Dealing with an Overly Annoying Spectator
Hey everyone!
I'm Juan (a beginner), and I've been in this magic community for about a year and a half now.
Here's my question: I'm wondering if anyone could share a trick/effect, or a specific routine and/or patter, to really 'shut down' an especially annoying spectator? Something that makes them lose all desire to keep bothering me. ??
Let me explain... I've run into a spectator who, from the get-go, made it clear their only intention was to be disruptive. Right from the first effect, they kept interrupting, asking constant irrelevant questions, asking for the deck even if they weren't the volunteer, asking to examine it, asking to shuffle it... even offering to do a trick themselves. Constant interruptions that end up throwing you off and making you lose your patience.
On one hand, it's clear you need to grab the audience's attention and keep them focused on the current routine with a couple of strong opening routines.
But in this particular case, it's a spectator who, from the first minute, made it clear their entertainment comes from being a wise-ass and constantly interrupting, showing zero respect.
I've done more or less short shows (40-45 mins) for groups of kids (family and strangers) and for groups of adults (friends, family, and strangers), and only in this case have I encountered someone so intent on being annoying. Not even with kids have I experienced anything like this.
After making several more or less subtle comments with no result, I came to the conclusion that their intention was truly just to be annoying... In my opinion, in these cases, the appropriate thing to do might be, since the spectator is proving to be especially obnoxious and showing a lack of respect towards the magician and the rest of the audience, to bring them up as a volunteer and have them directly participate in a routine where they are exposed for what they are: an obnoxious, disrespectful person (not to mention a complete jerk), and get 'shut down' in public.
So here's my question (sorry for the long preamble)... is there any routine/patter to really shut down an especially annoying spectator? So they lose the desire to keep bothering?
Thanks in advance!
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Hey! Right now, I can think of two types of "challenging" or "rude" spectators. One type enjoys a challenge and will try to test you. For them, performing a "spectator failure" effect, or another impactful trick (like stealing their watch, putting a coin under their drink, a shell game, etc.), will usually drive home the message: "I did that right in front of your face and you missed it, so settle down." I think for these folks, who usually don't mean any harm, the magic itself often works.
But then there's another kind of "heckler" that magic alone won't quiet down. This is usually the person who's the center of attention in their group. They feel threatened by the magician because now they're not the most popular, and they try to compete for the "alpha" spot. If the other spectators stay out of it and don't put them in their place, this person will annoy you throughout the entire show. The solution: "knock them out" (metaphorically speaking, but a rolling pin is surprisingly effective, haha).
So, what does "knock them out" mean? It means turning the rest of the audience (the ones who do want to see you and enjoy what you do) against them, because until that person shuts up and settles down, you're not going to continue. Here's a hypothetical example of how that situation might play out (once you realize who you're dealing with):
Suppose they ask you to shuffle the cards... and you say, "Why do you want to shuffle?... You want me to screw up, don't you?... Ah... because you're the type of person who enjoys watching others have a bad time... Well, if you want me to fail, I can certainly oblige..." Then you're going to do an impossible card prediction trick and intentionally fail. (Tell anyone else to pick a card, so they don't mess up your deck setup if you have one, say any card, and you'll almost certainly fail). You repeat this, eventually asking, "Are you enjoying this?.... I can keep going like this all night if you enjoy seeing magic go wrong...", "Or would you rather be like everyone else and enjoy what I've actually prepared...?"
Anyway, I think you get the idea: everyone will realize they're being a nuisance, and that they won't get to see you perform until they quiet down and behave, and then the rest of the audience will "come down on them." And that's how, with plenty of grace and elegance, you put them in their place.
P.S. Sorry for the long comment!
Last Thursday, I was watching Anthony Blake live, and at the start of the show, the typical heckler popped up, wanting to be the center of attention and interjecting when it wasn't appropriate. Blake immediately cut him off, very politely but directly inviting him to step into Blake's shoes, take his chair, and tell his story to everyone present. Blake said he personally had no issue with it, but he wasn't sure how much the rest of the audience would care. All this, mind you, with a smile. The result was that we didn't hear another peep from him for the rest of the show, and the rest of us could continue enjoying the magnificent performance.
Hey @Juanlutgn.
Just a couple of quick points.
First off,
@Juanlutgn:
To me, that's a full-length show; short is 15 minutes.
But I guess time's relative for everyone.
Secondly, and regarding your problem,
@Juanlutgn:
If it's a paid performance, I'd make it very clear: they either shut up or they're out, simple, easy, and direct, no two ways about it (they can go home and annoy whoever wants to put up with them).
Beyond that, you'll always have a few options depending on the nuisance spectator.
The way you describe it, it sounds like it's a spectator who "follows you" – in that case, maybe the spectator has mental health issues and you should report them.
If that's not the case and you're referring to random hecklers who show up, then you simply have to avoid/ignore them, and that's that.
Here, it's simple: who has more confidence—you in yourself, or the one bothering you?
I won't get into specific techniques or approaches, because that really comes down to individual personality and style.
Personally, (if I choose) I'm very good at humiliating and morally crushing those types of spectators—which isn't always necessary, but that just depends on who we are as individuals.
I recommend that you, the moment they cross the line, tell them directly, "either you shape up or you ship out," and that's that.
Magic is for those who truly want to see it.
All the best and good magic!!!
Hey Zeta,
First off, thanks for your reply.
Regarding the timing... yeah, it's relative, and so is everyone's perception of it. Anyway, I don't think that's really relevant to the question I was asking.
Was it a paid gig or not? No, it wasn't a paid gig. Let me explain the situation: it happened at a birthday celebration for a lifelong friend of mine. As my gift, I put together a few routines to surprise him.
This annoying spectator was a friend of the birthday boy, not my friend, but also a guest at the party.
I agree with you, magic is for those who want to see it, and I'd add, for those who want to enjoy it. From that, we can easily deduce, quite obviously, that the circumstances aren't always right. In this particular case, knowing the birthday boy for so many years, he was very receptive and loves being surprised. But then, there was this other guy who had decided to constantly interrupt the presentation of each effect, asking 'why' about everything in the routine... basically, constantly breaking the flow of the routine by making jokes about interrupting, each interruption was a laugh for him. Of course, it wasn't a paid gig, and I wasn't in a position of authority at that celebration to ask him to leave.
When you mentioned this "I'm very good at humiliating and morally crushing those types of spectators, which isn't always necessary, but that just depends on who you are."
If you could give me a couple of detailed examples, I'd really appreciate it.
I'll try to adapt them to my own style and understanding of spectator interaction, and see when to use them.
I agree with you that it won't always be necessary. In fact, it would be ideal if it were never, or almost never, needed... but sometimes these characters pop up (first time for me).
Anyway, if you can show me a couple of examples... thanks a million in advance.
Here are some posts with ideas:
https://magigram.com/es/club/magic/como-lidiar-con-fastidios-3911/
https://magigram.com/es/club/magic/el-cochecito-6302/
https://magigram.com/es/club/magic/te-han-pillado-5752/
https://magigram.com/es/club/beginners/que-hacer-cuando-te-arruinan-el-truco-1196/
Hey there, elayudante, and thanks for your feedback.
In the scenario I'm describing, it wasn't that he specifically ruined an effect. It was more that he wouldn't let me get through the patter for each trick without interruptions, let alone the execution of the trick itself. With that kind of situation, even if you initially try to 'play it cool' and ignore him, you end up just stumbling through the routine. And when you ask a spectator to cut, or shuffle, or select a card... boom, new interruptions: 'Why cut? Give it to me, I'll shuffle, let me see the deck...' It made it incredibly hard to progress with the routine from the very first moment and all the way through the performance.
So, it wasn't that he spotted something odd and just made a comment; that wasn't the case at all. It was constant interruptions right from the start of each effect, throughout the patter, and during the execution.
That's why I really felt like calling him out for what he was proving to be: an absolute pest.
But,
thanks a million for your feedback.
Thanks... I think you're spot on, honestly.
I believe I can use some of the suggestions; in fact, one, in particular, really got me thinking. It probably would've been best to shut it down from the start in a more... "solid" way.
It's not the option I initially had in mind when I posted the query (I was thinking more along the lines of a routine that would really put them in their place), but what truly matters is that it works to stop them and, as you mentioned, keeps them from getting too cocky.
Though, I gotta admit, at the time I would've gladly unleashed a few comebacks.
Thanks a bunch!!
Hey again @Juanlutgn.
@Juanlutgn:
Either way, it's always best to shut them down from the get-go.
@Juanlutgn:
Let me share a few more thoughts.
There are ways, but it really depends on your style and what you're comfortable with.
Let me explain.
I usually go for self-working tricks when the heckler is only mildly annoying, or not at all.
But when they're being really bothersome, I use (if I have it handy) a marked deck or even a memorized stack to control the card I offer them, or (by far the best option) a classic force.
Almost every heckler (if not 100%) does the same thing: when you tell them, "Put your card in the middle of the deck, I'm going to lose it," or some variation, they'll usually say no, put it in their pocket (or somewhere else), and dare you to guess it "if you're such a great magician."
I'm telling you, it's always the case. They think they're so clever, but ALL of them fall into the same pattern and do the same thing to try and mess with you.
And if the card is forced or marked, then you've got 'em! 😉
That said, while I think the classic force is the most effective in these situations (it's by far the best force because of how natural it looks), you really need to have it well-practiced.
As an alternative, a marked deck is a good solution.
Best, and happy magic!!!
I need help with spectators who keep touching the deck. I was doing a trick that involved a Double Lift — where I pretend to fail at finding their card and then produce the actual chosen card. Mid-trick, a spectator grabbed the two cards, exposing the secret! And it's not the first time this has happened. What should I do?
It might have something to do with how you're presenting the trick, or the dynamic you're creating...
Here are some videos that might help you.
Don't perform magic for those kinds of people. If it's not the first time they've done something like that, then magic's over for them.