talkmagic.co.uk

Hi to everyone at TM!

Yesterday was my first public appearance perfoming magic to non family or friends. I'm still buzzing off the experience now.

My introduction to magic started back in November 06 when I integrated a simple effect into a sales presentation for a customer. I've always loved watching a good perfomance of magic, but until then had never thought of taking it on as a "hobby".

I began to read books such as Paul Zenon street magic the discovered my local magic shop. A family friend who was aware that I was dabbling in magic then put me on the spot and asked if I'd perform some magic during pre dinner drinks for their wedding anniverasry to approx 50 guests.

For the last 7 months or so, I have lived and breathed all things magic and read many books (RRTCM, Darwin Ortiz - Strong Magic, Jay Sankey - Beyond secrets to name a few) and thoroughly enjoyed becoming more passionate about magic.

I performed yesterday with a selection of 9 different effects from cards to mentalism, and I have to say, I'm feeling rather proud of myself!

Whilst I felt reasonably calm and composed my crazy disco dancing hands wouldn't stop shaking from the start. I read on TM from another poster (Possibly Tomo, but thanks to who ever it was!) about shaking arms and hands (in privacy of course) and deep breathing. I nipped off to the gents and this seemed to temporarily help.

I am well aware that in comparison to many of you on TM, I am very fresh faced and green, but I have taken this role really seriously and kept on practicing and not perfoming until I was satisfied with the experience that I'd leave other people with.
I feel that the performance went well. One of my flourished went a bit pear shaped but I just laughed it off and carried on. The whole experience has been a great boost and I'll certainly be continuing to study and perfom for the rest of my life I'm sure, and who knows what will happen. What I will say though, is that I had loads of fun and long may it continue!

Whilst I haven't contributed heavily to the boards, I read them almost daily. Thanks to everyone who has posted helpful little tips and words of wisdom which have helped me alomg the way. I will try to post when I have a worthwhile contribution to make.

Anyway, sorry for the ramblings. I just wanted to share this with you.

Finally, I wanted to know if anyone has a non medicated cure for shakey hands?? Does it dissapear with experience or do you veterans out ther still suffer? Are ther any books you can recommend?

Many thanks,

Stuart

Hi Stuart,
Firstly, well done with your first proper performance. I remember mine like it was yesterday!
Anyway, to your question... You'll find that the more you perform, the more confident you'll become and the less you'll 'shake'. In the meantime, just tell the specs that the magic you are about to perform is SO dangerous that you get nervous incase you kill another member of the audience. That should get a laugh and settle everyone, including you, down a little.
Welcome to magic.

Hi Stuart,

The major hurdle is always the first performance. Now that you have gotten over that one, the road will become more and more enjoyable and less and less of a reason to shake! *smile*

It sounds to me like you handled it all really well.

Congratulations!!

*Magical Lady*

Well done Stuart! There'll be no stopping you now!

The more you rehearse so that you can do your routines in your sleep, the more often you perform, the more reaction that you get from your audience, the less nervous you will be.

Take glucose before the performance.

Thanks for all your replies!

Glucose? Seriously? Would that be something you could purchase from a chemist?

Stuart

Any supermarket should sell the Lucozade tablets, loads of kids eat them as sweets

Agecroft wrote:Any supermarket should sell the Lucozade tablets, loads of kids eat them as sweets

That explains a lot!!

*Magical Lady*

Thanks for sharing that with us Stuart. It is quite exhilirating isn't it?

I find performing to "real" people infinitely more rewarding than friends and family and the best thing is, the experience just gets better and better each time you do it.

Yes - incredibly exhilirating. In fact still two days later, I'm smiling!

I received some money for my efforts, but that was a distant second in comparison to the thrill of the performance itself.

I just can't wait for the next event!

Stuart

I got really drunk the other night when I was performing and I was okay . But don't do that...

It seems to me that you had a great and enjoyable time Stuart! I hope the rest of your performances go fantastically. You will only improve more and more!

Steve