Have you promised yourself that you will be a better magician in 2014?

Perhaps you have some holiday money burning a hole in your pocket or maybe you made a New Year resolution to “take your magic to the next level.” Here are a number of ways (some even free) to improve your magic without buying new tricks and toys.

The start of a new year is traditionally a time for new beginnings. Not only is January 1st the arbitrary start of a new collection of months, it denotes the start of some real, definable things. The new year is a new tax period, for example. It is also a new salary period for many people with “normal” jobs. The new year may also mark new budget periods or a time to establish new contracts for clients. Plans for changes and improvements might as well start with the new year.

There are many ways that you can improve your magic without resorting to the classic strategy of simply buying more magic. Some of the suggestions presented here will improve your presentation, others your knowledge and some are actually aimed at your magic business. Some of the ideas are even free, but they will all take time and dedication.

There are basically two general ways to improve your magic: improving your technique and expanding your knowledge. Both have benefits, so you need to choose which strategy is better for you based on your needs, opportunities and time. It is possible to undertake expanding your knowledge and improving your technique at the same time, too. It all depends on the time and effort you can dedicate to improving your craft.

The strategy of improving your technique covers not just your technical magic skills (sleights and such) but your entire performance technique. While the very obvious way to work in this area is to simply dedicate more time to practice, it may not be the best way for you to grow and improve. You need to honestly look at your magic act and your work ethic and decide if simply practicing more is enough. It is a distinct possibility that you have done all you can on your own. If this is not the case, then by all means, practice more. It it is, maybe it is time to practice in a different way.

A free way to practice with others is to start a magic jam session with a few friends or colleagues. It does not have to be a formal club, just some time to sit and try things in front of other magicians. This gives you the chance to perform material that is not quite ready without taking the chance of blowing it in front of a real audience. Your group can exchange tips, ideas and help each other in so many ways. All you need is a place to meet up and a few drinks. Of course, joining a local magic club is also an option if you have the time, money and a club in your area. Check with your local magic store for area clubs or visit the websites of the Society of American Magicians, the International Brotherhood of Magicians or the Fellowship of Christian Magicians to see if they have a group close to you.

If you have the money, you may really want to consider magic lessons. This automatically offends many magicians for some reason… some of you might already be thinking that you already know magic so you do not need a class. Obviously you should not take a basic magic class at the local shop or continuing education program to learn french drops if you are past that point. However, that does not mean that you can not learn more in a class style setting. Think of it more as coaching. Professional athletes still have coaches, as do many dancers and even actors. They lean on the experience, and outside observations, of their coach to improve. You can benefit in the same way.

If you are lucky, there will be a knowledgable, seasoned performer in your area who offers lessons. Live lessons will probably be the most effective option for most people, but it is not always possible. Luckily, there are a few other options. You could, for example, go through the entire Tarbell Course or Wilson’s Complete Course on your own, which may guide you through to a few new discoveries but will not offer feedback. Jeff McBride’s Magic and Mystery School offers many online learning options, including one on one Skype sessions with instructors. Most classes are offered as streaming or downloadable videos, though. Dale Salwak’s branch of the Chavez School of Magic still offers a correspondence course and requires students to send in performance videos to be critiqued by the staff.

Lectures are another great way to learn from other magicians. If there are live lectures in your area, you might actually get to interact with the presenter but this is not a guarantee. Of course there are online lectures and lecture videos available, too. Penguin Magic has an active online lecture schedule and all past lectures (there are something like 100 available) are available as downloads. Another great option for learning on video are the Essential Magic Conference collections. Each package contains lectures, performances and more.

There is one other great option for live learning that too many magicians never even consider and that is taking non-magic classes. Remember, you are performing magic and there are many classes available to help you improve your performance skills. Public speaking, acting, dance, comedy and improv classes are all widely available and all could help you to become a better performer. They may also help to connect you to other performers in the area and lead to future opportunities.

Of course, one of the best ways to grow as a performer is to perform, so if you really want to improve your magic you may consider simply doing a great deal more magic! This could mean getting more gigs but it could also mean volunteering to perform for charities, senior centers and hospitals or even just doing more spur of the moment magic during your normal day.

The second strategy to improving your magic in 2014 is to expand your knowledge base. This means learning things that are not technical or performance skills. There are many things that may not lead to an improved double lift or muscle pass that can still make your magic better. This is particularly true if you are a professional magician because in your case improving your magic really means improving your magic business.

One of the easiest ways to expand your knowledge base is to regularly read one or more magic magazines. Subscribing to Genii or http://www.magicmagazine.com (or both) will give you a monthly dose of history, theory and inspiration. It will also keep you up to date on most of the new tricks and gimmicks. If you are more interested in something like history you may want to consider a specialty magazine such as Magicol. If you are on a limited budget (or even if you are not), try Vanish Magazine. It is free to download. Of course, reading iTricks every day will help keep you up to date with the world of magic as well!

Adding to your personal library can greatly expand your knowledge. There are several great magic book suppliers, of course, and many places to download magic books such as Lybrary.com and the Conjuring Arts Research Center. Although this may not be quite as satisfying as owning a physical copy, downloads are often much cheaper. They also make it possible to carry an extensive magic library on your computer or tablet. Visiting your local library is even cheaper. Their selection of magic books is probably quite limited but there are probably many non-magic books, such as Dale Carnegie’s How to Win Friends and Influence People, in the library that may be of benefit.

For access to a real magic library consider joining the Conjuring Arts Research Center. Both annual and monthly plans are available that will allow online access to the library of books and magazines, so a membership may be more affordable than you realize. You should realize that access to the Conjuring Arts collection is not meant to allow users to simply browse material and read through the holdings. It is designed to be a research library that allows users to search for specific terms and retrieve every page in the collection with said terms. It is an incredible tool for researching the history of magic or specific techniques and tricks from the past.

You may also want to consider taking a few classes. Classes on stagecraft, lighting and audio equipment are not specifically magic or performance related but may improve your act. If you play a character, such as a Victorian gentleman or a mad scientist, you may also consider taking some type of classes that will help you understand the character, such as a history class or a basic physics course. This can help you “sell” the character. For professionals, classes on small business accounting, marketing and tax law may hold even more important knowledge. If you can not afford to attend classes, or can not spare the time, a trip to the library or bookstore may help you learn more about these topics.

Another way to expand your knowledge base is to rent knowledge. This might sound a bit odd, but it is a very common practice. If you do not have the knowledge necessary to fix your car, you pay someone who does to fix it for you. In your magic business there are probably several areas where it would be more beneficial to pay a professional than to try to make do on your own. Website design, videos and other promotional materials and your taxes are just a few things that may be better off in the hands of professionals. While many magicians try to do everything themselves, it should be remembered that the most successful magicians have a staff of people helping them to write, choreograph, market and manage their shows.

If 2013 is any indication, 2014 should be a great year for magic. By taking the time and effort to improve yourself and you act, it can be a great year for you as well.

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