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If you are looking for the beginnings of modern magic, do a Google search for Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. That is the link between the Discoverie of Witchcraft is the real beginnings of magic and Hiding the Elephant is the "Golden Age." The BBC series on the History of Magic is also very good.

The Mesika wallet is made out of very nice leather and can function as an everyday wallet. The one thing I don't like about it is that there is a snap to close the wallet. Also, its slightly bigger than my regular wallet, but that is just personal preference. You can do a non-folded card to...

Rick: Congratulations. Its well deserved.

In the last couple of years I saw two stage magic shows. The first was Kalin and Ginger and the second was David Copperfield. The effects that I liked the best and remembered the most weren't the flashy "look at what I can do" effects, but the effects that reached out on an emotional level...

Try using some patter so that you are entertaining them rather than tricking them. If your presentation consists of the typical say-do-see (saying what you are going to do, doing it and then telling the audience to see what you have done) you are focusing on the trick and the spectators will...

I'm with Jeff on this one. What is more magical, having a sealed can expand or having an open can heal itself? Healing and then sealing also better disguises the method. Heal it, seal it and then fill it to round out the routine.

Asher: Don't let it haunt you. You've shown a lot of maturity and character in making the decisions you have. In life, we all make mistakes. People who are successful are smart enough to recognize when they make mistakes and have the courage to do what they need to do to fix their mistakes...

Mark Wilson's book does have a good section on billiard balls. My favorite routine so far is in Jim Steinmeyer's book "The Magic of Alan Wakeling" which is out of print, but you can find at a reasonable price if you look around. The Learned Pig Project has David Devant's "Secrets of My Magic"...

You will love the Fakini golf balls. I picked up a set of the 1 3/4 billiard balls over the summer. The handle beautifully. What resources are you using to learn a routine with them?

Kyle: Your mom, your family and you are in my thoughts and prayers. If you need someone to talk to, shoot me a PM.

Agreed. Most people who try to be original end up doing something that is unoriginal in that every other beginning magician has come up with the same thing. If you want to stand out from the crowd, get a book and perform something from the book. One of my favorite quotes is "if you want to...

Mine. Totally impromptu and based on Mark Wilson's and Jean Hugards in the hands versions. Also, check out T.I.D.L.E. which is an Angelo Carbone effect (March 2010 Genii) where the top half of the deck levitates above the spectator's selected card. Totally impromptu but a little knacky...

Wiseman is great. He gave a lecture on misdirection at EMC. I love THIS color changing deck video. Also check out Slydini's work. There are some great videos of his performances on the New York Times blog courtesy of Dick Cavett...

The three good DVDs out there are Spongeball Toolkit (or is it Toolbox?) by Steve Darci, Encylopedia of Spongeball Magic by Ben Salinas (which Atinfinity mentioned) and Sponge by Jay Noblezada that Rick mentioned. Also, a good place to start is Mark Wilson's Complete Course (except don't point...

Both. Success gives you confidence that you won't mess up, failure makes you realize that messing up isn't the end of the world. Both will calm your nerves. My advice is to get some self-working effects -- check out Scarne on Card Tricks or Roberto Giobbi's Card College Light, Lighter or...

Well done. I like the parlor show set.

Somehow I doubt that, mainly because someone at the interrmediate or advanced level wouldn't be asking that sort of question. A better way to gauge where you are is to tell us what you already have and what effects you perform.

It is tough when that happens. Sounds like you handled it well The amp would have helped, merely because IT would have interfered with THEIR conversations. Now, Im wondering out loud here... Would the parents have behaved differently if you did some pre-show performances for them? Would that...

Please check out the attached link, paying attention to the first point of the Society of American Magicians Code of Ethics. Magicians don't expose effects on Youtube, period. Second, it is evident that you have learned how to do magic on Youtube. Your performance of the various sleights...

Are there going to be other performers? Are you being paid? What specifically is the event? What is the venue... is it an auditorium or a hotel ballroom or a hall? That will give me a better sense of what you are dealing with. My advice is to build a strong 15 minute routine. Post the...