Violating one of magic's "golden rules"?

[bugboy]

Hey guys,

I haven't been on the forum in a while, so I figured I'd drop a line. I hope all is well with everyone!

I have recently been performing a good amount for a friend of mine, who loves when I show him magic (he really can't seem to get enough of it.) Recently, I've showed him Danny Garcia's Timeline 2.0 (one of my favorites,) DG's .44, the biddle trick, my ACR routine, and a few other card effects.

What's funny is that I've shown him a few of these aforementioned effects a long time ago. In fact, enough time had passed between then and now where I thought that showing him the same effects would pose no problem. This is where I reference the "golden rule": never show the same person a trick more than once.

Upon performing the effects that I've already shown him, he had no recollection of ever seeing them. So, it was
as if he was watching something completely new that he'd never seen before. Of course, I was aware that he had already seen them, but I felt that enough time had elapsed where this rule wouldn't be violated.

So what do you guys think? Did I violate this rule in any way? Of course, it would most definitely be violated if I had shown him an effect, say, within the time span of few days or weeks (when it would surely still be fresh in his mind.)

Any feedback would be mucho appreciated!

-A.L

 

[WitchDocIsIn]

Not really a rule, more of a guideline. I've also always considered it to be, "Never show the same audience the same trick twice within the same day."

Clearly there are exceptions. I've seen plenty of tricks multiple times and been fooled every time. It's all about how well the person performs it.

 

[James Wise Magic]

That happens to me all the time. Back when I was in high school I didn't learn anything new my entire senior year so I felt as though I would run out of material since everyone in the school knew me as "The Magic Man" I thought people would remember the actual effect but after awhile of time passing most people forgot the smaller stuff I did so I was able to do them again. The bigger stuff, the more memorable stuff always stuck with them though so I never do those again with the same people, just to be safe!

 

[Leadsl]

I usually use this "golden rule" as an excuse to not perform a trick that requires a set up twice. Also If you perform a trick that's strong enough. e.g. You can't perform stigmata for the same person twice!

 

[Craig Browning]

It really boils down to situation AND the kind of effect you're dealing with. Most people want to see it again so they can find the chink in your armor and see how it's done. This is why I always have a variation at hand when it comes to key pieces that I've had this sort of request on. When I play around with friends doing traditional Magic I always have more than one type of gimmick for Cigarette through Quarter; I always start off with the Johnson type gimmick and will generally follow that up using the Sterling coin for one subtle reason; the instant the cigarette is removed I can flip it flat and show both sides. Then it's just the matter of doing a single handed switch as I hand them the coin back . . . if I do it a 3rd time I go with the Slydini special. . . a real coin with a hole drilled through it; this allows me to show both sides of the coin with the cigarette running all the way through and can open the door to some other effects, in that I have an expanded shell with the same hole running through it (I know, I'm evil).

Even with Mentalism, having multiple methods for pulling off any given demonstration is paramount; especially if you are trying to play things as "real" such as I do. By using multiple methods both, within a given routine as well as if and when you're asked to repeat the experiment "under test conditions" so to speak. What's important is that my actions are identical when I do the follow-up "challenge". For an example, if I used a Tear or Peek Wallet (which I'd never do, but) in the first go through, I'd switch-up to an Impression device and altered handling the second time through BUT, in both handlings, I use the same pad of paper for the writing materials or else have a means by which to logically ring-in the imp pad that is innocent and more importantly, part of what was seen and used during the first run through.

I've been told many times that I run when not being chased, it's a habit that has lead to my owning multiple versions of a single effect just so I could present what seemed to be the "same" effect, under a plethora of settings & circumstances. Admittedly, this was very much an ego-reflex but over the years it has become a wise course of action for two reasons, the first being obvious; I'm ready to "repeat" an effect. The other "side effect" to this practice is the fact that I learn far more about an effect and methods for achieving it vs. learning one method and thinking that's all there is to it. Such stagnated thinking hurts the craft and limits us as both, artists & showmen.

 

[bugboy]

Thanks for the feedback guys!

 

[Randy]

There is also the standard of not doing it twice because you are not a machine or a monkey. A lot of times it's best to exert restraint over yourself and what you do. People will respect you more when you don't repeat something just because they asked you to.

Like Anthony Hopkins would often say "The man who shows less.."