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Sergio
@elsergio02

Card MagicStagePractice SessionAny Audiences

Hey everyone! At my high school, they have a "talent show" every year, and this year I'm planning to compete. The only problem is, I have two issues:

I've NEVER performed magic for anyone outside my close family or friends, so I'm not sure if my hands will shake, or if I'll get super nervous.

I'd love for you to recommend some effects for me to perform. I was thinking about Tamariz's Total Coincidence, since it's very visual and impactful, but I'm not sure what to follow it up with.

Mostly, I'm writing this about my hands. I'd love to know if there are any relaxation techniques that work for you all, because I've tried some, and they only relax me for the first 20 seconds; then I can't even pick up the deck again.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, and thanks for reading!

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Cento (el ayudante)
@elayudante

To add to what your fellow magicians have already suggested:

  • Watch your camera angles on screen; you need to make sure nothing is flashed.
  • If you're doing card magic, start with an effect where the spectator handles the cards, at least at first. That'll take some pressure off you.
  • The only way to get better at magic (and in life) is by actually doing it. Don't shy away.
  • A double prediction is very strong for a lay audience.
  • If relaxation techniques only work for 20 seconds, try something else. For instance, before you even start, publicly announce that you're so nervous that if you drop the cards, everyone has to applaud. Tell them you're going to do a practice run first (then drop a few cards to hear their applause, and so on... a little humor!).

Best,

4
Nick Wayne
@kashoggi

Hey there!

If you're going to be really nervous, how about doing a self-working trick or one that doesn't require much sleight of hand? That way, you can relax a bit more.

You could also do a short routine with several effects that gradually increase in difficulty. You'll already be more comfortable since the first few will have gone well. I hope that makes sense.

Also, a quick warning, because this happened to me last year, and it wasn't a pleasant situation. Are you planning on doing any card magic? Let me explain. If you're on a raised stage and performing at a table, the audience might not be able to see what you're doing, and they'll start getting restless. Ideally, for my show, there would have been fewer people, and they could have gathered around, but that wasn't possible.

If you're going to have a large audience, you need to know where they'll be positioned and if their vantage point allows them to see what you're doing.

So, here's an idea. How about performing some mentalism? Or something you can do standing, like a prediction of a card you force, or something along those lines.

That way, you minimize any unexpected issues.

If anything isn't clear, just ask, and I'll try to explain better. Sometimes I think I'm being clear, but I'm really not.

Cheers and good luck with the magic! 🪄

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Sergio
@elsergio02

Hey @KASHOGGI, thanks so much for your reply.

From what I've been told, there will be a screen showing everything I do.

Anyway, thanks again for your recommendation; I'll try to do a bit of mentalism and a bit of card magic. I'll figure out how to link it together.

Seriously, thanks so much, you're awesome!

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Pau Medina Vázquez
@paumedvaz

The hand thing is inevitable; it's completely normal to get nervous, and that only gets better with time.

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