Magic is great as hobby or passion, but can be hard to break into if you don't have guidance. Here is a guide to approaching the craft, understanding what it is about, and getting a strong start in your learning.
So you want to be a magician?
The study of magic is highly rewarding, and can be taken as far as you
wish—from the ability to provide living-room entertainment for your friends to
performing onstage in Las Vegas.
Getting started requires an understanding of what you want from magic, the
basic rules and elements of the field, and the right resources to start your
learning.
Watch Magic to Learn Magic
The best piece of advice that a writer can get when learning the craft is to
read. The more a writer reads, the more he or she learns 'how it is done.' The
same holds true for the budding magician. Watch as much magic as you can. Your
local library should have a few videos or DVDs (if not, ask if they can order
them for you.) And while you will eventually want to watch instructional magic,
start with magic shows.
Watch them at least twice—once for the entertainment
value, and a second time to see how the magician performs. Take every
opportunity to see magic that you can. So the next time someone says,
"Hey, do you want to see a card trick?" Say yes! You will learn
something every time you watch magic; even badly performed magic will teach you
something.
How Deep is Your Love of Magic?
How much do you like magic? You have to like magic to learn it—so learn in
proportion to your passion. If all you would like to learn is a couple of card
tricks, no problem. If you want to be the next Houdini, Copperfield, or Blain,
no problem; the steps are the mostly the same, one just requires more effort
and time than the other.