When your friend say, "Magic is not real" or Magic is just a trick or Sleight of hand. What do you want to tell or explain them?

There is really no response to that other than to say, "Okay. Thanks for your opinion." When someone says that, it is obvious that they don't like magic for whatever reason. Trying to force or convince someone to like magic is slightly better than convincing someone that they should like broccoli. You will not win and you shouldn't try. After all, they are right. Magic isn't real and it is mostly a trick or sleight of hand. So, stay friends with that person, but just don't show any magic or talk about it.

I know that some try to take this as a challenge. "If I can fool someone who doesn't like magic, I know the trick is good." So they will force persons who don't like magic into watching magic. Many performers who have wives know all too well where that leads. This is never a good approach, either.

I can tell you that when I started doing all mentalism shows, my mother whined and complained that she enjoyed my magic more and couldn't understand why I did mindreading shows. Of course, she had not seen my act. When she finally saw it, because I was booked at the Magic Castle, and she was able to experience the act and the audience's reaction to it, she was proudly telling guests that I was her son and she changed her opinion.

Just accept their opinion as what it is and continue doing what you're doing. Let those "non-believers" come around on their own. Or not.

- Jheff