talkmagic.co.uk

Hey Guys

I was just at work, on break drinking a coffee and i began to think back to when i started out and how scared i was perfoming for people, even approaching people scared me!

So i wanted to write this short post for beginners who may have the same problems i did when i began. These tips are from my experience and others may disagree or agree with them, but this should be used as a guide and advice if you need help on the subject.

Good Practice

Practice in magic is the most important thing you will have to do to be a great performer, here are some basic tips to help you practice more effectively.

*Get used to handling your tools - Whether it be coins, cards etc get in habit of having these with you at all times, handle them as you walk, as you watch tv etc, they should become an extension of you.

*When learning a trick, break it down into sections. Perform each section slowly, know what each move consists of, the angles for the move....As you get it down slowly, increase the speed each time, until you eventually reach performance speed without sacrificing quality. Do this for all section of the routine/trick.

*Now practice infront of a mirror, you must be able to see (or not see) what the spectator can, this will help you with where you stand when you perform, how high/low ur hands should be etc.

*Once you have followed the above and have the routine down, try to get a camcorder or something to record the effect. Try to position it where a spectators head would be, a mirror is great for practice but the con of this is that you have to look at the mirror all the time which may effect how you perform. With a camcorder you can concentrate on what you are doing and then watch it back.

*If you are happy with what you see on tape, congratulations!!! But be sure to practice it, till you get the effect how you want it evey time.

*Move on to a family member, get the confidence in performing for a real human being, this is the part where you get to practice your showmanship which is an integral part of your performance. You may have the best effect in the world, but if you perform it like a social outcast no one will really care for it!!

*Get feedback from the family member, tell them to be brutally honest with you, constructive criticism is very important to make you a better performer.

*Move onto friends, friends are usually great to practice on because they want to catch you out, so if you perform an effect and get them, you know your on the right track.

*Next is the public, you will feel more nervous for sure, and it may effect your performance. This is natural and with experience you will get over it. One thing that will help is how you interact with them, it not only makes them feel more comfortable,relaxed and up for a fun experience. It will relax you also, and help you ease into your performance.

NOTES:

- When practicing your moves, you have to believe yourself that you are doing it. Sometimes when i practice im like "omg did i really take that?" thats what you want to happen, which will make your magic more effective. If you believe it, they will believe it.

- When performing for spectators do not ignore things around you, you can use them in you presentation to make the experience fun. Use things that happen around you as topics or comments in your presentation to make people laugh and joke, it does the world of good for both u and the spectator.....do not ignore it!

- Have a backup. As a beginner, even professionals.....at one point in your life you will make a mistake....its inevitable. But do not panic.....9 times out of 10 the spectator will not notice...but you may think its obvious and just give up. Remember you are doing sleights etc so it still may be covered...and remember they do not know what you are supposed to do....so relax. If it does go totally balls up, you must have some sort of backup.....this should be thought about and practiced during practice of your effect.

- Have Fun!!!!!! When i used to perform, i was soooo scared of messing up, i was performing and not enjoying it, but dreading when a difficult part came up hoping i wouldnt mess up. Once i started enjoying my magic i found i was more loose and performed much better....it was great....so relax and enjoy!

These are basic tips but maybe things that you dont think about when first starting. I hope it helps out some of our future performers.

Thanks for the tips DragunX5 I'm sure they will come in handy to all beginners in magic.

I have taken on board your comments as I have lost a bit of confidence in performing for people and this will hopefully help me get back on track.

Like you say practice, practice practice and when you think you have got the trick practice it some more.

Anyway again thanks for the tips.

Yep, practice

When I was just getting back into it, I got too enthusiastic when learning a new trick/sleight for a trick that I immediately wanted to show it to my family or a friend, and hopelessly screwed it up.

Now, after days and weeks of practicing the same move(s), it sometimes occurs that I do the same trick when showing something to them, they don't notice because it doesn't look like the same faulty move made back then - and they start to smile because magic has happened.


The real treat comes when you perform for people you don't know, and seeing that the fact that you practiced really pays off.

Thanks for your post! An enthusiastic hobbyist.

Yeah

Totally agree guys, you get sooo exited you want to learn every trick ever invented!! then perform them sloppy.

I also found that when i was practicing sleights like the pass etc....when i performed the move, i would always look away from the deck haha!.

Which is where the camcorder helped me

i totally agree with a lot of your points guys,

- always have a plan b if you can, i.e something goes wrong, have another route to take, or a way to react. some of the best peformers are those that can improvise, and react to confounding variables, or something happening that was unexpected

- don`t rush into performing a new effect, you want to get it right.

but to me, the most important thing is not to be so serious about it all, mistakes will happen, the unexpected will arise, and ocassionally you wont be able to cover it, or take a new route which justifies. so all there is to do in this kind of situation is to smile and go with it.
believe... if your performance is good enough overall, they are going to be talking about the stuff that blew them away, and what was amazing about it.... no one is going to remember that one card that slipped, or that one prediction that was wrong etc

dont get too hung up about it, because it is stuff like that which can put you off, or create nervousness and more mistakes anyway.

be yourself, be prepared, be willing to laugh at yourself. have fun

you should read through the "little tips" at the top of this section...

respectfully i have iain, i was just agreeing with posts and adding my opinion on the matter. each has their individual points they feel to be the most relevant.. and those are mine.

i`m just enjoying speaking to like minded people, and joining in coversation.

respect to all.....

wasnt aimed at anyone specifically - i was just saying, and maybe consider adding your thoughts to litle tips, as its a sticky post and wont dissapear

just a general comment thats all

oh i see, thanks, im srill learning about the way the site works

thanks

Excellent post

Alternatively, instead of practicing lots of terribly clever sleights until you are slick, how about going out and confronting the great unwashed with self-workers? You'll have plenty to worry about, getting yourself across in a likeable way, without worrying about flipping cards/coins/whatever all over the shop! Be bold, be fantastic and chat up some bar staff. Then show them some really basic magic. You'll learn how to deal with people and bring them some pleasure. It's lovely. Save the sleights for the bedroom

Oh, but practice those self-workers like hell. That's a given...

Ted wrote:Alternatively, instead of practicing lots of terribly clever sleights until you are slick, how about going out and confronting the great unwashed with self-workers? You'll have plenty to worry about, getting yourself across in a likeable way, without worrying about flipping cards/coins/whatever all over the shop! Be bold, be fantastic and chat up some bar staff. Then show them some really basic magic. You'll learn how to deal with people and bring them some pleasure. It's lovely. Save the sleights for the bedroom

Oh, but practice those self-workers like hell. That's a given...

Damn right. Get your confidence working simple tricks that allow you to concentrate on the presentation.

Also, there is a MASSSSSSSIVE difference between practising and rehearsing. Really.

Great advice!!

Stick a mirror in the room you practice in most often - then you'll remember to check practicing it in the mirror beforehand.
That didn't make sense!