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mrsmiles Elite user 442 Posts |
Quote: On Nov 22, 2019, mrsmiles wrote:
mrsmiles
(UK) |
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Eddie Torres Special user New York City 692 Posts |
I think you should just do the stuff you do best while acknowledging your nerves. The last few years I’ve made a habit of pointing out stuff I think people are going to be aware of. I think just the simple act of telling someone your nervous, maybe making a joke of it and even pointing out those shakey hands when they shake will ease the tension on both ends tremendously. It makes you relatable and kind of gives you permission to be nervous while performing. I’ve found honesty and sincerity to be the best way to make a quick connection with your audiences. No ones going to look down on you for feeling an emotion that we’ve all felt. On the contrary, it just might get them on your side quicker.
Eddie Ivan Torres
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Mr. Woolery Inner circle Fairbanks, AK 2149 Posts |
Eddie has a great point. Acknowledge the nerves. If you have any in-their-hands material, you can say “in fact, I’m so nervous, I think you’d better do this first trick and I’ll take over after that.” There are quite a few such items if you look for them.
In order to deal with the nerves, you may be well advised to look for a nearby Toastmasters group. Also, if you have a local magic club, the value of such is in the chance to perform for a supportive group that will try to help. Patrick |
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Alyx New user 87 Posts |
Here's another tip on getting over nerves -- though it may not have been the intended purpose. Jamie Grant wrote about "Magic Fridays" in his book, The Approach (awesome book). The idea is that you inform your coworkers that every Friday you're going to show them one trick. Ideally you don't show everyone at once, but you get them one on one, so that you can perform that same trick several times. If you can do your trick 5 times in a given Friday, you'll rack up 20 performances by the end of the month, and you'll be well on your way to ditching the nerves.
Food for thought. |
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Chamberlain Special user 629 Posts |
I still get nervous for the first group, sometimes I'll look down at my hands and think 'Oh god I'm shaking' but by the 3rd group I'm fine. I've just came to accept that my first group that I approach I'll probably not be on top form. That's why I always try to perform for an older group first, and keep the group of teens/all male group for later in the evening.
The less you have time to think about it the better, I perform much better when I show up at a gig and just start. Rather than showing up early, sitting there for 30mins then performing. |
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chosen1 Regular user lots of places 123 Posts |
I've come across two concepts that have, personally, helped me get over the initial nerves of performing. First is a mindset and the second is a way of framing the material I'm presenting. These may not be applicable to every style but have helped me perform with much more confidence.
First I try to think about my magic as a gift to whoever I'm performing for. Since magic is, for the most part, a hobby for me this is even easier than for professionals. I don't have to perform if I don't want to; so any time I take is because I want to spread a little joy to those around me. Because it's a gift, who cares if my hands shake a little bit? Who cares if I even get caught? It's something I'm doing for them and I'm not asking for anything in return. You can even use this thinking for paid shows. Think about all the hours you've spent practicing and scripting and shopping and researching. If you were to truly add up all the work you've put in to getting to this point the compensation you are receiving seems more than fair. You're still giving more than you are getting. Second I don't shy away from the idea that what I'm doing is sleight of hand. Especially in my opener. My usual opener is a ring routine and I tell the audience that I'm going to warm up with some intricate sleight of hand. So any little flashes or jerky movements are able to explained away. I'm not trying to fool them I've given them the answer so they not only don't look as hard, they are also more forgiving if/when they do see something. You can use this idea of framing in other ways too. Maybe you can say let me see if my memory is up to performing and do a memory styled trick. The idea is to give them some kind of a hook to hang their hat on so they aren't really looking for any explanation because you've given it to them. Since you know they won't be looking as closely you can perform with more confidence. Another gambit I've used along the same lines is. "Do you want to see the hardest thing I know how to do?" Then your nerves are explained in a theatrical way. Of course you're a bit nervous, this isn't easy. It can help your audience feel like they are seeing something you don't show just anyone and helps make your nerves seem like part of the act. What you're doing doesn't have to be particularly difficult anything can be presented as being harder than it is. This has the bonus effect that when I do start to do things where I don't touch objects much or they what's happening simply can't be explained by sleight of hand the audience has a moment of feeling like the rug been's pulled out from them, but since I'm already in the middle of performing I've noticed that they just turn off that side off their brain for good. Hope this idea of reframing is useful to you and anyone else. Best of luck in sharing your magic with others. Best, Brandon
We should all be in a constant state of wonder
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vincentmusician Loyal user Toronto 265 Posts |
Being nervous happens to a lot of people. Once in a while, even I get nervous. The more you perform, the less it will happen. I recommend starting out with routines and Magic that you know inside out without having to think too much about. It does not have to be easy or hard but just easy for you. Also, try to have fun. If the audience sees you having a good time, so will they. If they see you looking nervous or afraid, then they will feel uncomfortable. Just relax and enjoy what you do. This works for me. Cheers!
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Chuck Finley Regular user 139 Posts |
I put this under another post but this will make it so much easier:
Though I have not done this personally I do think it is a great opener for restaurant. Steve Spill made a fake plate of spaghetti with three hollow opening that he could put sponge balls in. He would walk up to a table and say "who ordered the spaghetti?" he then sat it on the table and went into his sponge ball routine. Simple and effective and the psychology behind it is brilliant; first you are breaking into the guest space with a question which is relevant holding a plate, then you create a moment of confusion that forces them to interact with you for the moment breaking the ice and dropping their guard totally, then there is a humorous outcome as you set the plate down. I can see that moment where they will chuckle and realize that you are there to create mass havoc and pandemonium for their entertainment. I would not be surprised at all if every guest talked about this long after they totally forgot the 45 phase ambitious card routine we are all so proud of The reason this will help is simple when someone sees a person carrying a plate to a table everyone at the table stops talking because its now time to figure out who gets what. In this split second you say "who has the spaghetti" they will say "no one or not me" then when you lower it and they see its fake this will elicit a choice to chuckle and that is enough time to fit in and say "with how this looks its a good thing you didn't" or something like that. now you have their attention and its in a fun way this should make the nerves almost fade away into nothing or at least enough to stop your hands from shaking. |
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