talkmagic.co.uk

How do you cope with spectators that don't do as they are told.

I'm not talking about thehecklers and those that deliberately go out of their way to spoil a trick here, as obviously a col 45 is the best way to handle these (just kidding - no offence intended).

I am, however, talking about those spectators that either can't follow a simple set of instructions, or maybe just think they are trying to be a bit clever.

I'll give an example.

You have a two way forcing deck, and it's paramount they pick a card from the front. You start spreading the cards as normal, and ask them to select a card, but they seem hesitant. You tell them (in the age old tradition) "Preferable today", to which they answer - "I want one from the other end".

bummer!

Now, I'm not saying these people are deliberately going out of their way to mess you up, maybe trying to look clever in front of their mates at worst - but sometimes not even that. I mean why shouldn't they want a card from the otther end?

In the past I have usually said something like "ok, if you'ld rather not help, I'll ask someone else" - and turn to another spectator

However, I really would rather not be so "confrontational" in these situations, as above all else I want to be entertaining and not make anyone feel bad (unless they deserve it of course).

Any suggestions?

That sounds a lot like my mum, I can pretty much guarantee that at least two out of three times she will take either the top or bottom card. Sometimes that can be a good thing of course, but it can be annoying and I can't really get way with being rude to her without finishing up with a black eye!

There are some wise words in 'Dr. Heckle and Mr. Hide' by Scott Guinn but, assuming you're doing a rope trick, just smile and hand them the rope with the words,'Youre obviously better at this than me!'. As long as it's done as a joke and the rope is retained after just a token offer, it might quieten them down a bit. If they persist, really hand them the rope and tell everyone that our Guest Magician will now show us all how to do it. It can be turned into a joke situation again if this 'wrist slap' works. As long as your props are innocent, you can do this but gaffed stuff would be difficult to use in this way.

I see what you are saying with the rope - and in fact I have on occasion used that ploy (with my brother in law many times), but I was wondering more in the situation I gave as an example with the cards (mainly as it happened twice this weekend!).

I agree with magicbilly that it has to be "nipped in the bud" and I agree it should be done without any humiliation, but what if - for example,

I'm with Nick round his mums for tea - and I want to impress Nick with my skill at cards, so I suggest showing Mrs J a trick.

There is absolutely no way that I will do anything to humiliate or embarass her. But - when I fan the cards out in all the suggested ways of forcing any card from the top 26, she still has it in her head (bless her) to take one of the last ones.

Is it best sometimes just to admit defeat and say - "Id rather you just take one of the ones nearer the top?" which in some cases could be paramount to exposing how the trick is done?

I say "Would you please take a card". I never ask them to "pick" a card.

That is excellent use of language, ( where you don't want a completely free choice ) I think this on it's own is likely to remove the problem arising in 99.9% of cases. The power of words is truly amazing and used rightly along with other things like tone, tempo and body language reduces the chances of difficulties massively.

If you are practiced in the art of the Classic Force you should also be able to manage this situation. I haven't yet mastered it, I think I more or less have the timeing but always manage to get the card just above the one I want.

Yea I studied NLP ( Neuro Linguistic Programming ) to practioner level and it really does equip you with some very useful tools in the whole area of communication among other things.

good psycobabble stuff i know were your comeing from three years as a cold reader equates to degree level in my book.
okey dokey your useing a two way forceing deck which you have not shown front to audience obviousely, so why get them to pick, take, a card.
for the top force ask them to pick an odd number between 2 and 24 (this is the post hypnotic psycobabble part), tell them to think of the number and not to say it out loud just yet.
stare into there eyes and say not that one, too easy think of anouther one, ok got it in your head, say it (sounds a bit familiar well blain uses it all the time its not new), they say there number and you count to it, a simple free choice with plenty of by play.
same for bottom half diferent numbers were you ask them for an even number between odd ranges.

i asume you need to force two cards, i personaly would use two svengli decks or thoughs other brainwave like decks, just because in a comercial setting you would be a bit naive to leave anything to chance.

Influencing with integrity, lol, I am also a former NLP student.
This stuff is almost vital for a magician, businessman or anybody that wants to influence people to do what what they want them to do.

Dangerous though, can be used unfairly to influence people.
You can say something using say the same six words in many different ways, only one way of saying it will be heard properly by that person, NLP lets you decide which person needs which version, invaluable but dangerous.


BaB

EDit : yes, magicdiscoman, good point you are about to come up with, my point is that with NLP you wouldn't be in that, how do I handle someone if, position.

invaluable but dangerous.

Nah, I only use it for good. Some may say "yea, your good." I would say, thank you very much.

at the time i was decieving people i was not aware of this fact as i was younger then, but ignorance of the law is no defence.

anyway i now use it to decieve paying customers, wait havent i just saud that already, oh yes they know i intend to decieve them, thats the point, amaseing that one way is ok but another way isn't.

anyway we are digressing from the point of this thread again arent we, yes we are.

if the origionater of this thread would like to make a comment on my idea for a two way forceing deck then please feel free its your thread.