20 Reddit Magicians Share Times They Were Laughed Out of Birthday Parties

Carly Tennes Published 09/06/2024 in facepalm

Though magicians may often make their tricks look like well, magic, there's a whole lot more that goes into the final "ta-da!" than meets the eye. Just ask the magicians who watched their audience's awe disappear during these spectacular magic fails.

From not-so-floating roses to cards flying, here, 20 Reddit magicians share times they were laughed out of birthday parties.

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“Happened to me about 15 years ago. I was performing floating rose in front of about 200 people - and the thread broke. The paper ball didn't fall to the ground and instead, swung in front of me while I looked on, mortified. I should have practiced things to do for that situation, but it had never happened in rehearsal. Ugh, I still shudder thinking about it.”
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“Not I Magician, but I was told recently a story about that poor magician who, while doing a show in front of children, made a dove appear out of a scarf, and threw it up flying... right into the ceiling fan.”
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“Last year, In eighth grade, I started doing magic and everyone in my grade loved it. Eventually the talent show came around and everyone told me I should do it, so I did. On the day of the show, I was the finale. I was super well dressed and when I got on stage, I everyone in my grade were chanting my name. My palms got sweaty and I started to shake a little. I tried to do a mentalism trick I succeeded dozens of times. But I was so nervous I failed, in front of 600+ people and everyone 7th and under probably remembers me as “the bad magician at the talent show”. I wish I could go back and destroy that show but I can’t.” 
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“A bad toss while doing card to ceiling... The difference between 51 card pick-up and 52 card pick-up.”
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“I used to do a straight jacket escape act on the boardwalk. One time my volunteer actually tied the back straps in a knot after they buckled it. What normally took me 2 minutes to slip took me 15. In front of a crowd of around a 100, i was on my knees, sweating my b—s off, fighting to get a knot undone for what felt like an hour! People started asking me if I needed help. It was the worst!! However, I made $50 in tips, a soda, and a slice of pizza, so it was worth it. Lol.”

1.
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4.
5.
“Happened to me about 15 years ago. I was performing floating rose in front of about 200 people - and the thread broke. The paper ball didn't fall to the ground and instead, swung in front of me while I looked on, mortified. I should have practiced things to do for that situation, but it had never happened in rehearsal. Ugh, I still shudder thinking about it.”
6.
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“Not I Magician, but I was told recently a story about that poor magician who, while doing a show in front of children, made a dove appear out of a scarf, and threw it up flying... right into the ceiling fan.”
11.
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“Last year, In eighth grade, I started doing magic and everyone in my grade loved it. Eventually the talent show came around and everyone told me I should do it, so I did. On the day of the show, I was the finale. I was super well dressed and when I got on stage, I everyone in my grade were chanting my name. My palms got sweaty and I started to shake a little. I tried to do a mentalism trick I succeeded dozens of times. But I was so nervous I failed, in front of 600+ people and everyone 7th and under probably remembers me as “the bad magician at the talent show”. I wish I could go back and destroy that show but I can’t.” 
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“A bad toss while doing card to ceiling... The difference between 51 card pick-up and 52 card pick-up.”
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“I used to do a straight jacket escape act on the boardwalk. One time my volunteer actually tied the back straps in a knot after they buckled it. What normally took me 2 minutes to slip took me 15. In front of a crowd of around a 100, i was on my knees, sweating my b—s off, fighting to get a knot undone for what felt like an hour! People started asking me if I needed help. It was the worst!! However, I made $50 in tips, a soda, and a slice of pizza, so it was worth it. Lol.”