I can't execute all of my effects, though. I just got the Stripper and Erazer decks a few days ago, and can't perform the colour changing ball to jumbo square because my hands are tiny. I'm familiar with most sponge ball sleights but haven't tried any hard tricks/ or routines. I still need to make up good patter for all of my effects, too. I'll still need to work on them, krist0pher.

There was a famous Magician once, I can't remember his name exactly right now, but he had small stubby hands and he still became one of the most memorable of us all. Let no tiny hands stop you!

Ah, my hands won't stop me! (Besides the fact that lots of card magic requires palming ) Thanks for the input though. Everyone in my class is looking forward to the show.

I think krist0pher is thinkign of max malini, I think that's his name anyway, he could palm with ease aswell as backpalm. Tiny hands dosn't mean anything I should know my hands are pretty small. Good work saying your hands wont stop you so many newish magicians complain about small hands its like a broken record.

Either do something you know how to do already and just adapt the patter, or try The Locked Deck, I did it when I was 12 infront of a whole class. Explain how it's a tribute to Houdini, lock him in place, pan it out, tell the story, build some suspense. IT's a very effective trick with the right story.

I don't have time to get any new effects, Mustang. Though I would be interested in buying it later. Where could I get it?

I've been helping some youngsters prepare for first performances & the best advice I can give is
1. Start with your easiest foolproof items. Helps you get into the swing of things & build confidence.
2. Make sure your 1st effect is a visual grabber - there's nothing better than that first "wow" from an audience
3. Prepare yourself for the fact that something might go wrong - there's a thread on one of these forums about what funny things you can say if you do fluff something.
4. Keep things in perspective. Don't get stressed - it's a steep learning curve & whatever happens lots of people will admire your guts & skill!

I'm no expert but do have some first hand experience of helping teenagers perform basic magic for the first time. PM me if you need any speccccccccccccccci advice..... & let us know how it went!

Oooooops - I have a new keyboard & my last post was meant to say "special" not specccccccccccccccci

For the opener I think I'm going to do a torn and restored paper. I have also decided to take out the rubber bands (I'm not as good with them) and instead use my Stripper deck for some effects I found in my book. Everyone likes card tricks. Thanks for the tips SoupDragon.

You can get the locked deck from http://www.davenportsmagic.co.uk, it's very easy to do, the practice is in the presentation. If you're in the UK, careful with your torn and restored newspaper, it was recently shown on a popular TV programme called "Faking It" and a lot of people wont be very impressed unless you can show both sides of the paper before and after the restoration. If you need any help with card effects or how to make ur effects play for 30 people PM me, I'll explain to you how to make ur existing tricks play bigger.

Yo,

Magician with the small hands was Max Malini, possibly the greatest close-up magician of all time.

Advice: Have your first routine one that you have nailed down and that is virtually impossible to screw up. Best,

I finished my show. The day was tightly scheduled so I only got about 6 or 7 minutes in. I did torn and restored paper, vanishing water trick (Don't know what it's called), and a sponge ball routine. One thing went wrong... On the last part of the sponge ball routine my assistant opened his hand before I told him to and some extra sponge balls fell out. Ouch...

Excellent, Jamie! I'm glad it went well. After a bit of thinking, I bet you'll have a sponge ball entry for "Lessons I learned the hard way."

I hope you are encouraged to perform again.

John

Thanks for the post, Magnus. It meant a lot to me. I think I will be performing next Friday. By then I'll hopefully have an ITR because everyone wants me to "float" objects.

Great job, and congrats!!!!

Jamie, be careful of an ITR without a lot of practice, and proper distance too. Just because they want you to do something is no reason to do it. Stick with what you have practiced a lot and know well. "new" tricks are not something to rush into a performance

That's good advice but I'd have over a week to practice it. Also, it is not only for request, but because I like to levitate things...lol