Countering Questions

[DoubleG]

How do you people deal with people when they ask questions during your effects?

Yes, i HAVE used the search button... The threads i found seem to be more about how to beat skeptics. This is similar, but my problem is when the annoying person now and then will ask things like "Can I see that?" or "Prove it" or things like that, that you cant fulfill without ruining the trick. You can't show them, and you can't refuse...

What is difficult for me, is that while you can deflect them and floor them with another trick, or tell them to stop, it still ruins the effect you are performing right then. I don't perform in shows or anything, just to buddies, so i only perform one trick.

What would you do in a situation like that to save yourself?

 

[RealityOne]

I suspect your performing style has lead these spectators to think that the rules of the game are you trick them and they try to find out how to catch you. So change your style. Present your effects in a manner that gives them something to think about other than how you are doing the trick.

 

[~Illogical_Illusionist~]

It turns out that "friends" might not always be the best to perform for, especially if they are the type who love to joke and mess around with each other. It might help if you show more than one trick. For example, if you are doing card tricks, start off with a trick that is clean, no gimmicks or dup cards. That way before the effect you can show the deck completely normal they can even examine it. Get them on your side with this effect. After you have "gained their trust" you can swap the deck for the gimmicked one then continue with your routine. Since they were already given the chance to examine the deck once they more than likely won't ask again (there shouldn't be a need to since in their eyes you are using the same deck that they examined in the beginning)

 

[JButterfield]

I wouldn't perform to those buddies. And if it comes up, I'd let them know why with something direct like "because you're as a$$ about it. You try to ruin it every single time."

I told a pal of mine that when I was starting out, and he had no idea - he thought it was a fun, back-and-forth kind of thing. He really didn't know.

Now he's a great spectator.

 

[RealityOne]

That way before the effect you can show the deck completely normal they can even examine it.

There is a risk of letting a spectator "examine" a deck. That sets a pattern by establishing they have a right to examine your props. Also, I think that even telling them "it is a perfectly normal deck" or "look every card is different" as some magicians do also is problematic. It implies that there is something other than a normal deck and, more importantly, you are indicating to your audience a method you are not using which makes them wonder, "what method is he using."

However, there are many things you can do to get your audience comfortable. Having them shuffle a deck, showing that the cards are well shuffled (which in effect shows them that the cards are all different), having them pick a card, having them sign a card, having them touch the ink on a card (if you are doing an effect where the ink disappears), etc. Design your routine so that you demonstrate the fairness of what you are doing while maintaining control how and when they touch your props.

 

[RickEverhart]

You've answered your own question believe it or not. You are performing for "buddies" and not performing shows / gigs for people who "do not know you". I don't perform for my close friends at all anymore because they used to pull the same crap.

9 times out of 10 when I am performing for people who do not know me, I get them on my side with my "likable guy approach" and they never question anything I perform. They just sit back and enjoy the entertainment.

 

[DoubleG]

Thanks for all the help. The people I perform to are probably a huge part of it, but also I think I need to improve my patter while performing.

 

[Craig Browning]

When you do stuff for people that "know you" well, you're already at a disadvantage in that they can smell your B.S. and worse, if you happen to be in a pub and partaking (especially under the auspices of a sports club or similar testosterone oriented environs) they are simply geared to give you a hard time. . . . that's what friends & family are for.

Learning how to present material that catches them off-guard is one way of getting around the issue but, it likewise opens the door for the "Do that again" line. That is where I lean on the logic of Bob Cassidy and make absolutely certain that I have at least three different methods for the same basic effect. This allows me to seemingly repeat it but do so in a manner that prevents them from reverse engineering things in their mind and too, your handling will differ enough to keep them from seeing you do the same set of gestures twice. Some of the material I used to do I had as many as six variation to because I found myself playing to lots of cynics and Red Necks.

This may sound like a lot of trouble. . . running when you're not being chased, as some might say. But fact is, you are being chased and it's best to apply the scout's motto and be prepared -- control them on your terms, not theirs! The practice will help you build confidence, reputation and believe it or not, respect from those that you find in you life giving you such a tough time.

Learning proper presentation skills, body language and misdirection tactics are every bit as important as the habit I've suggested above in that our first obligation is to ENTERTAIN and AMUSE them, not jump through hoops like a trained pony. . . anyone can learn how to do a trick, it takes a dedicated individual however, to learn how to let the "trick" serve as a punctuation rather than the point of focus.

Think it over.