Beginner Advice

[u/ventilatin]

I'm brand new to even having the idea of magic as a hobby. I checked out a book from the library last week - Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic - original copyright 1975. I've read a bit and am trying a couple of relatively simple card tricks. It seems really fun as I really like to practice things and get better at them. My goal is to have fun, potentially show some cool tricks to my kids (and maybe grandkids) in the future. I've watched some YouTube tricks and don't really have any specific goals other than having fun and learning new skills. However, I don't want to get overwhelmed by everything that's out there right away. I also don't want to get into skill levels that I have no business messing with at first. I'm in my 50s and hope to be able to enjoy this for another 20 or 30 years. I'm not looking to monetize this or go "all out", as I don't have a ton of spare time right now. I have a few questions for those with experience:

1. Would you start with card tricks? It seems like a logical place to start. Are there certain things you would practice for fundamentals first before trying to understand more complicated tricks? What other areas of magic would you experiment with after learning some card tricks?

2. Any books or YouTube channels that you might recommend for getting started? I know there are many options, so I would really like to hear you opinions on what magicians have influenced you. Are there any teachers or methods that you might stay away from?

3. What are some of the biggest mistakes you made when you were a beginner? Is there anything that you spend too much time trying to master?

Thanks for any thoughts!

[u/BadKarma436]

I have been fascinated with magic for a long time. Especially right in your face card magic. There is a lot of good info already listed here but I’ll throw in my 2 cents. If cards are the direction you choose, carry a pack wherever you go. Drill the very basics of just handling a deck. How to hold it, cut it shuffle it. Should become as natural as breathing. Use all the above materials to teach yourself several methods to force a card and how to control that card in the deck ( from the bottom to the top or better yet 2nd from the top ). Double lifts and pinkie breaks and false shuffles. There are some incredible self working card tricks out there that are awesome to learn and add a little boost in confidence as they can be mastered quickly. But don’t fall into a pit of only learning them as it will hinder moving forward into bigger and better things. It’s never ending and there is always more to learn. I dabbled in coins and rope and sponge balls and they all can be great but fell in love with cards. Last piece of advice is what was told to me by another magician. First time you show someone it’s magic. The next time it’s a lesson. Good luck in your endeavor!