Knowing a lot of tricks is one thing but being great at just a couple is what it's really all about. We'll break down some of the ways I've found work best for practicing the tricks that you do. Even if you just pick out one of two things below you should start seeing some improvement in your magic in no time.

Practice Tools

-The Mirror

Magicians have been using mirrors for years to help with their practicing. The one thing to keep in mind is that when you are looking in a mirror you are only seeing one angle so don't let that fool you.

-A video camera

A lot of magicians have traded their trusty mirror for a video camera. This tends to work well for a lot of people because they can playback and watch closely to see exactly where they are making their mistakes. If you don't have the budget for a video camera you can pick up a cheap web cam and use that instead.

-Listen to some music

There are some people that get in a rhythm when they're listening to music. It's this 'zone' that has helped me numerous times. Pick the right kind of music that inspires you and have fun.

Things To Watch Out For

-Distractions

One of the biggest things to look out for when practicing are distractions. So many people will practice one trick and then jump to another and another. Keep the focus on one thing at a time so it can get the attention it deserves. If you're going to work on a card trick put the coins, rabbits or whatever else away and get back to them later.

-Fooling Yourself

Try not to get hooked into fooling yourself. Just because things look good in your room doesn't mean that they're going to look that good to actual people. The worst thing you can do is to practice something once and think you've got it. Once again the angles in a mirror may look great to you or a move might look invisible but watch yourself in action and see how it really looks.

Things You Need

- A Notebook

Grab yourself a notebook and keep notes on your sessions. Maybe you've stumbled on a new move or something you're doing might not be going right. Jot down these things so you don't forget them and so you can get the help you need later.

-Practice Time

Plan when you're going to practice and for how long make it a point to follow through. It's been proven that it's better to practice daily for 30 minutes than 1 time a week for a couple of hours straight.

-Meet Up With Friends

From time to time meet up it's good to meet up with other magicians and practice with them. There really is no substitute for getting hands on help from someone else. Bring your notebook with your questions and you can make the most of this time.

These are just a few ways to help make your tricks better. Everyone has their own methods but the most important thing is finding what does work for you and sticking to it. The biggest thing of all though, have fun!