talkmagic.co.uk

Lord Freddie wrote:Some wise soul on the Spongeball Toolbox said that there is no such thing as waiting, it's practise time!
So I use any spare moment that my hands are free to practice cards, coins (which I'm still terrible at) and spongeballs. This is during the day and when I'm out and about.

Indeed, I was planning on referencing this when I was reading this thread.

that was Gary Darwin, he said it was the greatest idea he ever had.

Very wise advice it is too. No more wasted time. And you'd be suprised how much time is spent waiting around when it could be used for better purposes.

I have to walk our dog two or three times a day, typically for around 30 minutes a go. I used to moan about this and complain to myself how I could be doing far more constructive things. Until I realised that all of my great ideas have come while I've been trooping over the moors with the dog.

I decided to go professional while on a dog walk, I always come up with routines while out on dog walks, and if I have a stage show (like this coming Saturday) I like to run through the whole thing time and again to myself while on the dog walk. If I didn't have a dog to walk I never would find the time to figure out the important stuff in my head.

Sometimes it's good to just stop and allow your brain time to just mull things over. And of course there is a theory (and a very good one) that running things through your mind tricks your brain into thinking that you're actually physically doing the thing you're thinking about. Example: if you have a sleight that you're really struggling with, spend 10 minutes visualising yourself doing it perfectly. Then try to do it again. There's a good chance that you will do the sleight perfectly. Or something like that.

Starting to ramble. Time to stop. And visualise myself making sense.

Palm coins if I have them.
Ususally work on my cards an coins at night after school work and on the evenings.
I learned to riffle shuffle by doing it with the buisness cards at work.

themagicwand wrote:I have to walk our dog two or three times a day, typically for around 30 minutes a go. I used to moan about this and complain to myself how I could be doing far more constructive things. Until I realised that all of my great ideas have come while I've been trooping over the moors with the dog.

I decided to go professional while on a dog walk, I always come up with routines while out on dog walks, and if I have a stage show (like this coming Saturday) I like to run through the whole thing time and again to myself while on the dog walk. If I didn't have a dog to walk I never would find the time to figure out the important stuff in my head.

Sometimes it's good to just stop and allow your brain time to just mull things over. And of course there is a theory (and a very good one) that running things through your mind tricks your brain into thinking that you're actually physically doing the thing you're thinking about. Example: if you have a sleight that you're really struggling with, spend 10 minutes visualising yourself doing it perfectly. Then try to do it again. There's a good chance that you will do the sleight perfectly. Or something like that.

Starting to ramble. Time to stop. And visualise myself making sense.

I'll have to try that some time. For instance... Now. No waiting, I suppose.

similar pet theme - we have lots of groups of rats & when they're out I'll practice, which equates to about 3 hours a day. When I'm watching TV I'll be messing around with cards. When I have a day off it'll involve mainly practising sleights around the less important stuff like paying bills and the like...

So why am I still not fluent?!?!

cymru1991 wrote:
Incidentally, I do have a social life and I'm not a hermit that lives on the hill constantly palming cards and so on.

Damn! And I thought there would be 2 of us! I generally spend a good 14 hours a day when Im not walking down the hill to collect food and water for the day!

Hogster wrote:When I'm watching TV I'll be messing around with cards. When I have a day off it'll involve mainly practising sleights around the less important stuff like paying bills and the like...

So why am I still not fluent?!?!

I wouldn't worry about that. I have a deck of cards in my hand every single day in the afternoons and evenings and whenever I can, and I've been like that for about 18 months and I'm not what I'd call "fluent".

I think to call yourself fluent you really need to have been at it obsessively for a couple of years, and even then true fluency can only really be measured as your level of performance infront of others, not how well you can handle a deck while sat alone.

I can do miracles when I'm sat cross-legged on my bed alone (innuendo police!) but when I perform for a friend or member of my family I'm always less smooth.

I'm also not sure what really constitutes "practice", since even if you go through an entire routine including practicing patter under your breath, it's still not going to be the same as actually performing for an audience because there's no interaction, there's no reality to it, no sponteneity of someone deciding to return the card to a part of the deck you're not expecting, or interrupting, stalling, asking a question, saying something unexpected.

Maybe the only thing that can genuinely be called practice is performance itself...

I'm also not sure what really constitutes "practice", since even if you go through an entire routine including practicing patter under your breath, it's still not going to be the same as actually performing for an audience because there's no interaction, there's no reality to it, no sponteneity of someone deciding to return the card to a part of the deck you're not expecting, or interrupting, stalling, asking a question, saying something unexpected.

Maybe the only thing that can genuinely be called practice is performance itself...

What you are talking about is rehersal. As far as your last line goes. That becomes experience.

bmat wrote::( What you are talking about is rehersal. As far as your last line goes. That becomes experience.

So rehearsal isn't practice? I don't get what you're saying.

Not that it matters, I was just thinking out loud (and typing my thoughts, hehe) not trying to make a deep observation.

i may take a photo of my lovely bed one day, me sat crossed legged in front of my laptop...currently on the bed, is:

pack of cards
stack of envelopes
blank business card stock
and other more nefarious devices i cannot utter on an open forum...

unfortunately for those in the mentalist area on here, suffer the consequences, as i often use that protected area as my electronic notepad...

if i get an idea, i quickly bash it out for all to see...

consider the above line a freebie for those that desperately want to post in the innuendo thread...

I use to be running around with cards in my pockets or hands showing all and sundry my skills. I use to chase my brother around the house "pick a card pick a card". Now days I think meh whats the point, if there is a deck haning about I might do a fan or two as for trciks and stuff I dont bother anymore.

queen of clubs wrote:

bmat wrote::( What you are talking about is rehersal. As far as your last line goes. That becomes experience.

So rehearsal isn't practice? I don't get what you're saying.

Lol. I think it all depends on how you define practice. Some people see practice as just practising a move, whereas a rehearsal is a full performance of the moves and the patter etc.

I used to practice all the time when first starting out but now it really depends on what I've got going on. If I've got a gig or know I'll be doing something I'll take a few hours to polish up a routine but most of the time I'm either trying to think up new ideas or put together a new routine rather than actually practicing.

if you use real magic and mind reading techniques like dini, greedo, abraxus, myself and a select few others, practise becomes redundant.

Quite handy really, leaves more time for beer.