Hey guys in your opinion what is "new to magic" how long is new
a week
a month
a year

??

There is a saying that says "A joke is always new for someone who has never heard it before" which tells me that everything has the possibility of being viewed as new. When you think of things in these terms it becomes a very subjective thing.

My personal opinion is if better is always possible good will never be enough, so if we think of things in that way I believe all of us are new in some respect, it's only in the degree from one person to the next that very's.

However if your alluding to the context of this section of the Café (the "New to Magic" Section) then I would say you are as new to magic as long as it takes to fully master the fundamentals and have had enough time to develop your own personal preferences in magic.

So in the end I don't believe there is a fixed time frame for being "new", it's all relative to the points I made above.

Magically

Aus

It is always one of the forums I always check and I've been doing magic for 30 years.

Old is the new new

At 93 my Dad was asked what was the most exciting thing he had ever experienced.

He was quite senile, but replied, "I don't know -- tomorrow hasn't happened yet."

I could perform a magic effect for him any time and he was overjoyed -- both by the newness of it and the fact that I cared enough.

In similar fashion, I look to the questions of this Forum to better understand magicians of today.

What eBooks can I write that will be of interest? What new effect can I create to meet a need never encountered in my youth?

I have sleights I have used for 50 years and never shared with anyone. Are they old or new?

Interesting question! . Totally subjective, of course, but a good one.

I guess a lot depends not only on time but experience.

If I had spent a year in solid practice, multiple paid performances, and extensive reading, doing magic 24/7 I probably wouldn't consider myself 'new'.

However, if I'd spent five years just watching exposure vids and not performing anything or learning to do anything, then I'd still be new.

For most average hobbyists who have never earned money at magic, I'd probably say two to three years.

I think if magic started to feel old to you, that would be a sign you were burning out. But, I guess when you are good enough to perform enough stuff for your show with your eyes closed, then you're not new anymore.

"If you only chase after what is new, then you'll be forever out of breath!"

Keith Hart