talkmagic.co.uk

Tom is spot-on with his comment about phobias.
And the problem is you probably don't KNOW if someone has such a phobia.

My ex-wife has a phobia of frogs. Yes, I know it sounds funny, but it's actually not.
Only once did I see a so-called friend play a 'joke' on her with a small plastic toy frog. It took about half an hour before she stopped crying.
He was mortified - kept saying he "didn't realize".

My advice on Web would be to stick to magic the spectators will enjoy & leave the stupid practical jokes to stupid children.

monsterz wrote:i was just wondering has anyone ever REALLY freeked a spectator out with a trick?

The first one-ahead I ever did was a three fact prediction on a friend who had agreed to me trying it out on him to help check whether I could do it convincingly. He seriously freaked for a good few minutes when I revealed the name of his long lost best friend at primary school. The trouble was, I couldn't stop grinning. I was seriously impressed myself.

Tom Lauten wrote:The Web works a treat but PLEASE make sure you don't do this for or near anyone with arachnophobia or indeed a heart condition. A sudden, nervous jolt (even if they are only watching) can be VERY dangerous and those with true phobias can be greatly distressed...you'll feel awful and others won't be too pleased with you.

As an ex-arachnophobe, my first reaction was to put my hand over my sleeve so I could control its path. I got a completely different shock!