Legerdemain. Tomorrow. Finals.

The day before.

I think many of us have experienced those feelings before - the night before the BIG event; it could be a wedding, a major exam, or even getting your next 'toy', or your first big performance.

In a show or an event like this, many a time we go through the 'WHAT IF' moments of every possible scenario. So what are the things that are plaguing you right now? What are the fears that gnaw at the strings that hold you together?

Not just contestants - I would invite anyone who's EVER felt the same to share their experiences and how they cope with it.

Shade

Well, let me start the ball rolling...

I know that even after numerous performances and TONS of public speaking experiences, I still get nervous EVERY time. I find it so normal now I don't even think about it, but it's something that I welcome as it reminds me that I'm alert to the fact that something COULD still go wrong.

Possibly the most harrowing experience for me was doing my first 'all-cards' show a few years back at a paid gig. I usually try to avoid a show comprising of ONLY cards - especially if it's a formal one where the specs don't change for an hour; after dinner entertainment so to speak.

The night before I had so many reservations I think there was enough current coarsing through my nerves to light up a city block. My basic worry was that the act would fall flat - it's only a deck of cards after all. I know tons of performers like Nash could entertain audiences with just a deck of cards, but I'm not Martin A. Nash performing for a sophisticated audience in America. I was performing a show for 'aunties' and 'uncles' and their entire extended family and all their friends... what if they hated cards?

I ran possible scenarios through my mind so many times I lost count - from the best possible outcomes to the most extreme and disastrous results. All in all, it was truly nerve-wreaking.

The next day I realised that all my fears were unfounded; the act went well - better than I had imagined even - and they were just as surprised as I was that an all cards act was actually entertaining. LOL.

Sure, you might wonder - then what the heck was all that worrying for the night before? I *STILL* worry every night before a major performance. I used to chastise myself for it; and I would tell myself that I was wasting time worrying. But now I realise that all the anticipation and nerve-winding moments are important - they serve as a form of mental preparation that helps me to stay on top of my game when I actually perform. It's almost like a mental script that kicks into play when I meet the audience - it actually makes things easier for me when the time comes to perform.

Anyway, that's just one of many pre-storm nights.

Shade

Hey Shade. Nice story there. It sure makes all of us feel much better since someone as season as u still get nervous.

Well i am bloody nervous about tomorrow although i keep telling myself not to think about it.


Things im worried about:

1) forgetting my lines
2) Uncontrollable coughing half way through my act.
3) Sudden urge to shit or piss half way through my act.
4) cracking a joke and no body laughs
5) no applause from the audience

Haha

ZiAn

Worries? Wow... There's too much to be listed.


1. I just finish my design critic session at school, wondering how well or badly i'll fare. This project caused me many sleepless nights, and I even had to sacrifice my rehearse session last week.

2. I got two more datelines coming up, I think I am dead. There's alot to be done.

3. I got tendency to forget things. I must check my luggage 10 times at least to make sure I did not forget anything. If I do, that's it, my act depends on these little gadgets. Haha.

4. Even after making sure that my stuffs are all well packed, I must make sure that they are all in working order before my performance. Alot of time, my props killed me. I once had my card fountain not shooting during my act. And more recently, I got my props crushed in my luggage due to poor packing.

5. During the show, I hope my dearest girlfriend is there to watch me. She's been my one and only true source of inspiration.

6. Other than that, there's really nothing else to worry about. =)


Just hope that everyone will like my act tomorrow. Open your eyes big big or you'll miss some things. Cheers!

Hmm,

Actually, I have the same thought as Shade, though I younger than him anyway, but the over exposure to storms, made us stronger when more storms came over.

I meant like, there is always alot of things to think of, army saying, expect the unexpected, but if you cannot expect it, how you going to expect it then?

We should be more trained in handling more impromtu experience, when tricks went right, when presentation is wrong, the first thing is to be humble and accept the mistake, and everyone will still clap and appreciate your efforts. (Because thats what happened on me 2 days ago, sad)

Good luck to everyone then.. Take care!!

Most professional entertainers tend to be uptighted before a show. Not that they are nervous to face the audience, but they are stressed up because they want to put a good show.

The opening act of a show is very crucial and always make it a point that you can do it even blindfolded and the rest will be easy. Try goofing up the first part of your act and you are a goner.

Try not to worry of getting applause and encouragement cause you have audience who are there and interested in magic. Good or bad, they will do it out of courtesy or sympathy. Ha......

The most scariest part of a performance is busking. You have no idea what your spectators will be and how it will turn out. They just do their best.

All in all, I am try to say that it is normal to be nervous and if you think you have given your best so be it.

Unfortunately I cannot be present at the Final due to work committments, however, I like to wish all the finalists the best. If you do not make it, try again and evaluate yourself. In life, there is always a winner and many losers.

Uncle Bob

Uncle Bob's so right on this! For me, its not just the first part - any part that's goofed up, it all goes downhill from there (Ning jie will know what i mean :(). There's one show i did just that and its still painful to think of it. =/

For the first show i did (only a while ago), what really worried me was that i would forget part of the show... It had happened quite a few times during the rehearsals and i was just worried it would happen during the show. Luckily for me, there were so many people supporting me which calmed me quite a lot and the show went off without much problems. I 'cheated' a bit though, by sticking stickers of my whole routine in my showbox, though i did not refer to it during the show...

Later on i realised that as long as i was comfortable with my show material, and i felt that i had sufficient practise, the nervousness level went down. I wouldn't even begin to stress the importance of confidence of the routine/material before doing the show. It really doesn't help when you're already worried (because its your big break/first show/really impt event/whatever) and you're also worried about the technique.

Running through the whole show/routine mentally also helps. Sometimes, i seem to be in a zombie state on bus/mrt 'cos i would be mentally running through my show. This is especially so when i have little time to practise but the show is very soon - simply because mental projection can be done anywhere, everywhere. In fact, this was the very same thing i did for my driving test as well (you might want to know i passed it the first time :P).

Anyways, that's what i do everytime before a show or any major events, and as i mentioned, it does help a lot when there are friends to lend you their support.

But then of course, things still do happen sometimes, some stuff are pretty much out of our control. I just take it that everything that happens is an experience gained, good or bad, I learn from it. And I always thought that what doesn't kill us, make us stronger.