Ok, it doesn't have to be "streets", but when did you take a step from performing magic for friends and family, and take a step out into the "real world"? Streetwork, strolling, restaraunts, parties, etc.

It's been a year now for me, and I feel I'm still taking that step.

It took me 2 months to go semi-profesional in 1995 then stopped. Went back last Oct 31, 2005.

I guess it comes with contacts and confidence too.

Will do in the near future, but still a an amature. They asked me to perform for a bunch of autistic kids and I see it as a huge challenge. So fingers crossed

It took Houdini years and a bit of luck to find his niche in escapology, prior that he performed in just about all facets of magic. My advice is to take your time and find out what is it you really like and do best. Practice on your presentational skills primarily as well as your method and prepare a good efficient routine that is exciting and effective. Performing in public can be a great demanding challenge and being prepared will make the transition more easier and gratifying. Be yourself and be natural and don't give up, you will know when the time comes... until then have fun first and hone your skills performing for family and friends. Good luck!!

:bikes: <<<KRZ4kardz>>>

It's not a race. Savor the trip, look at the scenery. It's taken me about 40 years to get there and I've enjoyed every minute of the journey.

I though I was ready and I hit the streets. I wasn't. But I still did it and soon I was ready.

You cannot really prepare for the streets. Learning by doing!

You do as you feel, there is no time to be reached . Personally I start doing 1 single trick in the strets and I knew only that one. The trick was not actually trick but yeah I think was a trick haha , well before I even could ask people to select a card and then revealing it in any way, I use to choose my victim by looking for those who had sunglasses on, I asked them to pic a card look it up, paint the picture of the card in their head, stick it back in the deck and then tell them what card it was, this and the Three Card Monte was the only stuf I knew, before I took it serious and now I perform in the streets quite a lot .


The point of all this is , learn few things master them I mean , and you are ready to perform anywhere anytime under any conditions.

hope this helps...........Good luck

Zac

Lucky for me, I was too young to know that I was no good! I was trained for several days to do three stand-up/platform tricks then I was billed as "the worlds youngest magician" and put on the platform to do the tricks. By the end of the summer I was pretty good at those three tricks and very good with audience interaction.

Well the truth is "Just Do It" and do as many as you can until you are very confident.

David Copperfield gave this advise, I thought he was pulling my leg until I found out it's true!

Whenever you can perform your tricks with a lot of confidence, not mess up, and get the nerve to go up to someone that is when you should be ready.

Take action. Far too many people wait until they think they are ready only to realize a good portion of their life has passed them by.

If you screw up (which happens to everyone), you'll learn from the experience.

When my gf kicked me out saying that I had one too many "junk" around the house!!
seriously though, I started off with my friends, a close friend always had a cam recorder, watched the tape to see myself perform, whether I messed up or not, and one day I was watching myself perform (i am not a professional performer, as in getting paid or as a living, just an expensive hobby worth every penny hehe) I heard myself saying "flawless" and once a month my friends gather around and I put on a show for them!
get a cam recorder, get someone to video tape u, it will help trumendously! (spelling!)

I'll be going to my first gig in 4 years been doing magic for 6 years. After ten years I should be ready. I've found my style too it took a few years but that's what I really think it is! Its finding your sytle and getting used to it. When you find what you like to do best that's what it really is. Its taken me 6 years. I started with plastic kits