Would you like to start out in magic, but don't know where to begin? We'll tell you!
Magic is a very special art. Indeed, it is governed by an oath of secrecy which should (in theory) prevent anyone from knowing the various "tricks" used by magicians. But then, if magicians are still with us (it's a thousand-year-old art after all!), it's because there must have been a few leaks on all sides!
In fact, it was never really a question of putting a seal on all the secrets, but rather of making them accessible only to those who were genuinely interested, to people who had proved in various ways that they were interested in our art, not just for the sake of it, but to make it a show in its own right.
How to learn magic the easy way?
Like any other art, patience and practice are essential. However, you can learn simple magic tricks fairly quickly, so you can see whether you like it or not.
Whether you are a child or an adult, the resources will always be more or less the same, so let's break them down one by one:
Magic books
A timeless medium: the magic book! While they can be more tedious than a video (we'll come back to this later), books have the undeniable advantage of making you "look" for the magic trick, and allowing you to make it your own, a little more than with a video, where the artist tries to copy and paste the slightest movements of the person being filmed.
Did you know that one of the first books detailing magic tricks in French dates back to ... 1584! That's almost 500 years ago, so some tricks are already a few years old (which doesn't mean they're no good, on the contrary!).
In terms of reading material, the young magic enthusiast will be able to pick up the reprint of Robert-Houdin's Confidences et révélations, a fascinating classic that reads very well. This is the fictionalized autobiography of one of the greatest magicians of the 19th century, which also details and explains many of the effects he performed. The section on cheating and card tricks, or goblets, remains a quality source for anyone wanting to learn the basics.
There are, of course, books closer to home: for coin magic, you'll need to read the classic Traité de la prestidigitation des pièces (by Bobo).
Would you like to take up mentalism? The bible of this branch of magic is Thirteen steps to mentalism, by Corinda.
These books are hard work, but they're a treasure trove of methods, tricks and diabolical principles. In short, a summary of the best in magic.
Learn magic on video
Would you like to impress your audience, but need video guidance to do so? It's possible, of course, and many a magician has started by watching Bernard Bilis's The Magic of Cards DVDs to get started in close-up, and many others have begun their pieces with David Stone's videos.
These two DVDs (now available as legal downloads) are an excellent starting point, both easy to understand and explaining every move step by step.
Video is a useful tool for learning the most subtle techniques, but you must avoid falling into the trap of parroting the film and trying to copy the every move of the magician being filmed. The person watching the video must force himself to bring his own personal touch to the exercise.
Obviously, you can't talk about video without talking about the Internet. As in all fields, there is good... and not so good. Far be it from us to reopen the debate on the unbridled publication of secrets on the web, but it's having a devastating effect on our art - and even on those of you just starting out in magic! Just think, if you've had no trouble accessing a video explaining a trick you've been working on, it'll be just as easy for your audience! How would it feel to present a magic trick to someone who would immediately cut you off to explain how you'd done it...
Magic stores
Whether it's a physical store (like Mayotte or Magic Dream in Paris), or an online store that will deliver your order to your door, the advantage of these places is that they generally offer magic tricks to suit all levels. Whether you're looking to replenish your stock of Bicycle cards or buy the latest magic trick, we can only advise you to go to a physical store to get advice, and above all to meet people. This will enable you to widen your circle of acquaintances in this sometimes a little too closed environment, which brings us to the last point....
Magic clubs
One of the best ways to become a magician is to join a club! Whether or not they're affiliated to the FFAP (Fédération Française des Artistes Prestidigitateurs), you can learn tricks and techniques to impress your audience! These clubs generally bring together enthusiasts of all ages, whether children or adults, and enable you to develop your network of magician acquaintances.
To find your nearest FFAP-affiliated club, please visit this page.