and perfected within days. Other tricks that I have learned can take months and months of practice before they are perfect. I will never perform anything that I’m not 100% comfortable with.

A general rule to follow is that if you are performing a trick within a week of receiving it, you are probably rushing it. Sure, you may have the technique "mastered", but you probably have not devoted enough time to the presentation of the effect. This is the words that go along with the actions and are as important, if not MORE important than the sleights themselves! Presentation and showmanship is a skill you gain after having many failures and learning from your mistakes. That said, there have been many books and videos produced that talk about showmanship. Run a quick search in the product questions forum for suggestions.

Confidence is another aspect of performing that you have to acquire, as Houdini1313 pointed out. After perfecting your techniques and presentations, you have to literally burst out of your comfort zone and perform for people. After a few terrifying experiences, you will soon notice that it's not that bad! You'll quickly develop a love for performing and you'll have all the confidence in the world. Good luck!


Patrick

[Lucian]

If you have taken public speaking courses at your school, I'm sure those help too. Speech is one of the very few things I think I will be taking from school. It has given me even more confidence, more comfortable, and I speak with less "ums and uh's".

When you think you are ready, wait another day. Practice more, and go over what you plan to say. Then go for it!

H

[Patrik_gammon]

The easiest way to build confidence is to believe in yourself. Be yourself, If the audience does not like who you are than that is their problem, not yours. Just relax and remember how the effect is done. Try to think of things from their perspective, "theres this guy, who is doing things that are utterly unexplainable. I have no clue how he does it."

The amount of time spent on developing each effect differs. The way I usually do it is perform the effect until I can do it without looking. This way it will appear that you are not doing anything "unusual".

Going back to being yourself, It helps a lot in your showmanship. If you let more of "you" come out of your magic it looks better than repeating exactly what the person who taught it to you did.

I hope that helps.

[Lucian]

Going back to being yourself, It helps a lot in your showmanship. If you let more of "you" come out of your magic it looks better than repeating exactly what the person who taught it to you did.

I will say something even simpler. (Although that was a great response)

Don't be anyone but yourself.

You will have a hard time trying to be like Blaine, or Angel, or your uncle...But you can and are yourself. Let your audience know you're a cool guy/gal.

Houdini

[Patrik_gammon]

I will say something even simpler. (Although that was a great response)

Don't be anyone but yourself.

You will have a hard time trying to be like Blaine, or Angel, or your uncle...But you can and are yourself. Let your audience know you're a cool guy/gal.

Houdini

That is exactly what I was trying to say. If the audience wanted to see a show by a famous person ( copperfield, blaine, etc.) they would have paid to see them. They are there to see YOU, not a version of someone you have seen perform. Make it your own.

[Patrick Ryan]

Magic is not defined by the man. The man defines the magic.

Learn magic that defines you.

[Jonathan Bagwell]

Wow guys, I'm seeing a lot of great discussions and quotes in here, keep up the great work!

That is exactly what I was trying to say. If the audience wanted to see a show by a famous person ( copperfield, blaine, etc.) they would have paid to see them. They are there to see YOU, not a version of someone you have seen perform. Make it your own.

Patrik - that's EXACTLY what I wish everyone would realize in their own characters in performances!

[Chimpdaddy]

Thanks guys, for all your advice.
I have finally recieved the DVD, and I can say it was worth every penny! Loved it! The tricks are so simple, yet have such an impact on the audience.
I recently performed the Voodoo Zone, and the Sick Four Ace trick to my old man, and my sister, and they were completely baffled.
I love it when their eyes open wide, and the say "Oh my god, how did you do that?....How did you do that?"

I still believe that I need to practice my showmanship more though. I feel that I still need to develop my "own" style, and put more of myself into my magic.

Once again, thank for all you advice.

-Chimpdaddy-

[Shadow_Echo]

Glad you like it! Make sure to check the HTDSM Forum. I will be there, along with many other street magicians, to help you with the specific tricks you may have problems with. Welcome to Ellusionist!

[Patrick Ryan]

Chimpdaddy,

Now that you've had your first taste of magic, remember to practice. Your first instinct will be to purchase more stuff right away to further your magic. In reality, the very best thing to do is to spend a month or two polishing the effects that you already know. This will result in having a solid base of magic to fall back on while learning some of the harder material that you will encounter. Even though you may feel that you have "mastered" your magic, I still believe that everything in magic requires lots of practice (weeks or months) to truly master... both technically and from a presentational point of view.

Let's put it into perspective: I've been spending the better part of the last year perfecting a "coins across" routine from Jay Sankey's Revolutionary Coin Magic DVD. Why has it taken me so long?

It's not because the routine is extremely difficult. While this effect requires some intermediate-level coin sleights, the basic technique can be pretty solid within a month. The reason I have spent so long practicing is because I have been working to make this effect as smooth and fluid as I possibly can. In the process, I have added my own subtle additions to the effect to maintain a solid pace. Within the past month, I have become satisfied with the technical aspect of the routine.

In addition to my obsession with technical perfection, I have also avoided performing it because I have not come up with a logical presentation that suits my performing style. To achieve the reactions that I want, this particular effect must be presented “just so”. This is proof of how important presentation is. I will not perform the effect for anybody outside my "practice circle" until I have devised a patter that works. It would not do the effect justice to go out and perform it on a “half tank”, as it were.

In the end, you must develop a practice/learning plan that works for you. Some effects require less practice and commitment to master than others, so use your best judgement!


Patrick

[dills]

Chimpdaddy- sounds like you are already off to a great start. You have a few good solid tricks down. This is only the first step in the door, but you sound like you already know the second one which is showmanship and presentation. I think the best showmanship and presentation cannot be bought, but rather learned through experience. Your experiences build who you are as a performer. Find a presentation you are comfortable with so that it is just who you are so you do not need to even think about it anymore (if that made sense).

dills