Hi All,

I've been debating getting into magic for a few years now and finally took the plunge last month. However I have some questions regarding what type of magic I should learn. In the past few years I was diagnosed with a condition which is slowly eating away at my motor functions. Right now it manifests as a slight to noticeable tremor in my hands, which is exacerbated by stress and basic movements.

I realize that most magic requries good motor function and control of movements. Is there an area of magic which would work around these issues or am I out of luck?

Well, I am new to magic too and I am becoming addicted to mentalism. You could build a whole mentalist set and never have to worry about sleight of hand.

Alongside mentalism there are also a number of "self working" tricks that may help you to do some of the things you see other magicians do. Have a look around the forums and look at reviews for effects, with a little research you should get a general idea of whether an effect will require a lot of self-manipulation/sleights (alot of coin work comes to mind) or whether the trick itself will do the work. Remember, magic is about entertainment, even if you can't do fiddly sleights you can still be a great performer! Don't give up, there are plenty of people within the magic community to help you (many of them here on the Café) don't let your condition dishearten you, there's a lot you can do, you might just have to do it a different way.

Now that I think about it Scarne on cards is an entire book of Card tricks that do not require any sleight of hand. There is a lifetime of effects in that book alone.

Rob is right - there is a lot you can do throughout the spectrum.

Magic is above all things, presentation. In the recomended books thread I mentioned the Light collection of Giobbi. Well, last week I saw a profesional magic show with at least two effects from the first book, totally selfworking. You had to see the amazed faces of the public.

If you are totally unable to do sleight of hand (SOH), then the two areas of magic that come to mind are memory expert and mathemagician - these guys work almost entirely with their mind.

Some mentalism can be done with no SOH, though it would require SOH skills to do a wider range of mental magic. I think the same might be said of bizarre magic, that some can be done without SOH.

There's also a range of self-working or semi-automatic card tricks, or prop effects, that require minimal dexterity.

I guess a lot depends upon how bad your condition is and gets as to what level of SOH you could use. If trying SOH doesn't make it worse, then you could try and see what you're able to do even with your condition - and you might suprise yourself.

All the best.

Thank you all. I think I'm going to check out the Scarne book that was suggested, along with trying some basic slight of hand. Thanks for the encouragement everyone.

Anything is possible - don't despair...

Wow ... Kudos to the young man!

Hi,

You have gotten some excellent advice here. I have had Parkinson's disease for about 25 years. There are lots of things I can't do, but there are lots of things I can do. My advice is to find out what types of magic you like to do and give them a try. If you find you can't do them there is time to move on to other things, but if you like something you may be able to find a way to do it. As some others have said, there are self working tricks and gimmicks which can allow magicians to do things they thought they couldn't do. I have found satisfaction in doing magic but also in inventing a few tricks, and teaching youngsters some beginning tricks. It is a great world out there and it seems to have a place for all of us. The most important thing is to have a good time doing what you want to do!

I totally forgot to mention in my last post but I'd recommend contacting "Funsway" via pm, he's a great member here who happens to market magic effects, in his own words to me he considers himself to have "crippled hands" yet he has a number of effects and methods to get round this (and some very clever ideas in my honest opinion.) I'm certain he could give you some great advice going forward and may even have some tricks/effects you may be interested in

Thanks Kabbalah for that post. Puts things in perspective.

The book "Thinking The Impossible" by Ramon Rioboo. might be helpful for you.

The advice about Mentalism and self working stuff is good. I would also recommend a whole series of stuff by Wayne Dobson called "Look No Hands" and variations on that name. It is all effects that he put together out of necessity because of M.S. that required the magician to touch nothing. It could prove really helpful.

I think start with one DVD, either in cards or in coins. Then learn some of those killer tricks to get to the next level: cf Extreme burn, 3 card monte, etc..

My Dad has Parkinson's disease, and whilst he enjoys seeing things I do and show him other people do, he couldn't manage even to do self working effects. I'd definitely say mentalism is your way to go.