|
|
Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] | ||||||||||
gogeta97 New user 97 Posts |
I have a bit of a problem. I have some pretty good routines, but I am too afraid to show them to anyone besides my family and friends. Like, I can't go up to people on the street or whatnot and just start an ACR routine.
I practice a lot, but I'm always afraid that I'll really mess up and make a total fool of myself, and I usually do. Once I was on a 16-hour train ride, and I started practicing the snap change. Well, when I had about one hour left to go, I decided to show it to someone, by having them pick a card, put it on top, false shuffle, double lift and then snap. But, I messed up the snap, and both cards were just stuck there in my hands. When I was practicing previously, I could do it perfectly. Are there any suggestions for what I should do? Should I just go out there and, if I make a fool of myself, move on? I mean, practice, practice, practice, right? |
|||||||||
rtgreen Inner circle Portland, Oregon 1322 Posts |
I would pick some technically undemanding trick -- something that can't go wrong. Perform that for as many people as you can. At this point it's not so much the trick you do, but that you do the trick.
I gave up magic for a number of years while I pursued a career in music (I was an actor and sang opera). The whole time away from magic, I was working in front of audiences. When I started doing magic again, I couldn't get through a simple routine without my hands shaking. I set a goal to do my magic at every opportunity. After a short while, I relaxed and began to have fun. I now have no trouble doing some very demanding magic without too much worry. Oh, and if you mess up, just laugh it off. It's supposed to be fun, right? |
|||||||||
LeConte Special user Bay area 830 Posts |
This might sound silly, but incredible vast amounts of practice will help. I mean practice like you never thought anyone in the world has practiced. Practice more than Marlo. Practice until you are sick of it, One day after a year or so, you might all of a sudden realize that you actually want to perform in front of other people. It is something that just happens.
Drive Carefully
|
|||||||||
Hardi New user Switzerland 96 Posts |
I think I know your problem. Magic requires controlling the attention of people. When you practice you are controlling objects, but you ignore controlling an audience.
The best way to overcome your nervousness is learning to apply misdirection. I guaranty you, if you know to control people's attention, your nervousness disappears. Unfortunately the literature is rare in that field: Dariel Fitzkee's "Magic of Misdirection" (1945, 1975) is hard to read. The same is valid for "STRONG MAGIC" (1994) by Darwin Ortiz. An excellent guide is Al Leech's booklet "Don´t Look Now! The Smart Slant of Misdirection" (1975) – gaining confidence. You will find excellent essays in "THE MAGIC OF MATT SCHULIEN" by Philip Reed Willmarth; "Carney on Ramsay - Lesson in Misdirection" DVD by John Carney; "Diverting Card Magic" by Andrew Galloway; "The Ramsay Final, The Definitive Magic of John Ramsay" by Andrew Galloway; "The Ramsay Legend, The Magic of John Ramsay (Revised)"; "The Ramsay Classics, The Collected Works of John Ramsay"; "WORKERS Number 3" by Michael Close; and "Pocket Power" book/video by Jarle Leirpoll. The main elements of misdirection you have to understand and to learn are: Diversion and Distraction, Timing, Confusion, Tension and Relaxation, Conditioning the Mind. Or more practical: Ramsay´s rule of eye contact, double crossing the gaze, the psychological moment, rising suspicion to the wrong place, to establish a move, the point of interest. One last word. The most difficult thing is to deceive people which know you well. It is nearly impossible to deceive members of your family. Body language does not lie. They feel every inconsistence, and that will kill you. Good luck. Hardi |
|||||||||
Shane Wiker Inner circle Las Vegas 1199 Posts |
If you have fear of performing, I would recommend just learning some easy effects, and practicing them to the point where you can do it 20-25 times in a row without messing up. Then get out and make yourself perform for some people you don't know.
Just remember, the only way to get better is to perform for real people, and even if you do mess up, you'll probably never see them again. So just make yourself do it. After you do it once, it will be easy. Good Luck. Shane Wiker |
|||||||||
slydini9 New user 71 Posts |
I use to have that problem. Not any more.
|
|||||||||
gogeta97 New user 97 Posts |
Thanks for all the advice so far. Am I the only one in the world with this problem, or do most people get it when they are starting out?
That was mainly sarcasm by the way. I think the main thing that piqued my interest so far is the "never see them again" part. It is entirely true and hopefully I will have an easier time in part of it. I am pretty good at misdirection, and eye contact is always helpful. Thanks Hardi for all the suggested reading. Are there any personal stories that people have that helped them start performing for people? Thanks again everyone. Orrin |
|||||||||
KidMagic87 Regular user 184 Posts |
I say go for the hard tricks. The best way to practice is to perform for people.
I used to screw up Roth's Hanging Coins up all the time, as well as Paul Harris' Invisible Palm, and now, they're the two best tricks I do. Most audiences, if you're younger, like myself, understand that you're beginning. I still get really shaky hands every time I start to do magic at a show. Just remember that your sole purpose in life is not to please them; it also encompasses pleasing yourself as well. |
|||||||||
Kevin Ram Special user Travelling through Europe 791 Posts |
Most magicians have had this feeling at some point.
My advice is do flourishes for people. It's only a demo of skill. It does not matter if you mess up because the person watching can see it's a feat of skill. When you get comfortable with that, step it up to a simple magic effect. I think it was Reed Mcclintock who said, "If you mess it up, its a trick. If you don't, then its magic." And Darwin Ortiz said it's a good idea that you go and mess up, because afterwards you will notice it isn't that bad. Take some of the advice from these posts and go out and perform for someone. Then report back to this thread and tell us how it went. We are all rooting for you! Thanks. kukram
"Your the Italian stallion" As said by my g/friend
|
|||||||||
Dorian Rhodell Inner circle San Francisco, CA. 1633 Posts |
OK I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with starting off with flourishes. Yes, it might impress them. As a consequence, however, the audience might not take their eyes off of your hands when you start performing the magic effects.
Now let's talk about being nervous. Everybody gets the jitters now and then. Especially when you are first starting out. So there are at least a couple of avenues that one can explore. 1) You can go for the hard tricks, as someone else here has already posted. However, if you mess the tricks up, you're not being a very good representative of the art of magic, are you? 2) You can practice, practice, practice. Proper practice makes for perfection. Who can argue with that? And while you are practicing maybe try to envision the great response that you will get from the effect. Make that vision crystal clear in your head, so that you actually look forward to showing the trick to someone. It's so good and you're so excited to be able to share that awesome trick! If you constantly worry about messing up in front of people, then guess what? That thought will manifest and become reality. Flip that thought right now and think about the positives. 3) Start small and work big. Take a trick that you absolutely KNOW that you can't mess up and use it for all it's worth. This will build up confidence and help your brain to start thinking in a different manner. Once you start to gain confidence and believe in yourself you need to radiate that confidence so others can feel it when you perform. A good example of this is Martin Nash. He has a very good show. What's more is with his character the audience feels like he can't mess up! He extends that confidence to the audience. Please note there is a difference between being confident and being cocky. Hope this helps a little. Best, Dorian Rhodell |
|||||||||
Samuel Special user Norway 831 Posts |
A tip on tricks you could learn, master and perform - which are easy to master, and almost unfailable when you know the secret is:
You do as I do -- the two-deck version is FAR better than the one-deck version. This blows the spectator's mind. Be honest, is it this? -- also known as Two Card Monte. Fantastic trick, and often gets a laugh from the spectators. Synergy -- trick that is sold by at PenguinMagic, and the reactions from the spectators is amazing! Ambitious Card -- There is a reason for so many magicians using this. I advice you to look through the sticky on top. Many good tips there. These are some of the many tricks that use comparably "easy" sleights to accomplish great things. Tey should be practiced until you know them well. They will almost never fail you, and will hopefully do the same with you as it did and still do with me - give me much more courage to learn and perform even more.
Samuel
Magic is everywhere |
|||||||||
gogeta97 New user 97 Posts |
I was thinking the exact same thing that you, er, typed in number one. What I like to do when actually performing for other people is start out with a trick that is very easy for me to perform, but very amazing.
I then proceed to something like Two-card Monte, moving up the step a little bit. I can then progress into my ACR, which I recently developed and have yet to fully perform on someone. Hopefully I'll have someone to perform to in the next few days, and I will report my experience then. Right now I'm working on numerous counts, like the Elmsley and Hamman. |
|||||||||
Samuel Special user Norway 831 Posts |
The first trick I wrote up is The Easiest Card in the World. It CAN'T fail you if done correctly. Doesn't use any sleights at all.
Samuel
Magic is everywhere |
|||||||||
Stuart Hooper Special user Mithrandir 759 Posts |
Try entertaining without magic tricks. If you can do that, you'll know when you're ready.
|
|||||||||
Dark Elite user 406 Posts |
Do you practice the presentation? Write a tiny script and rehearse it. Practice the trick exactly the way you wish to present it. Use a video camera to put a little "pressure" on yourself.
Practicing the moves isn't enough. Once you get to the point where you feel you can do the trick in your sleep, then the magic will come automatically and you can enjoy the ride. |
|||||||||
superhiro Regular user 101 Posts |
I had the same problem when I started out in magic. Actually I still probably do feel nervous when I perform now. I just don't know because I haven't performed for a while. I've just been practising.
I would agree with everyone and say that you should perform tricks that don't have any sleights first. This is what I did to get myself confident to do the other tricks which did include sleights. I don't know about any stories which would help you start performing to people. But I can say once you see the reactions on people's faces, that would probably motivate you to perform more. Hiro |
|||||||||
Kevin Ram Special user Travelling through Europe 791 Posts |
[quote]On 2004-07-21 18:52, Dorian Rhodell wrote:
OK I'm going to have to respectfully disagree with starting off with flourishes. Yes, it might impress them. As a consequence, however, the audience might not take their eyes off of your hands when you start performing the magic effects. Do the flourishes to get used to handling cards in front of the spects. Dont even do any magic. Spend a day or 2 of just doing flourishes.You'll get some positive feedback which will boost confidence. Plus, after a while you can step up the skill of your flourishes so when you go and do your ACR for example.The DL will be childs play. Thanks kukram
"Your the Italian stallion" As said by my g/friend
|
|||||||||
gogeta97 New user 97 Posts |
Sorry Samuel, when I said I agree with number one I was talking to Mr. Rhodell. But I do know all of those tricks you mentioned with the exception of Synergy. I'm taking a look at the demo soon, so I might download that. It certainly sounds entertaining. I've been thinking of starting coin magic, but I would need to get one of those mats (AKA oversize mouse pads). I would head down to support the local magic shop and buy Bobo's modern coin magic, because I feel bad about ordering magic books of amazon used for 90% of the price they retail for....Well, I can just ramble on...Anyways, I use what I think Penguin calls "Shotgun" in my usual opening trick. Thanks so far for all the advice and help so far. I still haven't made it out of the house, but maybe tomorrow a the gym I can show some stuff to someone.
|
|||||||||
vago Regular user Israel 116 Posts |
I agree with samuel for starting with the easy tricks.
START SMALL. Tricks with difficult technique (pass,tc) or tricks that are visually challenging (snap change, back palm) will get you cought, will not build your confidense and will expose the trick (we don't wan't that to happen). Since no one mentioned (joking), practice a lot. Practice for family (but someone who will mentioned if it doesn't work!). Practice in front of the mirror : 1. look at yourself - not at the cards. 2. try different angels. practice the sides. I often hear that people are practicing in front of the mirror but only for 1:1 magic. Good Luck. |
|||||||||
Roland Henning Special user Kiel, Germany 511 Posts |
If you are afraid to show your stuff... don't show it.
Maybe you should do some other stuff besides magic for strangers. I took an advise from a friend who told me to go in the city and to scream as loud as I could. It was a weird advise, I thought. But soon I understood, that if I can do the screaming (which is totally humiliating) I can do magic in front of strangers. Try it. mmG Roland |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » The workers » » Fear of performing... (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page 1~2~3 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.04 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |