The "I know how it's done" nightmare.....

Can't find a suitable category? Post it here!!

Moderators: nickj, Lady of Mystery, Mandrake, bananafish, support

Postby Peter Marucci » Jan 27th, '08, 16:36



Alkhemist07,

This may be one of those rare instances when that will work.

Just be sure you don't do it in a "smart ass" fashion but, rather, as if you are really letting them in on something. And be puzzled when they can't make it work.

Most important, DON'T laugh at them!

cheers,
Peter Marucci
pmarucci@cogeco.ca

"Better a man honor his profession than be honored by it."
-- Robert-Houdin
Peter Marucci
...
 
Posts: 571
Joined: Nov 4th, '03, 18:28
Location: Fergus, Ontario, Canada

Postby TheAlkhemist07 » Jan 27th, '08, 17:03

Yes thats what I was thinking.
I have never tried it tho.

Reading: Walton Vol 1, ECT and MCM DVD
Practising: ECT, "Its a set-up", "the smiley Mule"
Performing: I.D. , Pass At Red, Profs Nightmare, Extraction of Silver
My name is 'Chris Peacock'
Im not dead, just workin hard!
User avatar
TheAlkhemist07
Senior Member
 
Posts: 727
Joined: May 21st, '07, 19:33
Location: #10 underground bunker, (18:AH)

I Know How It's Done Nightmare

Postby Allen Tipton » Jan 28th, '08, 15:58

:) If you have scripted your routines and have them flowing there should be no time for that fatal question to be asked. Scripted because it gives you 'thinking time'if there's an awkward situation as nosey questions or something goes awry Scripting also gives you good pace, rhythm confidence & clear cut timing.
Did you pause that little bit too long to allow the questioner to pop in his question.
Or is this that situation that magicians are so prone to, "Show Us A Trick". So You perform one then don't follow it up straight way with another.
In other words you allow your audience, be it one or one thousand, to take charge. That you must never allow.
Remember what Noel Coward once said: " I am in charge of my audience. I tell them when to laugh, when to cry, when to keep quiet and when to applaud".

If you are prone to this frightening question:
1. Don't answer it and get drawn into his/her power.
2. Go straight on with the next trick.
3. Have an alternative method to confuse the asker :evil: with.
4. Give him the apparatus and from what you say this must be in a Close
Up situation, and tell him to show us. Then use the alternative method
and finish. Walk away. Go to the bar. The toilet or home. :P
Allen Tipton

Began magic at 9 in 1942. Joined Staffs M.S at 13. Nottm.Guild of M. (8 times President. Prog Director 20years)IBM. Awarded Magician of Month 1980 By Intern. Pres. IBM for reproducing Dante's Sim Sala Bim. Writes Dear Magician column for Abra. Mag.
User avatar
Allen Tipton
Magical Maestro
 
Posts: 1182
Joined: May 13th, '05, 16:24
Location: Nottingham, UK

Postby Mr.Mystery » Jan 30th, '08, 04:55

One of the benefits to card magic is that you can usually change routines without the knpwledge of a spectator. For example let's say that your performing a pick a card type of trick where you forced the card. If the spectator says "oh, I know what you did" then say "if that's what you think, hear pick a diferent card" and proceed to let them freely choose a card. Then control it and perform any trick you can do if control the card. Another important thing for me is to have a number of ways to perform a trick. For example, my favorite trick that I perform when I'm table hopping is the card to orange/lemon. I know 4 ways to perform this effect so that if at any time a spectator says "I know what you did" I can change methods and the spectator will be lost. It is almost always possible to change routines in the middle of an act, so if you think you can go for it. If you can't swich routines or if the spec reveals the trick afterwards, just finish the routine and then say "Ok, you do it". Most effective line in magic. They almost never will be able to back up their claim, especially if it's a sleight. Even if they try, (and are right on your method) they won't be able to perform it as well as you. Most of the time the sleight will be so obvious when they perform it that you can say to them "Do you really think that anyone can perform that trick that well" or "That looks pretty hard, I don't think anyone could hide that."

User avatar
Mr.Mystery
Full Member
 
Posts: 91
Joined: Jan 28th, '08, 05:20
Location: Canada Eh? (SH)

Postby Lady of Mystery » Jan 30th, '08, 11:07

I think Allen's on the button, having a set routine really does help with this. Another thing is confidance, if you present your routine with confidance and believe what you're showing the audience, they'll believe too. Performing a well practiced routine really does help give you this confidance.

Foodie chat and recipes at https://therosekitchen.wordpress.com/
User avatar
Lady of Mystery
Senior Moderator
 
Posts: 8870
Joined: Nov 30th, '06, 17:30
Location: On a pink and fluffy cloud (31:AH)

Previous

Return to Miscellaneous

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests