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dup wrote:I find that at least with mentalism, practicing on friends and family isn't very useful.

That's exactly why you should hold free shows for preview audiences, and gain as much constructive criticism from them as you can ! Read my post just above yours !!

Hardik wrote:That's exactly why you should hold free shows for preview audiences, and gain as much constructive criticism from them as you can ! Read my post just above yours !!

Agreed.

Here's another thought I recently had: volunteer to do shows in a hospital near your house. That's a very nice community service, and you can repeat the performance just about every day, if you want to, in different departments or in the same one.

First off, make a list of the routines that you have and can perform really well in both technique and presentation.

Next, split that list into smaller lists containing four or five of the routines to make sure that you have different types of effect in each of the smaller lists. Also, the four to five routines should when put together take 20 to 25 minutes to perform.

Example, don't have more than one vanish, production, transposition etc. routines so that each is different. What you are trying to avoid in the perfromance that you're building is too much repetition.

Avoid doing a straight two hour performance or even two one hour performances - it sounds as if you're not ready for this. Instead, put on three or four at the most shorter performances of 20 to 25 minutes each and have a 15 minute break between each.

This will suit you better and maintain the interest of your audience.

I think about having several mini sets. For example 3 or 4 effects that are all varied. Maybe a strong pick a card trick opener that really gets their attention, then spong balls, then a visual coin routine, and finally a really nice finish, something strong and visual like cups and balls.

Come up with a few mini sets like this. Then as you work a room, you can just perform these small acts. Each one is only 8-10 minutes so you don't end up doing 45 minutes and giving away all your material. As you move through the room, cycle through the sets. This also helps for the few people that follow you around. They will not be seeing the same tricks over and over.

Also, your small routines will be easy to remember. Nothings worse than opening with 5-6 tricks, gathering an audience, and then having NO IDEA what to do next. Practice your sets and memorize them!

-Jason Ladanye