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What to do if you screw up in your performance:(not answered directly)

There are several reasons why we screw up in our performances.
)Nerves
)Lack of Practice
)We are Human
)Hecklers

These are what I believe to be the most common reasons for screw-ups.
All of them can be fixed or over come to some extent- being human is one that is probably hardest to compensate for. I will do my best to cover these, in how I have and would “cover” them.

--Nerves; I here this one a lot, though not always said bluntly.
Shaking hands, sweaty palms, stuttering, breathing hard, lack of focus, butterflies. All symptoms of nerves.
These individually can usually be taken care of, for short periods of time; Deep breaths, lotions, etc.
Why not just kill the root of it all. Why are you nervous? Is it because you aren’t used to so much attention on you? Maybe you lack confidence in your ability?
To help over come these there is no simple solution. There is no magic pill or spell.
If it’s the attention you get, that bugs you. That makes you shake and sweat. Join a speech club, go volunteer, say hi to random people, while waiting in line start a conversation with some one. Get used to being around strange people, get used to talking in public. Eventually it will probably go away.
If you lack nerves because you lack confidence in your self and maybe even your magic. That needs to change no doubt. First, practice more often, practice with your eyes closed, practice in public, practice till it hurts. Don’t think you are good, don’t think you can do well; KNOW that you are good, know that you can do great. Don’t think about what can go wrong, don’t think about the starring eyes; Understand that things can and will go wrong and know that you can work past it, instead of focusing on their stares picture them in their under wear or nude. Trust me it works, it can bring a sigh of relief. Be confident in what you are doing, know that you bringing joy to people. One of the greatest gifts in the world.

--Lack of practice is without a doubt a big reason for why we screw up. How do we fix that…. as I stated.. practice till it hurts. Practice not only the moves, the method, but also practice the patter and presentation. Those make the magic, so you don’t want to leave those out. That’s why you may stutter, you haven’t practiced the patter enough. We are actors so like actors we must learn lines. Even if you change it every time, you might want to practice it some. Practice the sleights on their own, practice the method on its own, the patter, everything on its own many times. Then begin to bring them together. Then practice it all together. Practicing will help kill a lot of the nervousness.

--We are human, so we will mess up. No one if perfect. No matter how many times we have performed the DL or a glide… we are bound by human nature to mess up. How can we end this… well we truly cant. But we can learn how to over come and counter this.
Lets say I am performing a trick that requires the classis force… and to my dismay the person picks another card. Now I have a few choices-
1. Continue, but with a different effect using that cards chosen.
2. Ask them to replace the card and try again.
3. Ehh, who cares.
I personally recommend the first one. Being able to transition as a magician is a very important part. We just keep going.

Personal experience- I was performing “biddle”, and I lost my break for a second and ended up re-breaking one card father down. I didn’t know this. So at the end… I didn’t have the right card face up. But I was able to make a joke at it, and I saved the trick. The people were still entertained, they had no idea I screwed up.

That’s why I say in the part about nerves to “understand that you can and will make mistakes.”
To overcome something you must first admit that you can make the mistake, and acknowledge that it will happen. Then realize that you can counter that with a new “move”.

This next topic I wont go into too much detail on. I haven’t really had to deal with any- Mainly because of the way I act, the way I treat people, my presentation.

--Hecklers.. many would consider this the nemesis of magicians. I don’t see it that way. If anything they help us learn more, and become better magicians. That is if we handle it the right way.
There are many ways to handle them; some much better than others.
First off let me say… never sink to their level. It makes you as bad as them, and it generally wont win over other specs.
Now how you end up dealing with them is your choice. Some of the most common ways is:
)Ignore them
)Learn some crowd control:
)Try to get him on your side
)Get him to leave
)Get the audience on your side, and they will get rid of him.

How to avoid them, or at least decrease the chance of getting them:
)Be confident, not egotistical or seem superior.
)Make the magic entertaining, don’t make it seem as a puzzle.
)Don’t talk down to the people, they aren’t idiots.
)Get the audience on your side, enjoying your act even perform you start with your first trick.


I realized this isn’t the most detailed or thought out paper on the subject. But it should help none the less.
If you have anything to add, feel free to say it.
And maybe I will add more, when it hits me. I know I left some things out.

-Dave the Cryptic.

thanks alot...this is gonna be a big help

Marcus wrote:thanks alot...this is gonna be a big help

I am glad it will help you.