Hey guys. I "performed for the first time" in front of an actual audience today. Granted, it was a small audience, and it was only one trick. But I was nervous as day. I did a variation of the chicago opener, where I cut the deck and made them pick a card off the top, and they put it back in, and it turns around and changes from blue to red. I didn't get a whole lot of reaction from the audience. But afterwards, I talked to them, and they all said it was good. Will just continuing to perform for people ease my nervousness? I have no real trouble just walking up to someone and telling them to pick a card, then turning it around in the deck. I just learned that trick last week. But the group setting was a different story. Perhaps it is because it was not all about magic? I used it to illustrate a point in my speech.

p.s. this has nothing to do with my post, but I ordered 2 black tiger decks last week w00t I should have them by Friday, they ship today.

The more you perform, the more comfortable you'll get. That is, if you perform well. (If you perform badly, you'll probably never get comfortable. And you should stop performing.)

Many people suggest starting to perform by using a self-working effect; this allows you to concentrate more on the presentation/interaction rather than fretting over the mechanics. There's something to be said for this approach.

Good for you! You did a show for an audience and lived to tell about it! Keep it up!

The performances you do 'live' should always strive to duplicate the ones you imagine. Kudos to our newest member on stage.

After perform one trick, I always lose my nerves. I think it is the forst trick that makes a person or breaks a person.

Well I felt pretty good about the trick, except for the fact that I messed up the patter a little bit. Another disadvantage I had was the cheap cards I was using LOL...50 cent packs from the dollar store. I just bought some bikes today and I already love the way they feel just shuffling them. (I've used bikes before but its been eons)

I found I used to fet really shakey when I first started performing, the more you do it the easier it becomes and if you have no problem approaching people then your more than half way there,
ST

Justin2200,

Congratulations!

It sounds like you are hooked like the rest of us now. Welcome to the club.

Keep on, keeping on!

Bob
Magic By Sander

I almost always carry around my black deck with white pips now and usually walk up to 5-6 people throughout the course of the day and do a trick like card reversal or warped ace

I'm pretty sure that the effects I show have already been thought up, but I don't know who thought them up, or the names. Sometimes I do other things like combine tricks to do a reversal/color change.

Thanks Bob. I've always been intrigued with magic. I practically grew up watching David Copperfield. But I have never been obsessed with it as I am now. I find myself playing with cards more than my guitar now (scary).