|
|
Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] | ||||||||||
MagikDavid Loyal user Cincinnati, OH 297 Posts |
Being interested in magic for more than 50 years, I'm curious to find out what influences beginners today. In my time, we had magicians who came to our schools, churches, carnivals, etc. So the question is... What influenced you to get into magic? Television? A relative? A friend?
Just curious. Dave
One good thing about being wrong...
Is the pleasure it brings to others. |
|||||||||
lylaster Regular user Atlanta 197 Posts |
David Blaine was my influence, as I'm sure he was a LOT of people's. I still remember the thoughts going through my head when he did 2 card monte and the quarter bite.
He's the one that got me into magic, but dosen't influence me as much anymore since I view him as more of a stuntman these days. Gregory Wilson and Cyril are probably my two current biggest influences. |
|||||||||
big Tom New user 25 Posts |
Growing up they had shows like, the all stars of magic and I loved them. Then the masks magichian came aroud and the shows stop. I was always amazed by magic but did not know how to learn. Then when I got my job about a year and a half ago, there was a guy who did magic and I ask how I could learn, he said buy a book so I did and the rest is history, I am doing shows now and wouldn't have it any other way.
big tom |
|||||||||
afillius Regular user 199 Posts |
I have been into magic since I was a little kid, but back then I never really had the patience to practice. I was inspired by a couple of things. I'm almost embarassed to say that David Blaine initially resparked my interest, but it wasn't until my business partner did the lighting design for a Mark Kalin show in Reno...Carnival of Wonders. Now I would have to say Gregory Wilson has become a favorite of mine, and I have always been a Copperfield fan.
www.stsgroupinc.com
pro audio/video/lighting Great magic is about creating great images - Jay Sankey |
|||||||||
Utkarsh Sinha Regular user Goa, India 137 Posts |
I've been interested in magic since I saw an illusion show when I was 6. I bought a few gimmicks and books. But my interest faded as other things got priority. And it has been revived recently (after 10 long years) by (guess whom!) David Blaine. Like lylaster said, the 2 card monte and coin bite were stunning before I started doing magic. The "impromptu" 2 feet lev seemed impossible.
Want jaadu?!
"Reality is a mere illusion, although a very persistent one" - Albert Einstein http://liquidmetal.in |
|||||||||
CJRichard Special user Massachusetts 542 Posts |
In the 1960s, there was a magician who came a couple of times to our elementary school. That might have been the beginning of it for me. There was a magic shop close by, too. I subscribed to Genii through an ad in Boys Life when I was in Boy Scouts. Then there was Bill Bixby on TV as The Magician. I was aware of Mark Wilson at the time, too, and knew he was the show's magic consultant.
I moved into puppetry, though, more than magic, inspired by the Muppets. I incorporated a few magic bits into my puppet shows. In my town, though, another kid named Jon Stetson was making a name for himself locally, so anyone really interested in magic had Jon to compete with. I became interested again when I realized that our local magic shop had been closed for twenty years now. I dug out all my props and books and decided to incorporate some period-style magic into my historical re-enacting. Right now, my inspiration is Bill Palmer, though I know him only through his posts here and a few email messages.
"You know some of you are laughin', but there's people here tryin' to learn. . ." -Pop Haydn
"I know of no other art that proclaims itself 'easy to do.'" -Master Payne Ezekiel the Green |
|||||||||
msc455magic Inner circle Taipei, Taiwan 1523 Posts |
For me, it was when I went to Las Vegas and a magician did the dice bomb trick for me. I still remember the way I reacted to that trick- shocked.
msc455magic
Magic of Japan:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tks9xf13Pqs |
|||||||||
Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
My father was my initial influence in magic. Although he wasn't a magician himself, he always showed an enthusiasm and support for my magic that seemed to bring us closer together. In fact, he was the one who broght me to my first magic store. He was the one who bought me my first magic kit. And whenever he went out of town, he would always drop into the local magic shops and bring me back a cool pocket tric.
So, my father was and remains the true inspiration for my magic. Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
|||||||||
Erdnase27 Inner circle 2505 Posts |
I just started . I was doing some study about old fairs and I saw the cups and ball routine. I also always enjoyed to watch dutch magician Hans Kazan on TV. So it came from there
|
|||||||||
MagikDavid Loyal user Cincinnati, OH 297 Posts |
Interesting responses. Keep'em coming. My first influence was my uncle. He wasn't a magician, but while he was cleaning out his attic he came across an old trunk that had an egg bag and a book by Harry Blackstone (Sr.) He gave them to me, since his daughter wasn't interested. He also knew a little coin sleight which impressed me at the tender age of six (he pulled it out of my ear).
What clenched my interest, was when a magician came to the auditorium of our elementary school and performed for us third-graders. The only tricks I remember were Hippity Hop Rabbits and a Silk Frame. He took a silk stretched across a wooden frame, then stuck the frame in a paper bag... he then took a knife and plunged it through the center of the bag. When he pulled out the frame and silk in tact, it was pure magic... I was hooked! Dave
One good thing about being wrong...
Is the pleasure it brings to others. |
|||||||||
Phil Thomas Inner circle Newark, Ohio 1117 Posts |
I'm not a "newbie" by any means, but my first influence was when I was a wee youngster and watched my first David Copperfield special. I'm not sure if it was the Statue of Liberty vanish of walking through the Great Wall of China...maybe both, but since then I have been hooked. I watched every special since then and eagerly awaited each one every year. Come to think of it...he needs to make a NEW special soon. Anyways...that's my story and I'm stickin' to it.
:cheers: Phil
"If we lose the sense of the mysterious, life is no more than a snuffed out candle."
Albert Einstein |
|||||||||
lockedroomguy New user New York, NY 65 Posts |
The copy of Greater Magic I found in a used bookstore.
Regards |
|||||||||
Strangelittleman Regular user Sydney Aus 184 Posts |
Always been interested but was turned off by a magician who said I didn't have the hands for it lol (learnt since that aint true). Since then I picked up hypnosis, but actually the Amazing Jonathan rekindled it lol
|
|||||||||
LordPH Regular user Suomi 189 Posts |
I´m not really "newbie" but I just felt that I must reply =)
I Think it was David Copperfield, Penn & Teller and afterwards David Blaine. Also these finnish magicians!! +Timo Kulmakko +Solmu Mäkelä +Markku Purho
Lucas Ace
Ultimatemagic.Net Helsinki Street Team |
|||||||||
gaafman Loyal user 248 Posts |
I am from Holland but the first time I really got the urge to get involved in magic is when I saw the first David Blaine special. It was the refreshing way he presented his magic that was great, real close up, no fancy dances etc, David wasn't in love with the camera (meaning he didn't want to be in the view all the time) but it was all about audience participation. I was used to see some simple close-up magic of not too high level on dutch tv, and some quite good stage magic (magic unlimited, hans klok, Criastian Farla) but stage magic didn't appeal to me that much.
After I got a start in magic Cyril's effects where the real shockers for me to see. |
|||||||||
Jonathan Kelly Regular user Waterford, Ireland 156 Posts |
For me Paul Daniels was my first influence. He was big on TV when I was growing up and I had one of his magic sets. Tommy Cooper was also and inspiration. Later on David Blaine would have been an influence. I never liked his style but I did like some of his magic. When I saw T.H.E.M's TV special it really sparked my interest and I started to dabble in magic. And then last year when Keith Barry was all over Irish TV and I got his DVD for Christmas I decided to take it up seriously. He's from the same town as me I'm in a similar situation that he was in at my age, college graduate working in a good job that isn't exactly exciting, so I thought if he can do it, why can't I?
"But where did the lighter fluid come from?"
|
|||||||||
sullyman New user 2 Posts |
I first gt interested by watching Criss Angels show around a year ago. It was the levitation episode and seeing him levitate like that just floored me. Ever since then I have been hooked.
|
|||||||||
Cheety Regular user Melbourne 191 Posts |
I was intersted from when I was small, my mum bought me a magic book but I didn't like it cos it wasn't very magical lol. although now I see it was a good book. wat made me get into magic this time was chris korn and jb benn, it was the only magic show they showed on tv it was called mondo magic.
they looked like they were having fun doing it and I loved how the ppl responded I specially liked chris he but I couldn't do any of the stuff he did, but jb did mostly card tricks and I learned sum card sleights and learned by watching him do it, I watched every single repeat to figure out how it was done and practiced and did it with him on the 3rd repeat(they use to show 1 episode 3 times a week). and then the show finished, they had bout 7 episodes, so after that I met owen thomas at a wap forum and he invited me to the Café...........................................................
Mostly Harmless ^_^
|
|||||||||
MagikDavid Loyal user Cincinnati, OH 297 Posts |
Wow! This post I started has gotten a lot more responses than I expected. Although I originally was curious about the influences of today's newbies, it's interesting to read posts from some ol' geesers like me.
There seems to be a common thread emerging. The most influence seems to come from magicians like Blaine who broke the stereotype of traditional magicians. Although my initial exposure to magic came from the magicians at school and church... the one who really sparked the level of interest I have today, came from Doug Henning in the early 70's. He also broke the mold of traditional magicians (long hair, wild colored clothes, hippie-type.) Until then, I thought most magicians had to wear a tuxedo and top hat. So I began doing stage shows for kids while wearing a colorful flowered shirt, tight blue-jeans and white shoes. LOL!!! I guess we can assume that those magicians who have a style that is unconventional, seem to have the most influence when it comes to sparking interest in the art of magic. This knowledge might be useful to some of you beginners while you develop your own performing styles. Hopefully, you won't try to emulate the style of others (like Blaine and Henning). Maybe your style will be unique and different (without flowered shirts and white shoes.) Dave
One good thing about being wrong...
Is the pleasure it brings to others. |
|||||||||
Nighteagle2006 New user 3 Posts |
Criss Angel and Harry Anderson of "Night Court" fame are my main influences.
|
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Influences (Question for Newbies) (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |