Magic Circle audition

Well I had my entrance exam. Did I get in? No idea. I performed all the effects well, and the effects I chose fulfilled the criteria they asked to see.  What I can be marked down for is presentation. This is where we many people lose points. My routine was based on science, talking about dimensions.  Each effect built on the last, leading to two big finishes (ambitious card and professors nightmare). I thought initially it went ok. BUT I received some negative feedback straight  away from a guy I respect. Typically of him he said it in a constructive way and offered help on fixing it. I felt like I had a knife run through my guts. For the next 2 hours I was convinced I had failed. Then in the bar I was told by many people that they liked my routine. Even one person who said he found it too science based  told  me he would have still passed me if he had examined me. So this is how I see it now. Mechanically i did fine, i fulfilled the brief of new and original presentation that was tied together. It's possible I had too many words and not enough magic however.  this shouldn't matter though. So if i get in, great if I fail then it wasn't because of lack of practise or thought or skill, just simply going down the wrong path of presentation style, a decision I made over 6 months ago.

 So the plan of action. If I get in, great. If I don't examine the feedback. The biggest danger is I will feel foolish for believing I could become a magician. This is mental. I've performed very well in a professional setting. I need to keep my confidence up, and my Love of magic. I KNOW if I fail I'll feel bad studying more magic, I also now this is insane, and must fight through it.

So now a 3 week wait, I'm now a lot more hopeful than  was last night.

Prelude to the Magic Circle.

As I type this back I've just returned from the Mid Essex Magical Society. Tonight was important to me, not because of the lecture (which was very good) but because I was due to show some material to two of the senior members. I have shown people what I planned to perform before and they would say "you'll be okay" in a very unconvincing way. They then gave me some hints on my Elmsley Count.  I was performing it too fast due to nerves, snatching at the cards. Working with Darren  we also realised that I had to change the angle of the cards. I've not done as much work as I would like, but have practised a little. My girlfriend  told me my arms were spreading to far apart as well. I demonstrated the "Four Card Trick" with my 2 dimensional routine. It was much better received this time,. both members were very positive, and agreed with my gf's observations. I then showed PANIC a new deck vanish, and "the Wee We Mentalist"  along with my Ambitious card. They were both VERY positive this time. When they left they simply said "Do that next Monday and you're in" I was also complimented on my ability to draw people in to an effect, I was even compared to a Ricky Jay by the way I could take a simple effect with simple moves and build it up and up.

So I'm feeling better about my audition, though still intend to practise for a few hours a day