Blaming Your Spectators

[Deleted member 2755]

Thank you adjones and CDarklock for agreeing with me on this. I didn't really have much to say because I am not very good at arguments (not that I want to get into an argument on this forum anyway). Either way I think it is just opinion based and points can be thrown left and right. It is best to just have an opinion and stick with it. Let's not get an out of hand argument here.

-Doug

 

[Jordan Lapping]

Ok, I just want to know what you have to say to this.

Magician "I would like you to cut the deck into the middle just like so"
*cuts the deck, shows spec what it looks like*
*gives deck to spec.
*spec shuffles it*
*you stare blankly*
lol, ok so who's fault is it?

Looks like to me the spec is an idiot. Not a nice thing to say, but the spec is not real, so I can do that. But what do you think?

I would say this stems from the fact that most laypeople (or inexperienced card handlers) still do not know the difference between a 'cut' and a 'shuffle'. Whilst this seems silly, it is very true for most people; especially if they do not play or watch Poker games. They seem to believe (as I did once, like most of us) that a single 'cut' will distribute the cards in a similar way to that of a 'shuffle'. When in fact, it is not the case at all; as a 'cut' is mearly a cycle.

I do not believe the spectator is at fault, nor do I believe that the performer is. The magician has clearly stated what he wants the spectator to do -- however, the spectator (unable to identify a difference between a 'cut' and a 'shuffle') does what he feels will get the job you asked for done.

Jordan

 

[S3al]

I would say this stems from the fact that most laypeople (or inexperienced card handlers) still do not know the difference between a 'cut' and a 'shuffle'. Whilst this seems silly, it is very true for most people; especially if they do not play or watch Poker games. They seem to believe (as I did once, like most of us) that a single 'cut' will distribute the cards in a similar way to that of a 'shuffle'. When in fact, it is not the case at all; as a 'cut' is mearly a cycle.

I do not believe the spectator is at fault, nor do I believe that the performer is. The magician has clearly stated what he wants the spectator to do -- however, the spectator (unable to identify a difference between a 'cut' and a 'shuffle') does what he feels will get the job you asked for done.

Jordan

Thank you!

Yea...thats all I wanted to say.

 

[Deleted member 2755]

I would say this stems from the fact that most laypeople (or inexperienced card handlers) still do not know the difference between a 'cut' and a 'shuffle'. Whilst this seems silly, it is very true for most people; especially if they do not play or watch Poker games. They seem to believe (as I did once, like most of us) that a single 'cut' will distribute the cards in a similar way to that of a 'shuffle'. When in fact, it is not the case at all; as a 'cut' is mearly a cycle.

I do not believe the spectator is at fault, nor do I believe that the performer is. The magician has clearly stated what he wants the spectator to do -- however, the spectator (unable to identify a difference between a 'cut' and a 'shuffle') does what he feels will get the job you asked for done.

Jordan

This is why I recommend doing it myself first to show them what I mean before giving them the deck. If I do this, I have never been called out once. I can easily prevent that from happening. There is no excuse in my opinion that the spectator should shuffle the deck if you told them to give it a cut.

-Doug

 

[mattjones]

Ok. That's quite a situation you've got there. First of all, I've only been doing magic for about a year and some change. I do my best to learn three good pieces of magic and master them. I take it one at a time. My first routine was ACR I've done it probably a hundred times and I'm just now getting comfortable with it. Some people would say I take way too long, but I like to be in complete control over my audience and the situation.

Secondly, (call me selfish if you like) I never tell anyone where I buy my magic supplies. (I'm not saying that you did...) If they want to know bad enough, they'll find it. I guess I'm trying to say I'd never be in that situation where I'm teaching some guy magic that goes right out and exposes everything I've taught him. He may not mean to, but I just wouldn't do that.

Lastly, sounds me like the guy you taught isn't that willing enough to put the time, effort, and practice into a trick to make it baffling, amazing, and genuinely entertaining.

Just not my style.

 

[CDarklock]

That's an interesting question: when someone else wants to learn magic, and comes to you for instruction, how do you decide whether, when, and what to teach?

I'll start a new topic for this so as not to hijack.