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I don't usually get stage fright when performing magic, but I sometimes get it before I act in a play. Before the play starts, I talk to my other friends in the play and talking to them relaxes me and gets my pumped up. I assume if you're performing magic in public, maybe you could talk to some of your friends who you know there and you wont' be so nervous when you perform.

Great responses friends, I am sure this will help many people. Thanks Again.

abraxus wrote:ride the wave of sickliness and nerves...i actually kinda enjoy feeling nervy...that's why i like the psychological forces and suggestion work...

He he. Feel the fear and do it anyway!

Speaking of which, I've just got back from the biggest gig of my life (set in the library of a country hall in between courses at a private dinner for two). I've been invited to perform on the guy's private bloody yacht in Spain! I only did 4 effects all night, too. Mind you, they really were strong - sealed predictions using unforced choices, that sort of thing.

Job's a good 'un.

Swest wrote:The tricks are so easy a one legged wildebeest could do it,

In case any of you were concerned Gerald the Wildebeest of Wonder still has all his legs but has apparantly mislaid his marbles. If anyone has found these rattling about inside their heads, would they return them via the usual methods.

As far as stage fright goes, I still experience it whenever I perform. The only way I've found to overcome this is by a carrot and stick principle. The carrot is the money I will recieve for perorming, the stick is the debt collection agency I will face if I don't perform. My best advice is to just go for it as best you can, as already stated start your act with a surefire effect as this will allow you the headspace to start to relax into the performance. Remember that you will probably be the worst critic you will ever have, and that your audience actually want you to succeed (generally).

Let us clear up one thing first. There is a very big difference between Stage Fright and Stage Nerves. Nerves are inevitable if the adrenalin is to flow and spur the performer on. Stage Fright is almost a medical condition in which the performer is either terrified or absolutely frozen before going on or actually on stage. This does need medical help.
Derek Jacobi once told us that he developed stage fright and had to give up live performances for about 4 years.
I remember Colin George( Director of the Sheffield Playhouse & later the Cruicible) when I was teaching the Youth Drama Workshops there, telling me of how directing Dame Edith Evans at the Old Vic was open mouthed at her shaking visibly just before she went on. He asked her why after all these years and she said'If i didn't feel nerves before going on, I'd never have the nerves to communicate with the audience'.This was stage nerves.
One of my ex drama students who's recently left ( for the second time) a major TV soap ONCE had terrible stage fright. He was playing the lead in a play and couldn't step on the stage. Another actor had to step in and take the role over a week before the production opened.
I talked him for quite a while over the phone and sent him various relaxation exercises.His big trouble was he'd been so busy going from one role to another his mind had never had the chance to calm down.
What you need to do, to start you off is:

1. Learn the moves, handling and routine thoroughly and I mean thoroughly.
2. Try it out in front of friends then in charity/free shows.
3. Script every word you speak and learn it by heart till you can nearly say it backwards. This will give you the confidence to cover any fluffs as you know what you are going to say. It puts you in control.
WRITE it down for future reference.
4. Do some relaxation exercises. read The Relaxation Response by Herbert Benson MD. This is very down to earth and readable..Nothing high faultin'. It will give you , when you've read the background, a very simple Relaxation method. Pracice this. It does work! There is a paper back version of it available.
In fact I've been doing it this afternoon before a first night..Tonight. And I've still found time and calmness to type this.

When I mounted my version of the Dante Show in 1980 I was practising this Relaxation Response and was thus able to carry out a 45 minute photo call 2 hours before curtain up on opening night. And this was presenting a show 0f some 50 tricks and illusions..many of which I was performing live for the first time.
Finally try some Concentration exercises. These will help shut out any severe nerves.
Allen Tipton

What I always do is make sure what ever you are doing, memorized lines, moves, order... make sure you can practice it while concentrating on something else. Talk through your routine while folding laundry and watching TV. Practice your tricks while talking on the phone or reading e-mail. If you know your stuff so well that you can do it without thinking you dont need to worry about going blank.

If mistakes are made on stage, move on. Don't draw attention to it and don't worry about it until after. I can't count the times I've made a mistake on stage and then shortly after made another WHY? Because I was thinking "I can't believe I screwed that up" at the time of the next mistake. Just let it go.

And until you are comfortable performing, stick with tricks with a lower risk of foul-up. Its always better to do 1 trick perfect then 3 so-so.

Blah blah blah, that's my two cents.

I have performance fright also, But I am on a band that plays every Wednesday, and when I first started I was so scared but now I do every Wednesday, so what I am trying to say is the more you do the less frightened you will be. Hope that helped