Nervous Performing

Jun 6, 2010
796
0
Nashville, TN
I used to have this problem when I first started performing for strangers, the thing that helps me get over my nervousness if I have any, is to just convince myself that they're gonna love it no matter what happens. I know it sounds ridiculous or too easy but it really works, for me at least.

Hope it helps,
-Aaron
 

Andrei

Elite Member
Sep 2, 2007
439
24
35
Las Vegas
www.youtube.com
When I first began my journey into Cardistry, I performed for friends, relatives, family members, etc. I was still nervous - my hands visibly shaking.

I couldn't go out on the streets to perform - I was way too nervous to walk the streets of Vegas by myself at the age of 13. I persuaded a friend of mine to get into flourishes/magic so he can tag along (trying to psych myself into thinking it was more of a night out having fun rather than a training session - worked pretty well!)

We started having fun with it and bugging people on the strip of Las Vegas and many of our would be spectators would reject us for reasons unknown - or the fact that we were 13 year olds who wanted God knows what could have had something to do with it. :p

Our rejections would soon fuel us to get somewhat frustrated and start approaching people with a different mindset. Our nervous energy was channeled into presentation and approaching people the right way - which took a load off the stress of actually performing. Eventually we performed for so many people inside and outside a variety of Casinos/Shops, we felt somewhat comfortable in our skin.

That period of forcing ourselves to perform prepared me for the future. I feel once I got older, that fear/shake was also outgrown but not without a little effort of course.

Today, I become anxious, excited, and jittery to perform but I love every second of it. The only time I experience shakes is if I'm performing for a large group of people, doing a difficult Cardistry move that usually involves balance, and can hear a pin drop... but I'm working on that! Always room for development. If one does not get nervous or excited when performing, he/she should most likely reconsider another occupation.

-Andrei Jikh
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sep 3, 2007
1,231
0
When I first began my journey into Cardistry, I performed for friends, relatives, family members, etc. I was still nervous - my hands visibly shaking.

I couldn't go out on the streets to perform - I was way too nervous to walk the streets of Vegas by myself at the age of 13. I persuaded a friend of mine to get into flourishes/magic so he can tag along (trying to psych myself into thinking it was more of a night out having fun rather than a training session - worked pretty well!)

We started having fun with it and bugging people on the strip of Las Vegas and many of our would be spectators would reject us for reasons unknown - or the fact that we were 13 year olds who wanted God knows what could have had something to do with it. :p

Our rejections would soon fuel us to get somewhat frustrated and start approaching people with a different mindset. Our nervous energy was channeled into presentation and approaching people the right way - which took a load off the stress of actually performing. Eventually we performed for so many people inside and outside a variety of Casinos/Shops, we felt somewhat comfortable in our skin.

That period of forcing ourselves to perform prepared me for the future. I feel once I got older, that fear/shake was also outgrown but not without a little effort of course.

Today, I become anxious, excited, and jittery to perform but I love every second of it. The only time I experience shakes is if I'm performing for a large group of people, doing a difficult Cardistry move that usually involves balance, and can hear a pin drop... but I'm working on that! Always room for development. If one does not get nervous or excited when performing, he/she should most likely reconsider another occupation.

-Andrei Jikh

You're one of the best card handlers in the world and you know gymnastics. Would you ever hit someone? From here I wouldn't think so and neither would I.

It really is different though that we would ever get to that level.


Peace.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Apr 6, 2010
256
0
Thanks Aaron i shall keep that in mind, im sure it will help as i kept thinking that they would dislike my performance before i had even done it so that brought me down.

Andrei, thanks for that post too. I am very grateful you spent the time to write it out, as i guess my original opinion was that none of the professionals get nervous. However its good to hear that you once had the same problems that i am having, and i think your idea of performing with a friend could help me a lot, as a kind of extra confidence booster - i shall try it out!
 
Apr 6, 2010
256
0
This is a double post but for good reason.

It was my brothers birthday party yesterday and he had 6 of his friends (all 12 or 13) staying overnight = a nightmare for me as no peace whatsoever haha.

Anyway, he really wanted me to show them some magic because i am better than him, i was skeptical at first because of what happened the other day, but then i re read all of your posts and decided that the only way i would improve was to overcome my nerves.

So i got out Witness (as its pretty simple) rehearsed it a bit and went downstairs to where they were all watching tv. I did some flourishes to grab their attention and then i did witness, and several DL variations. Long story short - they loved it, i loved it and all because of your advice - so thanks a hell of a lot all of you!

Im really glad it went well as its given me new motivation to start performing as much as i can and i hope i will end up being able to move on to some more advanced stuff.

Cheers!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
May 10, 2010
138
0
This is a double post but for good reason.

It was my brothers birthday party yesterday and he had 6 of his friends (all 12 or 13) staying overnight = a nightmare for me as no peace whatsoever haha.

Anyway, he really wanted me to show them some magic because i am better than him, i was skeptical at first because of what happened the other day, but then i re read all of your posts and decided that the only way i would improve was to overcome my nerves.

So i got out Witness (as its pretty simple) rehearsed it a bit and went downstairs to where they were all watching tv. I did some flourishes to grab their attention and then i did witness, and several DL variations. Long story short - they loved it, i loved it and all because of your advice - so thanks a hell of a lot all of you!

Im really glad it went well as its given me new motivation to start performing as much as i can and i hope i will end up being able to move on to some more advanced stuff.

Cheers!

Hey man that's definitely good to hear. No harm in consistently performing for other people. Only thing that comes out of it is this - you get better and better each time. Although Witness is sort of self-working to an extent, it still helps!

It came to my mind suddenly, I do believe you could try to do more sleights. Because some are much more difficult by nature, it gives you a sense of "if I can do this, I can do anything!", if that even makes any sense to begin with! Because that's what I feel when I am able to pull of difficult sleights such as the Clipshift in front of my audience. Nonetheless, I applaud your good job!
 
Apr 6, 2010
256
0
Thanks Nova!

I chose Witness because at the time i didnt have anything else that i had practiced substantially and was confident to perform, and i think it was Christopher who said that i would find it easier to build confidence if i started out with simple/self working tricks + sleights like DL's etc because then i wouldnt have to worry about flashes and such so much.

I am moving onto several of the Tricks on Dangerous Mystique and they involve more sleights but arent too hard too pull off.
 
Nov 15, 2007
1,106
2
35
Raleigh, NC
My only advice is to pick up the book Win the Crowd by Steve Cohen.

It has plenty of exercises, starting simple and building up, that are all about increasing your boldness and ability to be in front of other people.

It has invaluable advice throughout, but I think you would benefit from giving his methods (as mad as they may seem) a try.

You can find it on amazon pretty cheap, and I think it may be in ebook format (barnes and noble).
 
Apr 6, 2010
256
0
Rik - cant thank you enough for suggesting that book. I managed to indulge in it briefly using the 'look inside' feature on Amazon and it looks perfect to help me constructively work on my showmanship. I ordered it a minute ago and cant wait to start reading it.

Cheers!
 
Nov 15, 2007
1,106
2
35
Raleigh, NC
Rik - cant thank you enough for suggesting that book. I managed to indulge in it briefly using the 'look inside' feature on Amazon and it looks perfect to help me constructively work on my showmanship. I ordered it a minute ago and cant wait to start reading it.

Cheers!

I promise you won't be disappointed. If you wanted to PM me with any questions I'll do my best to answer them//help you out. :)
 
May 10, 2010
138
0
Thanks Nova!

I chose Witness because at the time i didnt have anything else that i had practiced substantially and was confident to perform, and i think it was Christopher who said that i would find it easier to build confidence if i started out with simple/self working tricks + sleights like DL's etc because then i wouldnt have to worry about flashes and such so much.

I am moving onto several of the Tricks on Dangerous Mystique and they involve more sleights but arent too hard too pull off.

Mystique has tricks you can perform for a large audience, which is really nice!

btw, I'd prefer being called Jason over Nova haha. Nothing wrong on your part though.
 
May 10, 2010
138
0
I love the way they are universal and can be applied to a huge range of spectators too.

Sorry Jason :)

No worries.

By the way, speaking from a frequent user of d+M's Mystique tricks, I believe you need to be aware of your audience, or audience management as I think it's called. Because of the simple fact that you would probably be surrounded, there are certain sleights that you need to take note of, especially those that involve palming. I remember once I was palming a card and then a spectator shouted "hey i saw that!". The trick was utterly ruined and I could do nothing but laugh it off and leave.

Nonetheless, do not let this scare you too much. As usual, just be confident and be natural. Do not slant your body away from your audience to hide a palmed card (like I used to). Keep your cool and the performance will come naturally to you.

Speaking of d+M's tricks, I'll be performing tomorrow in class so let's just say I'm experiencing a tad of nervousness haha!
 
Apr 6, 2010
256
0
Yah i guess it must suck when someone catches you out. Although i think its quite a natural palming technique that he uses so i assume with a bit of practice it shall be quite comfortable for me to use even surrounded.

Good luck!
 
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