First let me tell you guys/girls a little about myself. I'm a veteran of the vietnam war. I have been hospitlized since then on numerous occasions because of my injuries.

The last time I was in the V.A. hospital I ran across some veterans that were from the Iraqui war. I showed these guys some card effects. They liked them. But they wanted to know how it was done.

Should I show them how it is done. Or should I give them the "patter of it is a magic effect" These guys are really hurting.

As it hurts me to see these kids in the state that they are in your suggestions would be appreciated.

BTW, I did show one guy how a particular effect was done

thank for replying guys.

You shouldn't - destroys the magic for them - show them some more instead.

It hurts just to think about the state they're in. I can understand your dilemna.

"How did you do that" is a socially acceptable way of admitting/saying "i have no idea how you did that". The statement is really a cue to you to dispell any issues of "superiority" and be a gracious winner in the contest they just admitted you won.

What you can do is say something like "thanks I hope you enjoyed the routine".

If they ask you one-on-one specifically about a trick you can ask them what they would do with the knowlege. Then it's really a matter of addressing their issue. If they want to spread the joy of what you performed, perhaps you could teach them something they could do and let them start on the path of magic if they so choose.

The biggie is to start by listening to what they say and how they say it.

And...

That is really good of you to bring magic into the VA for them.

I agree, great to spend time with them and show them some magic, not a good idea to reveal secrets

What happens in magic, stays as magic!

The difference between EXPOSURE and teaching is: does the person want to learn magic, or to learn how you did it?

Never seen it summed up so well Ross - explains it perfectly for me.

You must understand, and you may feel free to tell them this, telling them how it is done would be a great dis service to them. The universal reaction to learning the method of an effect is disappointment. There are only two ways to enjoy magic, one is by seeing it as magic, or even an enigma. The othere is by performing it for others who see it as in the first way. There is no in between. To know the method of an effect you do not perform is to recieve no enjoyment from it. You may further go on to tell them that magic is not to fool, rather to entertain. If they are trying to, or wish to uncover the workings of an effect, then they are enjoying the magic inb thew wrong way. The way to enjoy magic, is to enjoy the feeling that reality is slightly greater than you thought it was before. It is the feeling that all the rules and boundries you have always known, are soft, even non existant. Magicis how we help people feel that they can accomplish anything, because nothing is imposible.

Using that line of thinking...perhaps if they wanted to learn how, I might consider it. It would be very good therapy. If they are just method junkies, I'd say no way. Don't ruin it for them. However, if they really wanted to learn, and expressed an interest in that vein, I'd say go for it.

Chances are they are already in for a long haul to recover/rehabilitate. Learning how to perform magic can be a confidence booster.

Don't show them what you did. Show them something different.

Buy them a simple book of card tricks as a gift and let them discover and learn on their own.

Good idea Pete,

That way they will have to invest something to gain the information.

And will be more likly to use it and to really learn it.

J ack

H.O.A-X

Indeed - when I do any teaching at all - everyone has to ante up for effects that aren't mine to share - e.g. invisible decks etc. what I do is show them a bunch of variations and presentation ideas for them.... but the person has bought the secret for the creator.

For the record I was in the hospital for some health issues.

Pete I like that idea. The area of the hospital that I frequent the most is in the Spinal Cord Injury Clinic. They have there own library there. I think a donation of a book to the library would be an exellent idea. That way the next time I'm there and do some illusions I could just point them to the library(assuming the book is still there).

Thanks for the idea Pete.