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Micheal Leath Inner circle 1048 Posts |
A few weeks ago I saw two of David's shows and they were great as usual. I had great seats both times and the audience loved him.
To those of you who are picking apart David's show, I suggest that you try doing 500 shows a year for as long as he has. Let's then see if you ever seem tired or make a mistake. I really don't think David is performing for "magicians." He is performing for the lay public and they love his show. |
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Laszlo Csizmadi Special user From Hell 868 Posts |
Well said, Michael.
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Frank Simpson Special user SW Montana 883 Posts |
Michael-
You are absolutely right. Doing 500 shows a year is going to take a toll. If one is not up to doing them, he should cut back. While it is admirable to do as many shows as possible to satisfy demand, when there is no understudy it is incumbent upon the performer to regulate his schedule so he can maintain a level of quality. No performer has the right to bore an audience. If he feels lousy before a performance it is his job to not let that be seen. I am quite sure Mr. Copperfield does not perform for magicians. Any magician that does is ignoring his larger and more important audience. My previous comments were based not only on my experience, but on those of numerous laymen as well. I was always careful not to offer an opinion of what I thought of the show until after they had told me their impressions. Certainly one does not have to be a magician to question the taste of an effect that is built upon the premise of "magically impregnating" an audience member and then using a cheesy sonogram projection for a card revelation. There is no question that the public enjoys his shows, but I have a first-hand ability to compare audience reactions from his shows of 20 years ago with those of today. The reactions of years gone by far surpassed those of recent years. A common comment I've heard is, "what he did was pretty good, but he really didn't do too many things... I certainly didn't expect to spend $75 to spend half the evening watching vidoes!" |
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Munseys_Magic Special user 520 Posts |
Well said, Frank!!!
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Shrubsole Inner circle Kent, England 2455 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-02-06 14:34, Micheal Leath wrote:...To those of you who are picking apart David's show, I suggest that you try doing 500 shows a year for as long as he has. Let's then see if you ever seem tired or make a mistake... That has always been a weak argument: If I stay awake for 72 hours, I'm tired - Answer: DON'T DO IT! I can't sing, but that doesn't mean I can't judge people who can and state what I think of it! - The age-old excuse of "Well, you try singing and if you can't sing as good, you can't comment" has never been a valid answer, just a desperate excuse that doesn't hold water. If DC's product is becoming second rate, then he as a company needs to address and fix that - simple business! How many years are we to use the "well, he used to be great once, but it's all OK as he has been tired for the last 5 years" ? DC can well afford (unlike most of the rest of us) to give up totally if he so wishes, so cutting back to improve the product is a very sensible thing to do.
Winner of the Dumbringer Award for total incompetence. (All years)
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silverking Inner circle 4574 Posts |
Considering that every DC show sells out, it makes some of this negative commentary regarding DC rather funny.
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Frank Simpson Special user SW Montana 883 Posts |
Silverking-
Yes, I am sure he is laughing all the way to the bank! |
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Munseys_Magic Special user 520 Posts |
Silverking, I'm not sure where you get your information. He didn't sell out in Boston. Tickets were on sale for 1/2 price Sunday morning.
Also, selling out or not has nothing to do with whether or not he was "into" the show. |
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Joshua Lozoff Inner circle Chapel Hill, NC 1332 Posts |
His Raleigh, NC show wasn't sold out either.
It is interesting to hear these posts. His energy was down when he came here a few weeks ago, as well. It was surprising to me because I have always felt his showmanship was his best quality. Sometimes he would mumble instructions to the volunteer as if she was already supposed to know what to do. HOWEVER, my wife came with me for the first time, and thought it was a teriffic show. She normally doesn't like magic shows (which is one of the reasons I love her. She and I share the opinion that most magic really stinks, so she keeps me honest when I develop my act), but she walked away truly impressed by his sense of humor and his ability to connect with the crowd. She also has a very low tolerance for egotism, and thought that Copperfield's was all done with a wink in a way that made it fun. Sure he's cocky, but she really liked the playfulness that went along with that cockiness. If my wife had not been with me, I think I would have focused mostly on the low energy (and the fact that it was the exact same show as he did a year ago here) but I'm glad I was able to see things through her eyes. |
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Starrpower Inner circle 4070 Posts |
I saw him twice several years ago (probably my 12th time), and never had the desire to go back. When I first saw him in the 80's he was funny, and fresh, and really looked like he enjoyed doing the show. The last few times he looked bored, and frankly a little silly trying to act 20 when he's middle-aged. Little humor, and none of the elegance that brought him fame.
I saw Sinatra in 1985. He was old, fat, and had little voice left, but he really had that audience ... he made you BELIEVE that you were worth being entertained. He worked hard to make the audience happy. DC on the other hand, seems to act as though the audience is there for HIM, rather than the other way around. While I feel he is (was?) possibly the best magician of all time, I fear that "time" has passed. |
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pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
The last time I saw DC was almost 2 years ago in York, PA. I caught one of the beach balls for 13 and when I went on stage, I was asked the magic question, "are you a magician?" Dummy me said yes. David held my elbow and gently pulled me to the side and I was just a committee member. I can honestly tell you that when you are on his stage, David and his crew OWN you. He just has that kind of control over you, but at the same time, comes across as a very congenial and friendly guy.
His whole show was great and I was debating seeing him in Vegas when I'm there for WMS in a few weeks. After all the negative posts, I may opt for Lance instead. |
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silverking Inner circle 4574 Posts |
Most people who post negative information on web boards do so for reasons that have nothing to do with the topic being discussed.
It's usually a personal issue, manifesting itself in a conversation about something else. You could see DC, or you could see Lance.....you could even see them both......but I wouldn't make my decision based on statements in this thread. I'd pick up some reviews by REAL reviewers who don't have an apparent cross to bear with the act they're reviewing. |
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Munseys_Magic Special user 520 Posts |
Silverking,
Where do you get off assuming that reviewers have a "cross to bear"? I, like many others, have praised Copperfield for over 10 years. Things only changed over the past 3 years or so. Why are you assuming something's changed with us? These ARE real reviews. If you want one-sided reviews, go to David's site. |
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Mark Williams Special user Las Vegas, Nevada 513 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-02-06 21:38, silverking wrote: BINGO!! http://theedge.bostonherald.com/artsNews......d=124371
"Once is Magic!! Twice is an Education!!"
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Munseys_Magic Special user 520 Posts |
I LOVE that article!
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Alexx Argen New user "New" for 10+ years with only 85 Posts |
I saw DC on Jan 28th in Buffalo. I have seen him a couple of times before this and this time he was like one of the people at an amusment park reading off the rules while getting on a ride. He was spoke in such a monotone and "blah". When he did Through Steel he looked as if he was going to fall asleep. I will always like Copperfield and his Illusions but "Where's The Love, Copperfield"?
Also I have seen his last tour this year and two years ago and my friend has also seen those two times and a year before that, and every time it was the same guy for The Portal illusion. I wanted to see someone new even the old ladies in the audience were complaining of the same guy. Also a lot of people thought the videos were too much Alexx Argen http://www.themagicrealm.com |
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silverking Inner circle 4574 Posts |
Quote:
On 2006-02-06 22:45, Munseys_Magic wrote: Your dislike for DC is so obvious I can't believe that you take yourself seriously in this thread. |
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Frank Simpson Special user SW Montana 883 Posts |
"REAL" reviewers can be just as wrong (if not more so) than anyone.
Frank Rich of the New York Times really hated The Phantom of the Opera which recently became the longest running show in Broadway history. One might suppose that it was because he had an axe to grind (not a cross to bear) with Andrew Lloyd Webber– he just seems to hate everything composed by Lord Lloyd Webber. During its 18+ years the show has had its ups and downs, and the producers have regularly put the show back into rehearsal to sharpen it up, to maintain the standard set by Harold Prince's orginal direction in 1988. They know the show must not become stale. Ultimately each audience member becomes his own critic, and the opinions of others, professional or amateur, function as guideposts at best. But that certainly does not negate the experiences of those who express their opinions...even Mr. Rich of the New York Times. At the end of the day there will be those who think Mr. DC can do no wrong, and others who think he can do little right. And at the end of the day both opinions are equally valid. |
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pepka Inner circle Uh, I'm the one on the right. 5041 Posts |
I really believe he is one of the hardest working people in all of showbiz. But David, if you really love what you do and want to give your fans a great show, why not take week or 2 off? If you're sick and shows are always starting at least 30 min. late maybe YOU should go sit on that beach in Hawaii; leave the stooge at home.
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thumbtip Regular user Simi Valley, California 132 Posts |
Last show I went to see was at The Warner Theatre, Saturday, December 6th, 2003. His show has not changed up since...The dialogue, everything is the same...I took my mother and she was 77 years old then...She remembers the good old days when David was still craving that fame and went on stage and seemed to enjoy what he was doing and worked very hard...Her remark at the show as, and I quote, "he's not up there working." Basically what she was saying was he was walking through the entire show. And he did...It is more than obvious that David no longer is hungry, and it really does not matter to him...But as long as he is around peoople will see him...I've seen An Intimate Evening of Grand Illusion 2001 and 2003, I will not go a third time...
"Life is a sexually transmitted, terminal condition" Normal is a setting on a dryer"
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