talkmagic.co.uk

Just spotted this thread and thought I'd post a reply with some advice from my other (non-magical) hobbies.

Try a book by Geoff Thompson called "Fear - the Friend of Exceptional People".

Somebody on a related thread mentioned examining controlling your nerves. To do this you've got to understand why you get 'nerves' and what they are.

In this book, Geoff Thompson explains the chemical reactions that are going on in your body when you start to feel nervous, how it happens and why. When you understand exactly what's happening when your nerves kick in, and that its actually for a very good reason (I won't go into it here, but we've all heard of the fight or flight syndrome) then its less daunting when you start to feel it happen. This in turn allows you to calm down quicker and guess what? You're on a 'happy circle' to controlling the bad elements (shakes, feelings of panic, sweating etc) but retaining the good elements (keen senses, excitement), as opposed to getting into that viscious circe of getting yourself more and more worked up and tongue-tied.

Absolutely not a book related to magic, or performing in any particular sense, but its a fascinating read which you can apply to any situation which makes you feel nervous.

Just a suggestion ......

I dont think messing things up is such a big deal ... people expect it once in a while ... they couldnt do any better themselves so .. meh ... NEXT TRICK PLEASE!

I agree. We all mess up from time to time. People know they aren't seeing a polished and edited TV version, they are seeing it live and under their nose. Don't panic about it, just get on with the next one and they'll soon forget it.