As people, we seek satisfaction in all that we do, correct? If something is not satisfying, we are loathe to continue in it. Of course, some things we have no choice in the matter. But as far as magic, I believe most of us hope for some degree of satisfaction.

Some moments in the art are more satisfying than others. Especially spectator reactions, when they are right.


Have you ever had a spectator react, or comment on something that just felt soooo good on the inside that is was worth all the pain you might have been through in this art?

For me, recently, I had a spectator say something that I just consider music to my ears.

I was doing a coin routine, Sankey's POSH coin routine as I recall, and I had routined it out so it was enhanced by a third and final vanish to conclude.

There were several people standing there, men woman, boys and girls, and for that final vanish, I pulled the "coin" out of my pocket, and displayed it at my finger tips, and placed it into my left hand for the final vanish.

The catch was, there was NO coin in my hands at all. I had just MIMED the action of taking it out of my pocket, but my fingers were in fact empty! But I used my facial expression and body language and voice to create the illusion that the coin was really there. (This is a move that I picked up from Slydini that I think is bold but brilliant)

So as I said, I pretended to to place the coin in my left hand. It was at that point that one of the ladies in the crowd yelled out loud for everyone to hear "Now I KNOW (emphasis on the word know) that the coin is in his hand!!" (Remember this was the third repeat, and she was astonished that it had vanished from my hand twice allready. And to boot, the coin had her signature on it!)

Then I made a squeezing motion with the hand , and the coin that she "knew" was in my hand vanished like a phantom, and mysteriously reappeared back in my pocket without the left hand going anyway near the pocket.

She was stunned. (As was everyone else)

Well, that little comment that she made I found to be extremely satisfying, because the spectator was unwittingly letting me know that I had her completely snowed. And to me, that is a great feeling. I take great delight in causing a spectator's mind to be totally smoked.

When she said it, I was smiling on the inside, because in my heart I knew how decieved she was. I can't fully explain it, but it felt so GOOD to me as a magician to reel 'em in hook line and sinker. Yeah, that's the feeling! It's kind of like the feeling you get when you are fishing and you feel the tug on your line that lets you know the fish has just taken the bait! It's so satisfying, and it's about to be even MORE satisfying as you reel 'em in!

Anyway, I loved that little moment when the spectator's mouth let me know I was doing it right. You see, all too often, they will keep silent and not let you know what is going through their head and you are left to guess whether they are buying it or not. But I tell you, this lady bought it and let me and everyone else know it out loud without a trace of doubt.

Now, for the question: Can anybody else here relate a moment in you performing career that stands out to you as a particularly satisfying moment?

I;ve had two "moments" recently at a local casino:

1) I did a simple coin vanish, and had a guy (security guard no doubt) literally RUN away from me. He actually tripped over his own feet trying to get away!

2) I was having fun with the Ball Over Head, and started to get gutsy. I did a coin over head. Because of the flatness of the coin, and the carpet, the coin went unnoticed as it soared over several people's heads!

Thanks David! The story about the fellow who ran away was priceless! Sounds like something I've seen in Blaine's specials!!

Great post!

Equally satisfying for me is a similar move I tend to use a lot lately, which is pleasurable because it is one of the moves where you say one thing while doing totally the opposite. Those are the kind of lies I delight in most.

The move is this: You have just vanished a coin and you have shown both hands "empty" but you still need to ditch the coin. To accomplish this, you can give a quick series of "pats" on your person, ala Greg wilson. You even show your pockets empty by pulling out the pocket inside out quickly. "Not in my pockets" (They ARE truly empty for a second), BUT when you tuck the pocket back in, your hand naturally goes back inside, and the coin is ditched! Now your hand is clean as a whistle, and they think your pocket is too. You of course know otherwise.

You could of course reverse this little ruse at the begining of an effect and use it to load the coin in your empty hand, ready for production in any way you desire.

Anyway, I find the act of lying to the spectator by doing the diametric opposite of what I am saying with my words to be one of the greatest pleasurable moments in performing. It gives me a charge, especially when they just stand there and "nod" affirmatively, or their facial expression reveals that they have swallowed the bait. "Come here, little fishy! Looky what daddy's got for you!"

(Yeah, I know, I'm a sick little puppy! But I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT!!!)

My greatest moment: doing cups and balls on our downtown walking mall. There's this high school kid standing about 20 feet away checking out what I'm doing. You know the type - doesn't look like he's made it to school in several months, kind of a dazed expression. He watches me go through my entire act twice, never even cracking a smile. Then he comes up to me when I'm collecting and says, "I'm never dropping acid ever again. Never." He didn't put anything in my hat, just walked away. Funniest thing I ever heard.

Mark

That's hilarious!

I had a similar experience while doing a show in a setting where alcohol was "on the flow".

I performed an effect with a floating card. The card floated out of the deck into my other hand, I believe it was called "Astro Card", (Got it from Tannen's as I recall, back in the seventies or early eighties) and some one in the audience shouted "That's it! I'm never drinking again!"

Almost paralleled your experience to a tee.

Deceptionguy - You ain't so special - People run away when they see my show too.

That's nothing. People run away when they see my FACE!! (Hey, just kiddin'!)

I have had reactions latly of people saying something like, "my card better not be on the table" (I was performing a effect along the lines of Red Hot Mama). The look on their face when I do turn that card over is worth all the time I have ever put into magic!

They were anticipating what was coming, yet in there mind they really didn't want to believe it! Then when it happens, you slay 'em! Yup! Been there! Very satisfying!

I love to hear comments like that. Once I was in a local coffee shop and I did a pretty hard visual coin thru spec's hand. I miss it occaisonally but I nailed it this time. She FREAKED out! I Mean REALLY. She screamed, put her hands to her face, and ran away still screaming. I just love that!

It's like a feeling of POWER isn't it?