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shamsiel Regular user 120 Posts |
Mine is weird. My family has deep rooted beliefs in the supernatural. I must have been 6-7 years old when we, the little kids (mostly cousins and my sisters, started to share creepy stories. One of my aunts came in and said "les voy a ense~ar algo si se quedan callados!" (Im gonna show you all something if you keep quiet.).
My aunt, very old and slow, with olive skin, and very long and unkempt silver hair, walked towards the wall and picked from one of the wooden beams of a nearby wall a Machete Filer. Now, I don't know if any of you have seen these things but some can be quite big and in her small hands it look huge. She comes near us with this filer, and we could tell that she had difficulty carrying the thing, and began to whisper words (in my mind it was some kind of spell or prayer) while her eyes rolled into her head (for added effect). Needless to say we where very quiet and creeped the **** out. She looked straight at us; and as if possessed by an unnatural strength she raised the hand holding the machete filer and began to squeeze it. And a miracle occurred! I thought it was sweating at first, and then realized to my amazement that she was squeezing water from the filer! To a little kid in a culture immersed with Magick and supernatural beliefs this was irrefutable proof that the powers where real! She let the filer drop and walked away tired with the effort. I cared a loved my aunt, so I followed her and caught her dispose of a wet cottonball. I was crushed. The illusion was ruined and my trust in her was shattered. I didn't have the heart to tell the other kids. When I came back to the circle of children I was surprised by what I found. They where smiling, they thought it was awesome! They knew it wasn't real, and they where dumbfounded as to the method behind the trick. I only told the secret to three of the kids, my cousin and my two sisters... and now the Caffe members I guess... But from then on I began to create my own wonders. I grew up and fell for the trap of Growing up and leaving things behind. That's why Im back. People love being entertained. And I want to see the reflection of that day on the faces of others again, and again, and again. Respects, Shamsiel |
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Erdnase27 Inner circle 2505 Posts |
Great story Shamshiel !
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Taterini Special user 604 Posts |
I originally posted this in another thread earlier....
I was asked this question last year at IBM in Phoenix and I had to stop and think about it, and then I remembered..... I was about 5 or 6 when my Mom decided to let me order a magic kit from Chex cereal, I think it was free with 7 box tops or something like that... http://www.mrbreakfast.com/cereal_ucp_sl......cid=1323 I still have that thing somewhere. My Dad always did card tricks, he was a WWII Veteran and he had learned them while in Europe I suppose.... he never would show me how to do any of them. Today, just seeing that look on people's faces when I "throw them a curve" it makes me think about when my Dad would sit and show my cousins and I card tricks.... I have to smile because it takes me back to that much simpler time when I was the one wondering...."how do you do that?" |
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Taterini Special user 604 Posts |
Lets try that again with the link.... this should bring back a few memories for some of you
http://www.mrbreakfast.com/cereal_ucp_sl......cid=1323 |
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lopike New user 23 Posts |
A friend showed me a trick and I am totally baffled and amazed. Lead me to this hobby.
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Doug Trouten Elite user Minnesota 471 Posts |
A couple of people in this thread mentioned that little magic kit that Ralston Purina gave away for Chex boxtops. That was my first magic kit as a child. Thought I'd post a photo of that kit, since it may bring back pleasant memories for some.
Click here to view attached image.
It's still magic even if you know how it's done.
Terry Pratchett |
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Raisul Mushfeq New user Bangladesh 12 Posts |
I was reading a book on Rational Belief. In that book the writer was exposing some of the secrets with which some people get advantages in the name of religion. Some of those secrets amazed me so much that it got me interested to perform them on my own. I searched for some books on magic and I guess that's how I started in magic.
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ULockJustice Loyal user Columbus, OH 201 Posts |
I was a juggler in a vaudeville variety theater called "The Comedy Barn" in Pigeon Forge TN. When they hired me they told me that the cast worked the souvenir booths before and after the show. The owner of the theater said, "You're a juggler, you must know magic. Go over there and sell some." I was partnered with a ventriloquist that taught me the mental photography deck and Svengali. From there I kept going and learned real sleight of hand. By the end of my tenure there I was doing the subtrunk on the main stage, while drawing in audiences with regular sleight of hand then switching to the pitch material to sell more stuff.
I became a professional magician the same day I learned magic.
This is the profile of Comedian + Magician Erik Tait. A self-promoting sleight of hand artist who thinks he is the cat's meow.
PM for beard tips. |
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chiartguy New user Chicago, IL 56 Posts |
When I was around 10 years old there were a couple deaths in the family only months apart. This side of the family was not seen often and lived far away. I ended up spending a lot of time with an older cousin who was really into card tricks. He fooled and amazed me so many times. After driving me crazy for quite a while, taunting me with revealing the methods and then reneging, he generously gave me the book he'd learned all his tricks from (Magic With Cards by Garcia/Schindler - I still have it).
My parents also used to get quite excited when a magic program would come on TV. I have fond memories of watching the shows of David Copperfield and Siegfried & Roy with my family. I finally asked for a magic set for Christmas. Funny enough, I don't think my relatives communicated very clearly amongst themselves and I actually ended up with two magic sets that year -- a Harry Blackstone Jr. one and a Houdini one! I had such a blast performing tricks from those sets for my friends and family. But I got older and put the magic in a box in the back of the closet. I went away to college and studied visual art. It's my life's passion and my true calling. Not long ago I was reminded of magic by some chance life events and I started thinking of all the fascinating parallels between magic/illusion and visual art. I began researching magic and discovered I lived only blocks from the historic Magic Inc. I joined a local IBM and it wasn't long before I was bitten by the bug pretty hard. I doubt the magic will be going back into that closet ever again. |
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Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Kinda sad story. My parents divorced when I was 12. We lived in Sunnyvale CA. My Dad left and moved to Maine, leaving me with my alcoholic mother. When I was 13, she dropped dead on the kitchen floor due to an alcohol overdose. The police took me to jail. There was nowhere else to go! So, the book cart came around, and lo and behold, there was Greater Magic! I kept that book the whole six months I was there.
When the Boy's Home in Los Angeles had an opening, I was transferred there. Santa Clara County Jail GAVE ME THE BOOK TO KEEP! Needless to say, the rest is history! Doug |
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magicshowprod Regular user Seattle, WA 109 Posts |
Back in the late 60's my grandfather owned a restaurant in Camarillo, California called "The Ranch Boy." I used to love to go there and eat. One day my grandfather (an amazing man) walked up to our booth and asked me to follow him to the counter. I did and we sat down next to a man who began to do magic. He was an old friend of my grandfather's who often frequented the restaurant.
And that's all it took. I was hooked. We were lucky enough to have a magic shop in town and I started taking lessons at a young age. It wasn't long before I even started teaching magic to the other kids in the shop. It all progressed from there until I was heavily into magic by high school. Real life gets in the way, but I am happy to say that I am back and practicing again in plans of returning to performing for audiences again in 2016. Pretty exciting!
Don Shock
The Magical World of Don Shock |
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thesmurfman New user 25 Posts |
My story is boring compared to some of the ones I just read here
A couple months ago, I saw some videos on Cardistry, and thought, wow, super cool, and something I can try to practice at my desk while working. Quickly, I realized that while I continue to practice, it will take a VERY LONG time to actually start getting comfortable and being able to do interesting moves. This mean, while I hold cards and do some one handed cuts, I was going to need more to fill my time. So... this leads to a natural opening into Card Magic... which then leads you to the other stuff. All in all, my brother just had a baby, so I figure I have about 4-5 years till the kid is old enough to enjoy some tricks, and I hope by then to at least be able to pull off a few things with Cards, Coins, Sponge, Rubber Bands and Ring/Rope. Probably other things will creep in over time, but those are my current interests. Cards the most, coins next but they are very hard, and I feel a long way from being able to do anything interesting. I am now just over 2 months in, and the challenge to stay focused on practicing basics is a constant struggle, but it comes along. I try to put some of my day into cards and coins. A tiny bit into rope handling. A tiny bit into rubber band (crazy cuffs I think it's called). And a bit to Sponge practice. |
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DaveGripenwaldt Elite user 487 Posts |
Dad pulling a penny out of my ear, followed by a magic set for my 7th birthday.
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Doug Peterson New user Denver, CO 13 Posts |
I was giving a magic set for my 9th birthday. I can't remember what it was though I seem to recall Harry Blackstone's picture. This was back in 1976. It started my love of magic.
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MagicSarah Regular user Kent, United Kingdom 195 Posts |
I had a Paul Daniels magic set but add fast as I can remember I only used the wand from it! In fact my parents still say that they think Paul Daniels was my first crush.
I saw magicians when I was small (at birthday parties, local shows AND Paul Daniels in London). That sparked enough fascination for what I know will be a lifelong hobby for me. |
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Wizard of Oz Inner circle Most people wish I didn't have 5150 Posts |
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
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Dick Oslund Inner circle 8357 Posts |
Hey WIZ! --ya shoulda seen the out takes from Marshall taping those TV commercials!
He was doing the rice bowls, and the disc stuck to the table top. When he picked up the bowl,the disc stayed on the table. He never missed a line as he stared at the camera and, his right hand tried to scoop the water back into the bowl. The camera crew fell on the floor, laughing!
SNEAKY, UNDERHANDED, DEVIOUS,& SURREPTITIOUS ITINERANT MOUNTEBANK
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Wizard of Oz Inner circle Most people wish I didn't have 5150 Posts |
Ha Dick, if anyone would have a story about those commercials it would be you.
Classic!
Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain.
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bignickolson New user 87 Posts |
A copy of Scarne's Magic Tricks my great grandfather let me have off his bookshelf.
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tvmikek New user 50 Posts |
My uncle did the penny and dime trick for me. He followed that up by having me write my friend's name on a piece of paper. He tore it up and burned it in an ashtray. From the smoke, he was able to tell me my friend's name. Of course, now it seems so easy to do. But I was FLOORED as a kid.
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