Penn & Teller, Doc Eason, and Bob Sheets all seem to have gotten by just fine and all of them are open about the fact that they're just guys who took the time to learn a few cool things.

The point is anyone can learn magic if you take the time to learn and practise.

However, we don't want our audiance to know this do we?

That's what i meant...

I wrote an essay about this in the Essay forum. I believe the way you should handle it boils down to why the person is asking you.

It may be that they're saying it because they can't thing of anything else to say. It's almost a rhetorical question and is meant more as a compliment than anything. This you can answer merely by smiling or saying, "If you enjoyed that stick around for..." or whatever. This is probably the only situation that you might be able to get away with saying, "Very well". Even then it is all too easy to make yourself look rather arrogant. It might give you a cheap laugh but magic is not about you. I try and stay away from the "Can you keep a secret? So can I!" lines altogether, for the same reason - it's just derogatory.

If they asked because they want to know the secret to put their minds at ease, that actually means you presented the trick badly, or as more of a puzzle, which is wrong. It means that you touched the logical part of their brain with your trick but not their emotional side. You should always aim to get to the emotional bit since that's where the entertainment value of magic lies. In theory you should never have to encounter someone asking how you did a trick for this reason unless you happen to perform for the wrong kind of person.

If the asker wants to know the secret so that he can perform it for his friends, that's when you have to come clean and tell them that in order to get good he has to start at the bottom. If he's truly interested in magic but doesn't have the skills, point them in the direction of the local bookstore that stocks some beginner magic/pub trick books.

Finally you might meet someone who is genuinely interested and has been doing magic for a while. You can have a chat after the show and if you think he's good enough you could tell him what the trick is (not how it's done but at least what it's called and where might sell it). If he's knowledgable but still isn't good enough, tell him, like in the above example, to try something simpler before moving on. If he's serious about magic, he'll understand.

my favorite line is...
spec. "how did you do that!"
magician "i dont know but it worked"

How about... Not say anything?

Usually its just a typical response.

If you are looking for a magical response, "Creature" seems like a good idea. "This little guy does all my work" as you cup your hands and a little creature pops out.

after the effect just laugh a little bit...they ask how you did that and you just go...why you like it? "yeah" then you laugh, they'll keep asking after this but just give a little laugh..

Usually said with a crooked smile and a wink:
Years of practice and self denial... and self denial is the most difficult part.

"I could explain it to you, but your sanity would drop and the progressive nightmares of being pursued by Great Cthulhu would begin."

Or,

(paranoid look) "You don't want to know. It's a terrible burden to be rewarded by the Great Old Ones."

HOW'D YOU DO THAT????


"Quite Well don't you think?"

"If it told you i'd have to kill you."

"I'm a Genetic Freak."

"Pure Luck."

"Through years of tedious practice and self denial."

and my favorite..... "CAMERA TRICKS!"

What about taking out a pair of mirror sunglasses, putting them on and saying... With Mirrors of course.

i got a great one - 'Practice and no freinds"

I always say, "The right way " And walk away or continue. ORRR...I just say "Magic."

"You shouldn't tell your audience to 'Willingly suspend their disbelief," but they should know that there is a method, but it is not important- for the purpose of magic is to entertain and connect with an audience rather than just to show that you are some magical being and it's all about you."

Paraphrased from Kostya Kimlat.

How did you do it?

-With magic, I told you already.
-I slipped LSD into your drink.
-Divine intervention.
-A lot of practice and a little bit of luck.
-6 ounces of corn oil and 3 feet of twine.
-I didn't. YOU did.
-Ask me again and I'll punch you in the stomach.

^^^ Courtesy of Mr. Jay Sankey lol