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Partly to vent, i performed a trick yesterday, using IT. It's the second time i performed it, and luckily it was only my mother both times. She saw a little bit of IT and it half spoiled the trick, and i was mad at myself because i was just a little too close and in a bad light for the trick (im trying not to give much away, if i am please mod accordingly).

I was wondering how do some of you recover from a trick gone wrong?

Sometimes even the easiest of tricks with a lot of practice can just not go right.

The easiest way is never to have the trick go wrong. That means really thinking deeply about every aspect of it from the spectator's perspective. You mustn't assume anything, so what does the light look like, what does the patter sound like, the angles, the method, and so on. Is anything in what you say ambiguous? Is anything you do suspicious?

..and especially if you even think that the light is bad, dont perform that effect...even if you really, really want to...resist!

and always have a couple of self workers in mind to help settle your nerves, and reduce any suspicion a spectator might have of you doing "funny stuff"...

either that, or carry a gun...

abraxus wrote:either that, or carry a gun...

That was gonna be my suggestion.

All that I can say is that I like to go by NASA's saying- If it can go wrong it will.

The only mistakes that should happen are ones that mean nothing in the context of the effect.

ie: you are about to make a reveal and in the middle of a sleight or fancy cut.. you drop a couple of cards.. You exclaim '' Wow!! Look.. that was the card I was thinking of!! ' Then proceed to reveal their card too.

But really, the only time you should make a mistake is when you intend on it SEEMING that way. If you do however make a mistake.. you should have pre-thought about it and have a line or something to say to misdirect the specs focus. This requires planning which you incorporate into the practice

Mistakes can happen......and they have happened not only to you, but the best in the business will likely have stories about something that didn't go quite right. I believe the key is to "think of anything and everything you can" and try to reduce the risk of mistakes happening. Sometimes it can be a prop malfunction, spec not follow correctly, hecklers, etc....and those are beyond your direct control...if you have considered them and done your best to avoid them, that is all you can do.

Don't get sloppy and forget to inspect props, assess lighting issues, neglect your patter, the small details are really the large details that make the difference in the end.

I (like someone else mentioned) am always ready to go with an impromptu effect that I know and trust just in case I need to build up my confidence and settle my nerves after something goes wrong.

The more practice you do, the more details you consider, and the better you are at re-settling yourself and nerves, you will find that mistakes happen less, and when they do they are often noticed more by the performer than the audience/spec.

the unforeseen can and will happen by it's virtue, learning to deal with that "on the fly" can only come with practice. For example, you loose a card. Without batting an eyelid you shrug, switch out the ID and bang, there's their card. Always have a plan B.

Then again, certain things can be avoided as mentioned already.
And don't forget, someone with a hobby will practice until they get it right. Someone with a profession will practise until they never get it wrong.
Or something like that.

I also totally agree with checking out the lighting for certain things, never overlook this.

a little tip for IT.. if you use a black marker pen and dab it along the length of the IT at say 2-3" intervals it breaks up the "shininess"

There are no mistakes, unless you let them exist. You are the one performing after all. Those people in the audience aren't, and unless you are doing something they have seen before (and really... even if you are) they don't really even know what will "happen next". They might speculate... but they can either be disappointed in seeing a trick they like go wrong... or delighted to see a new version of an old thing. You see... now a mistake is a good thing!

Dropped cards? Or mis-direction? You forgot the card you glimpsed of theirs? Or 2 phase trick?

If you are really worried about a mishap... leave the patter open enough that you have breathing room. Don't define every step of the trick...

It would be like me telling you about the next paragraph im going to type on the subje

Dino,

Unforseen errors can go wrong when you perform a trick. You can drop the deck etc.

What happened to you was a lack of practice, not an unforseen error. Learn a trick, learn it more, and learn it more again. Practice in front of a mirror, learn angles, learn how light effects what you are doing and you will not make simple errors.

Also, by the time you have put so much practice into a trick you will also have come across the unforseen errors of droping cards etc and will be much better equiped to deal with them.

I think the idea that mistakes "shouldn't" happen, is a worrying viewpoint for newcomers to magic. I think, yes, practice until you know your material back to front, but it's also good to become comfortable with making mistakes. If you worry about messing up I think you are more likely to do so.

Just practice until you are comfortable with it then you can perform it, don't worry about making mistakes. Expect that you will, that's why it's good to try new things out on family or friends. If you do make a mistake don't get angry with yourself, especially if you are in the middle of performing. Most of the time the spec will not realise anyway. If you look awkward it makes the spec feel uncomfortable, when they need not.

Become comfortable with messing up and you won't ever worry about it again.

There is a little book called "Outs Precautions and Challenges" by Charles Hopkins. If you read this book thoroughly you will never have to worry about a card trick going wrong again.

sry for the late reply, i was away from internet access...
I first want to thank all of you for your sage advice, as each and every post so far has been enlightening and informative.

Next i would like to say that the fact that a trick "shouldnt" go wrong, makes the most sense to me. Although it can sound harsh, i know it doesnt mean that the trick should always go the way it was planned, it means more that with much practice, you can have an exit trick for any circumstance. I realize that a trick should be perfected before performance, which includes planning every outcome!

I have been inspired by all of your advice.... Thank you again!

oh yea, on a side note, thank you for the tip about black marker, ill try it out!