When Asked?

[MKulik]

Say you have certain people that you know and show magic to, and you show them a trick like the invisible deck and they love it but then sometime down the road you are performing for them again but you dont have the gaff/deck to do it. What do you say to them other than "I cant"?

 

[jcherry]

Say, "What?! You've already seen that, but check this out...." and then walk away, or perform something else. You're the performer. It's like when you go to a concert and people yell out their favorite songs, most of which do not get played because the band has already decided what they will play. You're not a performing monkey, play by your rules, not theirs. Peace.

John

 

[adjones]

The magic only works once a day.

I'm not your monkey- I don't do tricks whenever you want.

The planets aren't lined up correctly.

Did I not do it well enough the first time?

 

[jcherry]

Did I not do it well enough the first time?

Ha, I like that one.

 

[Squ!rrel]

I'm not your monkey- I don't do tricks whenever you want.

I try and politely tell people this, you should make it clear to people that a magic performance is on your terms not theirs.

 

[visualartist]

"ill show you something even better..."
Or ill tell them to wait for something more.bigger and better is coming id say.

 

[louis]

..

just say:
wow i did that ?.. i'm ****in fantastic somebody buy me a ****in drink

lol

''cyril T''

 

[neco]

i always get that too when someone come up to me and ask me to show them a trick and i'm just not in the mood to do my stuff specially when im learning a new move or effect...

i usually say "wala tulog" hehehe which translate to "no i'm asleep" and walk away
im not trying to be arrogant in a way im just making them want more.... hehhee

 

[adjones]

I try and politely tell people this, you should make it clear to people that a magic performance is on your terms not theirs.

I say it, but in a slightly joking manner, and if they persist, I just say no. But usually they laugh at the monkey line and walk away.

 

[SorenErik]

When I get this:
"Remember that time you...(turned the whole deck into the same card, predicted my card by turning it face-down, restored the empty can of soda, made my wife disappear, kicked me in the shins, etc.)??? Can you do that again?"

I say this:
"Yeah, but you know what... Here let's try this..."

And then I do what I want. I have found that typically their request isn't so much for that specific effect, but it is a request for you to perform for them. They may even ask you this in the middle of your routine. That's okay. You have created an impression that will always be there for them. You now get another opportunity to increase your performance value for them.

Sometimes friends/people will insist I do a certain effect. When they do I turn it around on them:
"What am I? Your personal magic prostitute?" Everyone laughs at this, including them. The next thing you know you'll have me in high heels and a wonder bra singing Karaoke to the Greatest Hits of the New Kids On the Block. Not gonna happen buddy." And then I move on, bringing attention back to whatever it was that I was going to do. It gets a laugh, eases the tension of my refusal to do the trick they requested, and allows me to perform what I had originally intended.

 

[dejavu05]

Just say that magicians only do a trick once for someone.

 

[SKSleighofHand]

I would go along the lines, "You already seen this trick". Sometimes, people annoy me, "Hey, show my friends the same trick that you did to me". It's quite annoying.