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Does anyone else have trouble sleeping after a performance? I always find myslef laying awake for hours afterwards just reliving it all in my head. I'm thinking about what went wrong, what went right how I could improve things. No matter how hard I try, it's all I can think of and just can't get any sleep.

Just wondering if anyone else gets the same thing.

Oh and if anyone even thinks about putting any of that into inuendo bingo, there'll be a serious shin kick comming your way

After a really good show I am buzzing and on a high (natural, not drug induced) - and it takes time to unwind and switch off.

I think your sleeplessness could be a sign that you are in a high learning mode. I often in cooperate my experiences in my dreams which is a bit more convenient since I at least gets some rest. The main problem is that many of the effects I come up with in my dreams is lacking a clear method, even though I occasionally manage to dream up with some interesting ideas.

Usually I am good at dreaming up effects (often quite weird like moving or even levitating one of the meet balls on one of the dining peoples plate) but unfortunately only rarely can I find a usable method.

Lady of Mystery wrote:Does anyone else have trouble sleeping after a performance? I always find myslef laying awake for hours afterwards just reliving it all in my head. I'm thinking about what went wrong, what went right how I could improve things. No matter how hard I try, it's all I can think of and just can't get any sleep.

Just wondering if anyone else gets the same thing.

Oh and if anyone even thinks about putting any of that into inuendo bingo, there'll be a serious shin kick comming your way

The merest suggestion hadn't even begun to consider the possibility of crossing my mind

When I first started, I used to laugh myself silly when I got home. The sheer audacity of what I'd done used to make me feel very guilty.

It's most likely that you've still got dregs of adrenaline trickling round your system - best thing to do is probably try all the "sleep hygiene" stuff, y'know, have a lavender scented bath, a warm milky drink, deep breathing exercises etc.

Or you could just enjoy the buzz!

Yeppp i get this after a performance too...its ace!

self edited as i forgot where i was for a moment and i had just woken up when i wrote it...

ahem...

yes, i get a funny glowing feeling after a good performance...

Lady of Mystery wrote:Oh and if anyone even thinks about putting any of that into inuendo bingo, there'll be a serious shin kick comming your way

I'm starting to worry about myself.. as I didnt notice any inuendo in there until you pointed it out!

I'm not even going to answer that, Abraxus!

It's only recently since I've been doing a few caberet type slots that I've been getting this. I guess it could be the adrenaline, I used to get a similar thing I used to kickbox in the evenings.

If my good lady came home with that kind of restless excitement i know how i would suggest she put it use, but, I wouldn't suppose to suggest that to the good Lady of the forum

I would suggest you break the pattern sooner rather than later, set aside a specific time to sit down and go through your performance before bed. Take 20 minutes with a cuppa, pen and paper and break it down, then once done head off for your bedtime routine.

I had the same thing with teaching martial arts every evening, i would go to bed, turn out the light with head on pillow and then boom, my head was full of the evenings events. I realised i had kinda programmed myself to do it, didn't think about much before bed but as soon as my head hit the pillow it all came rushing back. So i did what i suggested above and found it broke the pattern.

Now i just have to find a way to fend off the missus when my head hits the pillow, mind you she's pregnant now and that seems to have done the job

Exactly the same, I replay everything in my head, what can be changed, what was said that can be used again. It's usually silly o clock before I finally get some sleep!

your not alone m'lady it does get better overtime but anice long soak and a mental breakdown (of the events) usualy helps.

One of the best parts of performance is the buzz you get afterwards, particularly as a magician and (as Tomo pointed out) you think to yourself "how did I get away with that?!"

A natural high, a ton of fun, and you get paid for it! Why on earth would you not want to stop up all night reliving it?!

Lady of Mystery,
Nothing wrong with having trouble getting to sleep after a show.

That will probably pass with time.

The only time to worry about it, is when it creates a problem for you.

Otherwise, . . .

I am merely thinking out loud and I have no idea if this would work. I just thought of it and have never tried it myself.

It occurs to me the cause of all the sleeplesness is partly the excitement of doing the show and partly the fact that you want to keep going over it while it is fresh in your mind.

It occurs to me that if you were to have the show videotaped or recorded for DVD purposes you would kill two birds with one stone. Even audiotaped would do.

The first advantage is that a recorded show helps you learn when you study what you have done. The second advantage is that when you are tempted to go over what you have done in your mind thus preventing you sleeping you can say to yourself "Oh, I have it on tape. I don't have to think about it now. I can look at it tomorrow. I don't need to drive myself crazy thinking about it right now"

Sweet dreams.