The Magic Set That Never Quite Worked — And the Book That Changed Everything

The Pat Page book that changed everything.

Like a lot of magicians, I had a couple of magic sets when I was a kid.

Boxes of Magic, plastic cups and balls, a Paul Daniels magic set, those kinds of things. You probably remember them too: plastic props, a wand that didn’t quite stay together, and tricks that almost worked if you got the instructions right (and didn’t lose the secret gimmick down the side of the sofa).

Not bad, but I was always drawn to books.

They were fun... sort of. But they didn’t light a fire in me. So, what did?

A book.

And a quiet bit of encouragement from a Sunderland magic shop owner who knew a thing or two.

“Stop Buying Tricks. Start Buying Books.”

I was about 12 and used to deliver newspapers on my bike. Like clockwork, I’d head to a local magic shop near Sunderland city centre with my earnings burning a hole in my Snorkel Parka pocket.

One day, the owner looked at me and said, “You’ll get better value from books.”

He handed me The Big Book of Magic by Pat Page (I still have it to this day, see pics). It's now dog-eared, scribbled on, but still utterly brilliant. One of my recent proud moments was meeting Janette Page (his daughter) at a Magic Circle lecture last year, and I got to thank her in person for her dad's magical inspiration.

He was right. That book changed everything.

It had tricks for all levels, from easy rope magic and card sleights to routines you could craft yourself. It wasn’t about props. It was about understanding the thinking behind the magic.

And for a kid with more curiosity than money, it was gold.

My first ‘magic sponsor’? Probably Grindon Lane Library, Sunderland.

Grindon Lane Library: My First Magic Circle

Back then, my local library in Grindon Lane, Sunderland, didn’t have many magic books.

But they started getting more in. Maybe they noticed I kept borrowing the same few on repeat. Maybe someone quietly decided to support a kid with a weird little hobby. Whatever the reason, it worked.

Week after week, I’d cycle down, grab a new book, and go home to practise. Some tricks I’ve forgotten. Others, like the disappearing hanky, I still perform for children today.

And honestly? I never really stopped.

Magic Was Always the Hobby. Until It Wasn’t.

For most of my life, magic was something I did for fun. I worked in advertising and marketing, raised a family, and occasionally stunned someone at work or in a pub with a borrowed coin or a card prediction they never saw coming.

It wasn’t until a few years ago, encouraged by my wife, that I made the leap and became a full-time magician.

And I still recommend the same things I was given:

📚 A good book.

🎩 A bit of encouragement.

🪄 A place to meet others who love the craft.

(YouTube’s fine, but it won’t give you that feeling — the one you get when you create the magic yourself.)

If You’re a Parent of a Budding Magician

You don’t need to buy them a flashy box of props. Just start with a book.

Help them find a local club and watch their eyes light up when they discover how to vanish something in their own hands, or how to build something amazing from just paper, string, or using a pack of cards.

Because it’s not about buying the magic. It’s about becoming it.

Still got it, and still recommending it today.

Got questions? Want help inspiring a young magician?

Drop me a message. I’m always happy to recommend books, clubs, or ideas that might help. (Just don’t ask me to explain how the disappearing hanky works, that one’s staying secret.)

📩 hello@brianstoreymagic.com

📍 Based in Cambridgeshire & London

🔍 Award-winning close-up magician for weddings, parties & events