How to become a Magician!
How to become a magician? I guess the question is simple enough but the answer ‘how to become a Magician’ requires more than just a few words.
I think I will tell you some of the things that I had to overcome when considering how to become a magician.
Magic is a performance art, magic is entertainment…and that means you will need, at some stage, to be able to confidently perform and entertain others. That was a big hurdle for me, I was shy, not good at public speaking, lacking confidence…it was a big problem. I loved magic…but…did not have the courage to entertain, not even family and friends and I struggled with this for quite some time, not knowing what to do.
Here is tip number one on how to become a magician.
I had a chance meeting with a lovely older guy named Harry. In his early 70’s, Harry had taken up magic to entertain his grandchildren and he gave me a some advise that put me on the path to becoming a professional magician and entertainer. Harry told me about Toastmasters. Toastmasters?…I had heard the word but had no idea what it was. Harry was a member of Toastmasters and he invited me along to a meeting.
It was a real ‘eye opener’ for me. An organisation that kindly and gently encourages and trains you in the art of public speaking. I joined instantly and went regularly and it was a huge boost for my confidence and skills. Having the same problems? Join Toastmasters!
How to become a magician, tip number two.
You can read books and watch videos but to really understand the ‘art of magic’ you need tuition, with an experienced magician who is willing to share his knowledge. I was scanning through the newspaper and ‘oh my goodness’ I saw magic classes advertised at my local TAFE college with celebrity magician and entertainer Eric Summonds (aka Boris the Black Knight). I did his course and have never seen anything like it since then. It was great!…and I saw that being a magician could actually be a fulltime career…so exciting! I learnt so much from Eric and I was one step further on the ‘how to become a magician’ path. Tip two – Get Tuition!
How to become a magician, tip number three.
Ok, my confidence was getting better with Toastmasters, I was learning a lot from Eric and practicing magic at home but still had not performed for anyone, anywhere, but inside, I knew what I had to do….I felt inexperienced, but I also felt that I had the tools to do the job. There is no easy way to say this but…..I just had to do it….I had to force myself to perform…I had to rely on what I had learnt…and I had to dig deep to take the first step…and I did. I wish I could say it was easy, but it wasn’t…it was tough. I learnt something about people, they want you to be successful, they want you to do well, they are supportive, and especially if you tell them you are new to performing. Of course, every time you perform, it gets easier…and easier. Tip number three on ‘how to become a magician’ – Just Do It!
This is only the tip of the iceberg on ‘how to become a magician’ but just these 3 simple things had a big impact on my life and eventually changed my life…for the better. I now do what I love…..fulltime magic entertainment!
There you go…some good advise on ‘how to become a magician’
If you have any questions about ‘how to become a magician’ give me a call, I am happy to help.
Glen Rhodes
www.BrisbaneMagicSchool.com.au