‘I want to become a master magician. I’ve been doing magic tricks for a few years now and like doing card magic best. Is it OK to just do card tricks? I would like to become a master magician at magic tricks, but feel that I won’t be able to make a mark in magic, unless I focus on one part.‘ – Mark
What’s your specialty in magic? Are you a ‘coin man’, a card worker, or perhaps a mentalist? When you first start out learning magic tricks, it’s important to get experience across a wide range of magic tricks. You need to find out which types of magic suit you as an individual, which excite you and get your creative energy flowing. As you move along this path, you may find yourself drawn to particular types of magic tricks. When this happens, is it a sign that you should specialize?
We asked Simon Lovell to give you some advice:
That’s really good advice! Simon Lovell recommends that you spend the first few years trying out as many new types of magic as possible. Then, once you find a style of magic that you are passionate about, you should specialize and learn EVERYTHING you can about that subject. Through this, you become a master magician.
It’s vital that you develop a broad knowledge BEFORE you commit to a specific field, as you need to discover what’s right for you, and become grounded before you focus in one direction.
Dominic Reyes: By specializing, you develop a full understanding of a smaller subject. You learn it’s history, and it’s current direction and trends. You also discover it’s boundaries and limitations. Through doing this, you are able to touch the edge of current knowledge on that subject, and hopefully, push that edge a little further.
Let’s look at this process of becoming a master magician in more detail
Imagine this circle contains all human knowledge on the subject of magic
As a kid you pick up a few simple proposition bets and basic magic tricks. You know a little:
You then start learning easy self working magic tricks. You know a little more:
You now start learning sleight of hand and performing skills. You develop a specialty:
You gain experience performing and deepen your knowledge of your chosen specialty:
Lectures, specialized books, DVD’s and discussion with other magicians takes you to the edge of human knowledge on your branch of magic. You are now a master magician.
Once your at the boundary of your field you focus on your creativity:
You push at the boundary for a few years:
Until one day, the boundary gives way:
And, that dent you’ve made is your contribution.:
Of course, the world looks different to you now:
So, don’t forget the bigger picture:
It’s important to understand that the goal is not the specialization itself. The specialization is a tool cut through the huge amount of information on magic, so you can understand just one part fully. Your goal is to become the best performer you can become, in the time you have.
Specialization allows you to become an expert magician. It’s important if you want to become one of the core creators of magic in the field. However, specialization doesn’t need to be on the mechanics of magic tricks. Becoming a master magician in performance, misdirection, comedy in magic, dexterity… All these abilities could also become your specialty.
The core message is to gain a broad knowledge first, then COMMIT to mastering something. Choose a specialty and push yourself to know the subject fully, then push a little further and make a contribution.
Useful Posts:
Eric Jones: Master magicians don’t mind being caught out
Master magicians and creators of magic tricks – Talk to them
My hands are too small to do sleight of hand magic tricks
Special thanks to Matt Might for The Illustrated Guide to a Ph.D.
Recommended book: Simon Lovell – Second to None
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nice and very helpful
Nice article 🙂
is ok 🙂