I have a confession. My wife knows the methods behind every one of my tricks. Some she learned by watching me practice and perform. Others she figured out by inspecting the props and books I leave laying around the house. As far as I know, she has never revealed these methods to anyone.
To be honest, I really don't have a problem with it. I consider her an assistant, though she never joins me on stage. Does your spouse know all your methods? Do you care? Is this a all-out violation of the oath? Opinions, please!

Mine doesn't know everything, but knows many.

I don't leave stuff laying around, and she never pokes around in my magic area. But she know a lot.

This is similar to our situation. And I'm certain she has never revealed any methods.

Yes, I care very much about sharing magic with my wife. She has an interest -- opposed to mere curiousity -- and doesn't reveal anything to laymen. I don't consider this exposure at all. IMO, exposure is not the same as what you've described.

Barry

I'm in a similar situation with my fiance. She knows most of the trickery, except advanced mentalism techniques. I don't feel bad because she's a huge help when I'm trying out new things. She knows what to look for in critiquing me. I feel it doesn't break the oath because she'll never reveal any secrets to anyone, and she only helps me progress in a positive way.

-Christian

Yes my spouse knows nearly all of my secrets. After twenty years of marriage I would be woefully dissapointed in her if she hadn't worked out how they worked by now. Anyway since she usually sews up my egg bags and devils hanks she more or less has to know how some things work.
As for the magicians oath thing, since I've never taken it I can never be in violation of it.

Yeah I know the feeling

especially when you end up buying , can be examined a the end tricks just to show them to your family only .

Must be nice to feel no obligation.

If you're a member of a magician's society, like IBM, you have taken it.

I have no secrets from my wife at all, not just magic. I really don't see any other way to stay married.

When I learn a new trick/effect I like to show it to her for feedback, she's got quite good at working out what is going on and is very helpful for ironing out tell tails and such from my presentation.

I don't belong to any society and have not taken any oaths, but I don't tell just anyone how things are done, neither does my wife.

You're probably right about my use of the word "exposure." I was refering to unintentionally "exposing" the inner workings of magic to my wife(a lay person). I guess "exposure" is more about masked idiots and TV specials these days.

Wife Knows .. Hmm Fire her imediatly( get a newer modle)... Kidding .. Mine does too .. for some things But I still manage to fry her , fortunalty she really doesn't want to know cause she likes being fooled , what distresses me Is she knows Prices of effects :|, Not that is too Much a problem .. Just she can shudder like the best of em and send me into remorsful guilt, over some gadget I don't really need .. But was cool at the moment
Keet

I don't think my girfriend cares. Not sure that's a good thing.

One of the reasons I don't belong to any of them

Like the vows say "...in secrets and in health, till death do us part." Of course she knows. In fact the more she knows the more of them she lets me buy. But don't tell her that. That's one secret I AM keeping!

Ok. Don’t panic. Tell us where you are and we will send a couple of IBM’s hit men. They will take care of her.

I got married during the period of time when I wasn't doing magic, so my wife hasn't seen that much. She has a very scientific and inquiring mind and gets frustrated at not knowing, but I've been pretty good about not letting her in on things.

More than not knowing the secrets I am making every effort to shield her from the details of the routines in the production I'm working on. I want her to see the new act live from the audience perspective like everyone else. I don't want to rob her of that experience.

A funny thing about that... most adults in your social circle will NOT be interested in your "magic secrets". Such things exist only to permit the effective PERFORMANCE of entertainments where magic seems to happen.

Does your spouse/significant other/whatever ask about the stuff? Do they care how things work?

From experience, from college roomates onward in life, it was rare that anyone cared about the methods. All of them were fine about keeping what they did know out of conversations and they were great folks to provide feedback about performances.

The ONE TIME I did get some feedback about "how" stuff was when an immature college roomate had another issue and used the how-to of magic to advance a conversation for other purposes. They did not care either, though expected me to have a reaction to their behavior.

Amen.

My wife sees through everything I do anyway. (Magic, birthday surprises, everything. )

Geoff

Sometimes it's just like the man said, "Magicians guard an empty safe." If your best beloved is interested, or just has an interest in helping you further yourself in magic, sharing secrets should not be something you have to tear your hair out over. Your wife, your girlfriend, your Significant Other becomes your *assistant* in magic, even if you never bring this person on stage.

My wife knows the secrets behind my faire act, because she helps me reset things back stage after the shows.. She's watched me practice, made suggestions (some of which I even took!) and helped the show evolve into a much better one than I had when I started.

And its very true that, most of the time, people honestly don't care how you do a trick. They'll *ask*, but they don't want to know that it's because you have an extra bit of rope, or a thing to make stuff disappear. They ask because people hate to appear ignorant, even of conjuring stunts.

So long as your wife doesn't become the Masked Magician II, I don't think you have much to worry about as far as exposure.

I've had to explain the escapes and glasswalking because she was going nuts with fear. Even in the know, her anxiety level is high enough to convey to other audience members that this stuff is dangerous.

The rest of magic, basically she doesn't know how and doesn't care. She is a good critic of performances and the effect on the audience. Some things she has seen a lot and has figured out the basics, e.g., where do the oranges come from in the Cups and Balls.

Yours,

Paul