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I've been more seriously into magic for the last year or so, but in the past 6 months I've really been learning a lot, and finding a wider audience to perform for. Something that I didn't have to deal with until recently is grabby spectators. I'm talking about the few people who will actually grab props, cards, hands, etc., because they can't stand not knowing what's going on. I had this happen twice recently. Once, in a restaurant, I was using a D-light to entertain some kids, and someone grabbed my hands to see what it was, then said "oh, he's got thumbs with lights in them", which ruined it for the kids, and anyone else who was enjoying it, and I had no idea this person would do that, so I of course didn't see it coming. Another situation was when I had palmed a half dollar, and I was going to do a coin production, which I hadn't even mentioned as part of the trick, when a girl just grabbed my hands out of nowhere and says "he's got a coin in his palm." This can be frustrating, and it's very rude, especially when you've spent a lot of time working on certain coin manipulation techniques and someone just grabs you and ruins it. What are some of the best ways of dealing with people and situations like this?

One way I use is before I try a trick or a performance I say, "Pay attention, I'm going to teach you a few tricks", that way if you are caught you can say "Yes but I said I was teaching you" but have a trick ready as back up before you start, then you can go straight into it, and hopefully dazzle them with it.
If this doesn't work try a swift kick to the testicles for a man or a vicious headlock and monkey scrub for a woman.

I've found these situations to be a fact of life if you are performing magic, you can reduce the risk, but you can't eliminate it.
It is futile to attempt to gain the co-operation of the "must know" type, they can't help themselves.
Just move on shouting to yourself "NEXT".

Don't dwell on it, it is a compliment to modern magic that your effect has completely baffled their minds to the point where their only way to rationalise what they saw is to grab at you, without doing that they can never know.

Remember the words on the David Blaine TV specials ? "For those who beleive, no explanation is necessary, for those who don't, none will suffice".

Next, Next, Next

Good Luck

Thanks for the comments. Just remembering that some people are just that way, and that it's something that's going to happen at times helps.

I like the line Michael Ammar uses "Can you keep a seceret well so can I" other than that an electric cattle prod would make them think twice ;->

I find when I get that close to the people I throw down a silk on the table..You automatically know who is going to be the problem by watching who GRABS for the silk to look at it..Stay away from that person..

I like the saying that comes after the famous line "how did you do that?"

reply:oh, I think I did it fairly well don't you

my tip is to stop what your doing and intriduce the person as the famouse magic debunker i dint catch your name?.
every one this is bob / mary he/she knows every magic trick and enjoys telling everyone so today for one night only he / she is going to show you a rope trick.
give mark piece of rope.
ok go, oh you don't know what trick in your vast repotoir to do, ok do the cut and restored rope trick.
show them how to find the middle and cut it for them, i offer to give them a hair cut at the same time.
if they are still around proceed to do the cut a nd restored rope trick, desolve the knot, and your done he / she on the other hand will be stuck with two ropes knotted in the middle and should be quite shy for the rest of the evening.
the occassional reference to the mark, did you see the swap / change mate, i thought you would will keep them and the others in line.

This isn't the best one but someone onced asked me " can i see that?", however this trick wasn't examinable so i said, "well, how should i know, but i would recommend opening your eyes"

I try and stay out of grabbing reach of my audiance in the first place, then if I see them reaching over I move out of the way a bit. After I've finished the effect I do something with them that will make them look good. Also, I might hand out any ungimmicked cards to them for them to keep, it usually keeps them appeased and occupied while I do something else. I've only been "snatched at" once but managed to move out of the way quickly. I then asked them if they are feeling faint, or did they want to ask something. I mostly have a problem with people saying "I know how you did that!" at the end of a trick. It's usually a ridiculas idea but I always tend to carry duplicate, regular cards/coins to hand to them and ask them to repeat the trick then.

I think the idea with the duplicates is brill!!
give them the ungimmicked stuff and watch them squirm!!!
The best heckler stopper!!