I work M-F and there's a lot of downtime in between. Usually I get to practice my coin rolls and vanishes/reappearances during those times. I even snuck some card flourishes and practice my tricks along the way.

Most of the time, I practice at home. Give me a few hours and I'm good to go.

I practise whenever time allows - at home I always have cards and coins at hand, wherever I am I have my coins, cards and gimmicks for practise (and a tiny bit of performance at school). With this, I usually get at least 4 hours practise a day, although it is not structured well - I don't say 'I will work on this, this and this', I do the moves - bad, I know, and it's something I have to change.

Today, I had a cover for English and a science test - I sat with my cards and coins during these about an hour and a half practising (I finished the test early, I'm not that stupid )

Whenever I feel like it.
and whenever it is necessary.

I practice daily. I am retired and have lots of time on my hands. I am constantly with a deck of cards in my hands.

I practice maybe 2-3 hours a day. A lot of that is going over a certain sleight while waiting for a page to load on the computer. Other times I'll sit down and go over a routine or a new trick.

I practice where ever and when ever I can. I have lots of time at work, so I practice a fair amount here, I'm at work right now.

Never often enough. 1 -2 hours a day, depending on what life is throwing my way.

I break down practice into phases:
The manipulation/moves/mechanics
The effect as a whole (script and all)
The entire routine, including transitions from one effect to another

I don't do all three phases every day and never enough time on scripting/total choreography.

David

Every sec I get.. If I'm not driving.. I'm practicing.. and not just the whole routine. just segments.. I break it down to a seg each day so that it is natural to me..

I try to practise as much as possible but I'm often busy with schoolwork,etc. I try to get in at least an hour on weekdays and then about 3 hours on Saturday and Sunday. It varies how much I practise depending on what else is going on in my life. I should probably be practising more but it's hard to find time. I should be practising right now instead of typing!

I have been doing magic for 30 years and only recently I have disciplined myself by writing down a finite number of tricks that I want to master using an Excel spreadsheet. I refrain from wandering off to see new tricks to buy on magic we

....continuing.... Magic websites and instead try and practise 3 tricks per day. I might practise the same 3 tricks for 4-5 days to really nail them. If you don't discipline yourself then you might end up being a Jack of all trades and master of none..

Interesting- 'cause I am going in the same direction. With the steady stream of new stuff coming out every day, it is easy to get distracted. Generally I am honing my practice to one or two effects in each of the various facets of magic- rings, sponge balls, cups & balls, rope, rubber bands,coins, cards, etc....

Remember "practice is the oil...lack of it, your technique becomes rusty", if you get my drift. Practice is a lifelong pursuit...

Cardamagically,
Dom

I also practice every free moment I have. Routines are always running through my mind. And whenever I have the chance, a deck of cards is always in my hand.

@shaneking Funny. I've been following the same approach of using a list. It's so easy these days to be a consumer of magic instead of practicing.

Using a list like you recommend is what's working for me. Along with listing each effect, I also have a status and notes about where I am. That way if it's been a few days, I can pick up where I left off.

I try to carry coins with me and for years would practice pretty much constantly. Sleights became my 'fidgets.'

When I was in Junior high I used to practice my zombie in front of the mirror any time I could, inventing new moves and reinforcing ones I already knew.

Any new illusion I try to practice until I feel "smooth" with it. Frankly, with most mechanical illusions the mechanics come fairly quickly, its the routining that I practice over and over til its second nature. I then practice my whole act through many times before a show, getting the flow of the show down and making sure I hadn't forgotten any specifics of the routines I'm going to use.

BUT I'm just an amateur these days. If I was pro, it would be my job. And as my job, when I wasn't doing other job things like performing or drumming up business, I'd be practicing.

Ask a professional violist when they aren't practicing, they will probably tell you "when I'm eating, sleeping or performing." Welcome to a pro-life in the performing arts

I dedicate about a half hour each day to practice. Generally, it happens in the afternoons. Additionally, I will also practice while I wait for something. When I practice, I try to go through a variety of tricks and illusions so I won't lose that knowledge.

When I used to do magic I would just practice certain effects and nothing more. Now that I am restarting I am practicing the sleights and really perfecting things. I can see my old method left me a pretty weak magician that could only do the sleights in a passable manner. Basically now I will just practice while I'm reading on the computer, watching tv, or just bored.

IMHO that's the best way to practice sleight of hand. If you use it while performing everyday activities, it becomes second nature and therefor totally natural.

To tell you the truth, not much any more. Only if I learn a new trick. I perform rarely these days, but I DID just learn some new stuff, and I've been practicing throughout the day. While practicing my coin magic (Silver Dollars), I have to practice in the bathroom. That's the only mirror in this house. One thing I learned though. I MUST learn to put the toilet seat and cover DOWN. Nothing worse than going "fishing"....eee-yuck!

Doug