talkmagic.co.uk

Just curious what you guys think about this. From your experiences, how do you think spectators feel (in general) about having a magic trick performed for them?

Edit: The reason I post this is because my friends and family don't seem to enjoy the effect as much as they just want to know how it is done. My girlfriend even said "I just feel stupid when I can't figure it out"

Initially i would say no because no one likes being made a fool but if your entertaining them aswell then obviously the answer would be yes simply because they dont think there being fooled in my opinion.

What do you mean by "they don't think they are being fooled"? Do you mean they just get caught up in the moment because of the good performance or...?

I think this boils down to, like so much of magic, people management.
The structure and patter of an effect can cause a spec to feel part of it.
If you have the " here's a coin now its gone, you're and idiot" approach any effect will be frustrating for the spec.

I mean if you make them part of the magic they actually forget there getting fooled.

I agree with Lindz. The majority of lay people know that magic doesn't exist. Their understanding of the word magic and the meaning that they associate with magic is different than ours as magicians. They have a dimensional view of magic whereas we see magic as being multi-dimensional. This often prompts some people to specifically look for the method rather than looking at the performance.

It's partly for this reason that I particulalry enjoy performing for strangers rather than for close friends, although many of my close friends do watch for their enjoyment rather than trying to catch me out.

However, when a lay person witness a great piece of magic being performed they don't generaly consider that they have been made a fool of, even if they are looking for the secret and still don't spot what they are after. In essence, most people don't consider themselves as being easily fooled or indeed like to admit that they can be easily fooled. How many times have you perfomed what you consider to be a really simple and basic magic routine that keeps fooling people and then explain exactly how you did it in the FULL knowledge that they won't believe you because of the simplicity? I put it in your hand when you weren't watching - yeah, right, cmon - how did you really do it?

Instead, they enjoy your performance for what it is - skill, trickery, entertainment and more. A good magic routine as we know it, can temporarily alter the lay persons view of magic as they know and understand it.

I'd recommend that you stop performing to the same people for the time being, particulalry if they have a high success rate of catching you out. If this is the case then perhaps you are performing routines that you haven't yet perfected and which you need practicing more?

I was attacked leaving a pub recently. I have a few theorys as to why this happend. But the only one that makes sense is that if it was a person i showed a trick too, he did't like being fooled.
Of course this could happen for any reason could of been random, or maybe i spoke to his girlfriend, maybe jealousy.

anything like this happend to any of you guys before after doing 'magic'?

Actually, no... i have never been caught in a trick before. I am still new so I am sure it will happen eventually.

I was planning on using my girlfriend as someone I practice my tricks with but she gets too mad if I perform a trick for her and don't tell her how it works.

If I am performing for people i don't know (which i have never done before) I would imagine that they would not take offense as much if i don't tell them how the trick is done because that is what they expect.

AcrylicAce

No, people don't like to be "fooled" they love however, to be amazed and have their fantasies about things magical and "impossible" brought to life. The problem is, most who think they are a magician don't recognize this truth and look at it all as being able to trick and fool people which, sadly, results in people disliking magicians because they make them feel like fools or make them look stupid.

If you can use your magic in a way that's similar to how special effects are used in a play or film (to punctuate a tale, for an example) then you have stopped doing tricks and learned how to deliver a magical encounter and thus, a positive memory for the spectator and participant alike. This is the "little thing" the bigger names have discovered and why they pay people who are experts in theatrical presentation serious money so as to help them transform tricks into miracles.

I am not sure "fooled" is the right word because it implies "made a fool of". so if your question was do people like to be "made a fool of", then i would have to say a definate NO.

On the otherhand, if you are refering to how much people like to be amazed and entertained by something that their normal logic cant explain, then I agree with those who have said YES! for sure.

are they subsequently "bursting at the seams" to explain and uncover what they "just saw". you bet! would disclosing the secret spoil the whole thing for that same spectator? yes i believe it would.

magic is quite unique, spectators would love to know the secret, yet knowing the secret would actually mean in many cases they enjoy it less.

Craig Browning wrote:No, people don't like to be "fooled" they love however, to be amazed and have their fantasies about things magical and "impossible" brought to life.

That says it all for me...

It all comes down to presentation I think. I've seen people perform a trick and then walk away with a 'ha, I've fooled you' attitude. This doesn't tend to go down well. But if you're friendly and perform in a way to entertain rather than trick them, I don't think you''ll have a problem.

as most have said, involving people, taking them on a journey of some kind, a shared experience...thats what it should all be about...

no fooling, no one upmanship, a shared, wierd, magical experience...to witness the impossible happen together, and to be remembered forever afterwards...hopefully!

From a hard nosed commercial and mercenary point of view, if you have a lofty attitude and 'fool' people you're unlikely to get bookings from the specs. The magish who entertains, even if it's with just a few basic but well perfomed self working tricks, will be remembered and probably booked again.

Thanks you guys, I have learned alot from reading these posts.

AcrylicAce