Ok guys now I know that some of you or maybe all of you have had at one time Stage fright, you know, sweaty hands, and the feeling to run off stage.

How do you cope with it? And can you give me a little advice on what to do before or even while I am performing. This is my biggest problem and because of this I try not to do magic which I love.

Jimmy; There are several excellent responses to your question in the threads below. Read through them and I think you will find some good advice.

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......1&16

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......1&31

Jimmy, I was in your shoes at one time. Every time I would try to show someone a trick I would shake like a dog...well, I think you know!!

I asked my most experienced and trusted mentor about overcoming this problem. He asked me one question (ask yourself), "What are you afraid of?"

Getting busted, of course. He then asked me what was the worst thing that would happen if someone noticed how I achieved the effect? The only thing a spectator will get from this is information. O.K. They'll probably give you a hard time, but, one of the best things to do is to compliment them. Sounds strange, I know, but, it works. The next time you get "busted" and this is brought to your attention, simply tell the person that they are very observant. They will generally take this as a pat on the back and will usually stop "rubbing it in your face".

I am not a pro, but, I am a seasoned amatuer and on occassion will still get popped. The line works for me 99% of the time.

It's also a very good idea to have an alternative method to obtain the same effect. If you get busted, use the line, then casually do the same effect utilizing a different method/technique.

Before you go on think of your act and talk to yourself, it makes you forget your stage fright.

Paul Daniels, the English magician, has a story of following a male stripper who was dressed as a Viking and finished his act wearing only boots and a horned helmet.

Paul said that no matter how bad he was, he could never look that stupid.

Try to relax, don't rush, and spend the first half minute saying hello to the audience. Look at them while you are performing.

I always used to start with a simple trick that couldn't go wrong.

Remember that the audience wants to like you and have a good time, and if they knew as much as you and were as good as you, they would be up there in your place.

You know this is an interesting dilemma, I am the kind of performer that triple checks props, gimmicks and body loads and whoa, all that work. I really do try to center and meditate for 10 minutes sometime before I go on, using positive statements and reinforcements. I really want to do a great show for these people, I want to amaze and entertain them. I feel confident about myself and have made sure that all my props are set to the best of my abilities. There is no reason to panic. I want to gain rapport with my audience immediately so they enjoy getting to know me and that they are willing to suspend their disbelief and enjoy what I have to show them. Etc...

Right before I go on stage I rub my hands vigorously together for about 45 seconds to a minute and then lift my hands high into the air (provided I don't set off a load) and let the energy run down into my body right as I walk on and then remember to slow down and take a pace with my audience and speak clearly and strongly.

Warm up exercises with you voice are a great way to keep your mind centered. Bring your favorite book of poetry or personal reflections to read about why you are a magician in the first place...

Just a thought.

Kurt Scott
Saint Paul, Mn
Http://Members,Aol.com/Stpaulmagician/Magic.html

In one aspect, you must realize that you probably will never see these folks again. So what do you have to lose?

I performed recently to a crowd of 40. One thing occurred to me right as I went on and it seemed to help calm me immediately:

Instead of thinking about the whole crowd I just focused on the first three people I saw and started the show for them. This helped get past the first few minutes and before I knew it, I was performing to the whole crowd.

In more intimate situations, try to think of the people as people you perform in front of all the time, like they're no big deal.

Hope this helps.

It's kind of an interesting thing for me. The larger the audience, the easier time I have. The smaller the audience, then I start to get a little nervous. I guess everyone has a different reaction.

I used to get shakey when I had a group of 10 watching me and although I could and would perform close-up for anyone anytime, I had a terrible time with my home/parlor show and stage fright. I was broken of this when I was asked to perform for a cheerleading group (in my mind about 40-50 people). When I got there it was in reality four to five THOUSAND. I wanted to run as fast as possible. The lady in charge had all the five to eight-year-olds get on the football field in front of me, the DJ gave me his wireless mike and after my first effect (airborn with Perrier water) I had them eating out of my hand.

Now if I don't have 30+ I get nervous, as I like the bigger crowds. The bigger crowds are easy due to the fact if you can please 50% they will carry the other 50%.

Jeff

Ugh. Stage fright is the worst. I used to be plagued by it. Paralyzed, in fact, however, in my current job I wound up having to give a lot of presentations to a lot of people. At first it was terrible, but out of nowhere something "clicked," and as a result I've had no problems since.

I'm no expert, but from my experience maybe you just need to be in front of people more often for the "stage fright" effect to wear off. Use whatever opportunities you have. Give toasts, crack jokes, etc. Personally, I think comedy is the best. When you've heard a roomful of people laughing at one of your jokes, no matter how lame, it really helps take the pressure off and build your confidence.

Good luck! I know this is tough.

Go for a run or get on the treadmill in the morning or hours before you perform. It increases your energy and awareness and calms the nerves, plus you're able to go through the performance in your head while you're running before you perform.

Happens to all of us!!

If on stage -Dont Rush on

Make your First Effect failproof,Quick & effective
Eg: Pull a silk from your Pocket-Vanish using a TT.

You will still have a few nerves but the first applause definetly helps & if you have routined your show to finish with a Bang with plenty of enjoyment in the middle-no probs!

Have confidence in your act-Anything seems silly-drop it

This all helps Stage fright

Good Luck

Yep that's right. It happens to everyone.
I've been Acting in local Theatre Productions, Churches, Esteidfords Etc.....Since the age of 8.

The only thing that will cure Stage Fright, in my belief, is...Experience.

There are other ways to get through it... using words to manipulate your feelings. NLP, hypnosis and just close up confort and belief from other cast members, peers.

If you have been on stage before, just remember that time. You would have had stage fright that time as well, but how did you come out at the end? Bloody Brilliant! So let yourself be assured that this time will not be any different.

Plus, if you know your material inside out, back-to-front....You should be totally be un-aware of emotions such as fear and doubt. All that will be going through your head will be, mysterious, enchanted, magical, impact with a BANG! All you will be thinking is...How to amaze your audience, Finding ways to make the audience jump out of their seats in disbelieif.

When on the stage you are in the here and now. You will be on impulse...You will have adrenaline, you will have power, and confidence...You will GO OFF!!! You will light up the stage like you could have never imagined. Your'll know how to make the audience give you a standing ovation. If there is one thing in the whole world that gets one motivated in a second, it's an audience.

Just get on the stage....and have some fun. - There are no rules. There is no such thing as stage fright....Just throw yourself on stage....And if you're waiting in the wings, and the butterflies are building up and your heart starts beating, you start to think you might forget your lines or flub a trick, you always think of the worst possible situation - WHEN THAT HAPPENS MY FRIEND, When that happens...You remember my post from this message board, and you say to yourself....Everyone gers through this moment...Not everyone finds a cure before they hit the stage though. Sure, the cure is inevitable...The stage IS the cure.

I am the cure fo the time before the stage. Just think to yourself, lol think about some of the American/Australian Idol contestants....lol - come on man, that's got to give you at least SOME confidnce!

Goodluck

_-Sam-_

I read this somewhere, (I wish I could remember who said it) but the entertainer said that he would just feel how much he loved the audience. They are coming to get away from daily life and want to be entertained and it was his job to bring magic into their life.

That is what I do before I go on stage. I just meditate on how much I love the audience and I will do my best to help them be happy, if only for 7 1/2 minutes.

I still get nervous sometimes. But not as much. Although, Mom said I almost passed out at IBM competition.

Another thing that helps me is to practice "way too much". LOL When I do forget something, instictively I just get back on cue.

Dakota Rose

Confidence is the big secret. How to get confidence? There are only three ways, I think: practice, rehearsal and experience. The think that you´ll entertain the audience, not fight against them, helps too.

(sorry about my english)

Take your time with your presentation and remember, it's the first time they are observing your patter.

For me, I always start with a simple trick that I can do in my sleep. Once I have had that initial contact with the audience, and showed them something they enjoyed, I calm right down.

Funny thing with me is that I get more nervous performing for a small group of people I know than for a large group of strangers. Put five people I know in front of me and I will get nervous, take those same five people and put them in with 100 people I don't know, and I will be fine.

Mike

I've had the same fears. The fear of goofing up and looking like a darn fool. The fear of exposing an effect and ruining it for other magicians. The shakes and sweats.

Because of this, I too stopped performing for a long time.
As I look at it now, I think much of the fear was caused because I really didn't know some of the effects well enough, and didn't have a decent script or program to refer to.

I also hadn't rehearsed as much as I should have.
If you make sure you know the act back and forth, inside and out, you should get some comfort. Practice, rehearse, practice, rehearse, etc, etc.

For some reason I also find it easier when performing for strangers than for those who know me best.

I think you should expose yourself more so you can get the hang of performing for huge amounts of people.