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Advice to beginners in magic. A word from Eric mead
First, it's important to study and learn the classics of magic. When I speak to young magicians, they usually say that they know the classics of magic. I say, "Really? You know, the cups and balls?"
Yes, they reply, "We know the cups and balls." I say, "What routine do you do?"
They say, "Well, I do the Michael Ammar routine or the Dai Vernon routine."
I say, "What's the difference between the Dai Vernon routine and the Ross Bertram routine?" And they have no idea that Ross Bertram had a routine. So, when I say "study the classics," I don't mean learn "a" version of it. I mean that you should find original sources and study every version of it until you understand not only that version, but learn to perform other versions so you know the differences between them. This will give you a foundation for magic that will serve you in everything you do. Some of the classics of magic include tricks such as cups and balls, egg bag, ambitious card, coins across, and sponge balls. By learning these tricks and learning to perform them well, you will learn from the original sources and have a strong foundation in magic that can carry you forward in any type of magic you decide to perform.
Secondly, it's important to read as much as possible about magic. Many new magicians rely on videos and DVDs, but there is a wealth of information and knowledge to be found only in literature about magic. By reading magic books, you will learn more about magic and develop your imagination as you bring tricks from the page to reality. So, make sure to read more and watch less.
Third, many young magicians that I meet are no longer thinking in terms of putting on a show for an audience. I think that David Blaine's success on television performing individual tricks as whole performances has given magicians the idea that this is a way to do live magic, but as far as I know,
unless you have a television show, there is no way to do single tricks for a live audience and make a living as a magician. So, if you want to become a professional magician, you must think about stringing tricks together into a performance with a beginning, middle, and end. The best way to do that may be to pick your favorite three tricks and put them in some order. Then, find a way to connect them together. Make a little 10-minute show, which will give you something to do for an audience, and practice doing a show that flows together where your tricks are connected and not just individual pieces.
Fourth, strive to be original! Being original doesn't mean inventing new tricks or new methods. What I mean is to find something to say that only you can say! The unique thing about yourself that is what you communicate to an audience in your performance. To find that thing, A great example of this is Mac King. For anyone who sees Mac King knows that that's a highly original act he does. But if you look at the list of tricks he does, it is the Cards Across, The Cut restored Rope, and the signed card to impossible location! These are all tricks that lots of magicians do. But Mac has found a unique take and a unique kind of character and presentation for him, so he's doing a show that's unlike anything else.
He is very original without inventing any tricks at all. If you like inventing tricks, that's great, and you should invent tricks, but only after you've learned and mastered the classics. Otherwise, if you have found a great move and you invent a trick around this move, you'll have a trick with a great move, but the guy who does classic magic will still have a better show than you do.
Fifth, Failure is a difficult concept for young magicians to grasp, but it is an integral part of learning magic. No magician who has performed on stage has not experienced significant amounts of failure. It is important to accept that failure is a normal part of the learning process and that mistakes are how we learn to do magic. I make mistakes, learn from them, and it is a crucial part of becoming a magician. It is important to accept that failure is acceptable and, in fact, it is your friend.
Finally, the most important aspect of learning magic is performing it in front of people. I do not mean bothering your friends and family with constant magic tricks. Instead, find ways to perform for audiences. This may include getting a job performing in a restaurant, or volunteering for fundraisers and charity events. It is crucial to understand that you cannot learn magic without practicing it. You can dream about it or talk about it, but the key to becoming a skilled performer is to get out there and perform.
In summary, to become a successful magician:
- Learn from the classics and study them
- Read more books and watch less videos
- Approach your performances as a cohesive show, not just a collection of tricks
- Develop your own unique style and voice
- Embrace failure as a learning opportunity
- Practice performing as often as possible
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Additionally, it's important to have a well-rounded life outside of magic and explore various interests such as cooking, films, music, literature, and non-fiction books. This will help you become a more interesting and well-rounded performer.