The teaching of performance magic was once a secretive art.
Professional magicians were unwilling to share knowledge with anyone
outside the profession to prevent the laity from learning their
secrets. This made it difficult for an interested apprentice to learn
magic beyond the basics. Some organizations of magicians had strict
rules against members discussing magic secrets with anyone but
established magicians.

From the 1584 publication of Reginald Scot's Discoverie of Witchcraft
until the end of the 19th century, only a few books were available for
budding magicians to learn the craft. Books remain extremely useful
today, and are still considered the best way for a student to learn
magic. Videos and DVDs are a newer medium of tuition, which many
inexperienced magicians rely on as a primary source of information; in
reality, many of the methods found in this format are readily found in
previously published books. However, they can serve useful as a visual
demonstration.

The next step up is joining a magic club or workshop. Here
magicians, both seasoned and novitiate, can work together and help one
another for mutual improvement, to learn new techniques, to discuss all
aspects of magic, to perform for each other — sharing advice,
encouragement and criticism.