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Moyle with Parkinsons Loyal user Australia 281 Posts |
Hey Guys
I know questions like this have been asked a lot but I would like to pose it in a different way. I know about and have studied a few different ways to deal with hecklers and how to avoid allowing these people to wreck your performance. That is all well and good but I would like to give you a scenario. I am going through a trick in which a spectator's card is shuffled in the pack a few guesses are taken at the card none are correct the guesses are gone through again to ensure they are not the spectator's card. The spectator has a card dealt into their hands that they snap closed over the card to ensure I can't get to it. The card in their hands changes into their card. Great effect problem in the spectator tries to look at the card before the trick is to be revealed. Now some people may start jumping up and down screaming poor presentation but I assure you I have this trick down I have been doing it for about a year now and I can really nail it. Now here is the question how do you deal with a spectator whilst they are in the act of exposing your trick too early. I mean at the moment that they are about to discover your gaff/sleight/ending whatever because they are obviously only curious so you can't really treat them like a heckler because they aren't trying to wreck your show they are only curious. What do you say? Moyle
"Signatures cause far too much trouble!" an original quote by Moyle With Parkinsons.
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landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
I don't think there's one answer for that question; I think it's all a part of your routining for a particular effect and understanding where an overeager/curious spectator could cause a problem, as well as choosing a spectator carefully for that particular effect.
For example, if instead of a card, the spectator were holding a coin in his closed fist, you'd want to make sure that you have him holding the coin palm down--this way he knows if he opens his hand, the coin is going to fall out. Another aspect may be the presentation--even though you currently have an excellent presentation, it may still be that a change in the presentation can alleviate the potential problem area. For example, if the presentation is too challenging, confrontational, etc., then that could encourage certain personality types to want to try to be a step ahead of the performer. You might consider changing the presentation into one where all along you are instead encouraging cooperation and agreement with the spectator. The subtext or explicit text is "I'm really going to need your help to pull this off--do you think you're up to it? I want us to be successful." Well, these are all things you probably know already, so if your question is, what do you do when it just goes wrong--again it depends on who saw what and for how long. A smile, a shrug, a joke, and onto the next. But you're right, this isn't the same as a heckler, and sometimes a wink can get him on your side and help pull you through with the rest of the audience. Jack Shalom
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Bill Hallahan Inner circle New Hampshire 3222 Posts |
I assume that since the card 'changes' into their card that they see that it's not their card before you deal it into their hand.
With that assumption in mind: check out the trick, "My Favorite Opener" on the DVD "On The Loose" Volume 2 by Bill Malone. In short, after putting the card in the spectator's hand, keep talking and reveal cards in the deck so quickly that they don't have time to look down at their hands. He has more tips relevant to your question. I don't think any more than one or two false revelations are necessary. Don't bother proving the card isn't one of the previous selections or that it isn't in the deck, the primary effect is that the card in their hands changes. If you want then you can reveal that a duplicate of their card isn't anywhere else, but since the card changed, the idea of a duplicate isn't relevant. There are probably other approaches that will work.
Humans make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, they have managed to create boredom. Quite astonishing.
- The character of ‘Death’ in the movie "Hogswatch" |
Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
Whit Haydn has an approach he calls "Calling the Card Face Down" in his notes on Chicago Surprise in the section titled "Patter as Misdirection"
Basically, you show the card, place it face down on the table (not his hand) as you name the card out loud. It's a timing thing. This way he solicits agreement that the face down card is indeed the card he just named (when we all know it isn't). If possible he'll then use something other than their hand to secure the card. Drop it on the floor and have them put their foot on it, place their drink on the card, things like that so they're less likely to interrupt the flow of the routine to go out of their way to retrieve what they already "know" to be their card. You can see a video clip of him performing it at the Magic Castle at http://www.scoundrelsphotos.com It sounds like your current routine suffers a bit from believability. After seeing a few "misses" they're already primed to check to see if you got it right. Psychologically they're compelled to turn the card over, so somehow you have to compel them to do otherwise, thus the foot or drink approach.
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jkvand Special user Johnstown, PA 658 Posts |
I do a trick like this and if I think the spec might look too early, I'll tell them to hold out their palm, I put the card in it, then I tell them to take their other hand and put it on top of the card, sandwiching the card between their hands. Sometimes I'll say, "to keep me from touching the card," or something along those lines. This usually works, but I know what you're talking about, sometimes you get a spec who wants to peek no matter what you do!
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Moyle with Parkinsons Loyal user Australia 281 Posts |
Wow guys these are really great answers. I really thought this routine was as good as it gets but you really got me thinking Dave. As for the routine itself I don't think I explained it correctly what it actually is is 4 incorrect guesses, going through them again is necessary as this is a false display count to ensure that the card definately isn't there then one of the card changes to the selected card.
However, I don't think I asked the question right either. Although these precautionary measures are fantastic and something that I will definately be using in the future what I was actually asking was what of when the precautionary measures fail. What about when you have really given it a good shot at avoiding early revelation. I mean you have chosen a spec that you think will work and you put your card under your cup and they still insist on trying to sneek a peak once again just out of curiousity. I understand there are ways of avioding this what what do you do when you can't help it it just happens what do you say then? Moyle
"Signatures cause far too much trouble!" an original quote by Moyle With Parkinsons.
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
Make that the magic moment. Be amazed at the change. No one knows when or how the trick is supposed to end.
Another preventive measure would be to wrap their hands with duct tape, so no one can get to the card.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
tommy Eternal Order Devil's Island 16544 Posts |
“Whatever mystifies, excites curiosity; whatever in turn baffles this curiosity, works the marvellous.”
-Alexander Herrmann-
If there is a single truth about Magic, it is that nothing on earth so efficiently evades it.
Tommy |
kregg Inner circle 1950 Posts |
Many times magicians take too long building up to the moment. If the audience jumps the gun this is a good indicator that their attention has waned.
POOF!
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karbonkid Special user 951 Posts |
I think it is just the wrong trick for that spectator. One thing I think we as magicians need to be aware of is which effects would be good for which spectators. This just might be the wrong one for this situation.
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Moyle with Parkinsons Loyal user Australia 281 Posts |
All really good points...especially the duct tape part Maybe I should look at the situation and way in which I perform this trick on the back of kregg and karbon kids advice and I suppose if it still happens I could always just make a magical gesture and move on. Good work guys.
Moyle
"Signatures cause far too much trouble!" an original quote by Moyle With Parkinsons.
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