|
|
Go to page [Previous] 1~2 | ||||||||||
Banester Special user 669 Posts |
Ran into a corporate magician who started his act out by doing a back flip right onto his back! Everyone was shocked and then laughed our butts off when we realized he meant to do it. IT really broke the ice per say between some stiff's and a magician. The point I am getting at is that I am sure he was quite nervous coming in front of a bunch of executives who are there on business. He made us feel comfortable with him by making us laugh and I am sure he felt "in the mood" seeing our reaction.
while I don't recommend doing the back flip, maybe come up with a little something to break the ice with your audience. As airship said something with a few oohh, ahh or laughs.
The art of a magician is to create wonder.
If we live with a sense of wonder, our lives become filled with joy -Doug Henning- |
|||||||||
Erdnase27 Inner circle 2505 Posts |
Mm I'm thinking about it.
I performed in a bar some impromptu tricks I feel comfortable with like 3 card monte(with 3 beerholders or what you call them in english you know those things to put the beer on..) bended and put a cross as a mark, the nile devination, Recapped, nailwriter stuff, Ashes to palm. U know .. nobrainers for a performer except presentation. It went down well. But a double lift or something? no way id do it in the state I now feel in |
|||||||||
Michael Midnight Regular user Southern Swamp 104 Posts |
From what I've gathered from talking to more experienced performers is that nervousness never really goes away, you just learn to work through it. Keep in mind also that someone who doesn't really care about their art, who isn't creatively exposing their inner feelings in their work will never feel nervous. They're just going through the motions. So some nervousness is a good sign!
|
|||||||||
Erdnase27 Inner circle 2505 Posts |
Well I love magic for 500% .
I love practising it, reheasing it, rehearsing the misdirection, finer details everything. I really care for it and don't want to expose tircks by don't practising an act. I think that's my main problem, I'm so fed up with don't exposing the secret that I am too affraid I make a mistake. don't get me wrong when I am busy I am what I am a good performer who is in the mood. Only I ccant begin doing tricks:) Read story about dad and bro also:) |
|||||||||
Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
I read the first post in this discussion from MichielTummers. Read a few below it but then I decided to skip all those posts because I didn't want to loose the thoughts that came to mind when I read the question. I hope I don't repeat too much and I'm sure great advice has been shared judging by the avatars I saw as I scrolled down. But I've talked to magicians, specifically those fairly new to real performing, about this so those conversations are strong in my mind right now. I figured I'll them along.
Believe me I can relate to what you're talking about. Not only in magic but because of my deafness I relate to it in other areas. I use to have that same kind of feeling when I wanted to just talk to someone or a group of people. I'd want to talk to someone for what ever reason and I'd wonder. Will they like me? Will my deafness interfere with the flow of the conversation? Will I be annoying to them? When they laugh are they laughing at me or something I didn't hear? Do they even speak English? So I had to overcome that "getting started" feeling not only in magic but in everyday life. Now imagine you're me and want to perform for people. I'll tell you how I was able to cope with this. I don't know if it'll work for everyone and I know it's easier said then done. But here's the mind frame I tried to put myself into. I DON"T CARE! That's what it boils down to and in a way it's lying to myself. But that's what I try to make myself beleive. I want them to like me and/or what I do. but if they don't then it's no sweat off my back. I'll approach that girl and say hello. If a conversation starts then great I'll go with it and see where it leads. If it doesn't I'll just say, "Have a nice day" and move on. I'll approach that group of people (friends or strangers) and perform for them. If they like it they'll let me know. If they don't then it's another "Have a nice day" moment and I move on. There are many more techniques that can help but I'm just sharing this to say that it works for me and if you're really having trouble then maybe it'll work for you. In another post I made here on the Café I talked about the first 10 seconds of a performance. How it's those first moments that people will form their opinion of you. I didn't bring that up to put more pressure on you. But it goes to show that most of us either have or have had the same issue to work out. Very few people are "born performers" so most of us have to learn how to be one. So one way to get past this odd moment in the beginning is to really grab them in those first few seconds. I'm not sure what your performing style is but for me I use comedy, amazement or a combination of the two. Once you get that first laugh or gasp I'm guessing you'll be past that odd "starting" moment and feel more relaxed. Let me share some examples of the things I've done in that first moment of close up magic. A visual way From time to time I get together with magicians in my area and we'll just go out to some club and perform for the fun of it. We'll just sit somewhere and start performing for each other pretty much like magicians do at a magic convention. If I see a group I think might like to see some magic I might perform something for my friends that I'm sure someone might see. Making something float usually does the trick. Here's the thing though. Now they are calling me over. So the ice of now broken and I'm past that "start" moment. A comedy way -Sit on an invisible chair. Look for my post on "The first ten seconds" in this section for more details. But imagine for a moment that you are not a magician. Someone approaches your table and sits down on an invisible chair. Once they react to that you're past that "start" phase. -This one way taught to me by Antony Gerard. I'd use this when I use to perform walk around in a restaurant. When I see a couple of business men (Make sure they're done with their business meeting before approaching). I'd approach their table and say something along the lines of: "Congratulations. You're the 101th customer today. You've won 5 minutes of magic from the worlds greatest magician. You're very lucky because first place was 10 minutes worth of magic with the worlds greatest magician". Delivered right you've got a laugh and an introduction. They now see you as an entertainer. Once that happens the wall is down and they're with you. I hope these things at least give you some ideas to think about. Ron Jaxon |
|||||||||
BrianMillerMagic Inner circle CT 2050 Posts |
I like that line about the time spent with the world's greatest magician, Jax. I can see it being very funny if, like you said, it's delivered properly.
|
|||||||||
Mark Wilden Veteran user San Francisco 375 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-03-13 19:05, Jaxon wrote: Words to live by. Easier said than done, but if you can do it, you've got it made. ///ark |
|||||||||
Erdnase27 Inner circle 2505 Posts |
Yeah but if tyou can;t do it?
:) btw great advise so far, thank you. |
|||||||||
DomKabala Inner circle I've grown old after diggin' holes for 2827 Posts |
Quote: What do you mean by this question? Can't do what? It is obvious to me that you can do it. The problem is insecurity and lack of self confidence. Do your self a favor by not using your father and brother as "guinea pigs" to showcase your newest endeavor in magic. They are not laypersons so to speak because they know you and recognize your mannerisms and they are inadvertently adding to your insecurity. Get rid of that word "can't" and replace it with the words "I can and I will". There is already a lot of excellent advice in this thread, but the first step is to build up & bolster your self confidence. That is done by performing...alot. Believe in yourself and become the controller of your audience, because you are. They do not control you. This mindset will help you tremendously in whatever you do.
On 2007-03-14 03:07, MichielTummers wrote: Cardamagically, <<<KRaZy4KaRdZ>>>
We don't stop playing when we grow old...we grow old when we stop playing.
God is enough, let go, let God. Gal 2:20 "Anything of value is not easily attained and those things which are easily attained are not of lasting value." |
|||||||||
Erdnase27 Inner circle 2505 Posts |
Ok thanks for the advice ill bear that in mind ^^
|
|||||||||
The Conjuror Regular user Illinois, USA 132 Posts |
Yeah man, definitely drop the brother and father as your crash test dummies. I use my girlfriend as my guinea pig because she is like the typical spectator. She just watches and enjoys the illusion. I think something you need to keep in mind is that there are 2 different types of crowds. To explain this, let me give you two example scenerios.
(1) You are hired to perform at a birthday party or similar celebration. Whether in a living room or a venue, the audience gathers around once you are setup and ready to go. In this type of scenerio, nerves should be at a minimum. Why? Because the audience approaches YOU. They want to see you perform magic and appreciate your effort to amaze and entertain them. If you are comfortable with your entire performance and have a self-working opener, there should be no worries. They are willingly watching because they appreciate your art - not because they want to heckle you and figure out your secrets. This is the mindset you must have when you perform. If you go to the gig thinking they are there to figure everything out, then you will suffer. If you go to the gig knowing that they appreciate you, then you will succeed. (2) You are performing walk-around. This scenerio produces a much greater chance of hecklers. Why? Because YOU are approaching the spectators. This is the opposite of the first example and, in my opinion, is what you should fear most. I have tried the walk-around thing once and don't see myself ever doing it again. I'm just not the type of person to approach people and force the magic on them. I like to perform when I know the audience WANTS to see the magic. When you perform walk-around you are taking a big gamble. Do the spectators want to see magic? Do they appreciate the art? Maybe... and maybe not... I hope this made sense. If you force magic on others you are far more likely to be heckled. If the audience comes to you (like the usual gig) then they obviously appreciate you, so you can just enjoy yourself and not worry about the 'wise ones'. |
|||||||||
Wes65 Inner circle I've said very little in 1219 Posts |
My most nerve-wracking situation is walk around street magic. (Besides preforming for other magicians)
I bring at least two friends with me. They will either walk around with me or walk up and start to form a crowd. Some times they stand at the beginning points of my bad angles. That way I am certain that my angles are covered.
Wes
|
|||||||||
jolly12 New user PEI, Canada 48 Posts |
I can definitly sympathize with you, being relatively new to "performing" magic (after quite a long ..in front of the mirror career...) I am a bit nervous each time I get a little show going. I have to agree with some of the others though.. a simple, no brainer or two is the way to break the ice..scotch & soda, some rope tricks, anything automatic, rehearsed so many times that you don't think you just do. once they are done I am usually excited to get into the heavier artillery!
|
|||||||||
Magic Tim New user Texas 40 Posts |
You can also sometimes use the "father and brother" types to your advantage. My sons (whom I've taught some magic) used to annoy me by catching me and figuring out my sleights. I turned things around and worked hard (and still do) to be good enough to fool them even in their second-guessing. I also let them know that I WANT them to help me improve by pointing out my weaknesses. So it's a friendly challenge, not battle of pride. Now I test myself from time to time by practicing a move on them to see if they can catch me.
For example, when working on a coin vanish like a French Drop, I try to make it look so natural that the boys just can't tell which time I really took it and which time I didn't. I know I'm doing well when they aren't able to tell which times are which. Their knowing how it's done doesn't help them, because the "move" looks identical to the ordinary action. Another type of family member or friend that's a challenge is the kind that has a hard time appreciating the entertainment value of a trick -- and often doesn't even realize it -- because their mind automatically judges the trick based on whether they think they could figure it out or not. My wife is like that. The challenge is to make my presentation so much more entertaining that she forgets about the analysis aspect and "gets into" the "show". I'm not always successful at this, but it has helped me to turn these kinds of things into opportunities for growth and improvement, rather than insurmountable obstacles or hindrances. I hope this is helpful! --Tim |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » Too nervous to perform. (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page [Previous] 1~2 |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.06 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 < |