I have been thinking of getting back into an old hobby for a while, and today, while Ky was at yoga, I decided to make a gentle return to the world of magic. Denver isn’t a well known destination in the conjuring arts, but the store I went to, and the man behind the counter, reminded me why I was so into it when I was younger.
Doug, the man running the store, was super helpful. I explained my situation: how I had once been quite the enthusiast, but it had been almost 10 years since I was regularly practicing and performing. He didn’t blink, asked a few questions, and after about 45 minutes, sent me home with a hardcover book and a few packs of cards.
I haven’t read or used a magic book before, preferring in the past to use YouTube as my main source. However, I am glad I went down this path. Firstly, magic, like any artistic or creative pursuit, has a base layer of technique and theory which are very much worth knowing. Think of the differences between a classically trained pianist vs a self trained guitarist, or someone who has trained in French cooking vs just following a few recipes online. That deeper knowledge of the basic techniques goes a long way, and the book I got, Card College Vol 1, is one of the true classics of the art.
I don’t think I’ll ever make my bread and butter through illusions, but even just spending some time with someone who had a passion for the art was a buzz. We discussed our favourite magicians, and various philosophies on performance. While I’m so rusty even a double-lift might be noticed, but now that I am armed with my book, I think I’ll be back there in no time.
Hopefully I’ll be able to show you something cool when I see you next.
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