talkmagic.co.uk

So, this isn't so much of a request for infomation, more of me venting some anger to maybe a few people would could understand.

Recently I was working performing at a party, and as it's a party there were a few drinks about the place. I don't however think that was the main issue here. But this is what happened. I had previously performed for a few people a card routine, one of the people who was watching was one of those people who just can't take it being fooled, they have to try and find out how it's done regardless of the enjoymant of others. Anyway, people like that I try to get away from as they are either nothing but trouble or bring a bad mood with them. So I finish of their little show and move on, a little agitated, but nothing I couldn't shrug off. Anyway, the evening went on and as I usually go out with a hand full of small sets, I will eventually repeat one or two, but with care to make sure they are not to the same people. However this gentalmen who I spoke of from earlier in the evening happened to notice me again and spotted from across the room that the effect I was performing was one he had seen. He also somehow happened to spot the placement of a card as with most magic, there are often angle issue, this effect has very little of that problem, but this man just happened to be looking in the right place at the right time. Well, needless to say he was happy to have seen how I had achieved this mirical, but instead of just happily keeping it to himself, and then perhaps telling his friends later on, he came storming across the room and pointed out to the group of people I was with exactly what just happened, effectivly spoiling the entire routine for them. Personally I could have taken the bottle he was holding and done a very painful vanishing trick with it, but as I was being paid, I figured this might not be the best way to get repeat business. Instead I congratulated him for spotting it, but then in a very polite way told him off for ruining it for his fellow party goers and mentioned that as he'd had his show, he might like to let them have theirs.

Looking back I don't know if that was handled the best way, but I just felt like getting it off my chest and hopefully getting some sypathy from people who might have also had an issue like this. I will say though to anyone who feels like bashing my performance and skill level, It does happen to everyone at some point. You can't misdirect the entire room and unfortunatly there are those people out there who don't have any manors or common sense. I would say that if there is anyone who says that they've never had anything like this happen, and not just exactly like this, but just that random person ruining things for everyone, then I call you a lier, or a very luck person who has just not had it happen yet.

I am deeply sorry for anyone reading this as I know it's not exactly helpful in anyway, or really a happy topic, as stated at the start, this is just me letting off steam.

Thank you

I think you dealt with it in an appropriate manor.

I've had a couple of these goons crop up at gigs in the past some that have literally annoyed me to no end. I was doing a corporate gig last christmas and i remember approaching a group of people (Two men and a girl), asking them whether they would like to see something to which they agreed, although one of the men jumped straight in with a 'I've done quite a few tricks in my time, so i hope you're good enough' (immediately signalling to me that he might be someone who's going to play hard ball). I did a few simple things to which he tried no end to ruin, and of course did. His friends though kept telling him to back off and let me do my thing but he didn't listen. I was just about ready to pack up and leave them to it, but realised that the two other specs hadn't seen anyhing magical and didn't want to leave them thinking i was useless when in reality their friend was a kn*b; so i pulled out my deck of cards for a card at any number. Thought I'd do the work on the other two rather than this guy so nothing could go wrong, but i handed him the pack of cards to hold on to until the end (foolishly). I got the women to name any number between 1 - 52, got the guy to name the card. Everything was set, the card named was at the presise number chosen and everything was completely hands off. So i asked said deck holder to remove the deck from the box getting ready for the big finale thinking that i would finally shut him up.

He took the cards out, handed me the box, and without a hesitation started shuffling the cards.

Unfortunately they're always going to be these doughnuts that can't stand to be fooled or let someone else take the limelight, to which you can either avoid as best you can or get them on side rather than tackle them. If you start attacking these good for nothings, it'll most likely be that you'll be opposed by their friends. I think you handled the situation well; always congratulate them on their ability to catch you out whilst commenting on how they shouldn't have said anything because no one else noticed. If you bring it to their attention that they shouldn't have said anything then it is more than likely that their friends or the group will b****k them if they do it again.

The first thing you have to do is eliminate angly tricks. The second thing you have to do is study "Outs, Precautions and Challenges" by Charles Hopkins. This book explains every out imaginable with cards no matter what goes wrong. The third thing you have to do is learn to manipulate the PEOPLE as well as the cards. Never get into a confrontation with anyone. With a little cunning, charm and charisma you can win people over to your side. I will admit it does take experience. I would suggest you have some sort of sucker trick especially for people like this. They will land themselves right into it and the laughter from the crowd as he humiliates himself will quieten him down considerably and he may become your biggest fan since it is the only way he can regain his feeling of importance.

A good close up magician needs to be a shrewd psychologist. I actually welcome hecklers because I know that I can always turn them around. But even if you can't, never argue or confront them or show annoyance in any way. Once you do that they have won and you have lost.

I would have handed him the deck of cards and asked him to do the trick. That would shut him up. I would keep pushing him on it until he pi**ed off. Just be plain obnoxious about it. Just like him.

Also, I have often read that it is good to involve the troublemakers (like handing one the deck to mind). This advice is completely wrong in all circumstances. You isolate the troublemakers. Never involve them, never play to them. And don't hold back on the putdowns.

A friend of mine was once confrtonted by an asshole who demanded: Entertain me. He replied: "Wankers normally entertain themselves." Brought the house down, and put the guy firmly in his box.

Ya i had the same problem once as Kroots , had a deck stacked up and some clown who had drunk half a bottle of tequila grabbed the cards and shuffled them up on purpose and aggresively so. I just told him to take a card and did paperclipped as i always have the gimmick in the pocket as a utility out...that shut him up

Ok so it looked like a weird trick as i didnt get his original card but at least i ended up doing something.. he was do drunk that i think he had lost the plot anyway



You never see these guys in the L&L Vids .. ha ha

I like the idea of some of the tricks Derren Brown used to do to irritating spectators, described in Confessions of a Conjuror. For example, he would use a magnet attached to his knee to wipe all their credit cards, and make bets with them with money that he had secretly stolen from their own wallets.

Yeah I had an annoying guy yesterday, but luckily managed to deal with him well and he was the only person I was doing a trick on - he was one of those guys who thinks they know how everything is done (he really didn't) so because of that was acting not impressed. I asked him what he could do, he took a card and tried to make it vanish but spent ages trying to bend it around his hand first and still couldn't do it, finally giving up and saying 'oh I used to be able to do it but I can't remember now' and gave it back, I took one and did it instantly and just said 'do you mean like that?' and walked off.

It's something I didn't expect when I took up magic. I don't understand the thoughts that go through someone's head that makes them want to sabotage someone's performance. No-one goes up to a musician and detunes their guitar or goes out to a painter and pours water in their paints. It's just bizarre. But I've come up against a few people who are quite happy to be spectators and then spend their time trying to sabotage it. I don't get it. I then get "you're not magic" as if I was professing to be The Second Coming. All very strange.

In a social situations what I've done is I've now blacklisted people and they get banned the moment that start being a killjoy. It's surprisingly effective because when others wants tricks, the killjoy has to leave the room and often gets asked to leave by the magic fans. Consequences for their actions.

I dont perform for people yet im on the practicing on mates stage but 1 is just a killjoy who always asks to see a card trick but just burns my hands and grins when he thinks he's spotted something.

And after a trick that all my other mates have loved he has to say something like " i was looking at them special wallets last night online"

So ive decided to not show him anything else lol

Dearie me. Some of you have a lot to learn.......................................

hds02115 wrote:

mark lewis wrote:Dearie me. Some of you have a lot to learn.......................................

Because in all your years as a magician in verious countries you have never had someone like these described, right?

Sometimes things just happen beyond your control, and that's not just in performing magic, it spreads to all aspects of life. People are the problem, the majority are perfectly fine, but there's always that one. You could be a perfect driver, in control and safe, with a spotless lisence but all it takes is that stupid seventeen year old who just passed his test and now thinks he's an F1 driver to ruin all of that.

hds02115 wrote:

mark lewis wrote:Dearie me. Some of you have a lot to learn.......................................

Because in all your years as a magician in verious countries you have never had someone like these described, right?

Sometimes things just happen beyond your control, and that's not just in performing magic, it spreads to all aspects of life. People are the problem, the majority are perfectly fine, but there's always that one. You could be a perfect driver, in control and safe, with a spotless lisence but all it takes is that stupid seventeen year old who just passed his test and now thinks he's an F1 driver to ruin all of that.

Did you read Mark's earlier post?

Yes I read his first post.

To answer the question I have indeed had people like the one described. Hundreds of times. It is actually good for you to encounter people like this. It keeps you on your toes and makes you a better magician. If the loud mouth say's "I can see that card in your hand", he is actually doing you a favour. Next time you will practice so hard that he won't see it. If your trick has bad angles and he points it out it is far better than some polite people saying nothing and you continue doing things the wrong way. Bad hecklers develop good magicians. You should thank them rather than curse them.

Spectator management is good to learn, but I usually find you can diffuse the situation with standard banter.

If someone is a real pain just walk away. That's my opinion.