talkmagic.co.uk

Hi all

I am a card magician but a hobbyist who practising 24/7 and always has a deck in his hand. I have a repertoire of tricks which I feel I can do competently but I get annoyed with myself as I rarely perform and when I do (at family events) I get so nervous.
Looking for advise about helping my performing. I know that the more I perform, the less nervous I will get and I love the buzz I get when I do a good successful trick. I was thinking of maybe going to an old age home or something just to et experience or something but I won't just go up to a stranger on the street! That's not me. I was once practising my cards on the train and was asked by a stranger to show him something and I refused as I felt the whole carriage watching me and wasn't prepared in my head.

I know I can do it and am able but looking for a way to get performing more. I guess it's my New Years resolution!!

Appreciate any tips or advice.

Thanks

Just go for it, once you get over that first hurdle there will be no stopping you.

Video yourself.
If you have a laptop or webcam or whatever, get it about eye level and point it down, like a real person.
It also helps if the first few run throughs you can see yourself perform as you do it.
One thing i notice that changes when I am performing rather than practicing is that I stop thinking about what I'm doing and start focusing on how I feel about how the audience feels about what I'm doing, and suddenly its not about the tricks or the audience anymore, its about me.

Then I get nervous.

So getting used to being aware of yourself and being able to cut that off really helped me, i dunno, give it a go

Nerves are a horrible thing, I still get really nervous before a gig to the point that I can be physically sick because of them but I do tend to find that once I get going, the nerves just disappear and I'm fine.

The only way to beat them really is to just get out there and perform, start out with friends and family to build up your confidence. Take your cards along to parties and nights out, get chatting to some friends or friends and if the oppotunity comes up, show them something. Once you start performing you'll build up your confidence quickly and can take things from there.

I know the feeling very well indeed. For me I'm still trying to get over it but I've found the only way to do it is just throw yourself at it like any fear, and ultimately see that it doesn't hurt you really.

For me I guess my biggest fear is that my ego might come away slightly bruised or somethin as it may not go as well as in my head, or they may just not like that trick so much and I won't come off as Mr Cat the amazing. I love doing a few tricks and just having a laugh but there's always a bit of you that wants it to be perfect every time, especialy when it comes to strangers. That and ironically paranoia that my nerves will cause me to totally gash up a trick I can do so well in rehearsal on my floor at home with my cat.

So I've just taken any small impule when it's come, forced myself to jump on it when I've been out and gone up to someone and asked if they fancied seeing a trick as soon as it was apt. I find that being prepared in your head is a question of how long would it take you at home or with yoru best mate when asked off the cuff, try and put yourself in that place, take a moment to answer and then say 'sure I'll show you something' Doesn't matter if you trash it totally, you may be embaressed or whatever but other people will respect you for doing something they wouldn't dare no matter how it goes.

I found this link on my travels the other day, it's a book by this cool looking magician dude, I don't think it's out yet but he's big into his 'getting out there and being confident' training. You might want to take a look. I'm certainly curious. My adrenaline still goes a bit mental even when I'm at a gathering round a friends house...but the more I do it anyway the easier it becomes.

The random 'get out there' guy

Hope that's of some help! Cheers

If you fancy old folks homes then go for it. They'll welcome someone different for a chat. Basically any environment you feel comfortable in.

Kevin