Magic – A Niche Career: Learn it all with Illusionist Clifford

How long does it take to become a skilled magician?

“There is no end to learning or perfecting when it comes to any art. The same is the case with magic. You can learn magic in a couple of hours , but to convert that magic into an unforgettable experience for the audience will take you a lifetime. There are many famous performers who are doing one particular effect for their full lifetime and they are famous for that particular effect.”

“Most magicians pick a magical niche. Maybe they make things vanish, transform one thing into another, destroy and recreate something, escape or predict what people are thinking. These are all skills that can be perfected into a fascinating job. You may be really good at one thing and average at another, the more magical skills you have, the more appealing you will be to your audience. It’s all an illusion, but being able to judge your audience is a huge part of the job.”

“It depends on a lot of different factors, since being a magician is so multifaceted. The skill sets of skilled magicians include sleight of hand (for a large percentage of magic), psychology, attention directing , acting, etc.
One of the keys to developing any skill is regular, focused practice. Couple that with expert mentors and a mindset of lifelong learning and you have a recipe for success. The time it takes to progress will depend on how hard one works with innate abilities.

If you want to learn magic, start by learning simple hobby tricks. You’ll eventually have a quiver of both stock and original tricks. To further develop your skills try to intern with a big magician, read books, and observe others’ tricks. Magic is not an official art form in majority of the States in India . It does not come under the department of art and culture hence no budget for the promotion of this art is allocated. So promotion of the Art of Magic in an official form becomes all the more difficult. Yes, Kerala has, ‘The Academy of Magical Sciences’ established and run by Mr Gopinath Muthukad. It was established in 1996 The Kerala Government has even added magic in its education curriculum. You get a certificate from The Academy of Magical Sciences.” Explains Clifford.

“Secrecy being at the core of the profession, modern magicians have tightly-bound, invite-only groups where trade secrets are shared carefully. In some instances, popular acts or tricks can also be bought or traded, for a price. Reinventing and customising are important factors to stand out. In order to succeed as a magician you must:

1. Be a good person. If the audience doesn’t like you as a person they will never like your magic.
2. Be a good business person: booking, promoting, marketing.
3. Be an excellent entertainer, delivering what your audiences want and need in the various performing environments you are working within.
4. Be a good magician .

Being a good magician is placed last because it is not sufficient on its own. To make a living you must be a business person who delivers a quality product at a competitive rate. I believe acting ability and dexterity are two natural talents that would be most helpful to anyone starting out in the field of magic.” Describes Clifford.