Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

It has always been said: “Practice makes perfect.” This may be true in other disciplines but in magic there is more to that. A better way to put it would be: “Perfect practice makes perfect.” Just repeating a sleight over and over again does not necessarily make it perfect or correct. It only makes that particular action ingrained in you as a habit. You have to be sure you are doing the sleight correctly before committing it to regular practice, otherwise you will be stuck with a bad habit. Bad habits die hard so be careful not to make this mistake. Here are some tips for practising your sleights and routines:

• Read and re-read the instructions to ensure that you fully understand what needs to be done. Take special note of the small details, eg. whether something is to be done with the right or left hand, to turn one-quarter to the right, and so on.
  
• If you are learning from a video or DVD, play it back repeatedly until everything is crystal-clear. Use the “Pause” and “Slow Motion” generously. I think those buttons were designed for magicians.
  
• Set up a full-length mirror in your display area so you can see your entire body during practice time. A better alternative would be to get a digital video camera to record yourself. With a camera, you will be able to review and evaluate yourself afterwards without being distracted. Many magicians get so used to performing in front of a mirror that when it comes time to perform in front of a live audience, they freak out because they can’t see themselves.
  
• When you start practising a new sleight (secret move), do it in slow motion. Imagine that you are reviewing your own moves using a “slow advance” button and make sure that you have the movements correct every step of the way. You can even pause at various key stages and check your position in the mirror from all angles. Once you are satisfied that you have not made any mistakes and can do the sleight right (although slowly), then it is safe to pick up speed gradually. Improve your speed to the point where the move looks natural. The way to know whether it looks natural is to ask a friend who has not seen the move to watch what you are doing to see if they can spot anything that looks out of place. When your friend cannot catch anything unusual, you can quite safely assume that you have mastered the move.
  
• Another thing to remember is the K.I.S.S. principle. Keep It Short and Sweet. Keep your practice sessions short and don’t over-exert yourself. It is better to have a regular fifteen-minute session everyday than a two-hour session once a week. You will find that this way allows your mind and body to learn faster and retain better what you have learnt.
  
• Last but not least, make your practice sessions fun. Put on some of your favourite music. Invite a few magician friends over to have a “magic jamming” session. It is always easier to learn something when you enjoy the learning process.
  

I am sure that the few tips above will help you to master your tricks and routines faster and in the long run make you a better magician. Happy practising!