PROLOGUE:
My first exposure to magic was on the television screen around when I was 10 years old, when the David Blaine specials came out. We all know that he revolutionized magic performing it in the streets. And the times of Mondo Magic, by Chris Korn and JB Benn. I was fascinated by this pair , but I was not hooked in the the magic world. This was for two reasons, one, I felt that Magic requires one to be very gifted and are chosen, and two, it's strictly can be learned in so called Magic Circles. I didn't have both so I didn't bother learning Magic back then.
9 YEARS LATER
Fast forward, Magic had still not crossed my mind. Although I still enjoy watching David Blaine, Chris Korn and JB Benn perform, my fascination for the art remained with me as long as the television was still on. I was in Collage. I was in my third year Nursing Course. I was one of those achieving students. Those type that would go the extra mile to get additional points and those that wouldn't mind burning the midnight candle just to master a certain topic or chapter. I was a hard knox student. I was a nerd. But I guess in a good way because my scholarship still stood till the end.
It was a Monday and I was assigned a topic to be reported on the following day. We were in the bottom half of the first semester and this was the reporting phase of our curriculum. So each day, a classmate would report a topic, we have a discussion, then a quiz by the end of the class. Then the cycle repeats itself the following day. And on Tuesday, it was my turn. Our professor, a stout stern lady, who seemed bored from the usual, read-your-report-in-front-of-the-class type of report, approached me and told me that I should make my report enjoyable, and motivating so that I could get extra points. Clearly she was bored and counted on me to make her class exciting. That was a lot of pressure. I was a nerd, not a clown. And even if I were, it would only be a matter of time before my jokes expire and boredom kicks in.
I contemplated on my way home that Monday afternoon after my class. How could I make my report exciting? I could do parlor games, or I could draw pictures on my visual aides. Those were good options, but the problem was I wasn't great in giving instructions or explaining a game, making it exciting enough for my classmates to join. And although my drawing skills were good, one night ain't enough for me to make things captivating enough. I was in a pinch. being a third year, this was a big problem , especially for an achiever.
As I went home, I slouched down on the sofa, tuned in to AXN. I wanted to clear my mind before I would go and bury myself in my report for the next day. Mondo Magic reruns were on. I saw Chris Korn perform in my opinion, the fairest and cleanest Coins Across. And I saw JB Benn perform a sort of Spoon Bending Routine. I watched as their spectators smiled and laughed. I watched as their eyes brighten in amazement. I watched as their crowd grew bigger and bigger, and applause was given by the end of their performance. Some remained for more, some left with a puzzled and perplexed look. And then it hit me...
I could perform Magic in my report.
Still hanging on to the belief that only special people can perform magic, I searched the net for simple party magic. What I found were no where near what I saw on television. The simple Unpeeled but Cut Banana, and Cut and Restored Straw. I may not be able to perform a Spoon Bending Effect, but these simple tricks I can do. These I can take!I told myself. It took me the entire night to ready the props, I had to refrigerate the Banana that I prepared. It was idiotic to prepare the banana the night before where in fact, I could've done that in the morning before school. I realized that fact too late. And I got a straw and some cardboard.
Tuesday morning, my report came. I started things out with the usual discussion. I somewhat was able to remember my report, that it was a habit of mine not to bring cue cards or even glance at the visual aide. I am able to explain my topic without any help. Occasional glances to the board will suffice. And when I realized that my classmates are getting bored, and in the background, I saw our professor nearly dozing off, I pulled off my first performance in my entire life.
I had a bestfriend, Roby. He's not the brightest of the bunch in my class, but whenever I needed a Main Man to help me get through a pinch, he's reliable. Although he had no idea that I was going to perform Magic, he cheerfully volunteered to help me out. I gave him a bread knife, as I showed the class my nearly rotten banana, but still there was more yellow than brown. I asked him to act as if cutting the banana from a distance with the knife. Roby happily obliged, as he acted it out, like a crazed clown. Everyone laughed. But when I peeled the banana, an eerie surprising silence filled the room when they saw that the banana had indeed been cut in several places. Applause filled the room. Being there in front pulling off my first trick, was satisfying. It was a different ecstatic feeling like any other. Like I had won a million dollars. Even Roby applauded. It was our first piece of Magic in a long time.
After that major turn of even in Magic, I soon realized that David Blaine, Chris Korn and JB Benn are all normal people. Not exceptionally gifted with otherworldly powers or geniuses in a sense. They were just normal people with a great amount of passion for the art. They were artists. I just performed a simple effect that received somewhat the same reaction as those that I had seen in television a million times. Anyone with the right amount of passion can do this.
The feeling of satisfaction of brightening one's day, or giving them an experience is what actually got me into magic. I also learned that Magic is not for entertainment purposes only. It can change your life and change your way of thinking. I used to be a uptight student, and strict bookworm. I was stiff. After that experience and that realization, I learned that Magic can break your mental boundaries and let you live twice as much. My stone hard mind was softened and became flexible.
I no longer was an uptight student, but a balanced person. I still spent time studying but I also gave time to relax, learn and practice magic, and giggle at myself in the mirror as I mastered a sleight. If anything, Magic had set my mind free.
I graduated with Honors, and was known as the student who performs Magic on campus. A hilarious mix of a student. But somehow, I liked it.
PRESENT:
7 years had passed since that very day, but I still remember it clearly. I had come to encounter a lot of challenges and problems on the road of Magic, but one thing was for sure, this is the road that I'm willing to stay despite all that. I am hooked and this had turned into my passion. This is my story and this is how I started in magic. Thanks.--- Anthony