Editor’s note: This is a new feature where we’ll do something kind of like Odds and Ends, only instead of being the equivalent of People magazine for magic, it’ll be actually useful and relevant to your performances. Hopefully.

Let’s say that the dreaded situation has occurred where someone authentically believes in your magic and you have to break it to them that it’s only a trick. Because that’s what you’d do, right? You’re not one of those magicians who would let them believe it’s real, right? I hope not.

Anyway, how do you confess without A: making them feel stupid or B: ruining the future magic if they still want to see any?

Here’s what I do.

“Hey, I have something I need to tell you. I’m really flattered by your response, and it’s this kind of thing that keeps me doing magic. But I need to make something clear, because faith matters and it’s important to me that I don’t play with faith. None of what I showed you is real. That doesn’t mean it wasn’t special, and I’m really glad I got to share that once-in-a-lifetime moment with you, but I know exactly why and how it happened. I wish I didn’t, but I do.”

Except, you know. Extemporaneously. Not that exact script. Those are just the notes I personally hit when they fit (card tricks usually aren’t once-in-a-lifetime moments; for example, even the perfect ACAAN is still 1 in 52), and maybe it can serve as a jumping off point for you. Note that I’m not necessarily talking about religious faith there, though depending on the person’s beliefs I often imply as much.

Let’s also say a participant/spectator discovers something they shouldn’t have, but it’s plausible that it’s unrelated to the effect. (Even though it’s actually exactly how you did everything.)

People have frequently extolled the virtues of simply playing dumb. “I didn’t know about that,” they presumably say, as someone touches their wallet and multiple spring-loaded compartments fly open.

What if, instead of playing dumb, you played excited? “Oh shit, are you serious? You can do that? Thank you for showing me that, I’m definitely going to use it.”

Now that I’ve written this out, I realize that this is a lot like Andy of the Jerx’s plan where you let them show you something they Googled. The excitement is key here though. It’s really all about what best suits your own personality, and I sure as hell wouldn’t just be blasé about that.

One final thing…

If you were a successful theater kid, this may not apply to you. However, if you’re a stage magician, this will almost certainly apply to you.

Get good at acting and extemporaneous lies! Whether that looks like acting classes, improv classes, or something else, for the love of God, get good at lying!

Or don’t. Just tell the truth. More on that later.