talkmagic.co.uk

Hi,

I need some advice to help make my magic a whole lot more enjoyable.

I cant seem to perform any tricks without getting extremley nervous before and at the start of a trick(even to family)

Sometimes I get so nervous that my hands start to shake a little.

I am quite new to magic and Its really starting to hamper my enjoyment.

Everybody knows that presentation is a large part of a trick, I just cant seem to get a good flow going right from the start.

Its weird because I have played Golf to quite a high level and never ever suffered with nerves ,even under intense pressure.

I was the same before my wedding speech, although then I just got over it by drinking, maybe thats the answer.

I have no intentions to do any shows or anything on that scale , I would just like to be able to walk up to mate or colleage and shown them a trick without worring about it.

Is there any books or DVDs that could help me.


Any help out would be greatly appreacited,

I can't recommend any books or DVDs, but I can tell you that nerves is something that nearly all of us have to deal with. It comes down to plenty of practise and plenty of performance.

When you practise try to not only focus on the sleights but also the patter. Eventually you'll know it off by heart, and then at least you won't be nervous because you think you'll forget the routine. Don't try to improvise a routine until you know what your doing. It seems counter intuitive, but you really need structure before you can start improvising.

The only other piece of advice I can give, is when you are performing a number of routines, start of with something simple, even selfworking. You can focus on settling into the performance and you'll be surprised how quickly the nerves disappear after your couple of effects. Even if your not nervous then this is still a useful technique (I still do it), as you can focus some of your attention on the audience. This allows you time to pick out potential trouble makers as well as those who are more likely to help out.

If your nervous because you'll think you'll screw up, don't be, we all do it. You should consider getting yourself some form of out. Its a form of safety net if you mess up on a routine, and can provide a great sense of comfort. I always have an ID on me for just that very purpose.

Just keep at it, you'll get there.

performance ensiaty is natural and only get better with experience and practise.

keep going through your routines in your practise sessions until you can do them in your sleep then just show anybody who will spend the time to look and your shakes will sibside.

Try http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic6792.php.

I agree. The nervousness is of making a mistake in front of others.

Practice more and you'll soon get over it as your confidence grows. Very few people can jump straight into a performance without having some nervousness.

i hand the same problem to when first began. but now im confident after im done practicing all you need to do is practice and be confindent and dont stop practicing an effect just keep going tell it's flawlessmaybe you can show the person closet to you before going out to try it

As I started that other thread, I obviously was a victim once. And yes it is horrible but over time, it will go away. Perform for maybe just one person at first. You'll find that maybe you're still shaky. Gradually, that will wear off with performances of other tricks. Then start performing for a few more, and then you'll be on fire! (not literally)

I gained the confidence I kinda have now by performing everyday in school to people. I perform for a few friends then they tell people to come over and sooner or later, I get crowds of around 20 people (not that great because they soon start snatching cards ). It does work!

Practice makes perfect!

yeah i sometimes do the same when im not to sure if what im performing one of my favs. However in one of the ellusionist.com dvds, they say that your hands maybe shaking because you have so much energy pulsing through them when your performing, like adrenelin. Im not sure about others, but when i perform well, i just cant stop haha

I don't agree in this case that practice makes perfect. It does in terms of the slights involved but you really can only cure this by actually doing more performances. Practicing in your room will do nothing to solve this problem. I think the cure is to actually go out and perform more and more to real people (ie not friends or family).

Practice performing makes perfect!

Hehehe

If you get nervous, just continue with the trick, because if you stop, pause or stop, the trick is just c*** (not the best), just continue doing the trick and dont theink that you will screw up, if you do, audience "boooo".

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Spectator asks "How'd you do that?" what's your answer?
Pause for two seconds..., "Uh...... magic?"