Hi my friends,

It is my first time competition tomorrow.
I'll compete in close-up venue in one of the biggest annual convention here in Taiwan.
I'm quite nervous and excited now.
How can I calm myself down?
Hope everything goes well!

YuYen

There are some exercises designed to help manage test anxiety - and those are likely described on websites - imagination exercises.

The competition is an interesting place to meet some very knowledgeable people and also see how others bring their best efforts for a demonstration under time/venue pressure. Bring your best self and make some friends there. In the mean time - besides the exercises you can go find a few audiences and watch them enjoy your routine by performing.

All the best Yuyen. I'm looking forward to a full report of your experience--and, of course, your success.

John

As JT mentioned there are good visualizations. Exercise has been shown to help with stress and anxiety.
I like to walk around in parks and woods. There's one park that has a stone bridge I like to play gung-fu forms on. I feel like this routine has really helped my stress. I even ditched the meds last year. Not everyone responds the same to the same things though.

In the theatre it helps to remember that you come bearing a gift to give to the audience. Concentrate on the beautiful gift you have to share, and the wonderful people with whom you are going to share it.

Understand the following. It might help.

Human beings are animals. As such we have not gotten any better response to this than "fight or flight". It is the only way your body knows how to be at peak performance. People often inturpret this wrong. Know what it is and don't let it bother you.

Things happen like your stomach stops working and redirects blood to other places. You begin to breathe heavier and oxyginate blood more so your muscles have more energy. You start to sweat as adrenaline is pumped into you. All of these symptoms are perfectly normal and just your body getting ready to be at its best.

Mind you your body may think a Saber Tooth Tiger is running after you and not know it is only a double lift you need. Either response is going to be the same. Just understand what is happening and use it. Dissipate some of that energy. You will be fine.

Everyone here who has entered a magic competition has felt exactly as you have. Lance Burton has felt that way, as has Johnny Ace Palmer. They both did fine. So will you.

Have fun. If you do, you've already won.

I've only ever been in one magic competition. It was at a convention and I decided to enter at the last minute. I had nothing really prepared but I had a pocket full of coins so I quickly thought of what I could link together as a short routine and how. I went directly after this amazing 12 year old kid who did insanely good card magic. (He ended up winning.)My hands were a little shaky, as was my improvised patter. But I have no regrets about it. I recieved many compliments afterwards and I never have to wonder what I could have done.

I tell the audience that I'm a little nervous, so it helps me calm down a little if they all picture me in my underwear.

Johnny Ace Palmer was nervous?! Now you're going to tell me there's no Santa Claus.

Just go out there to have fun, don't pressure yourself that you have to be first place. Just perform your best (that's why you've put so much time into practicing) and have fun with the audience, make sure you captivate them. Learn from the other competitors, audience reactions, and the judges comments. Then apply those things to your practice, and keep competing.

Good Luck!!

Thanks for all the help here.
I really appreciate it.

The competition is over just now, and the award will be in 3 hours.
I think I might not got the first 3 cause there are so many good performers.
But I'm glad I joined and I did my best, I didn't make any mistake, I can only cross my finger now.

There are some really good sleight of hand performers over there, cups and balls, cards, etc.
What I performed is mentalism, I don't know if the judges will like it.
I hope the judges will like my routine and my presentation.
I'll let you know the results.
Good luck to me!
Thanks all of you again!

YuYen

Hi there!
Can't believe I got the 2nd prize!!!
So lucky that the judges like mentalism!!!
Thanks all for the advices here on the Café.

YuYen

Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.

Congratulations YuYen. Well done!

John

In other words it was your hard work that got it done. Not some random short term fluxuation in chance. Congrats. 1st competition, and you nail second.

Excellent job!

Good job!

(Did you have fun?)

Yay!