Nervous?

[Timothy Drake]

A few years back Barbara Streisand mentioned she has terrible stage fright but is ok once she's on stage.

I'm never nervous about performing but admit I hate that period before a show when the event runs late and I standing in the wings WAITING to go on. That is a down time where my mind starts to think about if everything is set properly. Once my name is called I'm cool but that few unexpected minutes of wait time bugs me.

I performed at a show recently and he star of the show who had impressed me with his professionalism from the moment I met him was a total mess backstage. He became a nervous chain smoking wreck and seemed like a totally different person from the one that had hired me.

When he went on..... he took command of the stage and was very pro. After the show he reverted back to the " in control" person I had first met. I was fascinated by the difference in the two different sides of him that I had seen.

This got me to wondering. Does anyone else find themselves nervous before a show, did they but overcame it.... or doe sit still haunt them after years of performing?

Best,

Tim

[Kipp Sherry]

I don't get nervous before the show. I guess I've always been a ham and being in front of people is what I was born to do. For me, getting on stage is as easy as breathing, I don't give it a second thought.

However, as we have discussed in other threads, I do get nervous long before the show. I get nervous when I think about adding a new routine to the act. I like it polished before I add it so I get real nervous wondering if it's good enough yet. Once I've decided to add it, the show goes on, like a breath of fresh air.

I also get nervous when people call and want a charity show. I don't want to give the farm away, but I don't want to sound snobby and not supportive of their cause. That's a difficult tight rope to walk.

Until we appear again,
Kipp Sherry

[Steven Henriquez]

Although i still consider myself new to magic despite having been practicing magic for 6 years now and i have only done a few magic shows i must say that i to never get nervous. However right before the show, right before the curtains open and i am waiting i get nervous, i guess im hoping that everything works out. But once everything starts i feel fine and performing is second nature to me.
To be honest i laugh at how i used to shake years ago when performing something extremely simple.

[Timothy Drake]

Hi Steve,

You comment about how you used to shake reminded me of the first time I ever did restaurant magic. I was a mess. I had been on stage many times but having all the attention focused on a close up card trick had me terrified.

The days are long gone but I will never forget how frozen I was. LOL

Best,

Tim

[Steven Henriquez]

Lol Yea i remember years ago, i would not say it was my first magic trick because prior to this i did little small effects but nothing that i really practiced much one. Like small stuff your little cousin could do.
But anyway i remember practicing a double, and palming...etc and i went to do an oldie but a goodie Here then There to 2 girls and boy was i TERRIFIED Lol.
I shaked and spoke nervously, it was horrible, not to mention i liked one of the girls so that just added to it.
All in all it ended good and they loved it and i was still nervous, now i dont shake and they are some of my best fans and supporters lol. Funny how they witnessed me at my worst ever, and now there with me at my best.

[Greg Owens]

I'm a radio guy in our area. Have been for about 20yrs. I'm on stage all the time with these silly little bits, introducing bands, hosting beauty pageants and talent shows. My nervous tick is when I get on stage, I pace the floor while talking. I have to physically think to myself..STAND STILL. Doing that makes my economy of movement on stage a little better.

Devon, on the other hand doesn't think twice about it. We've talked about it. I asked him once if he gets nervous at all. He said "a little, but I've watched you do it all my life". It's good to know that my insane nerves are MOSTLY covered up.

I remember some interview clips from the hair bands of the 80's. It seemed to be the trend back then for MTV(or who ever is interviewing) to ask them "playing in from of thousands of people nightly, "do you ever get nervous?" and the common answer was "sure i get nervous, If i didn't, I wouldn't care about what I do. When I stop getting nervous on the stage it's time to quit performing". So I've tried to use that in my stage work and teach it in Devon's.

[Taylor Warren]

I got nervous my first few times performing. For some reason, when I was nervous I did better. I didn't mess up on any sleights or anything.

[Michael Bourada]

I dont get nervous anymore, what drives me up the wall though is waiting to go on...I get anxious to get going once things are set up.

However what bugs me is when I am performing my dove act and there is a delay once I am loaded up, then I start to get nervous a bit. It can be tricky to manage a dove act and the timing of the setup.

[John Logan]

Well I dont do stage magic, but yes I do get nervous before I do a trick. Especially when Im performing a new trick for the very first time.

Im also the same way about the guy you were talking about, but with sports-especially track. Before a race Im a wreck, but as soon as I take my first step in the beginning, Im fine.

Its weird. Idk.

John Logan.