If so, my friend now offers some basic free classes on Monday night. He is the founder and owner of the acclaimed Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas, and teacher of the most recent winner on America's Got Talent, he also has a number of magic oriented videos on YouTube, simply search on: Jeff McBride to find the one that best suits your interest. The videos are often educational as well as entertaining. He is mostly known for his work with Masks, Close Up and Elemental routines. Enjoy - here's the link to the magic school: http://mcbridemagic.com/
I am fascinated with magic until now. Whenever I am lucky, I get to watch magic on cable like the street magic of Cyril in Asia and David Blaine in the US. But I didn't have the desire to learn magic myself because I might not enjoy magic anymore once I learn some of the tricks. In fact, there is a tv show that delves in the tricks of magic like it revealing the tricks used. We were watching the first episodes of that show but later on we quit watching because it was already obvious that the show wants to ruin the enigma of magic.
I like watching Magicians such as David Blaine and recently I've been watching The Carbanaro Effect on tv.
Even though my wife can watch a magic act, she considers it Black Magic or Evil. Well, she IS entitled to her opinion! Currently, there are a couple of magicians on AGT, one of them being a boy and his sister. I remember, years ago, I went to a Magic Show at Magic Mountain in Valentia, Calif. I have no idea how this dude did it, but he disappeared on stage and in a puff of white smoke , appeared right next to where I was sitting (seat nex to isle) in the middle of the room. Scared the crap out of me!! Never, ever wanted to be a Magician, but do enjoy watching them. Have watched a show called Magician Tricks Revealed hosted by a masked magician. Also, have the movie, Now You See Me, Now You Don't.
I love the magicians on America's Got Talent. However, magic would likely be somethingI wouldn't be good at. I am not dexterous at all,..and most magic requires at least some slight of hand. I do enjoy watching them though. The adult magicians amaze me, but even more amazing are the kid magicians, that perform tricks, as good as any adult would do, and have people really scratching their heads. The magic acts are one of the reason, I enjoy AGT so much! There is nothing else like it on TV.
I wouldn't mind knowing a few tricks to impress folks. I taught with a math teacher who attended magician meetings and took it fairly seriously. But what I would really like to learn is how to juggle.
Back in the late 80's we were friends with a couple and the husband did magic as a hobby. He was pretty good and he did teach me one trick but I can't remember what it was. It was impressive though.
I did my fist magic show for my family when I was 10 years old.It was a set of 12 card tricks I learned from a book by Joseph Scarne. To this day none of my family know how I did them. They were totally bewildered, yet all they needed to do was to find the same book and read it. Magic can be difficult but a of it is easy and only requires some preparation beforehand. There are a lot more gimmicks available nowadays but there is no occultism involved, it is mainly, misdirection, mathematics, memory tricks and lots and lots of practice. Most card tricks are pretty simple and that is why they work,. People always look for complexity, but also I think they like to be fooled.