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thk5353 Regular user Northern New Jersey 183 Posts |
There are some people I perform for who can sometimes figure out how a card trick works. The fact that they are really smart and have a high IQ seems to let them get the gist of things. I'm not saying they know the exact method and all but it kind of amazes me for these people to tell I've done that and that.
My older brother is a good example, since he's not interested in magic at all and he has a really good sense and a hawk's eye, he'll be my trial run before I perform a newly-found trick to anyone. Does anyone else here meet these kinds of people? |
Mirokai New user 56 Posts |
Quote:
One of the bases of magic is that the more a person is intelligent the easier it is to fool them so my only advice is practice and practice and of course practice. Best
"Tout ce qui nous arrive de bien et de mal ici-bas était écrit là -haut" Diderot
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thk5353 Regular user Northern New Jersey 183 Posts |
But of the tricks even gaffed tricks are easily detectable, like MacDonald's Aces and the One Card Switches. My brother will point it out.
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Dbzkid999 Elite user Canada 407 Posts |
If they figured it out, act like you don't know what they are talking about and perform a killer trick after.
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Magic_Mailman New user Portland,Oregon 53 Posts |
I think you always run into people who want to figure out the magic instead of enjoying it. I also have to say that performing for family members is hard because they know you and can sense anything that's different about you so...they may be good to try out effects by the same token. If you have put in the practice and can do the effect blindfolded, I'm sure you will have the same aura of confidence that you normally have. Those are just my thoughts.
Thanks, Tony |
thk5353 Regular user Northern New Jersey 183 Posts |
I'm just using him as a tester, even if I offered him the secrets to the trick, he just shuns me.
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Tspall Regular user Lumberton, NC 147 Posts |
My girlfriend is like that. She's got a very sharp eye for my movements. She's my official "test audience". She likes being able to help me improve and will point out what was unusual or that she saw. If she's watching someone else do magic, she won't notice it nearly as much, but my movements she knows very well. If I can fool her, then I know my technique is coming along well.
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rcad Loyal user St-Eustache 211 Posts |
First, of course, your performance, not just the sleights, should be flawless. Remember, you've got only one chance to create magic for someone with any trick, so don't waste it...
Second, a bit like Magic_Mailman said, some people are so emotionally "dry" that they can not seem to enjoy magic. Even beauty is considered from a very "vulcan" eye, if you see what I mean. I have met and performed magic for such a person. There were many people assisting, they were all fooled by my trick but she shouted something like: "Oh my GOD! This is so DUMB!" She had just realized how the trick worked. I politely asked her to calm down and not spoil everybody's fun. Needless to say, the *magic* couldn't happen after that because of course, everybody would have felt foolish to be amazed. It thus remained just a trick. To make matters worse, a few days later, she revealed the trick to my sister-in-law, who then tried to perform it for a friend and failed. That friend learned the trick too while watching her fail. Do I need to mention I was angry when I learned that? My wife told her sister that I would never perform magic while her friend was there in the future. She was mad too. That "clever" spectator is an adult. She's smart. She's very pretty. She's usually socially skilled and nice. She's got everything going for her but she is so, so cold, I'm not sure she ever had a real boyfriend. Some people will never see magic in life, whatever they come across. Others just lack imagination. And again, others have low self-esteem which makes them want to prove all the time that they are smarter than they think you think they are. I also agree that, like Magic_Mailman mentioned, performing for family is difficult since they know your body language so well. Thus, you may want to adapt your performance for them. For example, I personally simply exaggerate my very real clumsiness (funny that a magician should be clumsy in real life, huh?) and my very real forgetful mind. They think it is really me but it just gives me GREAT misdirection opportunities. Use traits from your own personality and exaggerate them. The fact that you are performing magic will explain that "natural" exaggeration. If, for example, you are somewhat of a clown, be a real BIG clown when you perform. They will laugh and put that "exaggeration of yourself" on the count of nervousness or on the account of a failed attempt at being a comedian, even if they laugh the whole time. See what I mean? Mirokai, I must disagree with you. I don't find any evidence that more intelligent people are easier to fool. On the contrary, I believe you have to misdirect more than just their attention. You must also misdirect their "high performing logical brain" for they will catch on what they haven't seen unless you let them think there is also *something else* going on. By that I mean that during the performance, I often have to pretend I'm doing sleights they can almost catch on but that could never explain what just happened. For example, I might pretend to secretly put something in my right pocket and let them catch me. I simply continue, acting totally unaware of their little "I just caught you" smile and BAM! Something comes out from my LEFT pocket! I've never actually used that particular misdirection but I think it illustrates better what I mean than the actual misdirections I use. Moreover, I read somewhere that mentalism appeals to intellectual audiences more than visual magic. I suspect that it is due to two things. First of all, I think mentalism offers, in itself, multiple inherent misdirections, the result making it look more magical to them. Secondly, let's not forget that magic is an art form. Intellectuals will usually appreciate any art form on more levels than average. They will get more excited if you provide them with subtle miracles than if you bluntly make something disappear in front of their eyes, for example. Then again, human behavior can not be explained by only one factor. Mirokai, if you have a different opinion, I'd love to read it. After all, the more we understand how different audiences may react, the more we can manipulate them... Dbzkid999, I asked a magic teacher what to say to a spectator who points out how I did it. May the spectator be right or wrong, that magic teacher's answer was to agree with him or her. It denies any confrontation that could ruin the show and plants a serious doubt about the "explanation" in everyone's mind... Food for thoughts, huh? Okay, I'll shut up now, hehe! Richard
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious." Albert Einstein
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troppobob Veteran user Crescent Head Australia 372 Posts |
Giday to you all
Two thoughts:
Yes! The greatest value to me from these special people is that they encourage me to make sure that my practice and rehearsal is thorough. Troppo Bob |
MagicAndBlackjack Elite user 442 Posts |
Hello,
There are some effects where some people notice discrepancies that others might not. Some of these things are illogical doubles, where when you deal the card off after the turnover, it is, for example, face-up when it should really be face-down. |
Richard Osterlind V.I.P. 2213 Posts |
Two things might be kept in mind. First, using a certain amount of humor in the presentation is very disarming and gets the spectator off guard. Secondly, don't be afraid to use self-working magic that doesn't require sleights. Scarne's card magic book is filled with this kind of material.
Richard |
oldguy New user 83 Posts |
I suggest you learn a couple of good sucker tricks. "Design for laughter" in "Royal Road" is good. Also the "Sucker Vanish" in Bobo. But be sure you do them with a good nature. They'll think twice about calling you out again. Tom
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