talkmagic.co.uk

First, I'll introduce myself. I'm Zack, 16 years old. I've been into magic (mainly cards) for about a month and a half now. I've been studying from the Royal Road, and I've mastered a good deal of it for some nice effects. I get mainly good reactions from my tricks, but I have a recurring problem - the people that don't co-operate. For example, just the other day I was in the middle of a trick that involved delicate shuffle-work, and the subject insisted on shuffling the deck several times in the middle of the effect. Needless to say, the trick was ruined. How should I recover from this, and avoid that triumphant look that people get when they've destroyed a perfectly good trick?
Also, in regards to the trick under the Platform Tricks chapter of the Royal Road, where a subject is made to count out a packet of cards, pick a card, and the value of that card is added to the number of cards in the packet...how do I get the subject to drop the cards from a significant height off the table, as opposed to counting them out neatly? Every suggestion I've tried has failed - either they refuse to cooperate or they simply ignore me.

Regarding 3 Cards Across, you show them how to drop the cards saying that you want it to be apparent to everyone watching how many cards there are & so they don't stick together.
Funnily enough I performed this one on Sat at my first ever show for children (couldn't resist the money!) & it went down a storm.

If the spec insists on shuffling the cards - simply perform a trick where it doesn't matter if they shuffle or not . One way, would be to get the spec to return a selected card to the deck - control it to a position where you can peek it (bottom is usually easiest for a peek). You now know the value of their card, so the rest is up to you.

You could control the card to the top of the deck, then p*** it off and hand the deck out to the awkward spec to shuffle. This way, not only do you know their card, you have it p***ed, so if you ask them to look for their card in the deck - it's not there . Again, what you do from here is up to you.

You've got quite a few options. These are the first 2 that come to my mind .

carry an ID?

dont worry, with practise comes confidence.

The confidence to talk them out of messing things up and the confidence to adapt should they succeed in messing it up.

The ID is a good suggestion as is the p**m.

Also, you could try g****ing the card they have chosen. Especially if doing a trick for someone who has previously butted in insisting on shuffling, it should throw them totally when you hand them the pack to mix before they even ask. You can then either dig out the card at your own leisure, or even tell them that you dont even need to find it, just look into your eyes and think of the card.

Oh, and a little tip just in case it crops up and they tell you they were thinking of a different card to mess you up, just say "yes, but you were also subconciously thinking to yourself 'dont think of the 10 of spades' without even knowing it"

works for me

good luck and welcome

VE,

Being a magician is not just about learning to do a card trick. Anyone can learn a card trick. But magicians also perform. And to perform, you have to be in control, and command, of your audience.

This is a completely different skill. If I shuffle my cards no one else tries to do so, because I'm in control. If I want a spectator to put 3 cards on one pile they do so because I'm in control.

Practice being in control of your spectators nearly as much as you practice your tricks, then you won't have so much of a problem.

Controlling and managing your audience is a very important part of being a magician and when you start to develop that side of being an entertainer you will see a lot of your problems you encounter with spectators disappear.

well, as I.D. isn't here, I guess I'll have to say it...

"you having trouble with your specs...well...just...punch 'em in the nose!"

Those are excellent suggestions - I particularly like the p*** idea. The main problem came up when, after controlling it, the spectator insisted on shuffling. The p*** will solve that.
BTW, after mastering a routine (I'm nowhere near that yet, but hopefully), how do I get into performing for children and such for money?

prmise not to punch 'em?

haha - nah - maybe get a website made, buisness cards, and do some charity events or other such "freebies", and give out your stuff there - free advertisment boyyyyyy! booyah!

Choosing you audience is always tricky.
One tip I can offer (although to be fair this idea is borrowed), when faced with said "difficult person", if they won't give up is:


"You want to shuffle them? Ok go on. Ok happy? No, shuffle them some more. Ok Happy great. So she picked a card, I shuffelled them and then you shuffled them. So would you aggree that there is no chance I could know where her card is?" "No" "Right, not the foggiest" as you through the cards into the air around you "And sometimes, I just can't be bothered."

With the right build up and comedy timing, this is a great little get out for an awkward spec or if you've made a little error. Works best with a crowd though.

Not everyone's cup of tea, but then neither is tea.

With practice and experience you can avoid this type of thing. I try to use my performance to enhance the trick and stop people interrupting me. My opener is fast and visual, which gives people less chance of disruption. Whereas after the first effect I slow things down and provide a good story. This should entertain people and stop them from wanting to interrupt. Basically I began to put less emphasis on the whole "pick a card, put it anywhere" jibber jabber. That is only a small part of the trick and tricks shouldn't be about how great you are with a deck of cards.

Although you will always come across someone who likes to be smart and shout their mouth of. In this case the good ol, alright here is the deck, find your card...... I know its not in the deck because it is in my pocket. Or if all else fails- ok you show a trick then if your so bloody smart.

Something I often like to do if someone says a comment about a trick, or asks to shuffle, make some lame ass reason up like, "You'll get my cards all dirty', or 'My cards only let worthy people hold them', perhaps something less insulting would be better actually, but you get the idea.
Sometimes you do get the ass who spontaniously ruins a trick, I had someone pick up all of the cards whilst doing Jazz Aces without warning, needless to say it ruined the effect.

If you act natural, spectators are so much less likley to say, 'let me have a look at that' e.t.c. If your all clenched up and almost hiding away from the spectator, then obviously the audience will become suspicious.

My tip for the 3 cards across trick that you mentioned I don't tend to use the drop method that the book suggests. Instead, what I do is explain that I want the spec to count the cards out in the middle of the table so everyone can see how many are there. And then demonstrate by counting a few off my packet my throwing them untidily into the middle of the table. The spec will usually then just copy what I've just done. Leaving you with a nice messy pile of cards.

I've never really had the problem of a spec wanting to see or shuffle my cards but just in case, I always try to start and finish a routine cleanly. They're most likely to want to see the cards either right at the start or at the end of a routine. As long as you're clean at these points, it doesn't matter.

If you do get your stack messed up, think of some tricks that give you and excuse to look through the deck while you're preforming, these are brilliant chances to find lost cards and reset the deck up while performing a trick at the same time.

I say that Iam around the same level as you, I can do a wide variety of tricks, mainly card and coin tricks, and (as I do most of my magic in pubs, bars and clubs) I ALWAYS get idiots trying to shuffle the decks, examine the cards, study the coins etc.
There are LOADS of ways that I have used to either
a) throw them off suspecting me
b) make them look REALLY stupid in front of their mates - my personal favourite

a) (as already suggested) p**m the card then pocket it / if you are confident enough, plant it on them
b) this is VERY fun to do, as all of the idiots mates will laugh at them, and will maybe even persuade him to appologise to you - I choose to either place a bet with them (for £5 or a round of drinks etc) and 'obviously' make a mistake, so that they cannot refuse the bet - then (I can't reveal the method here, but can be purchased from lots of places) do any number of 'card to wallet' effects. Thais way, you can 'loose' the bet, then when you go yo get your cash out...bam! their (signed maybe) card is inside your wallet - its a real 'haha he got you, now you look stupid' moment - always fun