just point randomly to parts of the table where ur performing and say "theres a mirror here, and here, and a smoke machine here" after all, it ia all smoke and mirrors, isn't it?

"Through years of practice and self-denial." I read that one somewhere and I usally say that

i once heard lance burton say "if i told you id have to kill you"

I like this one, from a Bazooka Joe wrapper "Whoah, how'd you do that?" Then it has Bazooka Joe point down to the thing, and it says 'FORTUNE: DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL" And then the other guy goes "But I asked" and then Bazooka Joe walks away, haha, it's funny..o.o

Instead of making some smart remark to make the spectator feel like a behind, I usually say, "I'll show you how gamblers cheat at poker!" This can take you right into a gambling routine or whatever. That way they can't keep bothering you, even though they know you won't tell them.

I remember hearing that line for the first time on a video of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy from a Star Trek convention somewhere. Nimoy was demonstrating the Vulcan salute, which William Shatner can't do. And Nimoy said, "It took me years and years of diligent practice and self-denial to learn how to do that."

I use that one all the time. It usually gets a laugh, and I usually just move on from there.

Carrie

I personally like the reply "very well, thank you"

A Magician I ran into at a magic shop in Minneapolis once told me that whenever someone asks him "How do you do that?" He simply offers to teach them how for $20. That usually shuts them up and figures that only someone who is serious about magic will pony up the money.

Thats a good idea.

Nice response.

I "look around to make sure nobody's looking"... I pretend like I'm gonna whisper some secret to them... and I say can you keep a secret? They enthusiastically say YES!.....

I then smile, look at them and say, "So can I..."

You can also say....I'll tell you when your older.... and Smile...

I like a lot of some response for this kind of question of the spectator. I will try it next time. But for me, beofre doing a trick on the street, I put my "Believe In Magic?" carton on my t-shirt, so if they ask me" How did you do that?" and I will point to my carton and said "Believe In Magic!". That's the one I used becaues I want to make people believe in magic and as anyother person, it just a trick...

Thanks!

How'd you do that? The same way I keep a moron in suspence. "I'll tell you tomorrow. Of coarse tomorrow never comes because when it does gets here it is always today again. So when they ask the next day I just say, I said I'll tell you tomorrow! And if they're stupid enough to ask the following day I just keep telling them that over and over until they stop asking.

i like that nice one

When asked 'How did you do that?' my favorite response is 'Thank you, I'll take that as a compliment.' and move on to my next effect.