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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
Thought I would share this.
You can't handle the truth! To all of those that criticize the high cost of illusions, limited authorized builders, limited released designs, I direct them to Col. Nathan Jessep (Jack Nicholson’s character in A Few Good Men): Son, we live in a world that needs original illusions and those illusions need to be created by men with ideas. Who's gonna do it? You Dominik? You, Saman Zerin? We have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for struggling magicians and curse the designers; you have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what we know: that the struggling magicians death, while tragic, probably saved stage shows and that our existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves audiences. You don't want the truth because deep down in places you don't talk about at parties, you want our designs on that wall, you need our designs on that wall. We use words like ethics, authorized, originality. We use these words as the backbone of a life trying to create something. You use them as a punch line. We have neither the time nor the inclination to explain ourselves to people who rise and sleep under the blanket of the very creations we provide and then question the manner in which we provide it. We would rather you just said "no thank you," and went on your way. Otherwise, we suggest that you pick up a sketchbook and stand a post. Either way, we don't give a **** what you think you are entitled to. Kevin
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
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magicofCurtis Inner circle Los Angeles 2545 Posts |
Hmm, an interesting point of view....
Curtis Lovell II
http://www.CurtisLovell.com http://www.MagicofCurtis.com www.facebook.com/curtislovellii Los Angeles, California - U.S.A. |
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ClintonMagus Inner circle Southwestern Southeast 3997 Posts |
Do I detect a tinge of ire?
Things are more like they are today than they've ever been before...
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
Nope, no ire...if you havnt seen the movie, you wouldn't get it.
Kevin
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
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HarbinJr. Elite user I only have 450 Posts |
Hehehe well folks I can tell the soap box is out for people to stand on today...my turn!
Kevin, I agree with what your saying but Ill even go further than that. We live in a world that many people do not want to do the WORK of developing their own styles, charisma or format. Instead we satisfy ourselves with its good enough for them so its good enough for me! I was talking to a friend of mine before going back on the road and he was telling me in the OLD days if someone had just purchased or built a zigzag the other magicinas wouldnt do it as it was that persons illusion. Even though the other magicians wanted to do it, it was a way of respect and a way for that one person that invested his money to develop it into a great peice. I am amazed of how many complaining people that come to this Café always griping of how high priced some illusions are. don't get me wrong I don't want to pay high prices either but if I want some quality equipment that is ethically built then I will be forced to depend on the expertise of others. I am also amazed at how many people treat Copperfields or Spencers, Kalins and many other shows as a shopping list. There are SO MANY BOOKS out there that have original ideas that would work wonderfully. Yet you wont do them as you "have never seen it performed." People its time to pull your head out of the.....sand and shut up! If your griping cause you don't hve shows then shut up and get to work on getting them. If your griping that the desiginers are slowing down in releasing new ideas then realize that there are already BILLIONS of ideas that will probably work. If your always saying that you have to have something original then you better be ready to pay for it. If not then go and do the standard sub trunk and sword basket as there is nothing wrong with these illusions and they still continue to kill audiences everywhere, when performed properly. Aside all my rambling it comes down to this, if you want to perform the props then go the designer that is authorized to build it. Folks do your homework and study hard and you may "actually" have a great show! Robert Long |
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Christopher Starr Inner circle Heart of America 1850 Posts |
Nice one Kevin.
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The Mirror Images Inner circle Michigan/USA 1980 Posts |
Very well said there Kevin.
Kevin, Also have you heard about the new pirate movie that is coming out...? It is rated IRE!!!!!!!!
Steven and Michael, The Mirror Images
The MOST Identical Twin Illusionist http://www.themirrorimages.com Check out our latest new effect - Liquid Steel NEW - MotoBox NEW - MotoMation NEW - Voyager |
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
Steven & Michael...
That was great!!! Kevin
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
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The Drake Inner circle 2274 Posts |
Kevin,
You make so many good points. Anyone who has developed an idea from infancy knows the immense effort that goes into making it just right. I've had the honor of seeing several illusions created from nothing and have always been amazed at just how much thought and work went into it. So many magicians just don't understand how much blood, sweat, tears and $$$$ goes into an effect. That effect is usually version 26 of the original ideal. LOL Many of those who don't understand will be the first to buy a knockoff. I remember John Cornelius on the verge of throwing in the towel and vowing never to invent again because after years of work to develop an effect a Chinese made knockoff would be on the market ( and available for sale at MOST magic shops) only a few months later. Best, Tim |
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Lance Richardson Loyal user 246 Posts |
Great post Kevin, it needed to be said.
Lance |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Great great thread. I agree 100% here. No matter what form of magic you are doing you need to learn to look away from magic for creative ideas instead of always looking inward. It is to easy to put in a magic video you have and basically flat out rip someone else's illusion or routine or act and call it your own. It's not right. It's not ethical and you know full well that it is wrong but you do it any ways? Why? Cause you are too darn lazy to get up off your butt and take action yourself to be a creative thinker.
Why? Because creativity takes time and effort to do. Creativity is not easy. Being creative puts you and YOUR thoughts out there on that stage for the world to judge. Are you ready for that? Some are too darn afraid to ever do that. Too afraid that being creative means that I am now more vulnerable. That if they don't like what they see, then it means I stink.. or it's MY fault. Taking someone elses work is a cop out and a lie. Why because you know that if it does not work out, or if it does not connect with the audience, you can walk away blaming it on the routine and not yourself. It is a safety net cause you are too afraid to think for yourself. Magic is going to go no where unless people stop for a second and stop making more magic clones. Start to think creatively for yourself. Is it going to be hard? Hell yeah it is. No one ever said being a creative thinker was ever easy. But isn't the magical arts and your audiences worth the effort and sweat and tears you put into something totally creative and your own? I say yes indeed. For my audiences are everything. A magician and illusionist is a very lonely person without an audience. Stop copying what has been done before. Take the time to think for yourself for once. Instead of running to your video collection or DVDs start to look outward at the world for magical ideas. Find creativity in music, arts and culture. There are tons of creative ideas out there if you are just willing to look and see and reach for them. Just my 2 cents worth. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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magic4u02 Eternal Order Philadelphia, PA 15110 Posts |
Kevin:
I appreciated your thoughts and ideas and what you expressed here is simply wonderful. It really does sum up a lot of things and if nothing else it makes you think. Thanks. Kyle
Kyle Peron
http://www.kylekellymagic.com Entertainers Product Site http://kpmagicproducts.com Join Our Facebook Fan Page at http://facebook.com/perondesign |
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Magic Patrick Inner circle Minnesota 1591 Posts |
I just paid $4800.00 to have an illusion made for me. I gladly handed it over because it isn't something that everyone else is performing. I might just buy the rights to it. I think that this will be a fresh new look for my audiences. Great tread. I CAN HANDLE THE TRUTH. :0)
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Seems like , for the most part, illusion creators and illusion performers are seldom the same folks. Oh yes, a few illusionists are also creators, but generally the creators are people behind the scenes, Wakeling, Pete Bouton, Owens,Gaughan, and many others. Working performers don't have a tremendous amount of time to put into creating, building, refining,etc. a new illusion. The skills needed to manufacture an illusion are a lot different from those needed to perform them. Probably only thing in common is a knowledge of principles upon which various effects are based. I know what few illusions I've built were sort of reversed engineered. I started with an effect that I wanted and started backing up and figuring out ways to do it until I came up with a method that could be converted to a device. But no doubt , we need that next generation of "magic technicians" who create illusions.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Lance Richardson Loyal user 246 Posts |
Because creativity takes time and effort to do. Creativity is not easy. Being creative puts you and YOUR thoughts out there on that stage for the world to judge. Are you ready for that? Some are too darn afraid to ever do that. Too afraid that being creative means that I am now more vulnerable. That if they don't like what they see, then it means I stink.. or it's MY fault. Taking someone elses work is a cop out and a lie. Why because you know that if it does not work out, or if it does not connect with the audience, you can walk away blaming it on the routine and not yourself.
Wow!! magic4u02, you just shined a light into the dark part of our mind's and exposed the main problem. Lance |
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Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
Our history is replete with examples of magicians and illusionists who (often of necessity) made their own props- Karl Germain, Jack Gwynne, Harlan Tarbell, Houdini, Bautier DeKolta... the list goes on and on. Their daytime work was in the shop, building the props they used for their evening performances. It's not just all in our past. All of the customers of The Magic Nook are making their own props (or they wouldn't be customers!), and that's a considerable number of today's magic entertainers from all over the world. Sure, it's nice to have someone else do all the work and you take all the credit, but the real credit goes to those who can both build and perform.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
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The Mac Inner circle 1982 Posts |
You ordered the code red didn't you!?!
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Kevin Ridgeway V.I.P. Indianapolis, IN & Phoenix, AZ 1832 Posts |
I did the job you sent me to do.
Living Illusions
Ridgeway & Johnson Entertainment Inc Kevin Ridgeway & Kristen Johnson aka Lady Houdini The World's Premier Female Escape Artist www.LadyHoudini.com www.livingillusions.com |
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Tony Webs Regular user 134 Posts |
Well said to all,
one thing that I may add is that it can even cost relationships. |
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The Mirror Images Inner circle Michigan/USA 1980 Posts |
Glad you liked Kevin.
But everything you said was right on and as we can see many agree. To move forward we have to work together not against each other...so instead of trying to rip each other off why not be creative and come up with your own material and/or buy from the right sources. We are the future of magic!!!
Steven and Michael, The Mirror Images
The MOST Identical Twin Illusionist http://www.themirrorimages.com Check out our latest new effect - Liquid Steel NEW - MotoBox NEW - MotoMation NEW - Voyager |
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