talkmagic.co.uk

Hiya Guys!

I've been learning a few effects over the past year, putting a fair bit of effort in, and to some extent reaping the rewards. I enjoy entertaining a few people regularly and on a few occasions (after a drink), have been known to show a few strangers. I perform a few of my favourites to what I think is perfection standard and only receive praise! Although you do now and then, get the token d*** who likes to unpick your routine!
Like I say, I've been doing it for a year and the tricks I have done for people, they have gone down really well, and so far no (noticeable) mistakes have been made! But the pier pressure I receive now is massive and most recently surfaced when I met an idol of mine. Friends of mine prior to this, had told them I was a bit of an entertainer and badgered me to perform something in a situation that would literally end in my break down! I politely declined, only to suffer a torrent of ridicule to which I was hugely embarrassed, even from people I didn't know! Ha! As funny as it sounds, it was a bit of a confidence denter. I love to perform, but on my own terms as I struggle hugely with nerves and although I have been massively guilty of asking to see a trick, when the tables were turned, I went "man-down-poo-pants" to use the expression.

How do you deal with situations where you don't have anything to perform or you just don't want to? And what do you say if the day comes when you make a mistake?!

These things play on my mind... I need a nervous poo

Ha! Cheers guys! All the best,

Rob.

First rule is that you and you alone decide what and when to perform, not your audience, not the boss, not anyone. If you have nothing ready to show then simply say, 'I don't have anything ready at the moment' or words to that effect. Pressure from others might be because you've done well in the past and accepted their encouragement. It can be awkward when you need to resist that encouragement. Would they be ok if you just said you only want them to see stuff you're happy with and they'd only be disappointed if you did anything to a lower standard for them as they deserve the good stuff. Even Pavarotti didn't sing when he had a sore throat!

And when you fail (it happens to us all!) and you can’t use an out then just own up and say so and move on to something else. Few people can argue with open honesty and it’s better to admit failure with a smile. Afterwards, analyse what went wrong and try to iron out the fault ready for the next time you perform.

Why not do some research into impromptu tricks/effects?

It's a massive market and every magician should have something ready to perform when 'put on the spot'
That being said, Mandrake is right. If you DON'T want to perform, just tell them so.

I tend to offer to show the specs a demonstration of mind manipulation which involves me making two predictions, writing them down and letting the specs hold them. I then invite them to think of two different numbers between 1-100. I play up that the words I'm using will influence their decisions. I would say that 8/10 times this works nicely. When it doesn't work I just say 'oh well, I'm not a bloody mind reader!'

Alec

If I don't want to perform, I'll just politely decline. In my opinion, anyone who's going to ridicule you for not wanting to perform isn't worth hanging around with in the first place.

When things go wrong, and they always do from time to time I find it best to just laugh off the mistake and move on to something else.

Alec Kobain wrote:Why not do some research into impromptu tricks/effects?
Alec

The 'Twisting Arm' illusion and 'Crazy Man's Handcuffs' are two impromptu effects that I use. It's easy to have a couple of rubber bands in your wallet (I usually carry a couple of arms with me too )

He he! You could always invest in Reality is Plastic and do a spot of hypnosis.

Get yourself a copy of Bobo. There are some very easy stunners in there and you can always borrow coins.

Barry

Totally impromptu:- Find any five objects at random. write a prediction which is placed in someone's hand then use a PATEO force.

Also (based on your title) give them some patter about being troubled about interpreting a dream. Do a book page force. when they look at that page in the bible they find

Genesis 41:8
Now it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled, and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but there was no one who could interpret them for Pharaoh.

P.S. its Peer pressure not pier pressure.

What you call peer pressure is actually a massive compliment to you. Your reputation has preceded you. Personally I will ALWAYS perform if asked. It is the reason I took up magic in the first place. I feel it is almost a duty for me to do it. But they have to ask. I will never push it on people. If they ask then I know they want to see it. Sometimes I will pretend to demur to see if they keep requesting and when they do I know for sure they are interested and then off I go.

You must do what you fear to do. If you do what you fear to do and get a record of successful experiences behind you will conquer the fear. Courage is not the absence of fear but the conquest of it. By continually performing whenever you get the chance you will end up as a good magician.

But use your fear to your advantage. It is a wonderful thing for them to know you are terrified. TELL them you are scared. It helps to remove the resentment factor that laymen have towards being fooled. Let them underestimate you and then you go in for the kill. You will actually get a better reaction than some jack-the-lad magician who exudes confidence and looks terribly pleased with himself.

But one tip. If you are nervous then be very careful what you do as a first trick. Avoid intricate sleight of hand in case your hands shake and you mess it up. A strong self-worker would be good here. And make it a trick which you know from experience gets a great reaction. And once you get going I would highly recommend a sucker card trick or two. Because you are nervous they will think you have messed up the trick and fall right into it. The reaction will be terrific.

This fear and nervousness you have is actually a blessing in disguise. You don't know how lucky you are.

Cheers for the words of advise. I will definitely have a look into impromptu routines. Got a good idea already. As to the honking butterflies and nerves - I'll just have to battle on! Cheers again!

Rob

Discombobulator wrote: P.S. its Peer pressure not pier pressure.

Yep, I'm an idiot.

Hello Rob,

i had the same problem as you, i started performing magic at the age of 11, when i was 16 people started hearing about it and i was under a lot of pressure to perform, i started answering "maybe later" until i lost all my confidence and stopped performing all together, still learning, still practicing.
I'm currently 24 and working hard to overcome this stage fright.
whats been working for me is knowing exactly what i would do at a moments notice, I do a very impromptu card trick (i only do cards), and I'm currently training myself to say "sure, why not" instead of "maybe later"

Performing for an idol is going to be scary for anyone. did you watch 'fool us' with Penn and Teller? some of the great performers on there seemed nervous, if you watch their hands, sometimes their hands were shaking (i know that happens to me when i get nervous) so you aren't alone in performing for an idol or someone you admire.

If you do have shaky hands when you are nervous, try learning some really amazing self working effects. if I'm set up for it and im feeling nervous i perform 'mockingbird' by max maven.

Also what has really helped me: i started going to a magic night at a local pub. i don't perform very much, but i try to do a little, but mostly its the encouragement and support from the other magicians, i explained that i suffer with stage fright, they've never pushed me to perform, and they've been really helpful. On top of that, some of the most prominent performers admitted to me that they too had to overcome stage fright or confidence issues.

i wish you all the best.

It can be kind of tough, but you're not a slave that performs on demand... You can choose when and where you perform.

You can say "No..."

I find that it can enhance my reputation in my extended social circle, as people can exaggerate how good a trick was in their memory when they recount it to others! And then when you do decide to perform, it's at a time of your choosing, and they feel privileged to be able to see your magic! (Well, that's the theory...)

I think you must be doing something right if people are wanting to see your magic

Keep at it, have fun!

Once you get a rep for doing magic, people will always be asking you to show them something, It's just the way it goes.

I don't like being the centre of attention at all and I also get shakey hands. You already have some good advice above but I would just add,

NEVER perform an allusion until you are happy with it. It's to easy to rush into showing new stuff because you're excited about it, but even the self working stuff should be practiced until you're confident with it. If you're not confident then being under pressure of people watching will make things very difficult and stressful for you.

Secondly, I do magic in a laid back fashion, I don't try to make it look like it's important. I sort of play it down. I know thats not a style for everyone but It's how I like to play it and I quite often start by saying I'm not very good but I'll have a go.