Tips on Managing Nervousness

Performing close-up magic can be a challenging task especially if you perform for a group of people. If it's your first time to perform, you are bound to be nervous. Of course, this applies to everyone and the question is how well you manage your nervousness. 

One of the most useful techniques that I learned over the years is "pattering" that really can effectively bring down your adrenaline. The reason is because when you patter with your hand movement as well as your eye contact, you take your time to relax and at the same time, you build a rapport with your audience. Performing magic is meaningless if you do not build a relationship with your audience. You have to make them like you, your magic as well as your charisma as a performer. 

By the time you patter, say after 30 seconds, you will find that you may in a relax mode. When you patter, as I mentioned earlier, you must build an eye contact with your audience. Just remind yourself that a good magic should start with a good storyline. Once you are in a relax mode, and then you are able to give full concentration in performing your magic.  Performing any magic should be in a relax manner that includes your whole body should not be in a stiff mode. Tell yourself that performing magic should be a lively and fun experience. 

If you are like me, performing card magic stresses on your hand movement and it should be gentle and graceful in handling cards. As the old tip still proves to be very useful; that is to perform in front of a mirror and try to practise and see for yourself how well you carry yourself when you perform on real situation. The level of confidence that you have also proves to be of paramount importance as well.

In addition, choosing an ideal spectator or table for you performance is one of the crucial factors in increasing your confidence in your performance. For instance, when you approach a spectator, the first thing to do is try to find a suitable table or a spectator that tends to be friendly and thus, giving you the confidence in building a rapport with your spectator. How do you know whether you have chosen the ideal table for your performance? The answer is if that group of spectators show their warm and easily entertained by your magic, this is regarded as an ideal situation for you to put up a good show. 

I always find that women are the most responsive to magic, you can tell by judging their enthusiasm and expression by your magic. If you spot the ladies, by all means show your magic to them.

Once you have chosen the ideal spectators, approach and greet them confidently. Introduce yourself and explain to them that you are about to show them something special or spectacular to cheer up the day. It is crucial not to forget to seek their permission whether they would be interested in watching some magic. Based on my experience, especially some people they would like to have a private conversation or meal with their partner. Therefore, it is advisable not just chip in and perform your magic. Seek their approval first before performing and remember, be courteous always as a performer.  

Another tip I would like to share is you must familiar with your routine on what you are going to say on each of the phases because I believe any routine you do is somehow divided into phases. Each of the phases is very critical because it has elements of surprise, misdirection, execution of moves or sleights and so on. Plan each of the phases well and of course, you could start performing a routine that you find very easy to do that stresses on effortless card magic.

For example, card magic that utilises card principle and you may ask your willing spectators to do all the work and the like. That is the time where your patter comes into play. Once you find yourself in a less nervous mode, you may proceed to performing something that you find challenging. 

Perhaps allow me to share with you an example that I went through in those days when I first time to perform for public as a part-time performer. I remember vividly when I tried to perform for a group of 5 people as I know they loved gambling. So, the first routine triggered my mind was “Royal Highness” (you may find this at my online store) and I set up the cards earlier beforehand. Without undue hesitation, I performed and pattered accordingly to the requirement of that routine. Surprisingly, I realised that my nervousness slowly fades away. Eventually, I had the confidence to go on with my challenging card routines. 

In a nutshell, managing your nervousness is critical to your performance success as well as the brand that you carry as a magician. As we know it, we hate to screw up our tricks or doing mistakes during our performance that due to our nervousness. It is our goal to present our professionalism being as a magician. If you are a person that easily become nervous, perhaps try to apply some of the techniques above and I hope you are able to manage your nervousness well. 

I sincerely wish you in every success of your magic performances. 

ALSH

My Confession...

Ever since I got my first job this year, writing card magic eBook seems very rare to me, let alone practising card magic at home. I hope with the upcoming public holidays, I would be able to get back on track again with a deck of playing cards in my hand.

For those of you who have been following up my blog closely, you may aware that one of my biggest projects would be publishing a hardback card magic book. I really appreciate those fans out there that signed up for my mailing lists as they have shown their interests as well as their supports in my project. However, since I could not cope up with the costs of production, I have to put the project on hold until the time is right for me to publish the book. I sincerely hope that my first hardback card magic book would be available on sales next year.

Just to make an announcement that I will contribute a new card magic effect of mine to one of my friends in card magic soon. I am still in the process of deciding whether to contribute one or two unpublished card effects and the eBook is expected to be available this year. 

I will keep this thread posted once I finalised everything.

Thanks.

ALSH

Card Fusion Concept

I came up a card magic idea recently. Well, it's not really a new idea but an idea which is a combination of plots. I think most of you will familiar the card fusion concept. I am glad I tried out this routine with my friends and I have to say they received a huge great reaction. Perhaps you may try to test out your friends, family members and see how's the reaction when my new ebook is released.

Perhaps the nature of this concept plays very well to any layperson which I can attest to that. However, in my version, it's totally different and everything can be examined right after the performance. Of course, the cards can be signed. I should not say this is my new idea or improvement but I would rather say it's something that I really enjoy performing. The most important criteria is that, it makes sense and logic. In addition, the handling is not too demanding.

I really have no idea when is my available or free time to put my this idea into script but I really hope perhaps after May 2010 (which after my final examination) I would be able to write this up.

Thanks for your support always.

Andrew Loh

Majestic Jesters - Coming Soon!

My next ebook "Majestic Jesters" would be out soon. Basically, this effect is involved with the essential elements such as transposition, vanishes, colour changes, production, royal flush production and two big surprises as a killer climax which the spectators would never be realised until the end of the routine. Sounds complicated?

At the end, the Jester (in this case Jokers) have a different colour backs and can be given out as a sourvenir. I am not going to reveal much of this routine but when the time I feel is right, I will tip out some information.

I incorporated some other elements into my this routine to make it more interesting and to me, killer climax is utmost important because if you want to end a routine, it should end with a "big" climax that your spectator will remember your magic.

It is not difficult to do and the best part is, it's instantly reset and you may go through your next favourite stuffs.

I think I will release this ebook perhaps 2 months time and I still have some research to go through in this routine and when the time is right, I will release to the magic fraternity.

Andrew Loh

Vernon Meets Bro. Hamman

A few years ago, I had an incomplete effect that utilised the idea from the late Professor, Dai Vernon. I am using his famous plot "Twisting the Aces" to work on with other effects but it seemed didn't work well and the dissatisfaction part was the handling. Due to that, I considered that was my incomplete project and today, I managed to combine this initial plot with Bro. John Hamman's famous effect which is a nice seamless effect.

I truly believe that the traditional "Twisting the Aces" effect has been a widely acceptance tool for every magicians in their impromptu card magic performances. Due to that, I refreshed some of the handling and adding some other plot to make this effect more interesting and powerful. Sometimes, we as a magician if we don't changed any current effect or to create something fresh that we usually do in our performance, there is a high probability that the spectators will feedback to you that they have seen this magic performed by other magicians. They will less impress by watching the same magic again and again. It all depends, you may vary the presentation too and sometimes a good presentation that you incorporate in an effect will create the impact as well.

Andrew Loh

An Ace-assembly Effect

This morning, I managed to come up an ace-assembly effect using non-gimmick cards. I am proud to be able to come up this effect as all these years, I always strive to come up at least one ace-assembly effect which base on my own version and ideas. I have read many versions but the disappointment part is, I lose interests quickly especially using gimmick cards to achieve this plot or there's ditching of cards at the end of the act.

I also dislike to bluff the spectators (I know as we always do), meaning that when you say you are using twelve cards, you really mean twelve cards you will use and not fourteen cards. If you do so, at the end, it seems this act will restrict you to perform other effects and you have to "ditch" the cards. Some versions using sticky-tape to achieve this plot which I think too much of hassle to take up this plot. In this version which I came up, I have to do extensive research whether my version is original or published elsewhere. If it's my own originality, perhaps I will reserve and include in my hardcopy for next year.

I believe my handling is very clean and each of the ace is travelled one at a time to join the leader ace (spades). At the end, your spectators can examine everything. Absolutely no ditching of cards and what I say is what you will get in my this effect.

Andrew Loh

My New Ebooks - Coming Soon!

Recently, I toyed around with a deck of playing cards and somehow I did come up a few card magic effects.

I just have no time to put up everything in scripts but I do hope after my final Business Financial and International Human Resource exams, I would be able to back on track and move things up. I just would like to update my readers that, soonly my new ebook will be on sales.

Again, my materials are mainly cards and I focus in delivering impromptu card magic. As a cardician for all over the years, one thing I notice is that, impromptu card magic is still the best. I am not condeming other card magic that uses gimmicks or special set-up, what I am trying to say is, it is better to perform any magic that can be performed anytime and anywhere. My principle in card magic always aim that vision to create a powerful magic without the use of heavy card sleights. In my "The Loh of Attraction" ebook, I include three of my favourite card effects. There are "A Quick Sandwich", "Metamorphosis" and "Shift the Signature" which are my all-time favourites.

Perhaps I will sell another effect of mine which I called "Collectors Card Case" which is inspired by Roy Walton. In this effect, this involves two selections. The idea is you place the three Kings inside the card case. Any two cards are freely selected and lost in the deck.

Instantly when the card case is opened, the performer tips out the contents and the Kings are seemed to interlace two face-down cards between them. When the face-down cards are removed, these cards proved to be spectators' selections. Spectators may sign their cards if you wish. There are no gimmicks involve in this effect and you can performed with a borrowed deck. There is no set-up, this effect is ideal for walkaround and table-hopping magic.

My next ebook the highlight effect is "Divide & Conjure" and this is my variation to "Spectator Cuts to the Aces" theme with a different climax at the end. I incorporated this effect with some transposition concept and the magic happens right in front of the spectator's face. The spectator cuts the deck and magically the four court cards will do wonders.

If your spectators have seen many versions of the usual "Spectator Cuts to the Aces" plot, in this effect, it will entirely different. On top of that, the "Divide & Conjure" meets the following criteria:

4100% no set-up or gimmicks
4Can be performed with any deck
4The spectators' selections can be signed
4Ideal for close-up or table-hopping magic
4Spectators can freely select any card in the deck
4Everything can be examined before and after the routine

Andrew Loh

Magical Tips

I will share with you the following tips when you perform magic to the public or friends. The tips below are just merely a basic or essential rules to obey in magic. I hope you find it useful and any feedback is much appreciated.

4 Do not overdo it! -- It is not a wise idea to do too many tricks in one session. Four or five knockout tricks should be quite enough for one session. Leave them wanting more.

4 Never divulge your secrets! -- If an audience asks you "how do you do it?" Just answer: "Very well!" or "It's magic!"

4 Never repeat a trick! -- You can repeat the trick unless you can create the same effect by using a totally different method or handling. Forewarned is forearmed - if an audience knows what is about to happen, there is high percentage that they will discover how it happens or you do the trick.

4 People will be watching your hands! -- It's wise to make sure that your hands are clean and well manicured if you are going to do a performance especially in close-up magic.

4 Know what you are going to say before you say it! -- Your patter has to be practised as much as your technique. There is nothing worse than a waffling magician. You could write yourself a script or record it on tape to help you develop a smooth flow.

4 Practise! -- It is essential that you practise until you know the trick backwards - until you can perform it in your sleep. The more you practise, the slicker you will become. Practise in front of a mirror so you can see how it looks from the spectator's point of view.

4 Do not try to make your audience looks foolish! -- Some people get annoyed if they cannot work out a trick. Explain beforehand that your objective is to entertain them. If they knew how you did your tricks, it would be worth doing them in the first place, would it?

4 Tricks sometimes go wrong! -- It happens to the best of us. Sometimes you will be able to disguise your embarrassment because you very seldom tell an audience what you are going to do until you have done it! If it is not possible, the best policy is to laugh off and go on to your next trick. Try not to be thrown off your stride by the problems. Find out what went wrong and at your first opportunity, get in some more practice so that you do not make the same mistake again.

4 Smile! -- Do not take your newly found skill as a wonderworker too seriously. You will not be entertaining if you do. Nobody likes a smart Alec.

Andrew Loh

The Art of Illustrations

It has been my great pleasure to be in the art of magic for the past 16 years. I learned many things throughout the years and the best thing I learned in my life are to be able to create some of my own unique ways or ideas in card magic and drawing illustrations in my own work.

Until now, instead of taking colour photographs to show my handling or explanation in my materials, I prefer to do black & white illustrations to show my handlings. I think it's somewhat to retain the classic "feelings" and the professional look. Most of the magic book that we come across during the 1800's majority were all black & white illustrations, right? I am not saying that colour photographs are not good, it's just my personal preference though I like to read magic books or ebooks that have the colour photographs too. Sometimes, colour works better than just black & white. I would like to say, well, it has its own pro and cons. When you take colour photographs, it is easy to recognise an object with its colour but for black & white illustrations, you have to state what is the object that being used in the context. Some of the great illustrations that I have seen in my life are the works from Tom Stone, Richard Kaufman, Jason Alford, Kelly Llyes and others.

However, in order to do excellent black & white illustrations, the works are very tedious. You need to purchase essential devices that support your work and the proper software. You have to take photos or someone helps you to take photo on you (your hands & cards or whatever) and after completing that process, you have to be patience and willing to sit long hours (depend on the number of photos) to do the drawings. But, the final output is, you will feel rejoice after you complete everything. It's just like you feel you have done something that is worth doing in the first place. And do you believe me? You won't say tired or exhausted if magic is your blood or soul in you. I will keep the momentum going and magic has been part of my inferno for all over the years.

Andrew Loh

The Artists - My Magic Tidbits

This morning while I was toying my deck, I came up an effect which is a card sandwich effect. Sounds boring? Well, I am not really sure how it goes to magician but I think it will go very well to layman. This effect is not just a basic card sandwich effect but it applies to many wonderful ideas which depends on your creativity as well. Believe me or not, you can perform this effect with the card fusion concept.

The plot is spectator's selection is placed in the centre of the deck and somehow the two mates which previously are placed one on top and the other on the bottom of the deck; they seem vanish one at a time and at the end, they sandwich the spectator's selection. When the spectator's selection is turned over, on its back, it bears a message or to have its back change colour.

Or if you prefer, you can present the selection as your business card to the spectator which anything is possible. It is a wonderful souvenir which at the same time to promote yourself. If I have the time, I will write this effect and publish as an ebook or otherwise, I will keep this effect for myself.

Andrew Loh