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"How did you do that?!" is not a heckle. I like getting that question. It is a problem though. When everybody enjoys a trick I tend to laugh quite a bit with them etc. as if we are all in on a joke, that sort of reduces teh chances of them asking htis question. The reason I think it is a problem is becasue it changes the tone of the interaction. One of the best responses to this question IMHO is "I used magic!". It gets across the point that you are not going to tell them how, without being rude, and keeping things pretty upbeat and fun.

Basically I think it's best to divert the question rather than answer it. I don't like saying "no, I am not going to tell you", it is too confrontational. And anyway I think you have to see things from the spectators' point of view. Those who ask "how did you do that?" are the ones who are really interested in it. You have created a sense of wonder in them, and you have no intention of letting them explore. So it is hard. The only way to solve it, I think, is to gain enough rapport with them first, before starting the magic, and making sure at the start that the answer will not be revealed, so they have no expectations. I can't do this well but I believe it is the best way...

The same way i can do this.... - (Produce elephant from specs left ear - or similar)



"For those who believe,No explanation is neccesary"

I saw a performance quite some time ago, where a heckler shouted out:
Aha... you had a double card in your hand!
And the magician paused, smiled very wide, nodded and said: Yes, I know... and then kept on with his show.
People laughed with him and he had no problems for the rest of the show.
The audience doesn't always seem to want to know how something is done, if it's well performed.

"how did you do that?"
"surely the question should be, WHY did I do that?!"

The simplest response to the question is "magic".

Ive noticed the big shots like Blaine and Cyril do one of three things: they either stay silent and build on the reaction, respond the question with a question such as "you like that?", or seemingly explain the trick with yet another climatic trick.

The question "how do you do that?" should not be taken literally, its very often a rhetorical question as a result of amazement. I just let their reaction build if its a rhetorical question.

In the case where they ask sincerely, i explain to them that its my super-fast hands and i continue with a good trick (overwhelming reactions) which seemingly demonstrates my fast hands (PM for the effect and explanation)

I never get asked "how do you do that?" after.

The "fast hands" excuse may take the magic out of it but its very effective for several reasons:

- I have demonstrated magic before to them in the routine, and i have implanted that seed of belief
- I have given an answer to their question and backed it up
- If they dont believe it (rational people won't its physically impossible) it only serves you better because the only other option to them is that magic is real.

The start to believe.

Sometimes when people ask "How did you do that?" I say "I'm not really quite sure myself..." and look at the coins/cards with a slightly puzzled look.

My personal preference for these sort of things is as follows:

This one actually happened while in school a couple of times.

1. "Woah! Do that again!"
"Never again! Just because you asked! Moving along!"



This one just happened last night in a restaurant with some friends who told me to do some magic for someone random.

2. (Me in the middle of a trick) "And if you give that a rub, it completely disappears."
"There was something about the rub! Lemme see your hands!"
"I've been told I have magic fingers..."

Camera tricks

El_Satanico wrote:Slightly off the magic heckler but certainly my favourite putdown ever has to be the comedian, Harry Hill's.

Heckler - "You're rubbish!"
Harry Hill - "That may very well be so Sir, but I have a lovely roast chicken waiting for me when I get home..."

Confusing? Yes! But that is Harry Hill's surrealist style, I think that any comment you make after being heckled has to be in keeping with your personality. If you have a stock answer you risk sounding scripted and flat. Build rapport with your audience and you won't be heckled.

Matt

Kind of reminds me of that chapter in DBs book about his garden wall not being 4ft high...lol:)