When I was little my grandfather used to show me the 4 Kings trick.  Since then I'd been interested in magic, but never a performer, just a spectator.  When I went off to college I had very few friends, and no roommate.  Watching youtube videos of magicians one day, I stumbled upon a tutorial for a simple trick by accident.  I frantically dug through my stuff for a deck of cards and practiced that.  From there I did more research, discovered Ellusionist, and in about 10 months I was ready to perform for people. That was 5 years ago, and I have only got more and more into it since.  I regularly collect playing cards as new decks are released, Black Tiger was my FIRST custom deck -- I ALWAYS open, and at least spread through the decks I get (unless I have more than 1), no matter how rare.

I perform regularly in bars and clubs for fun - not paid.  Magic is (and probably always will be) exclusively a passionate hobby for me, not a career. 

I perform card tricks instead of other magic because cards are easy to carry with me.  The reason I do magic though, is because when you are little, the world is so new, everything is amazing and nothing makes sense.  There is this feeling of wonderment every time you experience something new.  Then you get older, and you go off to school, and they teach you about the world.  That wonderment and amazement is gone.  Everything makes sense and you have the world in the palm of your hand.  With magic, even if just for a moment, you get to be a kid again.  You get to forget about your job, about your daily responsibilities, and you get an opportunity to get lost in amazement once more.  That's why I perform.