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Kaylan Special user CT 758 Posts |
Another approach to ponder is to try to connect with the heckler - use the aikido approach - join with him (i.e., perhaps ask him where he's from, etc. to lighten the moment, distract him) and then redirect him. For example, you may ask him to be your participant for whatever effect you're doing. This way, there is no confrontation, and you don't have to quit - quitting ruins it for the others. Even if the others "turn" on the heckler, that still creates a dark cloud over a performance which has your name on it.
This can be done, maybe not 100% of the time, but if you have good audience management skills, it should work for you. Besdies, I think it is worth trying, considering the alternatives. Kaylan |
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NJJ Inner circle 6437 Posts |
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On 2005-02-28 13:11, Clinton Wayne wrote: The problem is not that he knew (or thought he knew) the secret. It was that he was a JERK and tried to show the performer up. Imagine if everytime you saw a mentalism or a magician and you KNEW how it was done, you told everyone in the room! Stopping the show politely is the best idea. However, think about a) why he felt he could and should be a jerk. Was there something about your presentation that created a "Look what I can do that you can't" feel? b) What was he drawing attention to in the method? This is a WEAKNESS of the routine nad should be fixed! In other words, learn from HIS mistakes! |
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D.Paul Loyal user 228 Posts |
Its happend twice to me with a large auidence, the first time I just carried on untill the heckler ****ed everyone one else off and they turned on him and told him to shut up. The second time it happend I stop what a was doing ask him to stand, asked his name and passed him a pack of cards to shuffle. I let him shuffle for at least the lengh of 2 more effects, I then took the cards back, thanked him and asked him to sit again. Worked a treat.
Darren |
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bloodkin Special user 646 Posts |
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Or I could just whack them with a baseball bat, but somehow I don't think that would endear me to the audience If it was a FLOATING baseball bat that hits them, that would really make them believers. |
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lane99 Elite user 421 Posts |
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On 2005-02-28 00:35, B&B Magic wrote: Hmm, you don't think calling someone a jerk is confrontational? And you don't think then picking up your football and going home would destroy the friendly atmosphere? 1. specific suggestion: if someone says "why don't you use a pen"? Then, use one! (I've seem a PEN Swami gimmick for sale somewhere on the internet recently. Seemed like a good idea to me) 2. general suggestion: this is my idea that has worked for me (dealing with young children, anyway. and I think should also work on older groups)...say something like "ok, gang, I got to tell you, magic is a VERY delicate thing. if you WANT to destroy it, you WILL. so we all need to work together here to make this happen. so, just follow along and help me out now, and we'll be able to see something amazing". The thing that I like about this approach is the underlying truth in this message, and when I used it, the little guys seems to really grasp that and they were happy to get onboard at that point. 3. Real quick: I know for a fact that some of the people who "heckle" don't even quite realize they are being obnoxious. They might think they are being "playful" and that maybe even that it is expected that they will try and shout out some solution to the "puzzle"...so I think magicians should have some plan, in a very SINCERELY friendly way, to at least make an attempt to win these folks over. |
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B&B Magic Regular user 199 Posts |
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On 2005-03-01 12:37, lane99 wrote: Um, I think you misunderstood what I wrote. I don't verbalize that he's a jerk. I give him a smile that conveys that feeling. |
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Clifford the Red Inner circle LA, California 1941 Posts |
Penn & Teller did a great bit on one of their appearances where they got a know-it-all spectator up to examine a box for an enactment of a Houdini escape. They had him climb inside to examine the box and they promptly forced the lid on and nailed it shut. You could hear the guy inside screaming "Let me out you crazy ***s!" as they wrapped the entire box in heavy chains. Then the screams got a little more concerned as P & T got on the ground and began kicking the box backwards. When they finally got it pushed off the dock into the river, the spectator had trouble screaming with the water pouring into the box. As the box finally went under water, Penn looked at his watch as said, "See, Houdini would've been out by now." And then they went on with their show as if nothing happened.
"The universe is full of magical things, waiting for our wits to grow sharper." Eden Philpotts
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ALEXANDRE Inner circle 3024 Posts |
I casually light a cigarette then deal with this kind of jerk with a right hook to the jaw.
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Mystician Inner circle Wallachia 3485 Posts |
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On 2005-03-01 16:05, Clifford the Red wrote: LOL !!!! I love it ! But you didn't finish. .. and the guy quickly drowned, never to heckle a magician ever again ... I guess the only way to follow that up with a heckler is to have the next guy try and catch a bullet in his teeth. On second thought, put him in the box to be sawed in half, and simply cut .. oh I'm getting gory again !
Just hanging out with the rest of my fellow dregs.
http:// www . phrets . com Visit http://www.bizarremagic.net |
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Allan Olive Regular user Charlotte 180 Posts |
Dark Thought 13 said that he has handed the deck to the heckler and asked him to show everyone his fine work. Don McCloud said he tried this once and the heckler started dazzling everyone with his moves.
I can understand how a spectator can get out of control with questions and comments during a show because his mind is in overdrive trying to figure things out. Or he may have seen the effect exposed and wants to let everyone in on his wisdom. Even though it’s rude and uncalled for, I can see how it happens. What I don’t get for the life of me is how someone who has some experience in the magic arts would be so rude as to interrupt or be disrespectful to a fellow magician. I remember being at a magic convention a few years ago and there was a fellow that would not be quiet as the lectures were being given. He sat up front and did not pay attention at all. He talked the whole time to his buddy next to him. When he did pay attention it was only to tell his friend how the magician on stage just did the effects he was demonstrating, while pointing out the performers flaws in a demeaning way. What made the whole thing worse was that he was a lecturing magician at the same convention! No matter who I see perform, I always show them the utmost respect while I watch them. I try to be the ideal audience member by applauding and encouraging the performer with a smiling face or by acting surprised by the outcome of an effect, even if I’m not. I guess it is the old do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I hope this didn’t take the post too far off topic. Thanks for allowing me to share. Allan |
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B&B Magic Regular user 199 Posts |
I was at a lecture where the magician invited a spectator up (and obviously everyone in the room was a magician) to participate in an effect and this person had a dead-pan look the whole time. I could just see them thinking "Yawn. I've seen this on the dvd. Show me something I don't know already!"
It was quite rude and everyone picked up on it, especially the performer. I think it is important and polite to show enthusiasm when someone is performing. Another example is Gerry's antics on Psychokinetic Silverware. You could tell that Banachek just wanted to beat him senseless with the fork, even going so far as to reprimand him more than once for not 'acting like a spectator'. It's a fantastic video but it really suffered because of Gerry's performance as a spectator. |
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chichi711 Inner circle 5810 Posts |
I don't know if this works for everybody, but it always works for me. I tell them that I would like to do an experiment in telepathy. I ask them to stand up (if they are not already standing). I tell them that I am going to send them a feeling. It is not an everyday feeling, but one that they will certainly recognize. I then kick them in the nu**. As they fall to the floor I ask them "what feeling did I send to you". Nine out of ten times they get it right. For me it is a real crowd pleaser!!!!
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Allan Olive Regular user Charlotte 180 Posts |
In one of the Doc Eason bar magic videos I remember him dealing with a rather unruly spectator. I can’t remember all of the details, but if memory serves me correctly, the spectator had a little too much to drink and brought out his own deck of cards to show a female spectator a simple magic trick. Keep in mind, this happened right in front of Doc while he was putting on a show. He must get this a lot, because the next effect Doc performed he used this same guy and it had a sucker ending. Guess who ended up being the sucker? I think the guys cards wound up all over the bar floor. Doc still came off looking professional and in control, and the spectator looked silly.
Allan |
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Decomposed Eternal Order High Desert 12059 Posts |
Hecklers don't last long in the high dollar Vegas acts. I love the sound of the applause as he is being bummed rushed out the 12 foot doors.
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kaytracy Inner circle Central California 1793 Posts |
I think Kaylan is on to something!
The idea of hecklers is an intimidating one. For the Heckler, there can be a number of reasons for their behavior. You can (as my mother used to tell me about fighting in school) Sink to their level and play their game- They win by the way! OR you can have done your homework so to speak on why they do what they do, consider a number of th edifferent reasons, and be prepared to handle this like any other difficulty that might or will crop up in your "show". Consider the name you wnat to make for yourself- are the future audiences going to come see your show because of the work you do? or because of the fun you provide in how you deal with the insecure people who want to be the center of attention? If you are in a freebie venue- just some friends, or mostly entertaining yourself, then you have every right to stop and doe other things, eat dinner, tell jokes, or even go home! If you are getting paid to perform, then you can make sure that the CONTRACT you work with, if it is a theatre venue, or a club, specify what role if any the bouncers play in crowd control. You might need to think about what Kaylan said regarding re-directing their energy. Making them into a participant, and in the process disarming them, as they get to win, along wtih you when they get a chance to come on the stage, and be the STAR for a minute or two. YOu are gettign paid, so you can afford to share the stagelights for a bit. And finally, as you see form some of the thoughts mentioned, work hard in how you combine your material. Do NOT simply mimic the routinge from the DVD or the VHS or (dare I date myself here...) the Book! Make the performance yours. They might know how you did it, but if you are combining things in your own style and presentation, they won;t really know that you are going to do X followed by y followed by z, just like the new video showed. There are plenty of mean people in the world, and somedays I too am part of that club, but I do try to remember the things my mother tried to teach me. And if I cannot say something nice, I do not say anything at all! No easy answer to this one, I guess you will have to try on a few and see what works best for you! Good luck k
Kay and Tory
www.Bizarremagick.com |
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tsarkazim New user 20 Posts |
My mind is a terrible thing to waste and I cannot remember reading another posting to this affect, but I usually appeal to the rest of my audience first...."I'm sorry...I am just trying to entertain you. It's a little hard to concentrate with this gentleman interrupting me. If all of you feel like this gentleman, I will be happy to stop. Otherwise, I will be happy to continue." That usually works to get the crowd to silence the guy.
Fortunately, my routines normally are not continuous. So I can take the jerk aside during a break and offer some career counseling advice. That always works. |
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lane99 Elite user 421 Posts |
Even if it doesn't work everytime, nonetheless a great tip! By any chance, is the one of ten times it DOESN'T work happen to be when the heckler is a female? ;-)
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On 2005-03-02 11:16, chichi711 wrote: |
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jstone Inner circle Someday I'll have 1473 Posts |
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On 2005-02-28 00:28, johnlamberti wrote: I hate when this kind of stuff happens. Before I tell you how I handle them, I will say that based on your account of what happened, I wouldn't necessarily come to the conclusion that he had read about mentalism. That aside, I would apply the old "How to win friends and influence people" psyhology and say something like, "I'm sorry, I've apparently upset you somehow, and it's obvious that you didn't want me to be here, so I'll leave." One of two things will happen. a) He'll let you leave - when you leave, his other friends will tell him how much of a jerk he is. b) His friends will tell him how much of a jerk he is and tell him to shut up or leave - then you get to stay. I would also recommend that you read Jay Sankey's Book "Beyond Secrets." It has some great insight on this subject. |
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bsmith Loyal user 289 Posts |
The obviouse answer is - don't get defensive. Once that happens then you are playing his game. Sure you can walk away or 'pack up' but that is a lot of power for some heckler to have over you. And as said earlier you sometimes can not get up and leave.
In order to maintain charisma and have control of the situation, the trick is to get him to act defensively. This way it puts the ball in his court. To do this you have to turn the tables by asking him a question that makes him talk about himself in a defensive manner. An annoying heckler who shouts out demands and asks questions like "why don't you use a pen?" etc. can be easily dealt with by - calmly pause, look him in the eyes and say - "You seem to be having a rough day?" This question causes him to justify his behavior by responding to his problem (in this case a rough day) You can, from this point, make everything he says into the result of his rough day. The more he talks and continues with this attitude, the more he is confirming his problems to everyone. I also like the line that Greg Arce mentioned - "I bet you're the type that goes to the ballet and tries to trip the dancers" That is a great line to keep in mind when someone tries to mess you up without your knowledge. |
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jstone Inner circle Someday I'll have 1473 Posts |
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On 2005-04-04 04:12, Robertson wrote: Excellent Advice Robertson! I also liked the ballet dancer line. It reminds of another one I use... In my kid's show, when someone yells out a "solution" to how the trick's done, I'll say, in a patronizing 5-year-old voice, "That's right; it is a trick... Just like in the movies... You guys all know that superman can't REALLY fly, but we all pretend like he does... so let's all pretend like I can do REAL magic." I also start my kid's show with a very visual and quick coin effect that's just impossible to out-guess. Then I tell them that it's all a trick, but we're going to do a lot of tricks that look like real magic, but let's all pretend. When I open with that line, the superman line doesn't always become necessary. However, the superman line almost always works when I do use it because then the kids kind of feel like they're in on it. As for adult shows, I actually use the exact same line, and I even somewhat use the patronizing 5-year-old tone. To kids, it's just me coming down to their level, to adults, it's somewhat funny to the non-hecklers, and borderline offensive to the heckler, but it usually works. |
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