Learning Magic
One of the most popular questions that I get asked after a performance is “Where do you learn magic?”. It’s a great question, and I’m always happy to answer it. I think that people have a genuine curiosity about the magical arts. I always start my answer with the same sentence. I say, “Everyone goes through a magic phase. You learn a trick, and that’s it. For me, I’m still going through that phase.” I then point them to three different sources to learn magic, and that’s what I’d like to show you right now.
I’ll share my sources with you in just a second, but first, I wanted to mention that I had a special magic kit created a few years ago to giveaway and sell as gifts for those interested. You can head over to the link HERE to pick one up if you'd like one. Ok, now that the sales pitch is over, let's get onto the good stuff.
The Magic Store
The absolute best place to learn magic is from the source directly. Magic stores are mysterious places, and many people do not know that they exist. You can buy books, videos, props, cards, and anything else that you can think of from this place. It’s like a mini Diagon Alley (for the Harry Potter fans). Luckily for you, there are several places where you can easily get your magic fix.
If you were to search “Magic Store” on Google, you’d be met with too many results to pick from. I’ll point you in the right direction. Here are my top 5 favorite magic stores:
Vanishing Inc.: This is one of the largest online magic stores. They produce the most amazing magic products and books. I like to call them the Apple Store of magic because when you get a VI product in the mail, the packaging is beautiful too! The company is run by magicians Joshua Jay and Andi Gladwin. Both of them are incredible performers and have both fooled Penn and Teller! Their company cares about the growth of magic, and they even run yearly conferences in the US and UK for magicians to come and learn the latest and greatest magic.
Penguin Magic: Another great online magic store that offers unique products as well. Apart from the physical items that you can buy, both sites offer great digital downloads that you can buy to start learning instantly. I get most of my playing cards from this company because they create fantastic decks that are made for magicians.
Tannen’s Magic: This place holds a particular spot in my heart. Tannen’s is the oldest magic shop in the country, and you can visit it in NYC. This was where I would constantly go when I was in the city as a kid. I would take the train in on the weekends and hang out at the store all day. Back in 2020, I got to work at Tannen’s for about a year, and it was the most incredible experience. What makes this place so magical is that you can see the magic being demonstrated right in front of you before you buy it. You get professional opinions from the magicians behind the counter. It’s an essential experience for anyone interested in magic.
During the school year, I’ll often be hired to lead multi-day workshops for students. This photo was from when I was leading a 3-day workshop at Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, Florida. The students all got a small package of magic that we learned during those days, and at the end of the program, they each had to perform one trick they learned in front of the class.
YouTube
This is a source that I don’t normally recommend since I don’t like the exposure of magic on the internet. There are many channels that reveal the tricks just to reveal them but there are some really great YouTube channels where you can learn some awesome magic from actual magicians that care about teaching. I’d like to give you my top 5:
The Library
While it might seem old-school, the library is a great resource for learning magic. In fact, when I was in elementary school, I found my first magic book in the library. Even if you go to a book store like Barnes and Noble, you’ll find one or two magic books under the Games section.