You perform your favourite card routine to your friends flawlessly. And wait for their response. But they reply to you, "My brother is a magician" or "My boyfriend's a magician". Then they tell you they know how it is done, and that they're sick of magic tricks.

I'm pretty sure most of you have encountered this. Just wondering. What do you people do in this sort of situation?

Stop doing magic for the person. There are plenty of other folks who do enjoy it and love to be entertained. You can usually avoid this type of situation by not initiating the performance. Let them ask you. You'll find they're more appreciative.

Was it the ambitious card routine?

Yup, that's right. Finish the trick and walk away.

You should have asked beforehand if they're interestd to see magic. Don't just perform right away, not knowing they know magic, too.

Something like, "Sorry to bore you, would it be possible for you to introduce me to your brother?"

Look at it as a learning experience and try to take something away from it. Even if someone they know is a magician they can't (or shouldn't) know all of the methods behind all of the effects you know. Try something that is unquie or one you created and if they still seem unimpressed then thank them for their time and move on. The most important thing to me is learning something (anything) from every performance I give.

He's a friend, you were probably doing it more for practice than entertainment. Perhaps that's the vibe he got and fired back. We've all been there, he served his purpose, don't let it bother you.

You don't do your stuff in front of them anymore. End of story.

Cardfather, that's a great screen name!

Dismiss his brother as an amateur and explain that you are a professional. Proceed to do Out of this World, Brainwave, paddle move, etc., to prove beyond doubt that your abilities are superior to his brother's.

Or say...

"You're sick of magic tricks? Wanna see something really scary instead?"

All of my friends except one enjoy watching my magic. I do magic for all of my friends except that one.

Ryan

I always come prepared with alternative endings that would make even third timer audiences gasp. It's best that we come up with these alternatives. With an arsenal of alternative endings, we don't have to end the magic right there and then; we get to finish it and blow them away more. There will always be these types of people lurking around when we perform.

One option: say yeah that is a magic trick, you know sleight of hand stuff... then continue with a mentalism effectt and explain that you can't figure it out

Haha.. Good one magicmancas!

Grab their head and scream at them in a loud voice "The voices they tell me to do it! Make them stop! MAKE THEM STOP!" Then silently turn and walk away as if nothing happened.

Maybe not.

People have to want to see magic before doing any. And once you have people that enjoy your stuff, keep working for them, but don't over do it... it is often good to not work, saying you're working on something new to show them NEXT TIME.

Slap them and say that your not a magician, but a hobbit, and that you have the One...True Ring !

Great idea. Or...you could just not perform for them.