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Bizzaro New user 21 Posts |
Why is this review new? Well, I put one up on Alt. Magic but it wasn't that good. I was distracted while I was writing it. So here it is again. Version 2.0...
Many years ago, EVERYONE knew magic had to be done in wizard robes and Chinese garb. Then a radical came along and did magic in a tux. Then a few less years ago, EVERYONE knew magic had to be done in a tux, and then a few people broke that mold. EVERYONE knows magic has to be done on TV as big large illusions or comedy, unless someone convinces a TV producer otherwise. Thus... Sure it's nice to see things done differently. However, when your difference is the same as someone else's, then it ceases to be original and is merely a clone. Just because you think that you can do something someone does better by doing the same thing but different, you are gonna come out on the losing end. Let's think about this shall we? David Blaine does street magic as what appears to be a drug induced patient. Does not say anywhere on his special that there are no camera tricks. Cheats his way thru a magic special, and people think he is a god. Produces two more specials that blow and are basically just infomercials. Enter Criss Angel. He's been around for a long time. However his ideas of mixing live rock music and magic is a good one. He gains notoriety doing shows and gets to do his dream show. However, there are flaws. His stage show is like every other show except put in a different dress. (One of leather and vinyl.) He gets offered a TV show and, since street magic is so popular that even David Copperfield did some on his last special, Criss decides to take what magicians know as Blaine-isms and make him look good. Again, no where did it say camera tricks were not being used. A pro to this show was it was on cable and no one saw it.. heh heh. If this trend continues, we will be seeing a few things. More stret magic rip-offs and the public not trusting magic specials. Of course, I have mentioned nothing of the show itself. Anything on the street I ignored, laughed at, and otherwise chided. (Except I liked the cig pull he used.) I was in it for the stage stuff mainly. However, what I got was a long routine for a DeKolta chair. (In which he should never have removed that creature's mask. Bad form all around.) Also, a transformance that was good up until the end with the sheet. Also, will someone please explain to me what the heck is up with magic specials being giant infomercials. So much so that ellusionist.com was hawking their products on there? Who do we blame for this? No one.. it just happens. If you had a magic special, do you think you could do better? Would you be impervious to the attacks of barbed magician comments? If you were making that much money would you care? I doubt it.... In conclusion, the show sucked... I have seen better. Someone save us!!!! |
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Bascomb Grecian Loyal user Redding, Ca. 202 Posts |
Thank you Bizzaro for this wonderful disertation! I loved what you said about....
"David Blaine does street magic as what appears to be a drug induced patient."
Welcome to The Magic Cafe'!
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Ron Giesecke Special user Redding, Ca. 947 Posts |
Bascomb,
Maybe his next special will be called "Haldol cuts the cards." |
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jwinnell New user Palm Desert, CA 6 Posts |
I was not impressed at all with the Angel special. The "street magic" was insulting to me personally. No one is ignorant enough to believe that someone can float in mid-air surrounded by people, outside in broad daylight. Anyway, ellusionist running the ads I feel is expected. Let Brad make all the money he can teaching everyone who wants to pay $40 for some videos. Magic on TV sucks anymore. Lame is an understatement.
Thanks |
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Justin Flom Veteran user 325 Posts |
Well, no kidding! No one really believes that someone can float in the middle of a crowd. Nor do they believe that a magician can really cut his girlfriend in half with out being put in prison for life.
The point is, being fooled for that moment. No matter how cheesy we think the special was, the material on it still fooled a very large majority of the viewers. Remember, magicians are the minority of magic special viewers. Justin |
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Bascomb Grecian Loyal user Redding, Ca. 202 Posts |
Justin:
You are right about this small audience we magicians. The opinions we put forth do not matter in the grand scheme. Now that I have said that, I also want to say as a magician I have seen some fantastic talented, deceptive magicians out there in magicland. It is too bad, that to get on TV you have to look like Marilyn Manson.
Welcome to The Magic Cafe'!
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Justin Flom Veteran user 325 Posts |
He won't be around forever though, because an elderly man with tattoos and ear rings all over his body looking like Marilyn Manson won't get much work as a magician.
Stick to your own clean creative style of magic and your career will be much more rewarding. Maybe not in money, but your entertained audiences will definitely bless you. Justin |
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Marshall Thornside Inner circle chicago 2016 Posts |
Actually I disagree with the clean thing unless you mean nice and professional. However, you can be off beat and different. Be careful. There is a fine line between different and dressed different. Just because you cut someone in half in a box that looks like a train does not make you unique.
Marshall
you will remember my name
World's Youngest Illusionista 7th greatest pianist in the world Go Red For Women and Stroke Ambassador www.mai-ling.net |
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JasonDean Loyal user 266 Posts |
If what you are saying is that you need a tux, tie and a clean hair cut to be a successful magician, I totally disagree. First, what is the audience your trying to reach. Second, to obtain success with anything, I don't believe you have to go by the rules. The most successful people in the world broke the rules and went past the boundaries of "how it's supposed to be done." Yes, I believe in maintaining a professional look.
I for one want to be myself and set myself apart from your standard suit and tie magician. Although I wear it when the time is appropriate. What I mean is this, I have many piercings, most of which are on my face, and my hair is extremely blonde and spikey. Does this cut down on my business?Not at all! If anything, it brings more to me. I have performed regularly at a very popular restaurant in my community for over a year. I performed private functions from everyone to the mayor in my town all the way to a homeless person on the streets. So by now you're probably wondering if you stepped on some toes. My answer to that is, YES! I understand about maintaining a professional attitude and how to dress for the occasion. The point is, I'm comfortable, and when my clients or audience sees that, they are too. We all need to stop the bickering and slamming of other magcians. Keep in mind, these T.V. specials (Angel-Blaine) weren't intended to entertain the magician. If you think some other magician's act is terrible, fine. It doesn't mean you should tear them down. Like I said before, their acts are aimed for the lay audience. Let them judge if anything. I think a lot of us need to humble ourselves for a change. ---Jason Dean |
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Kathryn Novak Special user PA 574 Posts |
I'm posting this as modestly and as humbly as I can.
People are attacking the way he dresses, performs and presents his tricks to the audience. I agree to a point that his act needs work, but he is exposing people to magic-however badly performed or presented. What I'm amazed at is that nobody mentioned the fact that he STOOD ON HOUDINI'S GRAVE. I am only an amateur but this seemed to be the most disrespectful thing out of the entire special, not only to magicians and laypeople but to the art of magic itself. Just my two cents.
If anyone sees my sanity, please return it to
me. |
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Dr. Jakks Special user 832 Posts |
I am ignoring the above comments and posting what I think about Criss Angel, TV Magic and Brad Christian.
Criss: I think his TV special was a breath of fresh air. I am surprised that most of you went straight for the alt.magic.secrets approach and said it was camera tricks. Actually I knew how he did each of the illusions he performed and they were not camera tricks. I did not say stooges weren't involved, or confederates weren't used, but I think the special was awesome. TV Magic: I think that David Blaine has been good for magic. His specials have created a new genre of magic and I respect that. The fact that he used several camera edits and 1 BLATANT camera trick really make me disrespect him as a person. David Copperfield's last special was bad....REALLY bad. I am desperately hoping that he breaks that and starts off fresh. Ellusionist: Censored Jakks |
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JasonDean Loyal user 266 Posts |
Blaine used editing, Angel used plants. I'm not sure about Angel but David said there were no camera tricks, when we magicians knew he lied. So what!
Isn't that what we do, lie with our magic to make people think we are able to do things they can't? Some of us call it sleight of hand and some of us like to let people think there is real magic. Is that wrong? I haven't seen anyone talk about all the Copperfield specials except one. He was using plants all over the place. The point is that even though the layman wasn't involved, they have an image of magic that they are watching. How many times have you forced a card and acted like you were reading their mind and heard them say, "I just thought of the card and he named it!" Well, in fact they forgot that they picked a card out the deck. It's called mental editing. Same thing Blaine did, he edited a few clips. To end, I'm not saying Blaine or Angel are good or bad magicians, I'm saying quit trying to perceive how the layman should see magic and just let it be. --Jason Dean-- |
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kcgroves New user Colorado 15 Posts |
What is the problem with these guys, they are on T.V. and we are not. All I ever hear about anymore is these guys are terrible. If they are then why is it they are a household neme. Yeah that's right if you go into a laypersons home and ask if anyone knows Darwin Ortiz or any other name we are very familiar with, most people will tell you NO! But if we were to walk in and ask "Who is David Blaine?" They will probably say Oh he's the guy would can bite a quarter. Don't get me wrong I have no problem with any of these oter guys that most do not know. I just think that it is time to realize that Blaine and Angel are doing some good things for magic. Why does magic have to be so cutthroat and negative it is my opinion it is time to respect these guys for who they are. One could only wish to be as popular a magician as these guys.
Kyle
In every smile there is always magic!
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JasonDean Loyal user 266 Posts |
I agree totally!--Jason Dean--
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GothicBen Veteran user England 353 Posts |
I'll second that! It always seems to me that when someone gets famous, those who aren't are the first to complain.
When I started playing guitar, Kurt Cobain was at the peak of his powers. Yet every pub rocker was bemoaning him for his limited guitar technique. Ditto Blaine / Angel. You have someone who's actually appealing to the younger generation, and other magicians are petty enough to criticize their double lifts, editing tricks, etc. I always thought the idea of being a magical brotherhood was to support each other... |
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8733 Posts |
10 years later, no one knows me, but everyone still knows Blaine and Angel. They must be doing something right.
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Marlin1894 Special user 559 Posts |
True. One is known as a stuntman, and the other is known as a punchline.
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Steve_Mollett Inner circle Eh, so I've made 3006 Posts |
Magic, and showbiz in general, has ALWAYS been like that; rivalry and schadenfreude (sp?) are rife.
Author of: GARROTE ESCAPES
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth. - Albert Camus |
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truemagic New user 20 Posts |
Yes, those one liners are hysterical about Blaine.
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longhaired1 Veteran user Salida 316 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-08-06 19:48, Zombie Magic wrote: Everyone also knows who the Kardashians are. They are also doing something right. That doesn't make them great performers. |
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