old dogs and new tricks

[negativ]

A bit of personal background before I meander around to the point:

As a wee tyke, I was a natural learner. I picked up on a great many things without an awful lot of effort. This, coupled with what in hindsight was rather inadequate parental guidance, brought me to erroneously (I hope) believe that any discipline I could not immediately master was forever out of my grasp. You either had it or you didn't, and no amount of flailing away at it would make you anything more than a sad shadow of those fortunate enough to have been born with natural talents.

Where and how would a person who's not young, didn't put on magic shows in the tuxedo with the white-tipped wand for his family and friends at age 8, and has a damned hard time believing he can learn to do anything he doesn't already know learn the rudiments of things like card magic and coin magic, and general sleight of hand things? Those who know ain't tellin', and those who tell don't seem to know.

[Bob Klase]

Although most magician's do start when they're young, there are some who didn't start until much later.

There are many places to start, but the Mark Wilson Course in Magic is what I usually recommend:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0762414553/ref=pd_sl_aw_alx-jeb-9-1_book_4662326_8/102-8856621-4261708?n=283155

[Stir]

I didn't start until I reached my early fifties, and I'm often envious of the kids who both started early and applied that insane level of commitment that only teen & pre-teen boys seem to have (perhaps girls too, but I haven't run across it) that results in literally thousands of hours of practice. I realized early that I could never hope to equal their skills.

That said: I strongly recommend that you try to find a local magic shop and talk to the owner. If you're lucky he'll offer (or know about) beginner level classes in magic (that's one of the first things I did) ... and also will probably gladly demonstrate many tricks, and techniques. Another possibility is to find a magic club & attend a few meetings or join, and make some contacts among the magicians.

I't possible to learn from books & DVD's but much harder than from a teacher, particularly at the beginning.

[Tim Van Haitsma]

I did not pick up magic until I turned 30. I know what you mean by wasted time. The kids justy kill me.

I would echo the previous post. Find a local shop. Find a local club(IBM or SAM). I would also suggest going to a convention if you can. There are great. I go to Abbott's Get-Together every year. A long weekend(thurs-Sat) of magic. It is more valuable than anything else I have done.