Wow. I've answered this so many times, but the story always seems to be farther away every time I approach it.
Basically, I got started after seeing one of those cheesy 'Greatest magic trick countdown, ever!' type of shows (I had always had an interest in magic, and can still remember being about 7 years old, creating my first effect- it was essentially a flippe card, without the dental dam!).
So I watched this show and through it I got to see the likes of Guy Hollingworth, Lance Burton, Steve Forte, Meir Yedid, Chan Canasta, and a massive host of others. I was very impressed, and went to the library the following day. I picked up Tommy Downs 'The art of conjuring' and Harry Lorayne's 'The magic book'. From the Downs book, I learned about the style and elegance in classical close up performance. I learned one of my all time favourite coin techniques (the downs palm!). From the Lorayne book, I learned the foundations for almost EVERYTING I do now. To this day, that book is one of my favourite pieces of magic literature.
So I studied these books intensely, then I saw Blaine on TV. Awakening, much! He was so cool, contemporary, and did things his own way, Thats what I wanted out of magic. I truly fell in love with magic then.
I carried on my studies and never looked back. It's been around about 8-9 years.
CL