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I find it strange that you can starve yourself for 44 days or play russian roulette but can't do magic for kids in the park. If i went down my street with a gun and asked someone to load it and I put it agaist my head it would be considered as attempted suicide! I mean whose to say a kid won't watch frozen in time and then won't jump in the freezer. I remember seeing a thing in the paper years ago about a wee boy who put his cat in the washing machine after seeing salvester and tweetiepie. I understand that there are a lot of people who are concerned about this issue and the people who decided on it do have a point but to be honest its unfair to allow people to publicily endanger themselves while stopping us from entertaining kids in the park.

im sure ive seen a book somewhere full of one liners for hecklers
I dont usually get bothered by them, you have to establish your authority immediately, usually you can control it, eg if you keep getting heckled at a partcular part change it, if a jokes c*** (not the best) scrap it.
this one works good 'haven't i seen you on tv??...oh yes; interference!'
the worst isn't usually heckling but mums talking at the back of a kids party - really does my nut. I always say; can you hear me at the back? then they take the hint and mumble hmmm yessss, then say, 'cause i can hear you!' then they shut up. kids usually laugh at this if you pull a face to show them theres no hard feelings

Did anyone happen to see the second episode of the Simpsons last night?

A great way of dealing with a drunk spectator was demonstrated when Marge was invited onto the stage slightly inebriated. The charming performer staffed a ball gag in her mouth and cut her into four pieces which turned into monkeys.

I think more of us should try this occasionally.

This is definitely an exercise in extremism!

First of all, make sure what you consider hecklers ARE, in fact, hecklers and not just audience members whose interjections you object to.

Hecklers are an EXTREMELY rare breed. Most people, that performers confuse with hecklers, are well-meaning audience members who think, possibly, that you need help -- you aren't funny enough, you aren't moving quickly enough, etc. -- and they honestly believe they are helping you out.

Ninety-nine point nine-nine-nine per cent of magicians on this board will NEVER come across a true heckler (one whose only purpose is to ruin your show!).

Books of so-called "heckler stoppers" and other routines that are designed to humiliate or insult the alleged "heckler" usually only leave the person with a confused attitude as to why he or she is being attacked.

And, remember, that person is one of the audience and the audience will turn on you long before they turn on the alleged heckler. He or she is one of their own, the audience feels, while you are not.

The way to learn how to deal with hecklers is to talk to a comedian or two. They have to deal with this far more than magicians.

I have been going to a comedy club for a few months and its amazing what you learn.

Some people just have a 'presence' where you know you wouldn't want to say anything. Others get the rest of the audience on their side.

I strongly suggest you go to a club or two and then befriend an act and talk to them about it. The person who will be best at this is the compere who has the toughest job of the lot.

I like Harry Hill's anti-heckler line

'Do I detect the long term effects of Junior Disprin?'

So, in a pretty informal gathering, one guy says, "so where is the [such-and-such]" and proceeds to expose how the trick is done. At that point, the trick was over and executed properly and others were surprised but this guy knew how it was done (he had probably seen someone else do it or learned about it elsewhere).

So the only reaction I could muster was a "no, it's not done that way, but here I have another trick". That wasn't very effective.

Perhaps with hindsight I can come up with a different way to handle this. Any ideas?

I suppose there's the sarcastic lecturing response: "Yes. Way to ruin everyone's enjoyment of the show, but you sure are a genius."


Any better ideas though?

Perhaps with hindsight I can come up with a different way to handle this. Any ideas?

answer yes you can do it that way but i prefer to use trained white mice, then just carry on and ignore him.

Just say that your feeling a twitch coming on, then punch them in the face and run away.......

Or just ignore them!

Just have some kind of modified mouse-trap ready under your fan and let the heckler take a card
I saw this in some e-book I just can't recall which one

Jelmo wrote:Just have some kind of modified mouse-trap ready under your fan and let the heckler take a card

I figure he will understand! My way to deal with hecklers (though I'm only an amateur so I only perform in front of a few people...) is to perform the kinetic rings with the Bat and then hand them out. Those rings can keep a man busy for a looooooooooong time believe me!