In your opinions, do you think it's better to project a image that you are doing "real" magic (like Criss Angel) or to let people know that it's all sleight-of-hands? Will it make you more believable and respectable in the eyes of your audiences?


I remember there was this time, at a gathering, one of my friends was talking about the tricks she saw on Mondo Magic and Mind Freak. Of course, I felt it was time for me to show them some mondo magic of my own.

But when I offered for them, they vehemently refused, saying that my tricks were all for "cheating little girls". And when I told them I can do some of the things they did on Mondo Magic, but they refused to believe, they said those guys on tv were "real" magic whereas mine is "fake" magic. You can imagine my exasperation.

Some people, when they know it is all sleight-of-hands, simply do not want to show appreciation after watching your tricks. To them, appreciation is acknowledging that they are fooled. So they tried to make remarks like: "Aiyah, fake one lah, must be very fast hands..."

So how to react to these type of audiences.

Make them believe you are doing real magic.

If they think you are doing "cheating little girls" tricks with your fast hands then perform some mind reading effects. Spread the deck, let them freely pick a card then name it. If you are good let them just picture a card in their mind then name it. It'll fry them.

I think presentation is the key to make them believe that magic is real.

For example put a card on the table, ask them to put their hand on top of the card. "Now the even the fastest hand can't remove that card because your hand is on top." They agreed and still the card changes to another card.

If they think that those things on tv are real then do those tv street magic stuf for them.

I realised that doing magic to people that you know personally does not get reactions that you get from doing magic to strangers.

It might be the 1st impression you gave them. There might be once u screw up real bad in front of them, and that might result in them no longer believing in your magic.

"If anyone asks you how David Blaine levitates, tell them he's gay."

- David Acer

dun try too hard to show people you can do the stuff. If they say dun wan then dun wan lor...

The harder you try to sell the more lame they think you are....sometimes i just do subtle things...like when I'm eating ....i just make a note that my ring is making my hand pain and i cant remove it. Then i just shake it off the finger... up to you...

theres really alot of ways...

The best way is always the element of suprise. It's the mighty weapon magicians have that can bring out the awe in anyone.

I think your image is projected onli when ppl say what u are. Take an example, there are ppl saying that i good with my hands, when i show them "slowly", they still cant catch it. Those ppl, dun believe in magic, but they still they you good.

Another one is, they will think hard, and know its impossible to be done, then they believe in magic, then you are magician. So it actually quite general. But something i thought of using a story behind to make the magic, its works sometime, it doesnt works. Normally because i feel its because of the nature of street magic, you see, there is no story background when you suddenly leviate from the floor. Or make a card rise to the top, what street magic needs is a plot, you need to set traps to lead ppl deeper, and when they realise they still at orchard watching you float, then they have no choice but to believe its magic.

My traps are simply telling ppl to focus on what i doing, and telling them its possible to be done, i wont tell them how i achieve, those satan force or wat. by then they believe u got the force.

Thats how i feel la.

Side story: A lady ask me whether i wan to join her chruch anot when i was beside her on the train listening to MP3 and playing with black tiger. I should have told her that i under the dark magic, called Satan Magic Circle.

I say if your friends are not receptive to seeing you do magic, then don't do it.

Seriously.

They are not going to enjoy watching it. And you are not going to enjoy performing it. And you are not obliged to anyways.

But as a note of personal experience, I think that you know, we should do our stuff to fit a context. I mean, picture these 2 scenarios:

Spoon through ring
1) "Hey, let me show you something". You take a spoon out of your pocket, take out a ring, plunge the spoon headfirst through the ring.

2) You and a group of friends are having lunch. "Hey you know what? Let me show you something". You take his spoon, take another person's ring, plunge the spoon headfirst into the ring.

The same effect, performed in different scenarios.

STS (excellent example)
1) You go up to your friend, "Hey, I can tie my shoelace without touching them". You untie your shoelace, shake your leg and it ties into a knot again.

2) You walk around with your shoelace untied, your friend goes "Hey your shoelace is untied". You then go "Oh thanks", shake your leg, and the shoelace is then tied again.

I think by choosing the right time and people to perform to, it adds to your repertoire of being a magician.

But one precaution though, your friends will start to beg you for magic soon after (can't stand my friends doing that) :P