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It is a problem when I perform card magic. I always do the ambitious card routine whenever I do card magic.

Last time, I was on a plane and was kinda bored so I performed magic to this guy on the plane. I did the Biddle trick and my hands were actually shaking like something vibrating! I just couldn't stop! The guy knew and was like "you can calm down. Don't worry". Did help a little but I just find it hard to fight off.

And I don't know about the picture everyone naked approach. lol. I would think the think of them as you're best friends would a great way. I would love to perform with the confidence and charisma of Oz Pearlman.

Thanks for the help guys

StEvEbO!

I think it would be better to imagine you're just doing it in front of a mirror. I still find it easy to get nervous around friends. With them, if you mess up.. they'll know forever! At least a random stranger you have the chance you'll never see 'em again! Hehe...

It's easier to get nervous in front of friends, I think.

~Sym~

I can't speak for the rest of you, but picturing some people naked would make me more nervous.

Originally posted by laughingLoki
I can't speak for the rest of you, but picturing some people naked would make me more nervous.

Hehe! Yeah i never knew why people actually thought that worked! Especially if you do a trick to you dad or somebody.... euww

You know, the whole "Picture people naked" Thing has never worked for me. I find it much more relaxing to just be naked myself. You just don't have to worry about your magic messing up that way.

Observe the thinking process before hand....

J

If you visualise what success will look like before hand, you will be far more likely to achieve it, than fail.

Despite all of the physical practice of performing your tricks. sit back for an hour in a quiet place before you go out to perform and think through your performance. Visualise yourself performing confidently and wowing the audience.

Think through all of the problems that may occur and how you will deal with them positively. Think everything through over and over again.

Give it a go and see how you get on.

i suggest a couple of shots of jack daniels

Ryder wrote:i suggest a couple of shots of jack daniels

When I perform at paid gigs, I never drink alcohol till I have finished, however when I am out with friends and return home after a few, I have done up to an hour of impromptu card magic for flat mates, and they have actually said that I am better after a drink! I too used to shake like Michael J Fox on a bad day, but now have gotten a routine that I can do without really thinking about what I am doing. The only problems I have are when I now try and introduce new effects I have been working on for the 1st time.

A magic friend of mine never seems nervous at all, and when I asked him about it he asked me "Whats the worst that can happen, you might mess it up? So what?"

I guess he has a point!

To be more serious, if nervousness is a problem, start off with the most easy tricks you know. If that means gaffed tricks (which i usually don't like), then do so. If you know the trick can be done nearly without the touch of your fingers or any sleigt at all, you will get calm by the reaction of the spec. Promise! It works for me. So what's easy? What kind of tricks am I talking about? Well, it all depends on your reportoire, but something you are very confy with, and doesn't require alot of sleights.

Sound advice, Rune. I usually start with an Ace production, followed with the Twisting the Aces. I find these are really easy to perform.

With regards to having a few drinks before you perform, that entirely depends on who you're performing to! For friends, it's fine. If you're working in a restaurant I think there's nothing worse than a magi stinking of booze!

~Sym~

if you stink booze after a few drinks, I think your problem is the booze you had the night before

I think nervousness is something that you just don't worry about after performing a lot. It takes time to get used to being sneaky.

The only time my heart pounds now is when I show spectators my own creations. Just because if I haven't done it for anyone before, I'm scared that it would crash and burn.

Every performer needs nerves , Without them you cannot communicate to an audience. Once when teaching at the old Sheffield Playhouse, Colin George, the director, told me he had been directing Dame Edith Evans at the Old Vic and was surprised to see her shaking before she went on. He expressed his amazement that Englan's greatest actress could SO nervous after SO MANY YEARS in the business. She said then that if she felt the nerves she knew everything was working and the play would go fine. It is the control of nerves you need to investigate.
1. Know your routines, patter, movements etc. in side out.
2. Practise diaphramatic breathing before you go on. This is NOT deep breathing which can upset your entire inside. It is controlled breathing used by every actor and every ventriloquist. Any good local drama/speech teacher should be able to give you this easy technique. I have put it on The Magic Cafe ( the what?) somewhere.
3. A SIMPLE form of meditation. This needs learning about 3 times a day until you can do it naturally. It comes from the book, The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson MD. (Harvard University.) You'll learn it in minutes then must practise the ultra simple technique. I still use it after some 27 years. The book is an easy read. When I produced my version of the Dante Show in 1980 because of this technique I was able to do an hours photo call 3 hours before curtain up on opening night. With a 2 hour production whish involved some 50 effects and illusions; most of which were new to me, this technique proved invaluable.
e mail me if you can't get the book from the library. You need maily the chapter ' How To Bring Forth The Relaxation Response'
Allen Tipton
allen@tipton27.wanadoo.co.uk

Allen Tipton wrote:

It is the control of nerves you need to investigate.

I totally agree although I suspect that this is what most who have offered advice have also meant, but have worded differently.