Wanna Bulletproof Your Magic? It's Not Always About More Skill

 Sometimes spectators say some **** that totally derails your magic. 

"Is that one of those trick decks?" 

"You probably switched it while I wasn't looking." 

"I bet everyone goes for the 7 of hearts." 

It's a social game of one-upmanship. Their attempt to lower your status with levity, or a potential explanation. 

But why?

When a group of strangers explodes with screams, laughter or applause for you, it changes the social dynamic of the group. 

Sometimes, you make yourself a target for humiliation. 

But there are things you can do to counteract this & gain the upper hand again. 

 

#1. You Create Your Own Hecklers 

This may be the best advice you ever get.

Magic CAN make you look good - but that shouldn't be the top goal. It's a side benefit.

The goal should be to give them the gift of the experience. It's for them. 

You don't create the magic - that's a god complex. You simply facilitate it. 

Let me explain...

When you present a trick as "oh look at how clever I am, I can do this and you can't", you actually invite skepticism and cynicism. 

You create your own hecklers. 

A heckler is someone who's ego or status is feeling challenged. They want to knock you down a few pegs. 

Exposing your trick, questioning your props or creating doubt in the 'freeness' of the prediction is their way of doing that. 

They feel stupid, or duped & that's 100% your fault for presenting yourself as 'above' them. 

So many times I see magicians zero in on the woman, if performing for a couple. 

Magician: "What's your name?"

Them: "Mike." 

Magician: "And yours?" 

Their Partner: "Sarah" 

Magician: "Nice to meet you Sarah, we're going to do this with you." 

F*ck off!

Like seriously... This happens. I've seen it again and again and again. 

I've probably done it myself, in the past, in pursuit of the best reaction. 

But now you've snubbed Mike. You've reduced his social status to his own partner. 

He may not like to see her fawning all over you and your tricks. Hearing her say how incredible you are. 

You may have created your own heckler there. 

Instead, get them both involved. 

"Okay, which one of you is the best gambler?" 

They will discuss it between themselves and volunteer the person for the trick. 

"Mike, it's you. Okay Mike, let's see if you can win everyone a free drink. No pressure." 

Magician: [proceeds to perform 2 card monte]

Now everyone is involved, nobody's social status is challenged and the effect is for both/all of them, the benefit is for them - and the reaction comes from everyone. 

  

BONUS: Don't Step Into the Spotlight Right Away

In a social situation, when someone finds out I can do magic - I don't immediately do something. 

To immediately jump into the spotlight they've just created inflates your ego & puts you on a pedestal. They put you there, so now they have the power/responsibility to tear you down if you make them feel stupid, or inferior. 

Instead this happens...

Them: "I heard you're a magician. Show me something."

Me: "Not really. I only know a few basic tricks, for fun... Maybe I'll show you something later." 

This lowering of expectations does more good for you than any new trick you could learn. 

In New York, while filming Unreal Card Magic, we sat down at a bar. People on the table next to us saw the cards, the cameras and asked me what we were filming. 

I explained it was magic and they immediately asked to see some. 

My response: "We're going to get a drink first, but if you're sticking around, I promise we'll show you something later." 

We all got talking, we asked questions about their lives, their jobs, what beer they recommended, what bars & restaurants they love in New York. 

We connected first, as people - and magic tricks came later. 

Those reactions were sensational and made it into the trailer. The hugging and admiration is because they were given something - and we didn't make it about ourselves. 

 

#2. Defuse Their Bomb, Before They Throw It

When I perform 'pot of jam', I actually let them keep the jam. And I always allow them to touch the normal coins. 

After they reacted to the reveal of the jam, I used to place it back in my pocket, and they'd say "do you walk around with a pot of jam on you all day?"

This weakened the effect significantly. 

This is because I signalled the method to them.

• I took the jam...
• Which means I had it on me all along...
• Which means it wasn't impossible at all. I must have done it. 

So I stopped taking it back and they'd say "Here you go, is this yours?"

And I'd say: "Nope, I have no idea where that came from. But it's yours now."

It always seems to hit harder with that - and they go off and use that pot of jam to enhance my reputation. Telling everyone they see about this pot that came from nowhere!

If that pot of jam truly came from nowhere, magically, then I wouldn't care to keep it. So I don't.

That's the level you should be thinking at. 

If it was a normal deck of cards, you'd let them see it, or touch it or shuffle it themselves. 

They say: "Oh is that one of those trick decks." 

I say: "Nope, check them out. Shuffle them if you want." 

Boom, any potential 'reason' they have now is gone. So they're only left with 'magic'. 

When I perform card-to-mouth, people used to say "Oh he must have stole it while I wasn't looking." 

So now I use it against them. I ALWAYS say "Look, my little finger steals it out from underneath. That's how I do it. So push your card in, all the way." 

Of course the switch has already been done - but they are EAGLE-EYED on that deck. Which ironically makes my card-to-mouth easier. 

But after the reaction to the reveal, they now enhance my reputation by screaming things like "I was watching the entire time. He didn't do anything... WTF!" 

I diffused their bomb before they were able to throw it - and the magic for them is more powerful as a result. 

  

#3. Pick Robust Effects

I see a lot of magicians panic about performing an effect... 

"But what if my spectators ask to see the deck? They can't. It's gimmicked." 

If you can't give them the deck, it's 100% on you. Either you've not picked the right effect, or you've not routined a switch into the routine. 

If I use a dupe for a trick, I palm it off as the reveal happens. As they're naturally misdirected. 

Then, on the off-chance they want to see the cards, they won't catch anything. 

Think about the weak part of your effect and what you can do to make it inspectable, bulletproof & robust. 

If someone says "Can I shuffle them?" it's because they think they MUST be in a specific order.

They don't know HOW you did it exactly, but they're fishing for potential methods in their mind. 

So dispel that by performing a false shuffle at the start, or palming off their card and inviting them to shuffle - before they ask. 

It's not just about what you say. Making moves like this makes your magic more robust. 

 

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But maybe you're already thinking in this way?

Let me know in the comments below what specific things you've done to make your magic more bulletproof? I personally read each and every comment.