Get started on your journey into card magic and be the life of the next party you attend !
Amazing Magic For All Skills Levels.
I am Vivek Singhi and I have been performing and creating magic since 2010. If you are reading my blog, I assume you have gotten interested in the art of magic and having an interest in magic is just the beginning of the journey.
When I started in Magic, there were extremely limited good resources to get started in card magic in the right way to build the fundamentals, and my endeavour here is to help likeminded individuals interested in getting started in card magic , avoid common mistakes as unlearning things is a big task and most importantly enjoy the process along the way and have fun.
Your exposure to card magic could be because you have been playing cards since your childhood, or probably you watched in online through the many talent shows and social media influencers doing magic.
Perhaps you thought yourself to give card magic a whirl, but didn’t know where to start.
Every kid growing up should learn at least a few good card tricks, and all you need for that is a decent quality deck of cards, like the Bicycle Playing Cards we have on our website and ofcourse the internet and youtube to get yourself started with the basics.
Whether you're young or old, the present is always a good time to start learning some card magic, magic is for everybody across age groups. We aim to help you get into the world of card magic.
Why Card Magic?
It’s a very old and respected tradition and its history that dates back several centuries. Initially they were a luxury item possessed only by the aristocracy, but mass production eventually helped bring them into the hands of the general public, and that eventually led to the arrival of card magic.
A deck of cards is one of the most well-known tools for magicians, and arguably one of the easiest places for the beginner to enter the world of magic without breaking our wallet or space.
Benefits of doing card magic
It helps in social engagement and making an interpersonal connections, especially in the tech era where human interactions are dwindling.
It requires learning, thinking, practice and helps entertain oneself, aiding in skill development as well as digital detox.
Performing card magic will force you to get out of your comfort zone and help in building confidence as well as improve presentation skills and reduce performance fear.
Magic can be a great ice-breaker, and gives you the capacity to make connections with people.
It brings happiness and joy to people around you, when you perform magic for them and give them an unforgettable magical experience.
Last but not the least, if you love collecting playing playing cards, well you have yet another awesome way to put your decks to good use!
Tip #1 - Use Good Quality Playing Cards
The tools of the trade is the stepping stone for any art form, and the same holds true for card magic. You might have seen a lot of videos on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, etc and might have noticed that most decks (playing cards) being used look new and of good quality. This is the most important thing - a quality deck of cards that handles well and helps your performance. Don't use inferior cheap quality playing cards from a generic shop, because those cards won't handle smoothly and more importantly with consistency that is required for card magic. Using such decks will only lead to frustration and disappointment.
Tip #2 - Go For Poker Sized Playing Cards
A lot of playing cards (decks) you will find in India (that's where I am from) are bridge sized, and these are also the type of cards commonly found in most households. They are called bridge sized cards because they have been optimized for the traditional card game of bridge, (traditional rummy as well) which requires players to hold a hand of 13 cards. As a result, bridge cards (2.25 inches X 3.5 inches) are narrower than Poker sized cards (2.5 inches X 3.5 inches). While you can do magic with bridge sized cards, it is much better to perform with wider poker sized cards. The larger width of poker sized cards handle more consistently and give your the flexibility of doing a lot more things that you just can't do with bridge sized cards.
Tip #3 - Never use old/used/poop decks
You don't need to every time open a brand new deck of cards to perform magic, however you must make sure to avoid using a deck that is completely used and worn out (also termed as a poop deck), because these are the tools of the trade and using an old, sticky and non handleable deck is just going to make your life a whole lot harder and painful. The deck won't handle they way you would want them to, each time behaving inconsistently, and even clump together.
Ofcourse, as you use the cards, they will wear down over time, and that's the reason many people buy playing cards in bulk, especially in "bricks" (a dozen at a time).
Tip #4 - Look after your deck
Here are some basic rules for taking care of your playing cards, that will go a long way to ensure your playing cards go the distance and help you save money in not having to keep on buying new decks every now and then.
1. Keep your hands dry and clean. (Obviously don't dry-clean your hands lol)
2. Practice over a soft clean surface like a mat or carpet. This all help in keeping your cards clean and also help in not getting bent (especially at the corners) if you drop them during your practice.
3. Avoid moisture and humidity is another very important aspect that you need to take care of, especially during the monsoons.
4. Avoid leaving your playing cards lying around in the open sun for long. This can warp your cards and affect the handling and life of the cards.
5. If the cards do get warped, you can put them under some heavy weight for a day like a stack of books, under your bed or in a card clip (You can get the Impossible Is Nothing card clip on our website here https://www.cardmacon.com/product-page/impossible-is-nothing-card-clips-white-edition).
Tip #5 - Practice often
Card Magic is a skill based art form and something that anyone can learn, but it does require practice, just like any other art. The more you practice, the better you will get at it and that will also help in being comfortable performing for an audience. It's an exercise which helps work your muscle memory. Some moves may feel a bit knack or tricky (pun intended lol) at first, but with practice, they'll become second nature, and you'll surprise yourself how easy something will become over time, even though it initially seemed completely impossible!
To make things interesting and fun, you can practice while you are watching TV or streaming content online like a movie or web series, waiting around for a friend or stuck in traffic on the back in your car or cab. So always carry with you a deck of cards with you and utilise those empty time gaps where rather than being on your just killing time with some card moves.
Tip #6 - Don't give up
Never ever give up, pace yourself if something isn't working or if you're getting frustrated, just move on another move and come back to the earlier move a little later. Sometimes moves can be very knacky and seem impossible to master, just leave that move for the time being, its absolutely ok okay and part of the process :)
Rome wasn't built in a day !
Tip #7 - Take baby steps
There is a reason it's called as baby steps. Just like how a baby learns to walk, starts with crawling, then wobbling, holding hands and finally being able to walk on their won, the same holds true for card magic. Don't start with high level moves right from the start. Many card sleights and moves are built on other moves as a basis, so it makes sense to have baby steps and focus on strenghtening your fundamentals first. Once you have learnt the fundamental moves, the moves you once found difficult will start to look much more achievable now.
Start Learning Magic Right Away
10 Super Easy Card Tricks. This 20 minute video includes 10 card tricks that can have a real impact, and yet are ideal for beginners
Start your card magic jouruney ?
Why not treat yourself to a nice deck from Cardmacon, and give card magic a go for yourself? The Chess Club Playing Cards is an ideal place to begin your search for a high quality playing cards. You can also explore many other colourful and playful decks like Flavors Cards and more by checking the complete range at cardmacon.com
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