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Dylenium New user 52 Posts |
Hi Everyone,
I know asking for "tricks" has a bad reputation on the forum, but please hear me out. I have been practicing some sleights like billet s*****es. Day in and day out. I think the movements of the simpler stuff are in place, depending on the sleight I can also do it completly blind and (as far as I see) natural. So I thought I might want to try it out in front of friends and family. The problem is, I still know from doing card tricks that, as soon as I start performing, my hands start to shake. And if you think its subtle, your wrong. It even got pointed out once.. So you can guess that especially while doing mentalism this is pretty bad. Funny enough I don't even know why they shake, I never had a problem with public speaking or anything like that at all. Now, I know this will stop eventually, the more I get used to perform the less the hands will shake. But until then it would be nice to actually have something to perform. I already figured out a few routines that get good reactions while beeing almost or completly self working, but maybe someone can recommend more resources. So far I did three card monty, but with the spectator as "Hustler" and I have to find the money card. Another thing I tried was a sudoku prediction. Both went over well and I think that maybe if I start with two or three self working effects my hands can calm down a bit and I try something with sleights afterwards. On my own research I found the book Self Working Mental Magic by Karl Fulves but I am not sure if its good. Maybe someone purchased it and can give their opinion to it? Thanks a lot to anyone answering Best regards Dylan |
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Mindpro Eternal Order 10586 Posts |
Self Working Mental Magic by Karl Fulves is a great book. It is however filled with some good mental magic, as much of what you described above, not necessarily mentalism.
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funsway Inner circle old things in new ways - new things in old ways 9982 Posts |
All of KArl Fulves books are worth having. Always practical and adequately explained. Not all effects will appeal to you style, of course, but even one or two will justify the small price.
Actually, many performers equate difficult with better, forgetting what the audience perceives. Often the more complicated and involved the demonstration, the less favorable the memory of the event. You spectators did not come to work hard. AS to you specific problem it may relate to cards. many see these and think "magic trick" while you want them to think "paranormal experience." You may subconsciously know this and guilt translates into fumbling. I realize you are trying billet work, but still doing card tricks. Friends and family are not always the most forgiving audience - or they try too hard to accommodate. Find a practice buddy, then go the park and assault strangers. (from a distance) What to do? Look for non playing card demonstrations. Start with something foolproof such a Kurotsuki. Some peek or center tear methods might be easier than switching billets. write me ken@eversway.com for more ideas if these don't work
"the more one pretends at magic, the more awe and wonder will be found in real life." Arnold Furst
eBooks at https://www.lybrary.com/ken-muller-m-579928.html questions at ken@eversway.com |
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Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
As much as possible, do stuff in their hands. I gather you are looking for casual/social material, not professional stage material. Mindpro often has a professional view of how mentalism should happen. And he isn't at all wrong, but his view doesn't always work for someone who is doing stuff for friends. The distinction between mentalism and mental magic can be fuzzy, but if you have people think you really possess a psychic gift, you are probably able to claim you are doing mentalism. If they ask how you did it, think mental magic. Neither is inherently nobler or better than the other, but at a certain level some performers try to make a strong distinction between them.
Couple of ideas for presentation, first, then a couple of ideas for material. If you start reading books like Richard Webster's Mindreading for Beginners and similar mass market books, you are going to get teased. This is good. You are laying a groundwork. You respond with "yeah, 90% is probably BS, but there are things that happen sometimes and it just makes me wonder." Eventually, you have established that you are interested in more than just magic tricks, so the mental ability thing is a little more accepted. This is also a great hook to move into a routine. "Hey, I know this is silly, but this book says one of the exercises that you can do to tell if there's a psychic connection potential can be done with just a deck of cards. Got a sec?" Also, you can say that since you were finding that your hands shake too much for magic tricks, you have decided to start researching "the real thing" to see if there's potential there. Material: -Almost anything with a pendulum can be done with you only talking. If your voice doesn't shake like your hands, you are home free. -Gemini Twins is a card routine with a psychic frame. I suggest doing it a little differently if you want it to be believed, though. Get one card to match. Repeat it. This time neither card matches. Now, do a breathing exercise together. The third time both cards match. Congratulate your participant and give him the credit. -There's an old trick in which you can sense which of several colored cards has been turned over while your back was turned. It is marketed as Feel A Color. In this, shaking hands can almost be a presentational angle. You gather up the cards, you deal them out side by side, then you hold your shaking hands over them. Suddenly, you can tell which one they flipped. It implies a process to your revelation. This can also be done with cards all the same color. Several methods exist. But we don't talk methods on the open forum. -Out Of This World is a card trick that happens in the hands of the participants, so long as you set up the deck ahead of time. It often gets explained as psychic, even if the presentations are really not. But it could be fairly convincing if done well. Just a few ideas. The goal of finding self-working material makes a lot of sense, especially to get the nerves calmed down as you begin. -Patrick |
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ElliottB Inner circle 3250 Posts |
Hi Dylan,
I agree with all of the above posts. There are tons of tricks available that do not require sleight of hand. If you can speak publicly and think on your feet, there is a lot you can do. There are many such tricks in the "Impromptu Mental Effects" sections of Switchcraft and MB USA. If you PM me your full name and email address, I would be happy to send you a complimentary copy of Switchcraft. (You might also find some of the billet moves in Switchcraft a little easier than what you have seen elsewhere.) Thank you, Elliott |
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ElliottB Inner circle 3250 Posts |
Once you hit 50 posts, you may want to also check out these two discussions:
https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/view......forum=82 https://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/view......forum=82 Not much sleight of hand is required, if any at all. |
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Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
That’s a generous offer from a great guy.
For all that some complaints exist about the loss of certain members here, I’ve gotta say there’s a huge amount of random kindness that still happens fairly often. Good to see you around, Elliott. Patrick |
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Dylenium New user 52 Posts |
Thanks for the great advice to all of you! First I have to correct a misunderstanding that came from unclear writing on my side: I stopped doing card tricks about half a year ago. The only thing I still do is the three card monty routine and I think that's not really a magic trick since I don't touch the cards, but I don't want to stir up the discussion again, there is another topic on that.
My hands also start shaking when I do nothing with cards or sleights at all, even when I played around with something like psy !@#$*s where I only talk. However there it doesn't matter, since I don't need my hands and the voice works fine. Thank you very much for the offer Elliott, but I have to turn it down because of two reasons: Firstly, Switchcraft already is a bargain, you really shouldnt start to give it away for free! And secondly I already purchased it. The Three card monty routine uses partially the method from detective patato head. So if you want to see it that way, you already helped me I think I will buy the book by karl Fulves and see where it takes me from there. |
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ElliottB Inner circle 3250 Posts |
Great!
(and Thank You, Patrick!) Dylan, you may also like some of the other sleight free tricks within. A few of my favorites are Last One Standing, My Favorite Cup Trick, and Trivarication. I would also check out Acidus Novus and the many variations and handlings in the Switchcraft supplements. That peek is pretty easy on the fingers. I like the Fulves book too. There is one trick in particular that I do a lot (with some modification). |
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ElliottB Inner circle 3250 Posts |
If you have unlimited funds or really good health insurance, you may want to investigate if Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can help with the hand shaking. I do not know if it will help or not, but I have heard good reports about CBT in general.
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Dylenium New user 52 Posts |
Thanks for the tip. Health insurance wouldnt be a problem since I don't live in america, but I am sure it will go away on its own
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Nestor D Special user France (Paris) 830 Posts |
I also had shaky hands when performing while being confortable speaking in public.
In my case it was a case of not listening to my body. I was stressed, and had the physical symptoms, but did not realize it because I did not felt it intellectually (it took standing alone on stage under a spotlight to realize that my guts had something to say and that I had not been listening to them). I would not be surprised if it was common with very mind oriented persons who starts doing sleights of hand (I have heard of other performers in the same situation). The good news is that it will go away with time (I love and do billet work nowadays). The bad news is that performing only non sleight of hand pieces will make it much slower to get acclimated. I would recommend going progressively into sleight of hand, starting with effects that require dead simple sleights and use them when nobody thinks somehting is going on (my favorite moment to palm a card is before an effect officially started...). Regarding which self-working effects you could do... it depends on a lot of things: your personna, you abilities, etc. You will need to provide more information if you want useful answers. I would probably recommend getting confortable with equi****e and developping a presentation that suits you. |
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PaulPacific Special user Yes, I used my toes to type all of my 907 Posts |
Great advice from all above on effects to do to either overcome nerves or to have the participants handle things as much as possible to get you through the first effect or so.
But with regards to feeling nervous. I don't shake when I perform because I do not get nervous. I DO get excited however and that makes me hot and I sweat. Annemann used to say that sweat was good for a mindreader because it makes him look like he's exerting himself to produce the phenomenon. Here are a few more tips: -Keep in mind that as early as 24 hours later, they will have forgotten all about you. They will have moved on to newer things so in the grand scheme of things, it's not really that important. -Paul Daniels says we are not being FORCED to perform.. We have NO reason to be nervous at all. We are playing with our toys! We LOVE to do this, so what have we got to be nervous about? Nothing! -So they pick the wrong card, so you drop a prediction on the floor, so an effect fails... As Joy Behar would say, "So what, who cares?!" -Avoid coffee for at least three hours prior to your performance. -Remember people are not so concerned with the way YOU appear and act.. they are more concerned with the way THEY appear and act. People judge you far less than you might believe. -Relax and have fun!
Blessings on thee, little man,
barefoot boy with cheeks of tan... Outward sunshine; inward joy, Blessings on thee, barefoot boy! :-D |
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johnhsawyer New user Florida 52 Posts |
This has been an interesting thread. After all the presentations I have given over the past 15 years, I still get the butterflies and occasional shaking hands before I go on. It helps keep me humble and also gives me an edge as a little extra adrenaline starts to pump to get me through that initial fear. Sometimes I have thought that if I do not feel those things, my overconfidence could come back to bite me. So far, so good.
Karl Fulves Self Working Mentalism Magic was my first book delving into the area. It’s a good start. What also helped me was to always have a Morgan dollar and some folded index cards in my pockets to handle and work with as I pace during work calls or walk around the grocery store. Getting your hands used to the feel makes a world of difference and provides the much needed familiarity. If you are ever in Jacksonville, FL, check out Chamblins Bookmine. I have found a few gems there and is where I found the Fulves book. https://www.chamblinbookmine.com/ Good luck!! -jhs |
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Dylenium New user 52 Posts |
Very good tips. Its nice to see that there are others that had similar problems. I try to keep the things in mind that you said, Paul. We sometimes tend to forget that everybody is mostly concerned about themselfs. This reminds me of something I read recently: If you ever lay awake at night and think of some social misbehaviour that you made, try to think of just three misteps others made. After realising how hard I had to think to just come up with one I felt much calmer
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PaulPacific Special user Yes, I used my toes to type all of my 907 Posts |
Yes, that's right! Magic is supposed to be fun. Not only for our audiences but for us too.
It's important to keep things in perspective and not take ourselves too seriously.
Blessings on thee, little man,
barefoot boy with cheeks of tan... Outward sunshine; inward joy, Blessings on thee, barefoot boy! :-D |
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ted french Inner circle Columbus Ohio 1946 Posts |
Every trick in my lecture is sleight free https://www.penguinmagic.com/p/10261
Here is a nice review if you want to learn more https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZRs7WCxexc
P3
practice practice perform. |
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ElliottB Inner circle 3250 Posts |
Thanks for the tip!
I bought it some time ago to look at one item - which I really liked a lot - but did not have a chance to watch the rest. I am putting that on my TO DO list. Elliott |
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mindhunter Inner circle Upstate NY 2280 Posts |
Elliot is a class-act with that offer (I normally mention my effects with the hopes someone will BUY my eBooks...
:lol: And his advice about Fulves is spot-on.... Bryn
Bryn D. Reynolds, Author of:
"The Safwan Papers" & "The LOGAR Scrolls" Mentalism ebooks - PM any interest. My artwork: https://darkmountainarts.com |
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johnhsawyer New user Florida 52 Posts |
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