Have you ever encountered people asking you weather you know how someone does a perticular trick?

What do you answer?

Do you destroy the illusion of magic if you suggest that there is a sollution to be sought, and does this weaken your own magic?

Regards,

Daniel

I usually say "Yeah, he does that one pretty well. He got it from me."

More than I care to think about, it's true.

The truth

The line "I missed that show - did you like it?" might work to get them talking and deflected.

I recently recieved an e-mail from my sister-in-law with a youtube video attached to it. She asked "do you know how this is done". I replyed with "yes." and nothing else.

I generally say, (provided I do know how it was done) "Yes, I do. But, I have an agreement with X I don't tell his audiences how he does his illusions and he doesn't tell my audiences how I do mine."

I favor Jonathan Townsend's psychological subtlety of deflecting and getting them talking. Here's a suggestion...

"Magic is an Art, and that performer is a great artist. Did you like what he did?"

I think that presently there are very few people who are not aware that there is a "solution". I'm afraid I see where this tendency to ask magicians how famous magicians do illusions comes from, and I like Jonathan's idea of avoiding the question.

The Big Stars? Generally, I don't know how they do it.

"I'm not going to tell you that"
Penn Gillett

I'd say take some of the thunder and glory for yourself.

"Do you know how that was done?"

"Pretty much. Magic is based on some very esoteric principles, but once you study those principles, you pretty much know how EVERYTHING is done."

Naturally you can't TELL them how its done,but at least your stock just went up a tad.

Down, you mean. Other than magicians, is there any other group that believes declining someone;s request for help would actually make them feel more positively towards you, rather than less?

To the original question: if it's a cheap trick, I'd probably tell the person my guess of how it's done (this happened yesterday, to which the person replied "oh, that's cheating". Which it was).

If it's a cool trick, I might demur. But I try to avoid doing it in a way that gives them the impression that I know the answer, but won't tell them. That's irritating to most people.

How about contorting your face in the best Dana Carvey you can muster, and with "Church Lady" voice, ....

"Satan?"

I say "To the best of my knowledge, he uses magic".

Lessons are extra!

Nah; they do TRICKS.

"I'm still wondering WHY he did it..."

I always reply: "I really don't know how he did it" whether I know or not.

"To know how it's done will leave you to never think about it again. Not knowing will leave you wondering and remembering the effect for a lifetime"
well...that's my quote and I am sticking with it

Spectator: -"Do you know how he did that?"
ME: -"Yes."
Spectator: -"Can you tell me?"
ME: -"Do you how to keep a secret?"
Spectator: -"Yes!! Sure!!!"
ME: -"me too!"

I love to watch their faces after that...