Hi, I'm sure that you've all heard people say "how did you learn that?" after a trick. Well I always just go onto another trick, but I think I should say something, other than, "www.penguinmagic.com that were you can buy books and stuff" lol

I respond with "the same way you get to Carnaige Hall, practice practice practice." If they keep asking I tell them that I teach magic for $100 a lesson. Never have a taker yet but they stop asking.

Peter

In my case I just tell them that magic is my hobby and that I learn it from books and practice.

"It's a gift."

This might help, also.

http://www.penguinmagic.com/discuss/viewtopic.php?t=31464

I often get asked that question too. I Either say, "try it, it just kind of works," or, " God came down and gave me a lesson," if they were extremely impressed.

A little off topic, but still might help:
If they ask, "How do you do that?" I sometimes respond "Well, I do it very well, I'm told..."

It's also fun to just misdirect the conversation by suggesting an obviously wrong solution to the trick. Example on...say... rising card.
Them: "How do you do that?"
Me: "Easy! There's a string glued to the card."
Them (handling the card): "Uh... no there's not."
Me: "There's not? Wow... in that case I have no idea..."

Them: Whered you learn that?

Me: I spent 3 years at the Hogwarts Academy.

You don't go to school to learn this stuff.

You cut school. lol

Been saying that for years. Someone told me Gregory Wilson uses the same line! Gotta love independent invention.

i usually say "learn what?"

if you say "you just have to practice," you're sort of ruining the illusion. if you've just performed a feat of "magic," then that's what it was -- magic. what is there to "learn?"

if they say "i know it's just sleight of hand," i look confused, like i've never heard of such a thing. then i reply with something like "you think so? well, let me show you something that can't possibly be explained by sleight-of-hand, as you call it." then perform your most mind-boggling effect.

in other words, if your goal is to "shut them up," do it with a spectacular feat of magic. leave them speechless.

Punk guy: How did you do that?
You: From the startled look on you face I think I did it pretty well.

Punk guy: How did you learn that?
You: Well I read the instrucions...

Since He has been edited out or has deleted himself out I will delete his quote here. Thank you Mods?

Is there anyone else here that agrees that this is pretty offensive? The signature is bad enough. Come on Mods, help out here. please.

Hey chunks, what is your problem? Let's see--confederate battle flag, check. Little, childish (or maybe anti-Semitic), shot at Jews, check. Getting all woody thinking about a kidnap victim, check.

Welcome to the forum. : extreme sarcasm:

Hey LusciousChunks, sorry to break it to you, but the Confederate's lost the civil war. Get over it.

Well, did ya get a look at Chunky's web site. I am speechless. I really wish Penguin had a way to block particular users.

I hope that a flame war doesn't start here!

I'm from the south, born and raised. I didn't see the comment that started it, but please realise that not everyone who displays the confederate flag is a racist.

Now, on topic:

When people ask me how I did that, I reply "Magic!"

Believe it or not, no one ever follows up from that!

"It's magic." Then, say I'm doing the Invisible Deck, I make a quick switch of decks after doing the trick and hand them an examinable one to Examine. That really gets them.