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I have a really big problem when I perform any tricks and that is pushy spectators. whenever I do a trick they always grab the deck off of me half way through without asking or grab my hand when I do a false palm. It really gets on my nerves because they ruin the entire trick and make me look really stupid. I mainly perform for my friends.... is this the problem?Is it probably because they are confident with me and knew me before I did magic or am I just a bad counjourer?

To a certain extent, you'll develop ways in which to minimise this situation but it's not easy when you first start out. I'm sure the other members here will be able to offer advice (and there are some previous threads here which cover the topic) but my initial thoughts are:

First of all, don't perform stuff which gets close enough for people to grab - unless you want them to examine the props.

Secondly, if they don't respect you as a perfomer and let you do the routines without grabbing the props etc just don't perform for them at all, they obviously don't deserve to see your magic.

If this is a constant problem, you really do have to look at what you are doing, and how you are doing it.
The secret is, dont give them time to think about grabbing. if they think.." its in the other hand" you have given them that half a seconds thinking time.
Dont.

Make them not care, by engaging them every single fraction of a second during your performance.

As an example....throw in a fake move early on, where they will assume its on one hand.. when in fact, Its not.. Because you have not done the move.
Then whilst they laugh at that..... you do the move.

Ammar easy to master covers much of this kind of stuff, with his " fake put, and fake take" moves. I think Greg Wilson does too.
Its kind of like a preemtive form of misdirection.

Stop trying to fool them, and just try to entertain them with magic. There is a difference and it is not easy and only comes with time.

Also you are performing for friends. So right off the bat they feel they can be rude, they are going to try to trip you up, and they don't want to be fooled by you because then in a very immature way they feel you have one on them.

When I worked at a Childrens home. Each Christmas we attended a few parties & at, at least one of those, there would be a childrens magician & on too many years one particular girl was selected to help...Shall I just say out going & enthusiastic does not describe her?????
One thing we knew, but some of those entertainers did not. Is that sometimes the most enthusiastic helper is not the best option.

It can be difficult with friends and family because they know you. They knew you before you did magic and I know it sounds silly but to them, they know your not magic.
People who don't know you will indeed see what you do as more of a mystery and will not feel so confident to challenge you although it can happen sometimes when people have had a drink.

My advice would be to play it down. If you want to show them stuff then maybe start by saying things like, "I'm just learning this new effect can I show you and see what you think" or if they ask you to do a trick maybe say something like "I'm not very good at this one but I'll give it a go". Try not to make it look like your showing off, nobody likes it and very few performers can get away with it. Be prepared to laugh at yourself, relax and enjoy.

Regards
Karma

Good advice so far, but there's one thing no one has mentioned.

It's likely to be at least partly because you are 17. That means that your friends are probably around the same age and a lot of 17 year olds are rude (at least with their peers). This will wear off in about ten year's time.

(I seem to be channeling another forum member, there. Most odd.)

Even if you follow the very helpful suggestions already posted, it might not solve the problem, because the issue may be the audience, rather than you. It's actually likely to be a number of things, so the advice given might help a bit, just don't expect miracles!

I think it is a wonderful thing that he is being heckled. If he sticks it out it will do him the world of good in the long run. He will become the master of any situation and nothing will unsettle him. When I was 16 years old I was showing magic to everyone and anyone and a large percentage of those people were kids of my own age who were very prone to heckling and challenges. Here is a tip. A good sucker trick works wonders with that age group.

Or you could simply say "Oi, You're acting like an *rse, stop trying to ruin it for everybody else."

Yeah I know we "should never make the audience feel bad.", but sometimes you can often be left with no other option than to put the person down like a rabid animal. Now sense you are probably 17 or so, once such thing to do is just to not perform for your friends.

mark lewis wrote:A good sucker trick works wonders with that age group.

Great suggestion. Turn the problem into an advantage.

Building on Randy's comment, if your friends actually like your magic, you can refuse to do any, and explain why (because they always act like idiots when you perform).

I just had a word with my good friend David Hayes about this and he says "punch them in the face"

I'm joking of course, I'm a Buddhist and would never condone violence (well nearly never) But I have a silly sense of humour