Beginners shuffle like they are in a casino.

Riffle, bridge, square, riffle again. It looks impressive. It also looks like you are about to do a trick. The second people think that, they watch your hands instead of your face, and the trick dies.

Card magic for people who have never performed is mostly about looking like you are not doing card magic.

What actually works at a table:

• Mix the cards the way a normal person mixes them. Overhand. Messy. Once.

• Put the deck down between phases. Idle hands look honest.

• Talk about anything except cards until the moment you need them to pick one.

If you have a deck in a drawer, take it out tonight and mix it once without looking at your hands. That is the whole drill.