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I saw a similar topic started by Matthius88, but my is somewhat more broad.
More often than not, amazement is followed by some annoying questions or statements by people. I'll sort them into several categories:

1. "Do it again!" or possibly with mentalism tricks "Do it for him/her!" - usually the people who are certain they'll figure it out if they see it again
2. "Do another!" - asking for another trick, making you go with quantity over quality
3. "How did you do it, tell me pleaaaaaaaaaaaaseeeeeeee...!" - a very common one
4. "I know how you did it." - people who are never too amazed and always claim the tricks are simple and boring
5. "That's so simple, you did it by using ......." - same as above, but more annoying, these provide an explanation for your trick and sometimes even get it right

Now I know there is no right way to treat these, everyone has their own methods. But I'm curious how other magicians handle these. So could you share how you handle each of these individually? I'll start:

1. Usually go for another, possibly similar trick, but I sometimes run out of tricks and have no solution in that case.
2. I usually ask the person who asked me to do one trick for me or tell a joke or so as "payment" for the next trick. Or if I'm not in the mood I say "Maybe later".
3. This one I have no solution for. I usually go with "It's magic." which just makes them beg louder or I sometimes think of some pseudo-scientific explanation, but that can't be done with all tricks (especially not with mentalism) and doesn't always work anyway.
4. "Cool, are you a magician too? Can you show me some trick?"
5. I like to use the line from The Illusionist - "That would be one way to do it."

just say NO to all of them...

KILL THEM! KILL THEM ALL!

Ha, as you mentioned I asked this question a while ago, sort of.

Basically what I learned from that and from performing a little more is this:

There are always going to be the know-it-all types and there is no avoiding it. If they ask me to do it again, I just say "oh ok, watch" then do it again using different methods, or if I can't, just show them something else entirely and look surprised when the result is different.

As for having people beg to see how it is done, I usually make up some bull about some "secret move" then show them the Invisible Palm, if I'm working with cards. If I am doing coin work or something else, I just avoid the question and distract them with cards.

Failing that, throw sweets on the floor and run away when the are distracted (cake crumbs and small cocktail saussages will also work)

1. "Do it again!" or possibly with mentalism tricks "Do it for him/her!" - say "lets try something different"
2. "Do another!" - Do another, but know your limit, and know when you have to say no
3. "How did you do it, tell me pleaaaaaaaaaaaaseeeeeeee...!" - No
4. "I know how you did it." - simply say "keep your gob shut then"
5. "That's so simple, you did it by using ......." - Well done, have a lolly (hand them a lolly)



Simple

I guess in a working environment you need ways to deal with these types, but the luxury of being an amateur means I can choose to only perform magic to people who really want to see it and enjoy it.

With regards to "i know how you did that" etc:
Darwin Oriz says something in "Strong Magic" that really changed the way I approach performing any kind of magic. He talks about the difference between demonstrating magic and presenting a puzzle. Show people a puzzle and they want to solve it. There is a marked difference in people's reactions and responses when you try to dispell any sense that they need to figure it out.

Mark Waddington wrote:1. "Do it again!" or possibly with mentalism tricks "Do it for him/her!" - say "lets try something different"
2. "Do another!" - Do another, but know your limit, and know when you have to say no

The first time I ever performed for friends, I did a card index prediction. Basically I said that I had one playing card in my pocket, and would try to project it to a girl. She picked the Queen of Diamonds, and I pulled it from my pocket, which got a good reaction. Then another friend joined the group, and they asked me to do it again for him. I figured that I couldn't use the index again, as that would give the game away, so decided to take a risk and do a mental force with him. He picked the King of Diamonds. The response was unbelievable.

I walked away feeling like a demi-god

That performance taught me a lot. And I think a question like that can often be seen as an invitation to do a ballsier but similar effect. Especially in the area of mentalism where "this might not work" and a failure can in some way even enhance an effect.

Since then, unfortunately, it seems every time I perform, the lessons that I learn is how not to do stuff.

here are my favorite responses

1. "Do it again!" "I can't repeat but I can do others", or just do a variation of that trick.

2. "Do another!" "DANCE MONKEY DANCE!"

3. "How did you do it, tell me pleaaaaaaaaaaaaseeeeeeee...!" "Well because you asked so nicely, I'll teach you a trick" then precede with a false explanation of any trick you want.

4. "I know how you did it." "But I bet you can't do it"

5. "That's so simple, you did it by using ......." "look at them like they are stupid and say "ummm yea, thats one way you could do it" roll eyes and move on.

these are just my lines, that fit my style, and asides from one drunk girl, they have never let me down.

drunk girls can never let you down...

when there is a expensive looking ring on a certain finger they sure can let you down

1. "Do it again!" "Alright, but this time I'm going to try something a bit different"...then proceed into something similar but not the same. Either they want to catch you out the second time, or if they are genuinely interested in seeing it performed again they won't be as impressed because they know the punchline. You wouldn't retell a joke straight away would you?

2. "Do another!" I'm learning to say "No" to this.

3. "How did you do it, tell me pleaaaaaaaaaaaaseeeeeeee...!" "No" although, during some of my mentalist routines I'll talk about techniques that I am apparently using like body language or subliminal cues which tends to keep people from asking that question. Tends to, but not always.

4. "I know how you did it." "That's interesting I like to keep that sort of thing private (OK I know it's a terrible joke but I have actually used that, it got a laugh and shut the guy up) Either that or "Excellent, but don't spoil it for the others." Sometimes if I'm feeling daring (although being a bit of a newbie that isn't very often) I'll use them for the next trick, "Is that so? Well then you'll be perfect for what I'd like to try next." They don't act as cocky then. Ha.

5. "That's so simple, you did it by using ......." No matter if they are right or wrong I just say "Well no, but that way sounds much simpler. I'll try that next time."

I'm only going to address number three really. Please don't offer some type of made up psydo science explanation. This really destroys the magic. Magic is the sense of wonder and that is destroyed when the audience thinks they know how its done. Plus if they see another magician perform they will annoy that magician and give your made up explanation of how its done.

The only time I can see doing this is if you come up with something so obviously sarcastic that there is no way the layperson would believe you. Of course its hard to do without being insulting (and remember you are there to entertain them not insult them).

Of course you can entertain them with a story about how you found the secret. By climbing the side of a cliff in the jungle mountain tops of China, for days your only companions were the spotted Panda's who fed you bambo and led you to the ancient temple...never mind.

The best answer I've come across to the old question

How did you do that? is "Very well, I thought. Didn't you?"

Klangster1971 wrote:The best answer I've come across to the old question

How did you do that? is "Very well, I thought. Didn't you?"

Ha, that is good. I think you'd need a cheeky character to carry it off though!

Just come up with some witty comebacks, and never get into an argument with the audience like David Stone says u can never win.

It kinda depends on the magic e.g. coin or card the things u'd say would be so different.

1. "Do it for him/her!" - can you change her money into $100? "Give me the money" (count the money, then pocket it and start walking off) then "ok come back here tomorrow and i'll change it for ya"

2. "Do another!" - :P love this one, if ur good at watch stealing just be like "aye its getting late i gotta go" and look at their watch. thats a really good way to finish off.

3. "How did you do it, tell me pleaaaaaaaaaaaaseeeeeeee...!" - Give a fake explanation or just be quite, cyril, Justin Miller and other magicians just stay silent. I think being silent is good a very good way to go bout it.
Can you keep a secret? So can I.
if they say it during the trick "Watch the secret move, watch the secret move, no? i know that's why its a secret move"

4. "I know how you did it." - Just say nothing also like others said oh why didn't i think of that, or i'll do that next time. If their bout to explain or u have a feeling they will move onto a different trick, or even just ask that person a random question, be like think of a number, whats the time?, whats today's date? Just something to get their mind off the explanation then u have plenty of time to start a new trick. Even say a joke.

These i find too rude, unless its to friends, there is no reason to be treating ur audience with such haste. Your doing magic for others to enjoy, if the spectator figures it out then you have no right to really turn hostile on them. Again a joke or witty comeback to try cover these
4. "I know how you did it." - simply say "keep your gob shut then"

I think that's just provoking them to explain it more.
4. "I know how you did it." "But I bet you can't do it"