You are about to learn lessons I paid for failure, chagrin, and self-recrimination.
- When a card is selected, have it shown to others spectators. Yes, it’s true—sometimes a spectator will lie.
- No matter how ardently you are importuned,do not reveal how a trick is done. This applies to even the simplest trick. When you give a trick away, you spiol it for the spectators, and you ruin your reputation as ‘’Mr.Magic ‘’. The spectators can no longer enjoy the mystery and the romance, and instead of a magician, you have become someone who bought a book the spectators did not buy. You will be delighted to follow this advice once you have explained a trick and have heard a spectator say,’’oh, is that all?’’
Spectators want to believe in magic. Years ago,I violated this principle. A lady I knew fairly well told me that she had seen a marvellous trick the night before. A friend of the family had placed an empty beer bottle on the kitchen table,had wrapped it in paper,and had then squashed the paper. The bottle had disappeared!
I reluctantly gave in to her entreaties to explain the trick.’’He was sitting at the table,right?
The paper he wrapped the bottle in had to be stiff enough to hold the shape. As he talked,he brought the wrapped bottle over the edge of the table and let the bottle drop in his lap.’’
‘’But that isn’t what he did,’’my friend insisted.
‘’No problem,’’I said. ‘’Then it was magic’’.
Since then,t have never explained a trick.
3. Never let a spectator do a trick. If pressed, tell the spectator he can perform when you are done. If he insists, you are done
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