Hey... Can you do that trick I saw on TV?

This is a question that every magician is asked, regardless of whether they are full time professionals or just hobbyists showing a mate a trick at the pub.

And, in all honesty, it is a difficult question to answer.

Here are the possibilities...

1. YES! It just so happens that you have the trick with you. Should you perform it? It is a bit of a gamble. If you do, and it goes well, people will think you are as good as the guy on TV. Result! However, they are already seeing the trick for the second time, which naturally greatly enhances their chances of catching something that they shouldn't.

Also, they might want to examine the props, which of course, they can’t do on TV, and finally, many TV performances are edited to show the trick in the best light. They didn't catch David Blaine’s Shuttle Pass (or whatever) because it simply wasn't shown to them. So ultimately, this is a risky business. Consider that, even if everything goes according to plan, you are only ever going to meet their expectations.

1. No, I can’t, sorry! This always feels awkward to say, and often is the cause of a lot of hate in the magic community. Let’s say, a spectator says ‘Dynamo put someone’s mobile phone in a bottle on TV! Can you do that?’. The answer is, of course, no.

But how how do you put that across? Simply saying that you can’t do it implies failure on your part. And, if you are charging a few hundred quid for a gig at a wedding, you don’t really want people focusing on what you can’t do.

Many magicians feel the need to attack the performer on TV when these questions when it arises. They might say ‘No, but I could if I had all of his stooges and/or camera tricks’.

This seems to be the most common answer, and yet, I feel it is a terrible one. Firstly, does it actually sound believable? How are you coming across to the spectators when you say it? Will spectators actually think that you are right, or does it just sound like sour grapes? I think the answer is the latter - it simply comes across as an excuse for not doing the job. If a chef complained to me that their food doesn't take like Gordon Ramsay’s because of the equipment they are using, I am unlikely to be convinced, regardless of how correct that might be.

As such, the magic community is often full of spite at these performers on TV, as they often feel that they are making it impossible to live up to the expectations that the TV performer has given the spectators. This is something that is NOT to be spread amongst the laity as well. It looks unprofessional, and also seems slightly hypocritical, given that the popularity of these shows definitely contributes towards the amount of gigs a professional can work.

So, what’s the answer?

The answer is - get creative! Treat these requests as a creative challenge. Here is how I try to answer this kind of question, all the while paying respect to the TV magician and also getting the opportunity the surpass the spectators expectations.

Let’s say I am asked... ‘Did you see Dynamo walk on water?! Can you do that?’

My answer is ‘Well - I do a mini version that is easier to carry around! Let me show you...’

Now, the TV performance becomes my presentation for a smaller, and probably different effect, but the link has been made.

So now, your job as a magician is simply to hear these requests and work out smaller versions of these tricks.

What if I bought out two halves of a business card, one half with some water lines drawn on, and the other with a stickman. I place the two parts together, and they somehow stick! Next, the stick man slowly glides along the water half, and then, to top it all off, the card is then restored, and handed out!

Now, that sounds great. It keeps the theme, sounds like I have met the challenge (admittedly on a smaller level) and meant I am able to surpass the spectators expectations, as I have managed to show them a completely unrelated effect (in this case, Slide from the Paul Harris Presents range...

http://www.dudethatscoolmagic.co.uk/acatalog/Paul-Harris-Presents-Slide-by-Titanas-and-Demon-E690.html

And in fact, the Slide trick is very customisable to other illusions. I am often asked about how magicians ‘saw ladies in half’ or if I've ever seen or performed that trick. With a drawing of a stick woman on a business card, I’m able to replicate it close up, and in a manner that simulates the Zig Zag woman.

So next time, rather than saying yes or no, look for a different answer, and use what can be a socially difficult moment, turning it into a presentation for something small and special.

And if you think of any other tricks that you can use TV presentations for, let us know!

Until next time,

Liam Montier for dudethatscoolmagic.co.uk