I usually practice in front of a mirror, followed by video recordings from multiple angles (not aiming towards the camera but aiming towards where the spectator would stand, because else you get flawed, delusionary results).
Once you got down (just down, not mastered, probably not really smooth) whatever it is you practiced, smooth it out a little bit and then go out and perform. This way you will build it up to a level in which you fool anyone with it. Myself I strive to smoothness, accuracy and perfection as for both, but in the end all you need is to fool your spectators so there is no need to go that far.
I suppose David Roth meant that he practices without any mirror and then once he got it down, he checks in it in mirror to see whether it's good enough and to check the angles. I find myself doing that every now and then too. I suppose no magician is always having a mirror with him so yeah..
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