talkmagic.co.uk

Hi -

I was wondering something about handling bad spectators - if this is too similar to all the other threads that have been started about this then please feel free to delete it, I just couldn't find what I was looking for.

There have been a lot of information and presentation ideas on how to answer the question, "How did you do that?". For example, "Very well, thank you!" or "Can you keep a secret? So can I!". However, I've tried a few of these on a friend who tends to ask how I do everything, and they didn't work. Or more exactly, he laughed and said, "No, really, how did you do that?!". Eventually I had to stop showing everybody magic as he was spoiling it for them. What am I doing wrong - should I just not show him anything, am I delivering the line wrong, do I need a stronger put down...?

Thanks,

Kati

Hi Kati,

Check Sexton Blakes link from this thread, very informative...

http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic10104.php

Cheers mate, that's a really interesting article and definitely food for thought

I think the best advice I can give anyone is that magic is supposed to be fun - for you, for your spectators, for everyone! If someone isn't enjoying your magic, don't show it to them you're wasting your time. If you aren't enjoying your magic because of the way the person you're performing to is reacting to you then move on, you're wasting your time.

Unless you are a working professional you have no reason to show your magic to anyone if you don't want to.

By far i think the most important part for hobbyists is to make sure you're having fun. If you ain't then theres a problem!

magic_evmeister wrote:
Unless you are a working professional you have no reason to show your magic to anyone if you don't want to.

Even when your working some people just don't like magic s don't show them. I used to take it really personally but I stopped taking offence ages ago.

Hey I hate Celine Dion singing. I'm sure she would be upset if she was stood in front of me and I tried to constantly interupt her but at the end of the day I don't want her trying to impress me and my mates with how loud she can screech, I didn't ask her to come over so she can shove off.

People now now a dauys lack a serious respect for performance so you must pcik your audience and times wisely.

You should just get your friends to accept that you won't tell them. Just say "I can't tell you" as if you've taken an oath. Or another good one is "you don't want to know, it'll spoil it." Only use this on friends though.

When you don't tell them what do they say? I think you just have to never reveal the slightest thing no matter how small. If they get somethign out of you they will pump you for more on other occasions. If they get annoyed at you for not telling them how to do it then don't bother with them. I wouldn't advise using a put down though; they will just get annoyed.

I have seen some people get very p*ssed at you if you don’t tell them how it’s done i wouldn’t want to be the one who performs it in certain parts of the US

If you get threats then jsut tell them. So what. They are just ruining it for themselves. They will probably forget anyway.

Or you could just make up a stupidly hard explanation. Or just admit that your cards are not kosher. Say how htey "look like normal cards, but you can get them on the internet, they are called 'Super Neo Morphing Magic Cards'" or something. A friend of mine saif he could feel something dodgy in a £5 note I used for 'pen thru', so I just said "yeah it's the note", and basically lied about the sectret.

So yeah I think it's ok to reveal secrets for your own safety. Or just bamboozle them with more and more tricks, then walk off. Or lie.


Or do a trick that seemingly empowers the spectator. Do something like Out of This World or make them think they read your mind. Then you ask them how they did it

Dearie me. It appears that my advice is required on this rather easy matter. However I am too tired to give it. What a pity. Perhaps later.

I shall try to sum it up in one word. Manipulation. No. Not that kind of manipulation. Any fool can manipulate cards, coins and thimbles with a bit of practice. No. I am talking about something more profound and far more important to a magician.

Manipulating the people.

And you don't do that by putting people down with smart answers like "Can you keep a secret? So can I!" or that awful line that bad magicians use of "How do I do it? Very well!"

That will make matters worse. Magicans are arrogant enough as it is.

Dearie me no.

And so endeth the first lesson on the matter. There may be a second lesson if I deign to give it. It will be a trifle more detailed if I am in the mood.

I agree with Mark that it's about manipulating people and their perception. I'll wait for the next post and will read with some interest.

This is one of the most asked questions in magic if not THE most asked. Always expect it and I agree that you shoulnd't use a put down line.

I think people were suggesting the put down line should be used after persistant asking

I don't suppose there is any excuse really for sinking to their level. There should always be a more dignified way of dealing with these people than basically telling them you think you're better than them. That's how it seems when you're putting someone down.

Yeah I agree.

mark lewis wrote:That will make matters worse. Magicans are arrogant enough as it is.

Surely not, Mr Lewis?

Please do elucidate further if you have the time

One way to look at it, it was probably my fault.

I was performing for a group of spectators with a black tiger deck. I was moving into my next card trick and asked if anyone wanted to select a card. One spectator indicated he wanted to select it.

As he replaced the card in the deck I noticed orange smudges on the front and back of the card. He had some kind of paint on his fingers. So I made a comment that finding his card would not be difficult, but I also let him know I was not pleased that he ruined my card.

He laughed and made comment, "well, use your magic to make it disappear!"

I was pretty angry. At that point, I said "ok, shows over" put my stuff away and left.

That, is a bad spectator

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