Introductions

Hey everyone, I'm Ace – that's my nickname. I've been doing magic for 5 years. My first exposure to magic was at 13, messing around with a deck of cards. I started learning from Julio on Magia&cardistry and JulioRivera, but I really got hooked on magic when I saw Miquel Roma's routines like Anti-nemonica, la princesa que nunca existio, nuestros sueños, en todas partes y en ninguna, etc. I was truly impressed not just by the magic, but by his performance style and the poetic flair (so to speak) he brought to it. But I truly fell in love with magic when I first saw " RIBBON by Eric Chien", specifically the AGT (America's Got Talent) version. Later I found out he won the World Championship of Magic with that same routine. Eric Chien's Ribbon is my favorite trick; I love watching it, it's undoubtedly stunning. I've seen all his versions, from the first World Championship version, through Asia's Got Talent, America's Got Talent, up to the recent Spain's Got Talent. Just thinking about the small but huge change he made from the World Championship version to the AGT version blows my mind! And the Asia version, when he hands out candy, also has its own unique touch. Another routine of his that I really like is the Rubik's Cube with M&Ms. When I fell in love with magic, I wanted to learn more, and Julio has been the perfect teacher; I've truly learned a lot from him these past 5 years. Despite being involved in magic for a long time, I'm still learning plenty of routines from Magia&cardistry. Some of my favorite magicians are Miquel Roma, Shim Lim, Eric Chien, and the master Rene Lavand. Specifically, the area of magic I excel at most is card magic, but I have some knowledge of magic with rubber bands and sponges. Currently, I've been able to learn great routines by Miquel Roma, such as Antinemonica, en todas partes y ninguna, among others, since I really enjoy routines with a story. Currently, I'm working on replicating Eric Chien's Ribbon routine, the AGT version. So far, I've made great progress and I'm 90% through the routine. It's been a long journey, specifically because there are only speculations about the trick, and no tutorial exists for it. So, a large part of it, I've had to figure out myself, using techniques I know and a lot, and I mean a lot, of research. My dream is to be able to replicate 100% of that routine. It's a dream in progress, and I still have a lot to learn on this magical journey. Unfortunately, to this day, I haven't been able to take any courses to learn more techniques because the currency in many countries is too expensive compared to mine, making the courses too pricey. But I'm grateful to Julio because, despite that, his videos have helped me a lot to learn various techniques and continue on this magical journey.

Hi everyone. I'm Victor, and my situation is very similar to user wind68's. As a kid, I found a book among my uncle's collection that really caught my eye. With it, I discovered I could amaze my friends. The book was "Pastimes and Society Games" by Antonio de Armenteras. Later on, Juan Tamariz's part-work course came out, but with the little I could save from my allowance, I could only afford one out of every five issues. As I got older, between school and work, I slowly drifted away from it. I thought magic wasn't for me. I enjoyed watching it, but I felt like I couldn't do it, unlike when I was little. As a kid, I wasn't afraid; our lives were all about discovery... now (I don't know why) I'm more shy, my hands shake (at the bar, if I'm carrying coffee from the counter to a table, I spill half of it). Similar to what happened to wind68, my mom has slowly started to experience cognitive decline that's becoming more pronounced... and of course, she's aware of it, she knows what will happen eventually, and because of that, she has days where her spirits are very low. Recently, without even realizing it, I spontaneously performed one of the tricks for her that I used to do for my friends as a kid, and it turned out that in that moment, her "funk" vanished, and a smile appeared. By chance, my nephews were also there. In that moment, they pulled themselves away from their screens (phones, tablets...) and asked me for more. Unfortunately, I didn't have much more to show them because I barely remembered anything, and what I did remember... my technique was non-existent. After everything I've just told you, I've decided to try and learn something little by little: to try and make my mom's days a bit more bearable, to try and help my nephews discover a magical world beyond their device-ridden lives... and I think also to see if I can finally scratch that itch I've had for not continuing to enjoy something I loved as a kid. I hope that shyness, the fear of failure, my tendency to make a mess at the bar (as I mentioned earlier with the coffee)... won't be an insurmountable problem. Warm regards to all.

I'm 69 years old. I'm from Barcelona, an architect by trade, and a computer programmer. I got into magic in 2019. It all started when I performed "The Inn" trick for my granddaughter, who was four at the time. She loved it so much that I told myself I had to learn more tricks to perform for her. That's how I found Julio Ribera on YouTube and started practicing other effects like "Out of This World." When I did it for my granddaughter, she truly believed I'd given her magical powers to guess all the card colors. Now I have two more grandchildren. The youngest one is amazed by the three ropes trick, where three ropes of different lengths become three equal ones. It's because of them that, despite my age, I keep learning. Because I figure by the time they're 8, 9, or 10, I'll have perfected my moves even more to blow their minds even further.

Hi, I'm Santi, 59 years old. About a month ago, I stumbled upon a cardistry tutorial from Julio on YouTube that was a few years old. I didn't even know that was a thing. And now I'm completely hooked; I can't put the deck down, people give me weird looks on the train 🤨, I get scolded at work 😬, there are cards all over the house, and my daughter adores me (unlike her mom 😠). The deck of cards is one of humanity's greatest inventions, and I know how to play almost every game; I even had my bridge phase. And it was high time I started *playing* with the cards. Alright, I'll stop writing now, I need to go practice 👋

Good morning, everyone, After seeing the "renaissance" of wonder making a comeback, I decided to write in and introduce myself. I've always loved magic, but I never would've imagined I'd actually be able to learn it. Almost five years ago, I became a dad, and soon after, I wanted to learn a few tricks to show my daughter when she got a bit older. That's when I stumbled upon some coin videos by Julio, who I now consider my professor. I was completely captivated, fascinated, and hooked! I started with a coin vanish at the table, then a coin vanish with a marker, and from there, I bought my first dollar and half-dollar coins from a magic shop. That first video opened up a world I’d always wanted to explore but never dared to. Over the years, I’ve gone through the free course, ‘How to be a Magician 1.0,’ ‘How to be a Magician 2.0,’ ‘Pocket Card Magic,’ ‘Everyday Object Magic,’ ‘Levitation,’ ‘Classics of Magic,’ and, if I'm not forgetting anything, a mentalism masterclass from Top Secret. Not a day goes by that I don't practice, even if it's just with a deck of cards. I completely agree with Julio about the power of wonder, and how it allows us to create illusion and truly magical moments. In a world full of stress and bitterness, magic is a breath of fresh air. It’s a smile, an open mouth, a brief moment to feel that childlike excitement again. It truly is magic. During this time, I’ve performed magic for friends, family, at birthdays, my little one’s school, and most importantly, for my daughter. I even once dared to do some street magic on a rainy morning. I was under an awning, and I approached a man who was alone, sheltering from the storm. He was a migrant fruit picker, and it truly changed his expression. He asked for the deck and showed me a trick he used to do as a kid back in his home country. I saw him again later, and he thanked me for helping him recall his childhood, then asked for another trick, which I also managed to surprise him with. It surprised him, and it surprised me, that I had the courage to approach a complete stranger and perform magic for him. But let’s get back to my daughter, who was the initial inspiration for me to learn. When she was little, I went to her daycare a couple of times to perform some tricks for the kids. They were pretty young, but I still managed to keep them captivated with sponge ball tricks and some coin vanishes. (I was a complete newbie then, but you have to get out there and perform to truly learn. I also deal with a bit of stage fright, but I’ve always pushed myself to step out and do things.) Some of those kids even went home super excited! Now that my daughter’s older, she asked me and the school if I’d come perform magic. The school was thrilled and set up a Friday morning for me – just last week, in fact. I packed my case (mine and hers, because we each have our own!) and set up a small stage and the staging. I think we spent almost forty-five minutes having a blast, with one well-linked routine after another. We had a song with a trick built in, a pen routine, coins, Hindu rope, a handkerchief vanish and transposition, a color-changing hank, torn and restored card, and a whole lot of other tricks. To wrap it all up, I performed ‘The Bite.’ It’s always a TOP effect, and I came up with a story/patter against bullying for it. I can honestly say that both the kids and the teachers were completely blown away by the entire show. And that, right there, is real magic. Seeing children enjoying the wonder, jumping for joy, and hugging each other after a trick… It's awesome to see the teachers totally amazed too, I have to admit. Anyway, I’m running out of time and I’ll be late for work, plus I know I’ve given you all quite a lengthy post! But seriously, wonder is incredible and essential. I think this new phase for Magia y Cardistry is spot on, and that’s why I wanted to share my story here. Hope you enjoyed it! Oh, by the way, my magic case says 'El Magponpunk' and my daughter's says 'La Maga Chimpom'. I'm a big punk fan, and before my daughter was born, we used to joke that in the car she’d ask me for punk music, saying, 'Dad, play punk!' That’s where the name came from. Because magic truly began because of and for my daughter, even though it's now reaching more people in such a surprising and beautiful way. Cheers and magic! Let's go out and create wonder for the world!

Hey everyone. I'm David, but you can call me DeZeta. Ever since I started, magic has given me some incredible moments of joy... and some real headaches too. It all comes with the territory when you dedicate yourself to a performing art: you leave a part of yourself in every performance, even if you try to hide behind your persona. Magic has brought me joy, shown me the ingenuity behind the illusions, helped me develop new skills, and strengthened the ones I already had. It's allowed me to create my own stories and enhance those of others. And the best part is it's given me the chance to entertain others with wonder, forge personal connections I never imagined, and amaze them with miracles I never thought I was capable of. It's an art you're never too old to start learning, regardless of your age, ability, or background. Respect it, honor it, and it will give you back unique moments. With everyone's help, we can all become great magicians in this community. To paraphrase Steve Jobs: stay hungry, stay amazed, never stop learning.

Hey everyone, my name is Carlos, and while I'm from Tenerife, I live in Terrassa (Barcelona). In the world of magic, I've been a bit like a phantom, popping in and out, only to resurface again. I started with some college buddies in the early 90s, mostly just for fun at a bar table. As life goes, I put it away for a while, picking it back up whenever life and work allowed. Then, six years ago, at my son's school party, another dad was doing some parlor magic tricks, and my son asked, 'Can you do magic, Dad?' And I said, 'Hold my drink,' grabbed a deck, and here I am today. I like to understand how things work (an occupational trait from my engineering background, designing special machines), and that's why I love tinkering with everything I find. I enjoy understanding a trick and seeing what can be done to improve it, simplify it, or complicate it—but most of all, truly understanding and enjoying it. All kinds of decks (my kids say I have too many; I don't believe it, I *know* it!) and gimmicks are a hobby of mine. I always say that the first time I see a trick, I try to enjoy it as a layperson, not scrutinizing it with the jaded eyes of a magic student who wants to figure everything out. But the second time around... I guess, like many of us here, I try to replicate it, develop my own version, or adapt it to my style. As Celtas Cortos used to say... “Catch you at the bars!”

Hi, I'm Esteban, and I'm 23 years old. My passion for magic started when I was really young; I wanted to turn everything I used at home into something magical, haha. For me, magic is the most subtle and beautiful way to connect with people – their fears, their past, their feelings, etc. – and getting the chance to take a course would be amazing, because my family doesn't have the resources to pay for many things. For me, the most important thing in life is connecting with people and giving them the best moment of their lives, changing their days. Through magic, anything is possible. I wish you all the best!

Hey everyone! My name is Óscar and I'm 17 years old. Magic has been a part of my life ever since the day I opened a gift and found a magic set; this world just fascinated me. That's how I got started in magic, with tricks for kids. In elementary school and my first years of high school, I'd perform magic for my friends. I'd watch videos at home, learn the tricks, and perform them. But during quarantine, I decided to get more serious about it. I bought some books and started reading. I'm passionate about the history of magic and its theory. The big problem I have is that I know very few people who are magicians. And I have few friends who are into this art. I'm the typical "card guy" who can't put the cards down. That's why I love this community; I think it's exactly what I needed: to talk with people who are as passionate about this as I am. Thanks!

Hey everyone, I'm Santiago, and I'm 13 years old. I got into magic this past July, and I'm really getting the hang of it thanks to the MagiayCardistry and JulioRivera channels. I watch every trick they put out, and I'm also planning to buy the 'How to Be a Magician 2.0' kit; I think it'll really help me learn new effects and improve my magic. Julio, thanks for making it so easy to learn magic. I really think you're a great teacher!

Hey everyone, my name is David, and my nickname is Vampi. I started doing magic at age 8 with a little trick they taught on TV and with the Magia Borras kit, but I eventually stopped. I picked it back up at 15/16, and I haven't stopped since. Some of you might already know me from the Telegram group, others from running into me in Ourense (my city), and I guess others don't know me directly. I hope to contribute something to the forum and learn a lot more.

Hey everyone, my name is Javi. I'm from Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid). I've always loved magic, but it wasn't until now that I decided to really get into it as a hobby. Back in the day, I knew about Tamariz, Pepe Carrol, Luis Piedrita, and later David Copperfield. More recently, I've been watching Dynamo. The two magicians who finally got me hooked on magic were Handlich, a Colombian magician, and you, Julio. I started watching your YouTube videos, and when I saw you had a magic school, I didn't hesitate to dive right in! The branch of magic I'm most drawn to is card magic, followed by coin magic (I think that's what you call magic with coins, hahaha). So, anyway, it's a pleasure to be here and learn from everyone.

Hello everyone, my name is Joaquín, and I'm writing to you from Seville. I've been a magic enthusiast since I was 9 years old, and I'm 46 now, so it's been quite a journey (some years more active than others, haha). I've been reading and passively participating in the forums for a while, and now that I have a bit more free time, I'll try to get more actively involved. All the best,

Hello everyone, my name is Julio and I live in Madrid. I've always been fascinated by circus and magic, but I never took the plunge to learn. Now, at 61, my namesake, Julio Ribera, who I stumbled upon while browsing online, has given me the push I needed to dedicate time to this art that brought me so much joy as a kid. Thank you for your lessons, Julio. I haven't set any big goals, just to learn bit by bit and use magic as an antidote against a reality that often saddens and worries me. I think the idea of this forum is great, and as my technique improves, I hope to participate more actively.

Hey everyone, my name is Manuel and I'm from Seville.

Hey everyone! I've always loved magic since I was a kid, though I didn't get "serious" about it until I was 33 (I'm 42 now). I'm really more of a close-up magician, but in small groups among friends, acquaintances, and very occasionally, even strangers. I worked in a pub for many years, which really encouraged me to perform close-up magic (when it wasn't too busy) and to want to learn more and keep discovering new things every day. Even though I love card magic, I perform all sorts of disciplines (some better than others, haha). And that's all for now! Cheers to all!

Today, January 31st, 2024, I want to extend a greeting to you and all professional and amateur magicians: HAPPY INTERNATIONAL MAGICIAN'S DAY! 🪄 Greetings from Uruguay.

Hi, my name is David, and I'm from Valencia, Spain. My magic handle is Davidmagic47, and I have an Instagram account dedicated to magic. I first got into magic back in middle school, initially as a hobby and a way to stand out in class. From that moment, I dove headfirst into this world. I learned from Julio Ribera, Agustín Tash, and read the book Cartomagia Fundamental. I'm currently in my first year of college and, unfortunately, feeling a bit stuck with my magic. I need a change of pace; I'd love to learn a lot about street magic. My goal is to keep pursuing magic because I believe that surprising people is a luxury few get to experience, and magic makes that possible. I hope to learn a lot here and connect with like-minded people so we can help each other out. I'm here if you need anything!

Hello. My name is Servus Silva, and I'm hooked on magic. I'm from Brazil, and for the last 5 years, I've been living in Germany. I've been studying magic for the past 18 months, and I'm a student of Master Julio Ribera's courses: Como ser un Mago 1.0, 2.0, and Levitación con Loops. Sorry to write in English, but my Spanish isn't very strong. I can read and understand, but I'm not able to speak it. I'm glad to be a member of the M&C family! Best regards Servus