Welcome I am also new here.
Anyway i have been learning more advanced tricks and performing for people for about 5 months now and i am getting ready to do my first paid performance in 2 weeks. I'm nervouse i don't want to go infront of these people and goof up or something. anyway i prefer the close up one on one or small groups of people magic. like street magic. anyway that is enuff about me.
What is the setting for your payed performance? What type of people do you expect to perform for? Is it table hopping at a dinner party. Will you be tabled? I am always more relaxed when I perform for charities, fetes, private parties of colleguages or other places where I am not paid (execept maybe a symbolic token). However, what it really boils down to - I think - is whether you have (small) repoitoire you know very well and can perform in your sleep! You should also pay attention to your patter. Personally I have strong aversion for "fixed" patter that does not interact with the spectator. I suggest you make a flow chart that roughly take care of how the interaction will develop. I call this "dynamic" patter.
Please do not worry to much about goofing! If you are neuvous about performing a trick, you might - in your patter - suggest that what you want to demonstrate is an experiment! If you goof explain this is why you said it was an experiment. Then find the missed selection and move it to the top of the pack and excecute the criss-cross force (or some more advanced revalation that they percive magical). When they see their selection they almost certainly give your a strong reaction (if you play it right!). Then boldly declare that the experiment succede after all. By then they will all have forgotten that you droped half your set up on the floor
Even if you goof in your out its not the end of the world. These things happens. If you clown a bit and crack a few jokes it might even increase the intertainement value....
Besides knowing your material well (including the dynamic patter) my key advise is that I think you should pay attention to the fact that if people like you as a person, then in general they will percive your magic in a much more personal and memorable way.
