Arguing With Spectators

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May 26, 2012
46
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Greenville, SC
Hey guys. I know we have all delt with them. Certainly I have. They think there better then us and we as magicians try to entertain people. We are not cocky and we try to make people smile. Now i came in contact with a spectator at the hospital while waiting for my grandma. There were a lot of people around me and there was one man in his mid 20's who kept yelling and cussing and just wouldnt let up. Now I've delt with people like that before and I'm sure you have as well, but this man just wouldn't stop. When I was done with my set he screamed at a little girl who was also watching. She started crying so I took one shot and laid him out. I hit him against the temple and knocked him out cold. I then threw my cards on his face and walked off. Now do I have any regrets? No. I don't. I support my decision 100%. I do regret wasting my perfectly good stud playing cards though. Anyways I'd like to hear your stories. Have you ever hit anyone? Cussed at them? Tell me below with some replies.
 
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Jan 1, 2009
2,241
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Back in Time
This story is obviously fake.

1. If it were real, the hospital would have you removed and possibly arrested for assault.
2. While I don't think there are people out there that ignorant to think they have to perform all the time. This whole story smells fishier than the entire cast of deadliest catch.
 

Justin.Morris

Elite Member
Aug 31, 2007
2,793
888
Canada
www.morrismagic.ca
Wow. No, I have never, nor would I. Of course it would be very unprofessional to do something like that at a corporate event.
Although at my last one, I was 'attacked' by a spectator over a spongeball...
 
Mar 6, 2008
1,483
3
A Land Down Under
Working in a few let's say terrible bars I have been in many fights (as a bar tender as well as a magician) mainly from cutting people off (stopping service) and escorting people off the property.

I have been in a few verbal arguments with hecklers both in bars and when I have been busking.

At the end of the day it's never worth it.
 
May 26, 2012
46
0
Greenville, SC
As for preforming all of the time, I was actually doing cardistry in the lobby. Granted, I wanted attention but none the less I was removed from the hospital after that. As for charges I apologized to the guy I hit even though I still believed he deserved it. I don't regret hitting him. I shouldn't be charged. I won't be allowed to go to the hospital anymore unless I am the reason for the emergency. The police officer told me I might have to go to therapy in the coming weeks. As for what I did I'm not sorry and I refuse to be sorry. He deserved it. It ruined my day none the less. I was removed, banned, and had to sit out in the blazing South Carolina sun for 2 and a half more hours. >.<
 
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RickEverhart

forum moderator / t11
Elite Member
Sep 14, 2008
3,637
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Louisville, OH
I have never nor do I ever plan to get in a verbal or physical altercation with a spectator. I would simply put my things away and walk away. This turns EVERYONE else who was enjoying magic around on the heckler and once he or she sees everyone is against them, 9 times out of 10 they shut up or just walk off. If I was hired at a particular gig location I would ask the client who hired me to simply have the man removed from the scene. Sure this seems like the "sissy" thing to do, however it is the mature thing to do.
 
Here's some advice, as I've been both a performing magician and nightclub doorman/bouncer.

Fighting is never the answer, and if he swore at you, and you hit him, then you're the aggressor. It's the actions of a bully. It's also GBH with intent, which can carry a prison sentence for repeat offenders.

Vent your frustration another way, by signing up for boxing or martial arts classes. You'll learn some discipline, and you'll know to keep your cool in public, especially in a Hospital.

Next time you get somebody giving you a hard time about magic tricks... put your studs away and just walk off. You have no obligation to take that abuse, and it takes a much bigger man to be perspicacious enough to avoid a fight, than it does to start one.

Please take the advice politely, as I wasn't there, so I can't criticize you and tell you it was unnecessary, but what I can tell you is this....fighting like a thug won't bring you any friends or opportunities in life, but if you channel that ability and rage into boxing, you just might be able to win a few trophies and gain some respect within the sport.

Good luck kid,

-G.
 
Before I'm going to reply to this, please let me edit your post for easier reading. I may advise that in the future you consider using proper sentence structure, as run-ons can be hard to read. Also typing out u, r, ur, for You, Are, and You're/your is a bit of a forum faux pas as well. Most people here that use net speak usually get flamed for it. Just F.Y.I. Trying to be helpful and all. You don't have to be a grammar/ spelling expert, just show a little bit of effort is all.

Hey guys!
I know we have all delt with them (argumentative spectators), I certainly have, but these ass holes that think they're better then us. We as magicians try to entertain people. We're not cocky, and we try to make people smile. Now I came in contact with a spectator at the hospital while waiting for my grandma. There was a lot of people around me and there was one man about mid 20's who kept yelling and cussing and just wouldnt let up. Now I've delt with people like that before, and I'm sure you have as well, but this man just wouldn't stop! When I was done with my set he screamed at a little girl who was watching. She started crying so I took one shot, laid him out hitting him against the temple, and knocked him out cold. I then threw my cards on his face and walked off. Now do I have any regrets to hitting him? No I don't. I support my decision 100% but I do regreat wasting my perfectly good stud playing cards, Anyways I'd like to hear your stories. Have you ever hit anyone or cussed at them? Tell me below with some replies.

Wow... This sounds a bit hard to believe. Normally the hospital staff wouldn't allow someone that disorderly to stick around without calling security, and certainly wouldn't just let you deck him and walk off without consequence. I think you're telling us a bit of a whopper here. However, if this IS true then I have the following to say.

I have never, nor will I ever get into a physical altercation with a spectator over doing a card trick. Not only is that highly unprofessional, it's also just plain stupid. No one, no matter how abrasive or idiotic, is worth the assault charges and the likely jail time.

If you did indeed punch someone resulting in them becoming unconscious, or "knocked out" as you put it, then I think you demonstrated a considerable lack of self control as a person, and as an entertainer. Obviously by telling us this story in the way you have you a) think that you are cool, and b) by telling us this story are trying to garner favor from us as a community of peers but I don't see that as a likely outcome. You are not "cool" for doing this. You did not do the "right thing" and (my suspicions of you lying to us about it aside) I believed you behaved like a child in this situation.

To play devils advocate you don't know what that other man's situation was. For all you know his wife, or loved one could be laying on an operating table dying or fighting for their life. The man could have been mentally unstable, or deranged. Incapable of knowing what proper social etiquette should be. In all my years of performing I've never seen a mark get that upset at another spectator for just watching. Especially if it was a little girl. Most people show a greater amount of social skills than that without the presence of some kind of medical or mental condition.

You should be ashamed of yourself. I would hope that you meditate on this situation, learn from it, and never allow it to repeat again. You wasted a lot more here than just a deck of studs.

Since I have a secondary reply to your other statement above I'll just edit it in here at the bottom as opposed to doing a double post.

as for preforming all of the time i was actually doing cardistry in the lobby granted i wanted attention but none the less, i was removed from the hospital after that and as for charges i have apolgized to the guy for hitting him even though i still believed he deserved it and i dont regreat hitting him i shouldnt be charged, i wont be allowed to go to the hospital anymore unless i am the reason for the emergency and the police officer told me i might have to go to thearapy in the coming weeks but as for what i did im not sorry and i refuse to be sorry he deserved it, it ruined my day none the less i was removed banned and had to sit out in the blazing south carolina sun for 2 and a half more hours >.<

The police themselves have no authority or jurisdiction to enforce you going to therapy without a court order. He didn't ruin your day. You did. The choices you made greatly affected the outcome of this situation. Had you reacted more calmly this entire thing could have resolved much better for you. You were in the wrong.
 
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Jan 1, 2009
2,241
3
Back in Time
Still the other thing about this story that doesn't add up is the hospital allowing you to continue "performing" and allowing the other guy to continue to swear at you. You see, most hospitals would tell BOTH of you to stop it, because you are disturbing the other people there. Regardless if some little kid was entertained by it or not.

But IF this story is true, Then you pretty much set yourself up for failure. Like Will mentioned, you don't know the guys situation. It's a hospital so he could have had some injury or other medical problem, or his loved one could have been there for a serious problem. So of course he's not going to sit there "enjoy" some kid playing with a deck of cards. He's worried about the status of his situation.
 
Aug 17, 2010
411
4
Well, violence would be the last resort, not the first. I'm pretty sure that it could be resolved without punching the guy out; certainly not by throwing the first punch.

Also, you said it was "some girl," not your daughter. You didn't say the guy was drunk, either. So are you asking me what I would have done in your situation, or in this new one you're making up?

Now are you going to punch me out too?
 
May 26, 2012
46
0
Greenville, SC
its just a secnerio not my daughter just a little girl ive just 17 i dont have kids and i asked for replys about wat u have delt with personally not for u to poke a dead horse, idc about ur thoughts on something u didnt even know about and as for punching u out omg its certanily a dream of mine lol
 
Jun 14, 2012
51
0
California
everyone we need to stop were all magicians here and were supposed to help eachother not argue crow is being unreasonable and stupid and everyone is poking him we all need to be the bigger men and just apoligize and stop
 
Aug 17, 2010
411
4
as for punching u out omg its certanily a dream of mine lol

This doesn't really help your "I'm not a dangerous sociopath" stance.

In the last three years of busking pretty regularly, I've had the cards grabbed out of my hands by a deranged homeless man, been shouted at by religious weirdos, yelled at, someone tried to walk off with four Peace dollars, people have tried to scoop bills out of my hat, I've been heckled by all manner of people, and more. I've never resorted to violence.

If you don't want people taking exception to you assaulting someone, don't post it in a forum.
 
its just a secnerio not my daughter just a little girl ive just 17 i dont have kids and i asked for replys about wat u have delt with personally not for u to poke a dead horse, idc about ur thoughts on something u didnt even know aboutand as for punching u out omg its certanily a dream of mine lol

And it's posts like this is why we can't have conversations like this thread on the forums. You get rebuked for bragging about doing something really stupid and then get all defensive and butt hurt when everyone starts calling you out on behaving like a neolithic yutz.

I'm going to go ahead and report this thread, and you, to the mods for intervention. You need a wake up call, and quite possibly a reality check.

1) You grammar is horrible, to non existent.
2) You post material that has provoked flaming before in the past.
3) You openly threaten physical violence against another forum member.

... You'll be lucky if you don't get banned.
 
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