Could use some quick advice.

[Sneux]

(It is a Magic question despite my references to me flourishing.)

First some background...

I have been doing Flourishing for around 6 months now, Card Magic for only two or three months (I thought due to my hand size I would suck at everything which ended when I realized I was only using it as an excuse to hide my fear, my hands weren't small just bony ). Most of it is just sitting at the computer mindlessly doing double lifts, center doubles or flourishes. Whenever I go out or feel nervous I just pull out my deck and start flourishing randomly, it's a great way for me to get a conversation started or just forget I'm out in public, I have a minor to moderate form of social anxiety...

My question is about confidence, how do you get over that fear? I don't have it with flourishing, just when preforming Card Magic, sometimes my hands shake other times they sweat ect. this is one of the reasons I try to stay away from things like palming and I realized it is all just my lack of confidence, however a big part is psyching myself out or now believing in myself to be able to misdirect or sell it properly...for instance in my head I KNOW I am palming this card so THEY must already know or be automatically suspicious even though a lot of times I know this isn't true, and that worry starts to manifest itself in the form of micromanaging and second guessing which causes things to look unnatural and 'forced'.

How did you all get over your fear/psyching yourself out/lack of confidence? Did it come with experience, rigorous practice or something else?

Thanks a lot for the help guys!(and gals).

((Sorry for any typos it's noon and I have yet to sleep haha.)

 

[onimushalord89]

I think the response you will hear a lot is, just jump in and do it. The more you perform, the more relaxed you will be at it. However I did not do this. I started performing for friends and relatives. As I got comfortable with that, then I moved on to random people. It was a nice buffer.

It also helps if you know the trick really well. So instead of practicing the sleights, practice the whole trick. Practice over and over again till the trick becomes second nature. Even practice the patter. Then when you perform, you will just draw from memory. You wont even be thinking about what move comes next. You will just do it.

Also as a performance tip. If you keep your performances light hearted and funny, people will burn you less. Crack some jokes and have fun. If you are having fun, so will your audience. Then there is a lot less pressure. Hell I have messed up big time in a situation like that and because we were all having fun, they were supportive and wanted me to try again. If you do all of these things, you will be a performing fool in no time.

Cheers

Oni

 

[danielmontagne]

(It is a Magic question despite my references to me flourishing.)

First some background...

I have been doing Flourishing for around 6 months now, Card Magic for only two or three months (I thought due to my hand size I would suck at everything which ended when I realized I was only using it as an excuse to hide my fear, my hands weren't small just bony ). Most of it is just sitting at the computer mindlessly doing double lifts, center doubles or flourishes. Whenever I go out or feel nervous I just pull out my deck and start flourishing randomly, it's a great way for me to get a conversation started or just forget I'm out in public, I have a minor to moderate form of social anxiety...

My question is about confidence, how do you get over that fear? I don't have it with flourishing, just when preforming Card Magic, sometimes my hands shake other times they sweat ect. this is one of the reasons I try to stay away from things like palming and I realized it is all just my lack of confidence, however a big part is psyching myself out or now believing in myself to be able to misdirect or sell it properly...for instance in my head I KNOW I am palming this card so THEY must already know or be automatically suspicious even though a lot of times I know this isn't true, and that worry starts to manifest itself in the form of micromanaging and second guessing which causes things to look unnatural and 'forced'.

How did you all get over your fear/psyching yourself out/lack of confidence? Did it come with experience, rigorous practice or something else?

Thanks a lot for the help guys!(and gals).

((Sorry for any typos it's noon and I have yet to sleep haha.)

first , i think it's great that you perform after just 6 months, you're in the good way, second , if you practice really hard your moves you'll be able to do them live with no problem, just start with basic palm or new move one by one, not two or three new moves in the same routine, and practice moves that really are important for your routines

 

[Sneux]

Thanks guys!

Yea I do tend to have a lot of time on my hands for practice and I have been using family members, as well as one family member to just practice on, for instance 'do you think this gives a bigger reaction, or this' ect.

Thanks again for all the advice guys!

 

[canadamagic]

As everyone has already said eventually you're going to just have to go and do it. If you continue practicing on people, mabey just one or two at time than you will become more accustom to being around groups of people as you perform.

As with being nervous about people seeing your moves as long as you practice them well enough in a mirror or on a friend and you KNOW that no one will see what is really happening than you have no reason to worry. Getting over this fear is definitely a large step in this art, you need to be comfortable around people to excel and anyone can, as long as they just get used to it