Also this may sound strange but it helps me on timing

Video tape the performnce without the props

for example when you do single productions with out cards and you video tape it- You get to see how the routine should look like- you will have to imagine that you are producing cards.

and this should be what you aim for with the props

it also tells you if your productions are awkward or taking too long to produce
esspecially good for Split hands in both hands (Bobby Baxter front hand split) I remember when I first did this - my left hand (front hand splits) were terrible and it was only seeing what it should look like without the props which told me that I was taking too long and no amount of misdirection would help.

ABSOLUTELY. This is what I call a dry run rehearsal. It really allows me to focus on my movement and posture and positioning without the hassle of concentration on the skills of the technique. This allows me to really see and work on the flow of my manipulative routine. It allows me to see how I am standing and what I need to work on.

Kyle