On 2011-08-18 12:15, M Sini wrote:
Before you get flamed for asking a question that's been discussed on this forum at nauseum, may I suggest you use the search feature?

On 2011-11-14 01:27, charliewerner wrote:
David Blaine is just a amateur magician if compare to Dai Vernon, Slydini, Paul Daniel. He is a opportunity seeker.. like many of us, we dream of someday appear on tv when we master our craft... most of our dream end then more older we goes.. in the end, we are happy enough to perform at restaurant and other..

David Blaine on other hand, knowing he don't have skill like other, just went ahead to TV producer, perform standard magician (slightly above beginner magic) and become famous for it.... Like Dai Vernon use to said to Michael Ammar "people don't like to see a hamesome young man performing skillful things, they get jealous infact"

So David here, different from what people thought of magician see, someone who proud, arrogant, fast talking guy, great charisma and rich .... David wear normal clothing, a street guy... David went to place where people don't see magician often or cant afford one.... He show his magic, and of cos he get a great reaction...

To a layperson watch David Blaine show on tv, David use magic making people freak out and brighten their day.

TO a Magician like me - never underestimate a simple trick...

Finally, David Blaine Choose his audience, only those have great reaction are put on the show, those who react like nothing happen get edited out... Most tv magician do that..

but if we compare david blaine to criss angel, cyril takayama and derren brown...
I will rate them as follow:
1) Derren Brown - Create new type of illusion that he control mind, behavior. He is great of his misdirection, cold reading skill.. and super ability of making something wrong to right... He have great card effect.. A magician turning to mentalist. He have his own live show.

2)Cyril Takayama - Friendly neighborhood Magician, Before getting his own show, he is on of "T.H.E.M." Cool group of guy. He earn a living by performing at bar for tips (huge amount since japanese mafia love to give money away)...soon after effect of David Blaine, Japan called him up for Japan street magic show... His performance are better than blaine because he got lot of his friend from "T.H.E.M" to help him out... He have a great style and he first got me interested in Magic.. though right now, he seems stop creating or showing new effect.. in live show, he getting harder time to get a reaction...his works with floating or pk effect are most fantastic!!

3)Criss Angel = He famous for his singing and stage magic... He is great but he have a attitude problem who I hope kids wont follow his footstep..He look more like a pop icon than a magician.. or something to do with dark side of magic, over estimate himself.. He have johnny thompson and banacek to help..

4)David Blaine - like I say, he a normal guy... seems like a poor guy.. performing magic to audience who rarely see a magician real life.. and get to be famous...

5) Luchen from taiwan - Lu Chen a name that is not so famous now, but one day I hope he going to be.. HE too like cyril, got the skill , the sleight as a magician.. he quite successful in china, taiwan and japan.. He always add a twist to his magic... Although he perform trick that you can buy from magic shop, he make some adjustment to make it different and unique... He need to work on his English and let the world then experience his magic. BTW, He won 1st place at some competition organized by David Copperfield himself.. One of the most creative original magic creator...

If we put all the TV magician on the street, without camera trick, with a 50percent lay person, 50 percent magician audience...

Perhaps derren brown would be first..for his presentation and smooth taking, great showmanship..i think most people will enjoy him as a entertainer.

Cyril and LuChen will be performing wide range of street magic... lot of great effect..

Criss Angel might be doing some a normal standard trick ...

David Blaine = Having trouble I think..due to wide range of audience, having harder time getting people to watch him or understanding him...

On 2011-11-14 01:27, charliewerner wrote:
David Blaine is just a amateur magician if compare to Dai Vernon, Slydini, Paul Daniel. He is a opportunity seeker.. like many of us, we dream of someday appear on tv when we master our craft... most of our dream end then more older we goes.. in the end, we are happy enough to perform at restaurant and other..

David Blaine on other hand, knowing he don't have skill like other, just went ahead to TV producer, perform standard magician (slightly above beginner magic) and become famous for it.... Like Dai Vernon use to said to Michael Ammar "people don't like to see a hamesome young man performing skillful things, they get jealous infact"

So David here, different from what people thought of magician see, someone who proud, arrogant, fast talking guy, great charisma and rich .... David wear normal clothing, a street guy... David went to place where people don't see magician often or cant afford one.... He show his magic, and of cos he get a great reaction...

To a layperson watch David Blaine show on tv, David use magic making people freak out and brighten their day.

TO a Magician like me - never underestimate a simple trick...

Finally, David Blaine Choose his audience, only those have great reaction are put on the show, those who react like nothing happen get edited out... Most tv magician do that..

but if we compare david blaine to criss angel, cyril takayama and derren brown...
I will rate them as follow:
1) Derren Brown - Create new type of illusion that he control mind, behavior. He is great of his misdirection, cold reading skill.. and super ability of making something wrong to right... He have great card effect.. A magician turning to mentalist. He have his own live show.

2)Cyril Takayama - Friendly neighborhood Magician, Before getting his own show, he is on of "T.H.E.M." Cool group of guy. He earn a living by performing at bar for tips (huge amount since japanese mafia love to give money away)...soon after effect of David Blaine, Japan called him up for Japan street magic show... His performance are better than blaine because he got lot of his friend from "T.H.E.M" to help him out... He have a great style and he first got me interested in Magic.. though right now, he seems stop creating or showing new effect.. in live show, he getting harder time to get a reaction...his works with floating or pk effect are most fantastic!!

3)Criss Angel = He famous for his singing and stage magic... He is great but he have a attitude problem who I hope kids wont follow his footstep..He look more like a pop icon than a magician.. or something to do with dark side of magic, over estimate himself.. He have johnny thompson and banacek to help..

4)David Blaine - like I say, he a normal guy... seems like a poor guy.. performing magic to audience who rarely see a magician real life.. and get to be famous...

5) Luchen from taiwan - Lu Chen a name that is not so famous now, but one day I hope he going to be.. HE too like cyril, got the skill , the sleight as a magician.. he quite successful in china, taiwan and japan.. He always add a twist to his magic... Although he perform trick that you can buy from magic shop, he make some adjustment to make it different and unique... He need to work on his English and let the world then experience his magic. BTW, He won 1st place at some competition organized by David Copperfield himself.. One of the most creative original magic creator...

If we put all the TV magician on the street, without camera trick, with a 50percent lay person, 50 percent magician audience...

Perhaps derren brown would be first..for his presentation and smooth taking, great showmanship..i think most people will enjoy him as a entertainer.

Cyril and LuChen will be performing wide range of street magic... lot of great effect..

Criss Angel might be doing some a normal standard trick ...

David Blaine = Having trouble I think..due to wide range of audience, having harder time getting people to watch him or understanding him...

On 2011-12-12 18:33, Ekuth wrote:
Gah, I *hate* this topic, but here we go again.

It distills down to this (and I have read cover to cover Blaine's "book", so I know from whence I speak):

David never meant to be labeled purely a magician. His focus and inspiriation was Houdini's endurance and escape feats.
Houdini was a master at PR, and David learned that lesson very, very well.

I admire him for what he has accomplished, and attempted to accomplish.

I agree about the "low expectations/large reactions" gambit. This is absolutely true and it worked.

Was there extensive editing in his specials? Yes.

Do I consider him a well rounded, professional magician? No.
Do I consider him a well rounded endurance feat performer? Yes.

Do I like his style? No.
Do I like his dress? Absolutely not.

However, this also plays directly into the "low expectations/large reaction" principle, so I can see the validity of the approach.

Personally, I find it repugnant and I think that both he and Criss Angel (whom is another topic altogether) have done the magic community a HUGE disservice by presenting a shabby image as the new "norm". I, personally, will never perform while dressed like a bum that would hit you up for change outside of a Starbucks, or attired in an outfit that looks as though someone threw the cast of "Twilight" and "Lost Boys" into a blender and hit "chop".

Magic to me speaks of mystery and elegance, and we should dress in a manner to promote that image. If you are a performer, you should LOOK like one. This includes such elementary things as personal hygene and clean clothes.

Am I a snob about that? Most likely, but that is my style. Others vary.

A comedy magician would not dress in the Victorian manner I do. A stage/parlor magician would not dress in a club/bar style manner.

However, to each his own, and I respect both David and Criss for getting out there and making it happen; each in his own (if slightly distasteful) manner.

*tips hat*