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As it's the october week, I thought I'd do some work on my slights and have been entrusted with the V. expensive video camara. I think this has to be the best way to practise. You can see exactly what your audiance sees and make sure the trick looks right. If you've got a video camara around the house I strongly suggest you use it.

Excelent idea mistress.

when practicisng in front of a mirror - you spend all your time trying to look at what you are doing in the mirror. When practising to a video camera you can just concentrate on the moves (and even the patter).

much better way of practising.

Personally, as far as card/coin sleights go, I still prefer mirrors - three, to be exact. Buy mirror tiles and strong fibre-tape, and make a kind of 'screen' from them. You'll need them at least a foot tall. You can see 3 audience angles at once, and unlike a video (which I do agree helps a lot) you can see the sleights as they are happening - at a comfortable angle.

Video is very handy for checking performances, though, and using a tripod mounted at audience eye-level, you can easily check for flashing and rhythm.

I've a library of video material that I've taken over the years, and it's an interesting thing to watch them over once in a while to see how you're technique changes.

It's also handy to check the pace and patter which accompanies routines.

But, I strongly recommend you try mirrors for sleights.

ok, how about the wrap around mirror in front and the video set up behiind? This way - you can still concentrate on the moves - but get to see all angles afterwards when the video is replayed.

In saying that if you are practicing a move over and over again I admit that it is just quicker and simpler to keep doing it in front of the mirror until you get it right from all angles.

I guess it depends on wether you are practising an entire trick or just individual moves. Both ways work for different situations.

If there is a fence. I'll find a way to sit on it.

bananafish wrote:I guess it depends on wether you are practising an entire trick or just individual moves. Both ways work for different situations.

That's basically what I was trying to say, only in a more complex way...