As some of you know, i do the occasional magic show on a voluntary basis time to time.
Inevitably, after a little show, esp at children events, you get a surge of questions of "how do you do that?", "teach me to do that!", "I want to learn magic!"...etc etc.
While my standard response is to smile and ask "did you enjoy that?", i cannot help but wonder how much "interest" must someone show before it is acceptable to "initiate" him/her into magic or even point them in the direction they can go?

What would be a good "test" for someone to prove that they are geniunely interested in learning magic and know that they will actually practice and use it and not just know the secrets?
I was thinking of showing them how to do a coin roll and check on them 2 weeks later? Do you think that's "testing" enought or too "testing"?

What do you guys think?


Cheers

U wan to teach kids how to perform? :)

Not really wanna go that direction but inevitably, people will ask "How did you do that?!?!?!", especially children, and they reminds me of when i was starting to get interested in doing magic.

If someone is geniunely interested, i would be so happy to point them in the right directions and even teach them a little. But EVERYBODY is always interested when you just did a magic effect. What would be a good gauge on who is really serious?

It's the same problem with a lot of online magic sites and they opted to ask magic trivia questions as prove of knowledge and seriousness, which i think is so so weak.
So what would convince you that someone is REALLY interested?

when he bugs me for an effect everytime i see him..
then, i show him an effect, and he/she tries to figure out...

i teach him a simple move, he master it when i see him the next time..
learning attitude...:)
(So far, hvt met any..;p)

I've got people who bug me as well, but I refuse to give in. What I'd tell them is to go buy a book (Mark Wilson's is a good choice) perform a few tricks in the book to show sincerity. From then on, I'll share with them some simple stuff.

If not, I'll get them to invest in some tricks/ dvd. Nothing is free in this world.

Yeah, i think that's a good one. For them to take the initiative to go source out the resources for magic first. Even if they cannot afford it, they still can go to the library and find a few magic books.
And i wouldn't be able to "mentor" them forever, so if they can show initiative, we will know even after us, they will continue to grow in this art.

well theres is no exact way to test a persons interest in magic. You first have to warn them that it is an art. It is not something that is done to impress. IT is something that requires alot of practise and ....... just give some stern warnings
if they are still interested, teach them a simple card trick and leave ur number
if they call back, they are usually interested else they are not.

Actually you can really tell. I was ask to teach some secondary students magic but in my first meeting with them, they have given me a impression that they just wan to learn and show off.. Kind of dissapointed. ;)

To learn magic is not about buying props or to learn from magic shop. Magic is an art! Any kind of art need APPRECIATION! Find the beauty in it! And as an art Appreciation is not enough if u want to be an artist! An Artist u need to sacrifice your time, energy and maybe your life to achieve the ovation!! So when people appreciate your art doesn't mean they can become an artist! They need to feel "the pain" to be an artist! LIKE REAL EH!! :D :P :P