|
|
Go to page [Previous] 1~2 | ||||||||||
gimmick1586 Regular user 181 Posts |
I actually had something close to that once. I was playing around and showed a paintbrush color change. And one kid said man I don't know how you did that. I just grinned and we walked on. And some annoying kid that just happened to be there and saw it, caught on to it and he actually snatched the top two cards off. Looked what they were and chased down the kids I showed and was trying to show them how I did it. This made me mad. But they really didn't listen or care. But the guy who thought it was neat was like "Oh." Man that kid was annoying.
|
|||||||||
Russ Regular user Muskogee, Oklahoma 124 Posts |
I think it was Eugene Burgers in one of his earlier booklets he said what he does is:
Winks at the frisky spectator as if to say that he knows that, he knows the secret and says, "Don't tell 'em, sell it to them after I am done." I have never had the need to use it but have been prepared to. Russ
"All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten" by Robert Fulghum
|
|||||||||
Quest New user 56 Posts |
I sometimes find hecklers to be the people that give me way too much credit for what I am doing. Lol, it is funny to hear someone try to describe how you did an effect involving a simple double lift and they start involving thread, a pulley system and something physically impossible you did to your spleen...
Rather fascinating what the human imagination can come up with sometimes.
Quest
"Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is not." --Einstein |
|||||||||
AllThumbs Veteran user UK 375 Posts |
When I was at school a long time ago I experienced a similar sort of problem, which is basically kids will be kids and at school at that age others will want to embarrass you and make themselves look better than you. I then, at that age, only showed tricks to close friends and family or in situations where I couldn't have props grabbed from. The whole experience of doing tricks at school almost put me off magic for good and the enjoyment of it didn't really re-awaken until a couple of years ago when I was in NYC and out of the blue I decided to look up magic shops in the hotel Yellow Pages and ended up at Tannens. I only wish now I hadn't been discouraged so early—so don't give up!
With an adult audience hecklers are less of a problem. Adults watch magicians because they want to be entertained. And on the whole adults have learnt to respect other adults. Adult hecklers are basically kids that never grew up or they are family members (as mentioned by a previous poster). Don't take it to heart from a family member, especially if the effect relies on something mechanical. They have seen you grow up with you doing tricks for them, know quite a bit of magic subconciously and think it their place to tell you how it's done or right to know. Instead use family to get advice, "How do you think I can improve the trick?" As suggested by a previous poster you can discourage hecklers in the first place just *before* your act. (Ex given talking about how we are special because of sense of wonderment—psychologically suggests that if you are not mystified you are no more special than chimps or dogs and hecklers will more than likely keep their mouths shut.) If you do kids shows at parties, churches, barmizvahs, etc. a good ploy is often a bribe. Starting out with an "Anyone at the end of my show who doesn't know how I do any of my tricks will get a bar of chocolate" can work wonders. Kris Sheglova
The above is all rubbish, except that which you chose to believe
|
|||||||||
silent shadow Loyal user United Kingdom 231 Posts |
You can't get worse than those who are trying to guess how the trick is done out loud during the trick itself , this must be very annoying indeed , and to continue the trick after such a rude interuption must indeed be difficult , being a newbie illusionist myself I don't have that much experience of this (father-inlaw at christmas), but I can see it coming...
Ive read all above , some nice tip's Yep I'm an archiveist.
Magic or just an illusion? it's a free choice .... isn't it?
|
|||||||||
Darren Roberts Loyal user 222 Posts |
I disagree with the advice to make the heckler "look stupid", "put them on the spot", or otherwise embarass them. There is no "discrete way to do this.
If you have a person who is already borderline beligerent and you're dropping down to their level, they're only going to get more aggressive because they're getting the attention that they obviously want. Also, when you do that, it makes you look bad to the people who are trying to enjoy your magic. Think about how that sounds when the spectator gets home: "Well, we were watching this pretty good magician when a person said,'I know how you did that.' The magician then got real rude and mean to the guy. That magician was a real jerk." Again, there is no subtle, easy, or discrete way to make a spectator "look stupid." You've then lost all credibility as a magician and performer. If you can't find a graceful, non insulting way out of the situation then, as was stated above, just walk away. |
|||||||||
silent shadow Loyal user United Kingdom 231 Posts |
Good point darren , I wouldn't ask them to do the trick , kind of making them feel small isn't a good idea , setting off a challenge atmosphere, what if the rude man is a magician (unlikely) , now that would stuff you up..
Magic or just an illusion? it's a free choice .... isn't it?
|
|||||||||
Vikke Matikainen New user Finland 60 Posts |
I heard this one from Café and tried it yesterday. When someone explains your secret and it was or wasn't right, just say "Hmm.. that might work, I'll give it a try next time" that will give them a clear picture that they were wrong but you aren't actually hostile against them.
"The difference between fiction and reality is that fiction has to make sense."
- Tom Clancy |
|||||||||
Eirik Special user Oslo 879 Posts |
Since I do magic in bars, there will always be Hecklers around, due to the fact that the guests are intoxicated and often can feel challenged rather that entertained.
But in most cases it can be solved through solid spectator management, What I mean by that is the combination of self-confidence, skill and charm. But there will always be that one guy who will do anything to destroy your performance, and it is always that guy who feels challanged, because he feels "you're better than him". I'v found from experience that the best way is to involve that (damn)person, make him the one who the magic happens to, make him "the star" for a couple of tricks, and I promise you he'll think of you as his best friend.. -e-
...As long as i`m not a world-champion at anything, the great reactions of doin` magic will do just fine.....
|
|||||||||
Gary Dayton Special user New Jersey 542 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-02-18 06:45, Eirik wrote: This seems like very good advise. And, it makes me think about how I might turn the heckler into the star. One thought would be to use Bill Malone's presentation of the invisible deck (Standing Ovation) with the heckler getting the ovation. Since most hecklers just want the attention, this presentation has a lots of potential to turn the heckler into an ally and leave very positive thoughts in the minds of the rest of your audience. What other effects might we do to turn the heckler into the star? Gary |
|||||||||
TheNightBringer89 Special user 766 Posts |
Quote:
On 2002-09-17 19:35, Stephen Long wrote: Thanks Stephen! This is the best come back I have seen yet.
"Dreams are born of imagination, fed upon illusions, and put to death by reality."
It doesn't matter if you're right or wrong, If you're not like the others then you don't belong. |
|||||||||
JJDrew Loyal user Arizona 221 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-02-17 16:21, silent shadow wrote: In my book, the rude person is NEVER a magician. A magician has dealt with enough audiences to know how terrible it is to deal with people like that and wouldn't put another magician through the stress and possible embaressment. That's not to say that the person doesn't actually know the "secrets." He may even have practiced and performed for people. It's simply that to me, part of what defines a magician is his/her comportment towards other magicians. A gentleman may swordfight, but not everyone who swordfights is a gentleman, if you see what I mean. |
|||||||||
Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
This topic spotlights a sore spot with me...
I think the above reasoning (the peformer is at fault), is the very reason I had SO much of a hard time in the past. I would struggle through it, ignoring the cat-calls and razzes...problem was, I'd do magic at a moments notice, whether people wanted to see it or not...I should have gotten a clue when I heard, "...Oh, no...here we go again..." Then the "heckling" started...my fault...period. You could tell I was rattled. That only invites more. Snowball effect. Today, I figure, if someone wants to ruin the "atmosphere" I'm taking the trouble to weave...-I mean, it's like a storyteller with a group around a campfire. How long do you think he/she would continue at constant interruptions? Not long, I imagine. Same thing, first, look at your performance. Where and why you do magic. Then the "how" comes next. Then, if someone wants to step in and ruin it? Stop. Going on can sometimes telegraph your frustration as the heckler continues...there are some people you don't WANT to include in the routine, they just happen to be there, and politely smiling as you put your stuff away, (not even acknowledge the heckler) saying, "I'm sorry, perhaps this is not a good time...see me later if you'd still like to see what I've been working on..." You're walking away at this point. The rest of the group will, most likely, come down on the person, and you will retain your dignity. You will get to show the ones who ARE interested, and who have the class to respect someone who takes the trouble of showing their gems... My $.02 Doug |
|||||||||
silent shadow Loyal user United Kingdom 231 Posts |
Spot on with my gut feelings dougini , best post ive read in the month ive been here.
from a newbie noted JJDrew ..
Magic or just an illusion? it's a free choice .... isn't it?
|
|||||||||
Dougini Inner circle The Beautiful State Of Maine 7130 Posts |
Thank you, JJ...
Didn't mean to rant on...it just bugs me that some people have so little respect. As I approach 50, I'm finding my tolerance for rudeness is almost zero. Golden Rule. Period. Doug |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » New to magic? » » "I know how he does it!" (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page [Previous] 1~2 |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |