Hecklers!

[BrianationX]

I dont Face this Problem often But I bet Most of you do.
There are more hecklers Now with all the Criss Angel And YouTube Stuff
When A Heckler Starts something I quickly switch To Anti_heckler Mode

When I meet A Heckler I challenge Him with Brian Tudor's Heckler or Hypnotic routine
The Heckler cant even Keep up with me
I admire Tudor for doing something most magicians dont do
Challenging a Heckler

Oh and Heckler the DVD
I heard some people say that the only Heckler On the DVD was Brian Tudor
Not True

What Do you Do about Hecklers?
What Tricks?

 

[Cliff|Bumgardner]

I think challenging hecklers is a bold move, but not always the best. Some people cannot and will not appreciate magic for what it is. Even Houdini was this way, he hated to be fooled and only watched magic to figure out how it was done. Vernon challenged him and is notorious for doing so. However, is it worth challenging a dude at the mall who's mind you will almost certainly not change? In my opinion, no.


C=B

 

[Steerpike]

This guy's obviously just looking for more reactions out of us. But as long as the topic is open, we might as well attempt to get a modicum of intelligent conversation.

Since the class clown here has already brought up Brian Tudor, his idea of embarassing a heckler into silence is profoundly stupid. It only creates more resentment and ill will, and makes you look like a petty, self-obsessed wanker. Tudor wouldn't know what respect for an audience is if it bludgeoned him in the face with a tire iron, kicked him in the groin, and then apologized in an aristocratic British accent before helping him up and offering to buy him a beer.

Whenever I have an actual heckler, I just shrug and walk away. My time is too important and valuable to waste it on someone that insecure. If he wants the spotlight, he can have it.

If I'm feeling a little more wicked and the heckler is being especially disrespectful, I have an empty box of hand soap in my close-up bag. I take it out and give it to him saying, "Here. Soap box. I figure you want this a lot more than I do." I then walk off without another word.

Of course, I've only ever done this once. Most of the time I'm not feeling spiteful enough. I'm in just too good of a mood to lay a sarcastic smackdown on someone in real life. I save all my venom for other magicians.

 

[Deleted member 2755]

This guy's obviously just looking for more reactions out of us. But as long as the topic is open, we might as well attempt to get a modicum of intelligent conversation.

Since the class clown here has already brought up Brian Tudor, his idea of embarassing a heckler into silence is profoundly stupid. It only creates more resentment and ill will, and makes you look like a petty, self-obsessed wanker. Tudor wouldn't know what respect for an audience is if it bludgeoned him in the face with a tire iron, kicked him in the groin, and then apologized in an aristocratic British accent before helping him up and offering to buy him a beer.

Whenever I have an actual heckler, I just shrug and walk away. My time is too important and valuable to waste it on someone that insecure. If he wants the spotlight, he can have it.

If I'm feeling a little more wicked and the heckler is being especially disrespectful, I have an empty box of hand soap in my close-up bag. I take it out and give it to him saying, "Here. Soap box. I figure you want this a lot more than I do." I then walk off without another word.

Of course, I've only ever done this once. Most of the time I'm not feeling spiteful enough. I'm in just too good of a mood to lay a sarcastic smackdown on someone in real life. I save all my venom for other magicians.

While that is a very funny idea, how does doing something like that not get you fired?

-Doug

 

[Steerpike]

While that is a very funny idea, how does doing something like that not get you fired?

-Doug

Busking. No boss to answer to.

In theory, I could get away with it at Phantom Fright Nights as my boss there would prefer it if anyone messing with his performers was thrown out on their *ss in a heartbeat. He fully supports all performers in the park finding a way to put troublemakers in their place.

Truth is, a few of us have had to. One guy got a full-armed slap during a card trick because the girl didn't like him stealing her friends' attention. One guy had to deal with a heckler trying to smack the swords he was juggling out of his hands, which takes an odd combination of huge balls and magnificent stupidity. I recieved a couple of threats myself when trying to do magic.

 

[Deleted member 2755]

Busking. No boss to answer to.

In theory, I could get away with it at Phantom Fright Nights as my boss there would prefer it if anyone messing with his performers was thrown out on their *ss in a heartbeat. He fully supports all performers in the park finding a way to put troublemakers in their place.

Truth is, a few of us have had to. One guy got a full-armed slap during a card trick because the girl didn't like him stealing her friends' attention. One guy had to deal with a heckler trying to smack the swords he was juggling out of his hands, which takes an odd combination of huge balls and magnificent stupidity. I recieved a couple of threats myself when trying to do magic.

Wow.... amazing.... I would love to hear some interesting stories. PM?

-Doug

 

[Steerpike]

Shoot me a PM whenever. I don't have as many stories as you may think. Most of the hecklers I got during Phantom Fright Nights were pretty unoriginal and easily cowled.

I wouldn't normally so blunt and sarcastic with an audience, but the crowd at these Halloween attractions are pretty rowdy. You have to give as well as you take or they walk all over you.

 

[ThrallMind]

I dont Face this Problem often But I bet Most of you do.

Elitist MouthGarbage

There are more hecklers Now with all the Criss Angel And YouTube Stuff

They've always been around. Don't blame YouTube.

When A Heckler Starts something I quickly switch To Anti_heckler Mode
When I meet A Heckler I challenge Him with Brian Tudor's Heckler or Hypnotic routine

Why am I not surprised?

I admire Tudor for doing something most magicians dont do
Challenging a Heckler

You like him regardless. Go ask to have his children already. And where are your facts about most magicians not challenging hecklers? Hm? I'll wait.

Oh and Heckler the DVD
I heard some people say that the only Heckler On the DVD was Brian Tudor
Not True

All opinion. You cannot state it as true or untrue.

What Do you Do about Hecklers?
What Tricks?

If I find a heckler, I don't do anything. Usually everyone else who wants to enjoy the show shuts them up.

-ThrallMind

 

[DannyT]

If I find a heckler, I don't do anything. Usually everyone else who wants to enjoy the show shuts them up.

-ThrallMind

True story.
If someone is really pissing you off, just stop performing and start to put the cards away. The rest of the audience will make sure that 1 dude will stfu.
Then you can proceed.

Now in card magic, I don't really get heckled. The most I get is a "Can I shuffle". Which can be retaliated by saying, "Sorry, these cards are only meant for card masters/professionals." Or you can let them shuffle by doing a simple palm/cop. Then they could shuffle until their hearts content.

Another one of my favorites is "Can I look at the card?" (2 card monte)

In my mind: "WTF, you jus saw it u dumb$h1t."

What I say: "Yeah, in a second, but check this out", as I bring their attention to my card.

Or you can just bring their card back to the deck and repeat the DL. This time, put it flat on the table and put something over it, like a glass beer bottle. Instead of having the card in their hands.

That's just how I deal with my share of hecklers.

 

[HardcoreXcmer]

"soap box"? I don't understand.... lol

 

[visualartist]

depends on what kind of heckler they are.
If they are the kind that wants to shuffle the deck first,i let them.And instead of doing what i initially intended i perform stigmata.
If they are the attention seeking "i can do that too" kind of guys(cause its mostly guys)
i say "oh, your a magician too?"
i then give them the deck(or whatever prop im using) and ask them to show some magic.
which of course they wont.
but most of the time,like stated before, the rest of the audience will shut them up or just wave him aside.

 

[BrianationX]

If I find a heckler, I don't do anything.
-ThrallMind

I would recommend challenging them
You will look good and he will look like a fool
Hecklers are trying to make you look like a fool so you might as well destroy them
When I do Brian Tudor's Heckler or any other Sleight Strong routine the HEckler Shuts Up
The last time I dealt with a Heckler I destroyed him With The Politician
Hecklers are good for me
It gives me a chance to make an audience member feel like a Fool

 

[visualartist]

I would recommend challenging them
You will look good and he will look like a fool
Hecklers are trying to make you look like a fool so you might as well destroy them
When I do Brian Tudor's Heckler or any other Sleight Strong routine the HEckler Shuts Up
The last time I dealt with a Heckler I destroyed him With The Politician
Hecklers are good for me
It gives me a chance to make an audience member feel like a Fool

Well if you do that.
the rest of the audience will think your a dou$#@bag and consider you egotistical.

 

[DannyT]

Well if you do that.
the rest of the audience will think your a dou$#@bag and consider you egotistical.

Not necessarily.
If the heckler started being a jerk to the magician, then the magician has a right to shut him up while still performing. And usually that ends with the rest of the people laughing at the heckler. Then the heckler will just be quiet throughout the rest of the routine so he doesn't get pwned(served) again.

Or it could go a different route and the heckler will just get mad for whatever the reason may be.
My advice would be is to just get the 4uck outta there and move on.

 

[BrianationX]

Not necessarily.
If the heckler started being a jerk to the magician, then the magician has a right to shut him up while still performing. And usually that ends with the rest of the people laughing at the heckler. Then the heckler will just be quiet throughout the rest of the routine so he doesn't get pwned(served) again.

Or it could go a different route and the heckler will just get mad for whatever the reason may be.
My advice would be is to just get the 4uck outta there and move on.

True
Like Dane Cook did to that Heckler in Retaliation
He just insulted him and made him look like a fool in front of the others
He had the power to make security get him out
Magicians usually don't

George Carlin Insulted the crap out of his Heckler

 

[ThrallMind]

It gives me a chance to make an audience member feel like a Fool

Now I know you don't perform. If you are trying to make the audience look like a fool, you are going about performing all wrong.

-ThrallMind

 

[FOO:L]

surprisingly, I like using the utility moves from tudors Heckler. That stuff usually confuses the crap out of em.

 

[aznofspades]

How do you define heckler?

I'm going off Darwin Ortiz's definition: "A heckler is a spectator whose goal is to wreck your performance."

I don't really get hecklers, sometimes just really skeptical people. When I get one of those, I switch up what I'm doing. Maybe going from an ACR to a Card to Pocket.

Strong tricks with repeat phases are great for these type of people:

gets rids of the "do it again" response because you do
if you do it again with a different method it can crush some of their theories
they build up, and as long as you avoid the challenge attitude you don't come across as a jerk.

I had one friend that I thought was being a heckler because he kept revealing the tricks when I was doing them. But I realize, looking back, that I was performing way before I was prepared, and he was (in a weird sorta way) helping me out.

A few months later, I showed him an ACR and he was blown away, so it was all good.

Heckler looks pretty cool, just a repeat card to pocket, building over and over again.

I find it really funny that in the demo video, Brian Tudor acts like your innocent, quiet, average magician that gets confronted with a heckler. Except in all of his other videos he is extremely outspoken.

 

[ElisG]

i then give them the deck(or whatever prop im using) and ask them to show some magic.

To me that sounds like a really bad idea, I've tried this before and I had one guy in the crowd holding the deck trying to find out a method to rising a card to the top for 5 minutes, refusing to give the deck back and completely disrupting the flow of the performance.

I try to use clever wordplay and disguise insults in comedy, so the heckler gets really pissed off but the audience think i'm just making jokes.

 

[Steerpike]

i then give them the deck(or whatever prop im using) and ask them to show some magic.
which of course they wont.

And what happens when he inevitably does something? Because it will happen.

I would recommend challenging them

Considering you're a spammer, you'd probably also recommend poking an angry pitbull with a fork while throwing rocks at a hornets' nest.

The last time I dealt with a Heckler I destroyed him With The Politician

Hint: He's lying.