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Utkarsh Sinha Regular user Goa, India 137 Posts |
I used to shake while I performed magic (I'm a newbie!). But I think I have discovered a way to avoid it. Now I shake much less.
Breath. While you perform and turn nervous, your breath becomes shorter. And this causes the strange feeling you have. It works well for me. What about you all? _________________ Utkarsh
Want jaadu?!
"Reality is a mere illusion, although a very persistent one" - Albert Einstein http://liquidmetal.in |
Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
You sound like ur talking about hyperventilation, and it will make you shakey and feel jittery. Certainly slowing ur breathing down will help prevent that. I think even the top pros have a bit of the jittery before a performance. We are geared up, adrenalin running high, just like an athelete hyped up for the game. It actually helps us, makes us think sharper, our reflexes are sharper, too much, of course, is a detriment. Everybody has their own way of getting over those pre-show jitters, you slowed respiraiton is certainly one of them.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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onezero1 Regular user 178 Posts |
Anyone who is interested in the cause and effect of these things and how they can indeed actually give you an edge should check out some of the writings of Geoff Thompson, He writes mostly about self protection but his work on pre-event fear and utilising things like the "adrenalin dump" can be applied anywhere in your life.
'though it stands to reason that a samurai should be mindful of the Way...it would seem that we are all negligent.
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Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
I agree with photius when he said, "I think even the top pros have a bit of the jittery before a performance.". I know I'm not a top pro but I perform a lot and I know I still get them from time to time.
I'll tell you what helps me though. It's more of a state of mind thing for me. I'm not sure if I'll be able to explain this properly but I'll give it a try. Have you ever felt you where in a zone so to speak? It doesn't have to be just in magic but in any activity. Maybe you're a bowler and one night you where just kicking butt. The strikes where coming easy to you. So that's what I mean by being "in a zone". No matter what the activity is this is usually a state of mind that makes this happen. What you are doing is just coming easy to you because for what ever reason you feel a lot of self confidence. I'm sure all the other techniques play a part in this confident state of mind too such as your breathing. That is the state of mind I try to put myself into when I feel those shakes coming. After the jitter before the show that make me double check all my props and make sure I'm ready for the show (I'm thankful for these jitters). Then I walk out on to the stage or approach that group in close up. I have this kind of inner prep talking thing going on. I tell myself that these people are going to love what I do. That they are my fans. That they already like me. I'm already admired by them. This isn't about making them like what I do. Even if they don't, it's not about them (for not everyone likes magic). It's about building my own self confidence. At that moment in my mind there is no one else in the world that will be able to do what I'm about to do better then I can. I'm not comparing myself to anyone else but this is internal thinking that's going on. I'm putting myself in that confidence state of mind that gives me an edge. One more thing I should add. It would be very hard to reach this state of mind if you wheren't confident with yourself on your ability to do the tricks you are about to perform. So your mind should also be say, "I know I can do every trick I plan to do for this group perfectly". So it goes back to the basics for getting rid of the shakes. PRATICE! I don't know if this will work for everyone but it works for me. Ron Jaxon |
Talarspeed New user 77 Posts |
I understand what you're saying Ron!
There is actually a book about reaching the Zone in sports activities. The title escapes me for the moment. I'm a competitive cyclist and use certain techniques that bring one into the Zone. Much has to do with internally placing yourself In The Moment and living it fully in your mind. Everything is perfect. And nothing goes wrong. It is almost like a mini-self hypnosis. I've used it with great success to overcome test anxiety before exams in college. But I never thought to use if for performance anxiety! I'll give it a try! |
KaydoWhoa New user Keystone Heights, Florida 90 Posts |
I think it all boils down to fear of being caught.. Nobody wants to f'up during a gig.. And I think its something you just get better with in time and you should use to your advantage. Dai Vernon once said that the fear of missing or being caught makes you perform that much better. there is something to that
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spatrick Special user Tom Sawyer let me whitewash these 517 Posts |
A well known master magician used to jump up and down backstage moments before going on and repeated "I love my audience, I love my audience!"
Shaking out the jitters is one way to get out that excess energy before going on. Slowing down your breathing is also excellent. (just don't stop alltogether ;-) ) Also don't forget to smile. I've seen so many performers who go out there and concnetrate so hard on what they were doing technically that they forget to smile at the audience, laugh, and exude personality. Always go out there with the idea that you are going to have fun with your audience. Go out there and give them the best performance you can. repeat to yourself as you go on"Lets have some fun!" S. Patrick |
georgecha New user 15 Posts |
Just treat your audience as your friends...
No one shakes when talking or performing before friends right? The best performer never feel nervous on the stage. The stage belongs to him.. Outsider can see the stage appears, however, the performer himself never feel there is a stage... Performer and audience are friends...no physical obstacle appearing between them.
Entertaining YOU always
www.askmrgeorge.blogspot.com |
thePyramidWithin New user 97 Posts |
The basic reason for shaking is lack of confidence in your trick you are about to perform...or more so the second guessing of your performance. you can have a perfect routine that you have down 100% but once you second guess it before performance...it crumbles.
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STFC New user 73 Posts |
I used to shake a lot before performing, I think the trick is performing as much as you can. good luck
Stay Happy and everything will be all right.
Jack Norris |
GaryW Veteran user HSMagic 317 Posts |
I've done magic for a groups of 200 and more... and I've presented proposals to the board of directors and defended budgets to the CFO... in any case... being totally prepared makes the experience more enjoyable. Nerves often come from fear of failure. Once you realize you can't fail, it goes much smoother. (I still get the butterflies every time I'm in front of people, but it only lasts until I speak my first few words.. )
One of the biggest mistakes I made before I did my first public performance was practice. I practiced and practiced. Knew every move, every prop in every pocket. Problem was I forgot to speak. I recovered but learned a valuable lesson. Rehearsal: dress and speaking as if you were performing, is more valuable than practice alone. |
Utkarsh Sinha Regular user Goa, India 137 Posts |
Thanks everyone! Learned and used lots from this thread... and it helped a lot!! Thanks once again!
Want jaadu?!
"Reality is a mere illusion, although a very persistent one" - Albert Einstein http://liquidmetal.in |
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