I think thanatos’ problem, and some of the solutions provided to him, actually showcase what the “huge problem” with magicians really is. In simple terms, the magician often fools himself more than he really fools his audience. I would like to discuss that as an abridge to your problem, but first:
With your group of friends thanatos, I wonder how they gained knowledge of certain moves? Did you tell them? Did you flash to them? Did they look it up on Youtube? Nevertheless, trying to find magic to fool these friends is going to lead you away from doing good magic for other people – as you are basically on the search for “magician” foolers or to find a new technique to fool them with…until they figure that out…then, same problem. So, think about why they know what they know – and how you are doing magic in a way that only has them seeking solutions to the puzzle you are offering, and not wanting to experience what you are showing. It’s like know that I am watching a movie, and being educated on cinematography, but being SO busy critiquing the film – I miss the plot…I WOULD do that, if the plot was boring…actually, we all do. So, are you boring? Are your effects not worth looking past the technique? Are you doing the technique well? I wonder if I sat with your friends and did magic for them, if they would feel the same. My feelings are that you are new to magic, or at least new to magic methods in having a small arsenal to work with – if this is true, keep reading.
Let’s take this a step further on what the concept of spectator feedback is really doing in most cases:
Consider training an animal – operant conditioning – when a behaviour is increased by repeated stimulus. A mouse can be trained to push a bar when he realizes it is attached to a reward, in most cases food….similarity, many people feel that “catching” a magician is the reward, so if you are doing a move over and over, and a similar result is produced, it becomes easy for the repeat audiences to understand what is creating that outcome. For example, a double undercut equals control to a certain spot in the deck.
I read someone say they may be hecklers, but WE NEED people that try to “figure it out”, if they didn’t magic would be pointless. It is only after fooling keen observation that magic can be created. Trying NOT to be fooled is not being difficult, it is not being a heckler; and it is the audience’s unwritten role. Realize that there is a difference between someone trying to ruin your effect and ruining it by telling you they figured it out. In the former, it is them highlighting their insecurities, in the latter; it is you being overly concerned with your own insecurities. People don’t want to figure it out as much as they say they do – as they want to experience magic, not as a puzzle, but as a felling.
So, here is some advice – first, realize your friends are doing you a favour, as they are voicing something most audiences would be too polite to say. Second, this experience emphasizes the importance of varying your techniques – learn more moves. Third, STOP running.
You mentioned you did a DL to show it wasn’t on top – I think that is the wrong move. Like someone that would put a coin in one hand and say, where is it – they say, and you switch hands blatantly, and say…NOPE…then they point to the other…and you switch hands…showing the newly emptied hand clean…back and forth, you see my point. Once you start running, it muddles it up – it would have been better to peak the card, palm it out, or force it – then say...”you don’t trust me – shuffle yourself” – and then do whatever…get it back to where you need it, or do a different effect.
Consider how contrived you are with a deck of cards when you need to control it…compared to how laid back you are when it is forced…and returned ANYWHERE in the pack…and shuffled….THIS is another tell…another way that people can figure you out. Be more consistent – learn more – think about what the external reality is of what you are doing.
LAST POINT – if you can make procedures seem fair, do it slowly and cleanly, then it allows them to convince themselves. This is the goal – the goal is to have them convince themselves, not doing DL to try to convince them what you didn’t do, when you did – once you get that far into proving something, you are lost.
Stop performing for your friends...but only until your magic is good enough that friend or foe, you will fry them. Ultimately, the choice is yours on what you do with that feedback – but remember, as much as they want to figure it out…they don’t – so you are doing them a disservice by not listening to them…a disservice to your magic, future participants and yourself.
