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edlandau
New user
22 Posts
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Posted: Apr 11, 2008 12:57am
I used to be really bad... girlfriends... family... etc. all used to want to know how tricks are done. I was soft.
Then I met a magician. I knew that if I was going to learn any more tricks, I was going to have to learn how to keep my mouth shut.
I find it hard to do so without offending my best friends... family etc. My excuse: I want this magician I met to respect me (so maybe he can teach me)... and that seems to work. But it is hard.
Any suggestions on other techniques to get out of it?
-Ed
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JasonbytheOcean
Regular user
Washington, D.C.
101 Posts
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Posted: Apr 11, 2008 9:16am
Two ideas:
1) Try Humor to diffuse the situation - One of my favorite lines when someone asks is to look at them squarely and seriously, and say, "Can you keep a secret?" When they nod yes, I wink and say, "So can I!" I've never had anyone offended by it, almost always gets a laugh and diffuses the tension. I think this is a gag that's been out there a while, not sure who originated it.
2) The other is to consider that at some level, people know magicians don't reveal secrets. One person really surprised me, after she begged for the secret, when she said that she respected me MORE because I was a REAL magician, because real magicians don't give away their secrets! Unless you're performing with a style that screams "Ha ha, I can do this and you can't," people are not going to be offended because you keep the secret.
The other thing you'll probably see over time is that, invariably, as soon as people find out how the trick is done, they get a disappointed look because it turns out to be "easy," even though you may have spent hours or more practicing. Only a few people really like and admire the technique behind the effect, and if they really want to pursue it they'll look later (or maybe, take the opportunity to invite them to an IBM or SAM meeting - we could use more of them in the clubs!). A few more of those looks and you'll probably stop, kind of like snapping a rubberband on your wrist to rid a bad habit.
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Chappo
Special user
Bris Vegas
752 Posts
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Posted: Apr 11, 2008 7:57pm
Humour is a big one for me. One of the best takes on this (that I have ever heard and intend to use a lot more) is that to know the secret the spec must 'buy' the trick. I intend to reference the fantastic Café member who posted that idea as soon as I find where it was. Basically:
"How did you do that?"
"Oh, so you want to buy my deck?"
"What!?!?"
"Well you want to know the secret don't you? I'd be happy to sell you the deck!"
"how much"
"(Insert ludicrous price)"
The rules of a sleight of hand artist, Are three, and all others are vain,
The 1st & the 2nd are practice... And the 3rd one is practice again
- 'Magic of the Hands', Edward Victor (1940)
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edlandau
New user
22 Posts
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Posted: Apr 12, 2008 2:02am
I agree... if you do tell the trick... they're dissapointed. And Yes, I have had people say they respect the fact that I don't reveal it... but my co-worker... next door to me... won't let me forget that I'm not telling him how the linking rubber-bands work. I guess I'm doing the right thing. Thanks for your thoughts.
-Ed
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L Trunk
Loyal user
Australia
205 Posts
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Posted: Apr 12, 2008 7:04am
Baffle them with bull.
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edlandau
New user
22 Posts
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Posted: Apr 12, 2008 10:27am
I'm finding that there's a lot more the magic than just tricks!!
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Father Photius
Grammar Host
El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo)
15702 Posts
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Posted: Apr 12, 2008 8:10pm
Wild Rube Goldberg explanations both entertain and get the message across, plus you would be surprised how many believe them.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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jimhlou
Inner circle
2898 Posts
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Posted: Apr 12, 2008 9:20pm
I have a magician friend who replys, when asked "how'd you do that?"
"Very well, thank you!"
Jim
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Justin Style
Inner circle
2010 Posts
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Posted: Apr 13, 2008 3:22pm
I always say, "okay, take off your clothes and I'll tell you." Most people end it right there. And the ones who did take off their clothes now know the value of keeping a secret...
I am not making this up.
Try it.
Let me know what happens.
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edlandau
New user
22 Posts
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Posted: Apr 13, 2008 4:09pm
Oooo.... I've got to try that one 
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rikbrooks
Inner circle
Olive Branch, Mississippi
1317 Posts
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Posted: Apr 14, 2008 7:21am
I just smile at them and let my eyes say, "You KNOW I'm not going to do that." Sometimes I'll pat them on their shoulder. I like the intimacy of the touch. It says, "I ain't about to tell you but I still think you're great."
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Jaz
Inner circle
NJ, U.S.
6113 Posts
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Posted: Apr 19, 2008 11:30am
"How is it done? C'mon.... TELL ME!!!"
--------
"Why do you want to know?"
"How much would you pay for the secret? $50, $100, more?"
"Sleight of hand."
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Hearttau
Elite user
New Jersey: Exit 15 E
423 Posts
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Posted: Apr 23, 2008 2:07pm
Here's another one. " If I tell you, there will be a little less magic and wonder in your life. Do you really want to know?" So far, its always worked for me. Of course, there's always the old standby: " I could tell you, but then you'll disappear." The kids back off with that one. 
Lentidigitator: “A magic artist who performs slow motion magic”... Rene Lavand
"Peace and all good"... St. Francis
"Hold on to your joy!"... Me 
http://mysite.verizon.net/hearttau/
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Der Magier
New user
24 Posts
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Posted: Apr 25, 2008 4:43pm
Quote:
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Of course, there's always the old standby: " I could tell you, but then you'll disappear." The kids back off with that one.
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I'll have to try that one on my little brother . of course, I'm trying to learn 'stuck to the floor', just in case!
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Bird Man
New user
29 Posts
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Posted: Apr 25, 2008 6:28pm
 funny I know a couple tricks myself.
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Loopback
Veteran user
Lincoln, Nebraska
345 Posts
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Posted: Apr 26, 2008 10:38am
I recently joined up with the IBM and now I just tell them I cant or the magic mafia will come after me for breaking the oath.
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edlandau
New user
22 Posts
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Posted: Apr 26, 2008 12:09pm
What's IBM?
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Chappo
Special user
Bris Vegas
752 Posts
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Posted: Apr 26, 2008 9:14pm
International Brotherhood of Magicians.
--> http://www.magician.org/
The rules of a sleight of hand artist, Are three, and all others are vain,
The 1st & the 2nd are practice... And the 3rd one is practice again
- 'Magic of the Hands', Edward Victor (1940)
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Bird Man
New user
29 Posts
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Posted: Apr 28, 2008 9:01pm
That's funny there is so much reading involved but Im not saying I don't like readind.
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Justin Style
Inner circle
2010 Posts
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Posted: Apr 29, 2008 10:49am
Quote:
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On 2008-04-26 10:38, Loopback wrote:
I recently joined up with the IBM and now I just tell them I cant or the magic mafia will come after me for breaking the oath.
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Ay, yo! Come on, there's no such thing as the Mafia
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Bird Man
New user
29 Posts
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Posted: Apr 30, 2008 6:56pm
Nice. 
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QED
New user
Alexandria, VA
73 Posts
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Posted: May 1, 2008 3:20pm
How'd you do that?
I could tell you, but then I'd have to turn you into a toad.
works great on the kids...
How'd you do that?
You don't REALLY want to know, do you?
How'd you do that?
Quite well...
How'd you do that?
Magic...
How'd you do that?
Eye of newt and hair of dog... and a pinch of cumin...
How'd you do that?
I won't tell you how I did that, but I'll tell you the biggest secret in all of magic... would you like to know it?
Sure...
(whispered)Whatever magic secret you want to know, it's in a book somewhere...
All you have to do is find the book...
that way, if they have a true interest in magic, they will make the effort to seek it out... if not, they don't deserve to know...
David Quidas
Alexandria, VA
I'm here to tell ya, and I don't mind tellin' ya, but I ain't sayin' nothin', if ya know what I'm sayin'...
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Bird Man
New user
29 Posts
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Posted: May 5, 2008 11:37pm
I really don't get that really? 
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RachelMilano
New user
United States
83 Posts
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Posted: May 31, 2008 9:06am
Hi Ed. Noticed your post and just had to reply.
When anyone, and I do mean anyone ask me to reveal an effect I use this reply 100% of the time. A good magician never reveals his or her secrets, the key word being good. If they persist I repeat...a good magician never reveals his or her secrets. Then I ask them...if I showed you how it was done what kind of magician would I be?
By this time anyone with an IQ 4 above a napkin has gotten my drift. Be polite but firm. Rachel.
I'd much rather regret something I've done than something I was too afraid to do. Have a great day. Rachel.
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doulos
New user
Fort Worth, TX
61 Posts
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Posted: Jun 3, 2008 12:57am
Quote:
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On 2008-05-01 15:20, QED wrote:
How'd you do that?
I could tell you, but then I'd have to turn you into a toad.
works great on the kids...
How'd you do that?
Eye of newt and hair of dog... and a pinch of cumin...
How'd you do that?
I won't tell you how I did that, but I'll tell you the biggest secret in all of magic... would you like to know it?
Sure...
(whispered)Whatever magic secret you want to know, it's in a book somewhere...
All you have to do is find the book...
that way, if they have a true interest in magic, they will make the effort to seek it out... if not, they don't deserve to know...
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Hey Q.. good to see you here. I like these the best.
-Shoop
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michaelmagicart
Loyal user
254 Posts
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Posted: Jun 3, 2008 2:12pm
How is it done? C'mon.... Tell
(1) I do it better than most.
(2) I was hoping you could tell me. I amaze myself sometimes.
(3) My Grandmother was a witch.
(4) Give me your credit card number and expiration date and I will be happy to tell you.
(5) I'll trade the secret for the keys to your car.
(6) I'll trade you the secret for the deed to your house.
(7) You mean you don't do it that way? I thought everyone did.
(8) I won a trip to the Willy Wonka Candy Factory.
(9) I was born in Fantasy Land at Disney World.
(10) "Tinkerbell" is my Fairy Godmother.
(11) I found the secret in a box of Cracker Jacks.
(12) I Googled it.
(13) I would tell you but the last time I told someone they disappeared.
(14) Ask your Mother. Mother's know everything.
(15) Ask your Dad. If he doesn't know, I am sure he will make something up.
(16) I can't. The last time I told a boy your age he quit growing.
(17) Before I tell you, you must spend 10 years in a Tibetan Monastery.
(18) The secret to how this is done will never pass my lips, unless you give me a #100.00 cash right now.
(19) I saw it on Youtube.
(20) I was raised by Gypsies.
(21) My father was a Warlock.
(22) When I win the lottery I will tell you.(Now what's the odds on that happening?)
(23) Follow the rainbow and when you find the pot of gold I will tell you the secret.
(24) I signed a contract with the devil.
(25) Pause, pull out you cell phone, say "excuse me it's my wife". Speak into the phone saying "yes dear".."no dear", "yes dear".."yes I love you". "ok", "bye honey". Close the phone and say "sorry, my wife say's I can't tell you".
Take your choice. This is just an example of various ways to can avoid exposing your magic.
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gdw
Inner circle
4428 Posts
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Posted: Jun 14, 2008 12:28am
If I told you, then I couldn't feel special that I can and you can't.
March 22, 2011, our beautiful baby girl, Evelyn, was born.
It's a brave new world, get with it, or get out of the way.
Man has evolved, "god" is extinct.
I won't forget you Robert.
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Veneficus Cruor
New user
Orange, Texas
81 Posts
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Posted: Jun 14, 2008 4:16pm
How'd you do that?
1. Im a genetic freak.
2. Through years of tedious practice and self-denial
3. Camera Tricks ( only if your showing in live )
4. Pure luck.
hope these helped =D
Success is going from failure to failure without a loss of enthusiam.
-Winston Churchill
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manal
Inner circle
York ,PA.
1334 Posts
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Posted: Jun 15, 2008 12:22am
I will tell you, but first you must bring me a shrubbery.
Life is too important to take seriously.
james@jamesmanalli.com
www.jamesmanalli.com
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Kex
Special user
Chicago
506 Posts
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Posted: Jun 15, 2008 11:39am
Great response Manal... gotta respect the MP reference!
As a matter of fact... I may start using that.
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