recently i learned the 2 cards monte and was eager to show it to my cousin... although there lots of room for improvement i manage to pull through the trick and get the reaction i wanted... and much more which im not prepared for.... although the commonly asked question:'how did you do that?' i was caught in the middle of keeping the secret or keeping the ties.....

well, my natural answer was ' well, is magic!' but this was not enough to satisfy my cousin, soon he became over persistent and was using emotional blackmail on me... my mouth remain shuts and the ties is snapping... haiz~

maybe is due to my inexperience in dealing with my audience.... so can anyone share their experience on how they overcome this kind of situation? how to handle over curious people and what to say to keep both the secret and the ties?

(for ties i meant relationship bond)

Well wen, i did experienced that kind of situation where my friends or relatives keep pestering me how to do these tricks.

For me, i just say that my hands are fast and i have been paying to learn these tricks. So somehow, they will understand that if i reveal these tricks unnecessarily, it would be very unfair to me. My job is to just entertain them, make them have the "URGE" to see more amazing stuff but not revealing those tricks that i have shown.

Ermm, i understand your dissatisfaction of the audience reactions when you have performed the two card Monte trick. Well, don't be sad because different people have different types of reactions. Moreover, some people are like that. They will use emotional blackmail or so called use friendship/ties to "threaten" you if they are really keen on knowing how the tricks are done. Just explain to them nicely and tell them that magic is a secret that cannot be revealed anyhow.

In conclusion if that kind of situation still happens, stop showing tricks to them. :)

I'll tell them this: "if I tell you I'll have to kill you..." They'll stop asking after that, it always work whether you use it on audience or anyone else but please don't use it on kids, they'll be afraid of you...

-Alan-

one thing, to me, is for sure, showing your cousins or friends magic trick is not a good idea. they will try their very best to know how the trick i done. but in desperate times like this, for me, i will change the subject. easy as that.

cuz : "hey, tell me how you do that la! i want to show my friends leh"

*here comes the part

me : "smells nice, whats your mum cooking? im really hungry"

cuz : "i dont know wat shes cooking, lets have a look, tell me your trick after we finish eating k?"

me : (munching on food)

and he will soon forget about it or will somehow realise that im never going to tell him. ;)

Get the Creature - http://www.emagictricks.co.uk/product_info...roducts_id=4900
or Diablo - http://shopping.netsuite.com/s.nl/sc.2/c.3....334/id.6673/.f

The next time someone asks you how did you do it, introduce them to your little friend.
^_^

You can make use of some of the posts above to help you get out of that situation. Just never reveal the secret.

Anyway, you should be happy that your cousin was pestering you how the 2 card monte was done. It shows that you have pulled it off really well despite the lack of preparation.

wahahaha... those are cute! haha... but the price too steep bah... i think i will stick with bdkbwhblk method bah~ haha... got free meal some more... :P thanks for all you guys feedback! feel more encouraged now..

The only solution, do 2 card monte on a stranger.
i bet 100% that you can ignore them if they ask you " how do you do the trick"
they will not have the guts to pester ya.
If this don't work, show them a even better trick.

Btw, i feel that showing a trick to ur best friend or your family members is the worst. As for practice , i will do it to a good buddy who already know the trick. their advice is very, very useful.

I used to say that last time. Then, I realised that this means to some people that you're actually hinting them to pay you to tell them the secrets; which isn't very ideal.

Basically, I would just simply ignore the question, with a simple smile or continue with other effects, which allows audience participation, so its like: "they do the trick", instead of you. When they ask you again, you can use your imagination to counter back, such as, "I've no damn idea how you did that, I should be the one asking you.", "Didnt you just did it?", "Just do it." It'll probably exchange back for a couple of laughters, enough for you to "run away" by changing the subject to something else that's not magic or another situation with other effects.

I also realised, people often ask me where I learn magic from, or well, where THEY can learn from; knowing that they're unable to get anything out of me. So far I havent really found any way to "siam" that, because personally I dont think its ideal to let layman know too much on sources on magic; imagine all rich people turn to magicians. Usually what I would do is smile and ignore, or do the same situation like when they ask me to reveal/teach them a trick, or reveal an exaggerated amount of money I've spent, showing that its an expensive hobby. However, by doing that sometimes, its often crosses my mind that I'm actually hinting them to pay me; like I said earlier. Well, it all depends on who the audiences you're dealing with.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Worst Case Scenario

I think I did reveal a couple of tricks for several people; due to over-pestering etc. Damn girls especially, cant use the HARD methods like you do against guys when they pester you for things like that. Hahaha. :P

Simple tricks is good enough. I'm sure the globalised 21-card trick, if you add in presentation, its a fairly good trick against laymen.

The more serious ones that I revealed was probably classic palm and muscle pass to a couple of fairly old schoolmates. But I realised something, if they are unable to do the trick immediately, they'll gradually forget it. Even if they know that the "Anti-gravity" coin is done by squeezing the coin outta your palm, they're probably never gonna be able to do it unless they practise for a month like we did. But they're laymen, no passion, no real love for the art of magic, why would they do that?

But I think that happened to me like 2 or 3 times, during my 13 months of "Magic Journey". :P However, I dont think that'll happen anymore again, experience is the key. Once you know how to "siam" all these shit, that when they ask you how its done, you know that yourself has done a good job in presenting that trick. B)

:huh: idon't have a good buddy who is doing magic also.... :(

but thanks to dtjk! yeah experience is the key! but if i don't show ppl also cannot gain experience right.... haha...

Usually I'll tell them to buy books to learn and if they don't understand can give me a call (good way to give out your name card), normally nobody will buy, many will stop once they open the book and find that they don't understand a bit, and those I give name cards will ask me back for shows. After that they won't ever ask you to teach them or ask where can they learn it any more.

When performing you have to prepare for suituation like this lol.... But this is gain thru experience lah... My way of doing the siam is very simple tell them is magic lol...

Few eg hope this can do a little help...

Layman/cousin:"How you do that"
Magician :huh? How I do wat??
Layman/cousin:"That trick you just show me"
Magician: Oooo that hmmm.. I some how forgot how i did it as it magic it come to me in that moment and left me in another
Layman/cousin : ........

Second eg

Cousin : Wow can you teach me how to do it ?
Magician : If I teach you it will never be magicial anymore right
Cousin : Don't bluff lah
Magician : I never bluff you I only do magic to enterian
cousin :.....

Maybe its lame lah but it do works lol :D

Hmm.. Personally i'll try not to involve money in there.
It'll seems like just a product, u got the money, u perform miricles. And it's not "magic" to them anymore even if they don't buy them, all it needs is that they know u bought it from the "trick shop" and learn the "trick" and perform them. Not magical.
Maybe it's just me :)

I'll always try to emphasize on the hard work instead of the money. And if they want to know where i learn, i'll say i got a mentor(u can say that even if u dun have one, it works) :lol:

what ever method u choose, just don't expose anything....seriously. for me, i don't really follow a specific method... try to be spontaneous and just be casual about it.

its ok even when they keep pestering you... they'll stop after a few hours, or days.

I found out that many magicians in Singapore didnt take the art seriously.. i happen to see my secondary classmate today and know what?
He show me 2 card monte. He is not a magician nor interested in doing magic yet he show me 2 card monte in a "ANYHOW" way..
No presentation no nothing. jus showing out the cards and exposing the trick. i show him the actual way how the trick should look like and i told him " come on " stop showing!
I think tricks really spread fast man. people jus cant stop showing off tricks and telling their friends how its done. :off:

I don't think you can call them magicians. Probably clowns. Don't even bother to correct them. Let them do it wrongly, after a while, they'll just give up and go on with their lives.

Yeah. They are probably just excited after knowing how to do a magic trick and go around exposing it...
But they'll soon pass the period and move on.

Hm.. Ive tried one funny method... :
"how u do ar?"

"wait ar.. Phone ring"
"hello..Yea... Now?"
"I guess i have to go... see ou guys around!" Hahaha!

When I ask them to turn over the cards to see which card is which (whether it's clubs or spades on top or diamonds or hearts on top) I will shout "HEY! HOW DID YOU DO THAT?"

I will act like he was the one who did it. And if he keeps asking me I will just tell him I don't know.

i'd rather not give a "i dun noe" response.

handle it professionally. if u want to give an evasive response, give a good one. dun appear cornered or anything, show that u have control over the situation.


a classic reply which i kinda like is:

Q: "how did u do that?"
A: "very well, thank you."

then move on to the next effect.


another one i like is:

Q: "how did u do that?"
A: "u know, i became a magician to find out how i did that!"


u can also try to change the topic:

Q: "how did u do that?"
A: "amazing isnt it? wait till u see this..."

then next effect...


the other more common one (although i dun really like this cos it seems a little haughty. shud be used only when u built good rapport with the audience):

Q: "how did u do that?"
A: "can u keep it a secret?"
Q: "yes"
A: "so can i."


another which i dun like cos its just not me:

Q: "how did u do that?"
A: "if i tell u, ive gotta kill u, parade your dead body through the streets, chop it into pieces and feed it to vulcans..."



u shud find something that suits u.


of course, there shud not be such questions for the finale effect (at least, not directed at u). to prevent such questions, make sure they know it IS the finale effect. (make sure its a real powerful effect, say a big thank you at the end, etc.)


(just wanna add something after reading some other posts on this thread)

some ppl may offer advice in the form of:
"if XXX, u shud just YYY. i did it, and heck, it works!"

what im trying to say is that just because it works doesnt mean its good.

its like ppl suggesting u just run away after u do an effect when they ask how u do it. and its also like ppl suggesting u point behind them and shout "monster" when u need misdirection.

and yes, such have appeared on forums many times...


of course, i can easily suggest that when someone ask u how u did something, u whip out a sharp, silver, gleaming knife and wave it at them, and tell them in a threatening tone, "dont ever ask me that again". and trust me, they'll never ask u again! :)


ive suggested some liners above, other ppl also have on this thread, but just think what the liners will portray u as. will it suit the personality ur trying to portray?

frankly, i wud really like to do the "if i tell u, i'll have to kill u" thing, its kinda cool. but, it wudnt suit me. perhaps it will suit u, if u can pull it off without looking like a smart aleck, or perhaps looking like one if that is your stage personality.

here's my take on how to prevent them from asking anymore..

Some one usually ask, hey, come on , i am your best friend, tell me the trick, i sumpah promise cross my heart, i will not tell anyone...


Here's my response...

Me to him :

Ya know, i went to watch David Copperfield perform in Singapore...Twice..

The second time in which he performed in Singapore, he performed his highly acclaimed illusion, the flying effect. The one, you know, he flew around the stadium without any wires?

I was so amazed! i stayed on for the whole show... waited till it was over.. I managed to sneak backstage and saw him sitting there, drinking his cup of whatever... [ milo, kopi-o, teh cinno , make it up ].

He stood up, I walked towards him..

and i asked , " Eh, David! How did u do the flying trick har? "


and the response to the guy will end here..
If he/she doesn't catch the drift, just continue with another simple effect which is already known by everyone else in the world..

Pretty amusing, but I don't catch the drift...

Ya..I also don't really understand this part....Is a response or a joke? :D

he ment that if david teach him how to fly, he will teach you the trick....
but david WONT teach him how to fly.... so obvious the answer is no to the friend asking you to teach him the trick....
am i right?

yea..


but if u have to explain a pun to break it down...

no longer fun...


well... the response actually depends on the audience...

I have had audiences whom roared with laughter after telling them the punchline..

and I had some whom asked if David Copperfield gave me a good answer..

either way, I just smile and proceed on.

Just Use any of their excuses or maybe something like this.
For kids...
Kid:How you do that ?
You:If I told you I would be caught for breaking the rule that says "Never reveal how the trick is done"

They would probably laugh it off like you are doing right now and forget about the topic of knowing how its done.
That should stop them from asking anymore.

Adults.
Just tell them its a code in magic that you should never reveal how a tricks done. They will stop asking... B)

Nah, kids are not so easily dismissed. They would pester you no matter what, especially unruly kids. They will run up to you and hug you asking you to tell them the secret.
By giving them a souvenir and telling them that that will teach them how the trick works, works for me.

Adults are less die hard. Any lines provided by Alan in another topic would keep them away.

For kids this is what I'll do:

Kid: How do you do that?
Magician: Why do you want to know?
(some kids won't know how to answer from this point onwards)

or

Kid: How do you do that?
Magician: I'm a magician, that's how I did it! ^_^
Kid: Can you teach me please?
Magician: Ok! Here's my card, ask your dad/mom to call me and I'll be there.
(Good way to get business :P )

or for die hard kids:

Kid: How do you do that?
Magician: Why do you want to know?
Kid: I want to know!
Magician: Why do you want to know?
Kid: Please!
Magician: Why do you want to know?
(Just keep asking whatever question they can't answer...)

sometimes I'll say this:

Kid: How do you do that?
Magician: Why do you want to know?
Kid: I want to know!
Magician: Ok, if you can tell me why you have 5 fingers I'll tell you how I did it...
(some kids will actually ask their parents how they get 5 fingers! watch how the parents answer them! :g:

-Alan-)

haha the best for kids is if you can, make them a ballon scalpture, haha
kid: how to do that mr?
you: wait * makes ballon scalpture rabbit *, figure out how i do this and you will be able to do it.
kid: huh? *blurs out and walk away with ballon *