I actually agree with aln_d, albeit not the way he expresses it.
This is the way I see things: a heckler is not just a heckler. A heckler is an audience member. An annoying type of audience member, but an audience member nonetheless.
When I perform magic, my biggest concern is entertaining the spectators - and that means all the spectators. I firmly believe that hecklers should be dealt with by not giving them a reason to heckle in the first place - primarily issues to do with establishing rapport. I don't allow myself to pick and choose between who I like and who I don't like. I personally feel that if I leave one spectator put down, embarrassed, angry, sulky, or upset, then I have failed in what I do.
It only takes one to ruin the mood. Sure, the heckler may not heckle again, but you can be sure that everyone senses it. I liken it to free speech (forgive me if this is something of a stretch) - but the crucial thing about free speech is that it gives someone the right to say things I don't like. It gives someone the right to say stupid things. I don't get to pick and choose. Well, I don't pick and choose with spectators. My goal is to entertain everyone, and I mean everyone.
You can talk all day about the extreme ones. But how many times do you actually encounter an extreme heckler? You can theoretically go on forever, creating demon images of horrendous, villainous, cruel... hecklers (!).
When it comes down to practical performance though, a heckler is just another spectator that I aim to entertain. And one should never lose sight of that. Putting down any spectator, even if they are difficult, is a no-no in my opinion.
And if you did happen to perform to someone who just doesn't want to be entertained... Whoops! Your bad! What the heck are you doing performing there anyway? Did you walk up to them threatening them to watch your magic trick, or else?
Let's look at some of the examples of hecklers above. Note that this is no reflection on the people who posted these. Some where made outside the context of heckling. I'm simply appropriating these to fit my purpose.
"Pull a quarter from my ear."
Should we put down the heckler?
Wrong. This is YOUR fault.
Why? The stereotype of the magician is a man in a tuxedo pulling rabbits out of a top hat. It's your uncle pulling quarters from a child's ear.
If you can't break this mold - if you cannot present yourself in a distinctive enough way - if you can't make an impression on the audience about who you are, contrary to the stereotype - whose fault is that?
If I am addressed in relation to any sort of magical stereotype, then I know that I have not been original enough. I know that I need to project my personality more, and to emphasise that I am not a stereotype. I am a performer, and I perform amazing feats. I need to work on my performing persona, and make sure that I appear as more than a kid performing tricks. Because that's what a guy pulling a quarter from someone's ear is, in this context.
Another one from this thread: "What's that in your hand?"
Should we put down the "heckler"?
Hell, no! You ****ed up! Go home, and practice more!
It's clear that what has happened in that you made a handling error. Why on earth would you even consider putting someone down for your own mistake?
And if he's pointing to an obviously empty hand - "Pixie dust." - No need to put down the poor spectator in any case!
And one more example: "Hold on, I didn't see the card"
Should we put down the heckler?
What heckler?!
You moved too fast. That's it. This should never, ever happen. There's absolutely no excuse or reason for it to. If you give a spectator a card, and ask them to remember it, it would take someone with amnesia to forget the card - and if they have amnesia, don't pick them! Again, this is YOUR fault, and it points to an area where YOU can IMPROVE. Be thankful for it, and move on.
The reality is that magicians tend to think of hecklers too much as simply a group in and of themselves. There's us magicians, there are spectators, and there are demons (hecklers). Not so. There are magicians, and there are spectators. Go out and entertain.