i'd just thought i'd put this out.

Have you guys ever experienced your audience trying to grab your crads, hands, gimmicks when you are performing? I notice this mostly when you perform close up for friends. With strangers, not so often.

How do your stop them from trying to grab your TT / DF card, DB card, etc?

yeah, i agree that some people just like to touch ya cards. it really depends on how much of a heckler or "unrespectful" they are. \

most people i perform to are ok, as in they dont turn over the card or touch the cards until i tell them to. when doing magic, magician should always be in control. never let spec control the situation.

another way is to when doing ML, dont la put the cards so near to them. ya hand motions also play a part. dont give them a chance to take control of their actions. u tell them wat u want them to do.

if u think they gonna touch ya cards or watever, just tell them before the trick "ok, im gonna do sumthing and i would like you to follow my directions.. k.... watch... ". saying this kinda phrase will let them know that ok... that they are to follow ur directions.

it works for me this kinda patter.

Hi MagicB,

You are right! We have to control the audience and not the audience control us. If so, then it's a disaster.

I never came across this kind of situation but if let's say you know your audience well, then this will not happen.

If your audience one or two of them is not the cooperate type, then perform impromptu magic, if your audience willing to watch you magic and cooperate with you, then gimmick kind of magic is still welcome.

But, overall, I think perform impromptu magic is better than gimmick stuffs.

But, I have to admit that some impromptu magic can't achieve the particular effect but gimmick stuffs can. ;)

For instance, David Regal's 'Triple Visions' effect is a gimmick version but Oz Pearlman brought to another higher level where Oz's version now can be performed impromptu.

That's what I like it. ^_^

Andrew

IMHO, We should be good enough that they won't think we are using gimmicks...
but I think this can only apply to cards and coins....
if we start off without gimmicks, and normally perform impromptuly without gimmicks....specs wil get used to it and won't think that we're using trick cards/coins....
and when they do, we MAKE USE and TAKE ADVANTAGE of them by using gimmicks...
*evil laugh* HAHAHAH....

as for other close up stuff, like pen thru dollar..etc, i really think should do a switch or clean up....

just my 2 cents..
:)

That's right! Sometimes you have to ditch off the gimmick the leave you clean, etc.

But, IMHO, I think when you want to use gimmick to perform magic, choose your audience carefully and wisely. Of course, you would not find that kind of audience that want to ruin your show. ^_^

In my humble opinion, I think ladies they are less finding trouble with you, they will see and watch your performance without disturbing your props. Of course, I am not saying all ladies are the same, right?? ;)

I came across especially male audience, you have to be careful, and yes, sometimes they just grab your things away.

But, I think if you perform for strangers, they are less likely behave like that. ;)

Strangers will follow your word and they rarely will ruin your performance.

Andrew

:mellow: When I perform Levitation/Animation effects, I get people poking their faces right up until their are inches away, trying to see if there are any IT's, LOL.

How would you guys handle such a situation?

maybe u can try to do a V shape with your first 2 fingers and then pook their eyes??? hahahaha :lol: :lol:

If you think about it, that would happen only when the spec has a basic understanding that there has some sort of thread or something that should.. ya know. So for those kinda spec, may be don't show IT stuff at all?

Perform magic that doesn't require any thinking :)

i think that levitation effect, most people would know there kinda some strings attached... i mean common, its a give away already when a product says "No strings attached" implying that other levitation requires strings.

Most people, even laymen would know of such strings, but wat they dont know is how u attach them or how u do it. all they know is sure got strings one.... that is how we as magicians trying to convince them moving our hands top and bottom and sides to show that there's no strings attached... hehe lol..

hmm...
Brendan

B, I believe that's a misconception. I've seen a whole load of people who perceive simple floating bill as real magic :)

i dunno, but ive never been caught using IT in public. ppl just assume that its real magic...

a word here though, i ALWAYS start off with other effects, like cards, TT tricks etc. then i break out the IT. you need to get the public in a magic mood. hehe.

Hey, nice thread going... ^_^

I think it depends on how you plan your routine as well... what comes first, what's next and such. You could try fork bending (Banachek style!) just the simple prong bend which in itself is already very visual. I have people screaming sometimes even.

Do your magus patter thingy (you all have your own style) and do your thread work later ;) You could reason with them that you need "some space" so don't come near you because it might be dangerous or you need to concentrate and stuff.

The thing is, with ITRs, I believe that you shouldn't do fancy floatations or leave it 'hanging' for too long :P A simple short levitation is good enough. You want the right balance to achieve max impact for your audience anyway, not some ego trip :P

Ning

*pOof*

Well, for me I've learned to walk away when things get real messy. When you have a real hard case heckler. Just finish up the routine there and then and just politely excuse yourself to the toilet, saying you cannot tahan anymore! Hahaha!

We as magicians cannot lose our cool. We are entertainers of sorts. I've had to deal with some hecklers too. Male and female! They just want to expose me as a fraud instead of enjoying the magic. But thats the thing I guess. Those who have known you before you were a magician will tend to take you as a trickster instead of believing that you have "magical" powers! Ehehe! Which we all do of course! *COUGH COUGH*

But sometimes can get quite 'geram' also lah. I had this guy who was grabbing my deck. The second time he did so, I just dropped the cards on the floor making it look like it was the heckler's fault as though it was HIM who screwed up my performance for the other people. They were like saying what a jerk the guy was. I covered for him by saying "Its ok guys it's my fault. He is my disgruntled assistant. I haven't payed him for 2 months so he's quite cheesed off!" Hahaha! Then the fella kena gelak and he walked off! Hahaha! What to do? His own fault what. Right?

So always keep your cool and don't let 'these' people ruin your performance. Peace!

Nice one shugster :lol: Damn... what I'd give to see the look on that guy's face...

But as far as gimmicks go... they don't exist ^_^ Shhhh.... :rolleyes:

Regards,
Shan

Ahahahahahah! Nice one Shug!

i am a gimmick guy.... seldom get cought when using gimmick
after your gimmicked routine.. you have 2 choices, proceed to next routine or say bye bye and walk away.. never give ur spec time to think, haha...
of course u can do switching la..