I would be interested to know what other magicians do when asked if you could teach spec a trick, at the moment I am using an idea of Jerry o'connell which is on his web site any ideas ?

There are some good "you do as I do" effects, if you just want to play with the spectator. Just when they think they have it, it goes ca-put and they realize they haven't learned anything at all. Be ready to run.

I like what Carl Andrews does.
I says sure I'll teach you, then he goes through a whole routine of finding a selected card that is full of flourishes and moves that are far too advanced for any layman. It is a magic trick also. By the end they realize it take more to be a magician...like practice.

Instead of angering and disappointing perspective clients, teach them something simple, such as the Age Cards, and give him a set with your business card on the back!

When I am asked to teach something I just tell them: "Sorry I can't its the magicians code!" That usually makes them laugh a bit.

World's Greatest Magic had some simple tricks they taught the viewers....

I only teach some simple tricks to people I know like friends or family.

I have taught people a few easy tricks when really got them into magic, but they quit, because it was too hard for them, they thought.

Whenever I teach friends they jsut don't even try becuase they think its really hard. But I guess some tricks can be very hard to perform for them.

Exactly.. .. If they come back and show you a good job of what you teach them,
at least you know they are interested enough for another effect...

Yes, that's right. No one ever understands what it takes to learn a trick and perform it properly.

Which is why I don't even bother teaching people things. Unless they are friends or family like I stated before.

Me too. I have had people BEG me to teach them something, and I have - only to see them butcher the trick in performance through lack of practice of even the most basic stuff. Now I very very seldom bother - though I like Scott's idea of the business card angle.

I only teach self-working tricks to non-Magi. I don't expose any slights or major secrets that way. If they show continued interest I'll suggest a book or two. If we use the magician's code as an excuse to never teach at all wouldn’t the art surely die out?

Ross Welford, that's true, teaching a spectator a trick can ruin it for the performer because they might not be able to do the trick so good and therefore accidently give the method away.

I try to teach them the charlier cut... so far they've been satisfied just trying to learn that. if they keep hounding you, tell them to buy royal road. that's what someone did for me and now I've got the bug!

RE:
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"World's Greatest Magic had some simple tricks they taught the viewers...."

That's still a sore point in some quarters, since some were not considered beginner's tricks at all (the Cut and Restored Handkerchief from The Art of Close Up Magic for example).

Re: "I have taught people a few easy tricks when really got them into magic, but they quit, because it was too hard for them, they thought."

Exactly!!! So really why bother exposing anything. Some people just have a hard time saying no, and one person's beginners trick may very well be in someone else's repertoire.

I think the best course of action is to politely refuse, magician's code and all, BUT recommend a good beginners book to them. If they truly wish to learn, then they will take the next step. Most people who ask don't want to learn magic, they simply want to know how something is done.

Paul.

That is a great idea Paul. If we recomend them a book and they actually go and buy it that tells us that they really are interested. THEN will I go and give them some tips/props.

Art