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Friends and Family can be right b@@@@rds

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Friends and Family can be right b@@@@rds

Occasionally at a gig you may get a Mr or Mrs Grabby, but you can be firm and move on. In your house or down the pub things aren't that easy. You have nowhere to go and they are quite happy to not let it rest. 

What is the secret! Be prepared, I sometimes even have a trick just for the certified trick spoiler, or I have designed the patter for a win/win outcome. For an example I will use Skinners Aces, a brilliant 3 Card Monte routine which Mr Charlie Big Potato will love to cock up. As with most monte routines the money card isn't where it should be, a Smart Alec will therefore guess somewhere else in an attempt to embarrass you. 
My solution:

  • Isolate them, make it clear it is their choice with no help from anyone else. This increases the pressure to go with the obvious as it is safer option and an unspoken correct answer.
  • Explain you will do the first phase quite slow as a practice because you want them to get it right, and you won't do the tricky stuff yet. This will make them think the trick hasn't begun yet and likely to go for the obvious card.
  • After the first sting, the chances of them going off piste increases. But they still have a 50% chance of getting wrong. If they get it right, say 'Phew. A lot of people think it is here (show where it should be) but I know you a crafty bugger and move it here. Show they are right. You should get too reactions from this. One for showing it isn't where it should be and one for making where Mr Irritating guessed.
  • The third phase, much the same as the second. Remove one card and align the patter as above, if he goes for the removed card exclaim you knew it etc.

The major thing is that patter can turn things in your favour, having someone try and catch you out can work to make you appear better. It is worth considering these alternatives for everything you do. I once had someone shout out during my stage performance potentially spoiling my Michigan Monte routine, I called the person out of their guess and a new version was born on the spot, they won every time much to my frustration. This is now how I play it every time - I pretend to hear a shout and off I go. Just remember the idea isn't so much to mock them but to keep the magic strong and remind them you are in control.

The other problem with family and friends is their damn need to inspect everything afterwards rather than enjoy the glow of the amazement. The obvious thing is to either start clean or end clean, this is where gimmick free magic is ideal and sleight of hand rules. 

Otherwise you need to do some switching. Deck switching isn't as hard as you may think especially if you contrive something else to be happening at the right moment e.g. Card being shown/ signed. For the Skinner's Aces, I'd use a Himber envelope or wallet which are great for switching any packet trick cards, a worthwhile investment if relieves you of those pesky family and friends doubting your skills.

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