Folks ask me all the time how to get started in magic. The truth is that I don’t really have a good answer for them. How do you responsibly tell people how to get into an art that, by it’s nature, is largely dependent upon some level of secrecy?
I’ve taken an oath to use my knowledge responsibly and to protect the trade secrets of the magical fraternity. Yet who am I to say whether someone has the right to enter our world, if only as a hobbyist? This is a tough question that every professional magician has to answer. How do I protect the secrets that pay my bills (and the bills of my brethren) while still helping to advance the art by bringing in folks with fresh perspectives?
I’ve seen both extremes. On one hand there are guys who are so uptight that they won’t reveal even the simplest card trick. On the other hand there are folks like the so called “Masked Magician” who reveal secrets that took lifetimes to build. (On a side note, don’t believe the crap he said about only revealing stuff that was centuries old. Most of what he revealed was 3-5 years old when the shows were produced).
It was with some trepidation that I opened my latest issue of “Make Magazine“. To my surprise it was a tastefully written article on magic that gives just enough to get one started without being damaging to the professional. Aspiring magicians of any age could pick up this magazine and learn more than enough to get them started down the path of the magician.
As of right now it should be available at your local Barnes and Noble. In general MAKE is a very interesting magazine with all kinds of cool articles. Even if you never work on a single project (like me) it’s still fascinating to read through. Personally, I recommend subscribing. I guarantee you’ll be giddy with delight each time you receive an issue! 
