Confidence

Stage fright… Some people have a problem with their hands shaking as they perform close up magic in front of people. Now that you have practiced the moves and rehearsed, how do we over come the nerves?

We know how to handle cards, but now we need to learn how to handle people.

Confidence comes with experience and experience comes from the opportunities we build for ourselves. When we sit around and don’t take action then there is nothing to attract our opportunities to us.

I suggest the exercise of an evening or a weekend and without cards or magic tricks on you, meet 20 knew people. I suggest going up, introducing yourself and then asking the person you just met about themselves.

When my grandmother was around 40, she had to give a speech to a large group of people. She rehearsed and worried, worried and rehearsed. She then talked to my grandfather about really being scared to give this speech.

My grandfather’s eyes got big as he looked at her and said in a sarcastic scared voice, “what do you think they’ll do to you if you make a mistake?”

For my grandmother, it put things in perspective. People aren’t going to beat you up if you make a mistake, especially if it is a card trick. Is it embarrassing? Only if you let it be.

I think some people, (not necessarily you) get into magic thinking that after they know a couple of tricks, they can impress people and people will like them. The truth of the matter is after the magic tricks, what is left?

Sorry for my long winded-ness, but in conclusion:

Instead of practicing moves while watching TV by yourself. Get out of the house, go to a pub, a café, a park and just start looking people in the eye, smile and give a warm “hello.” Will you feel silly at first, maybe? But isn’t that a small price to pay to gain a new friend?

Always wishing the best,
Adam White

Ebook