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purplemonk Regular user 116 Posts |
What do you think has contributed to Copperfield's Overall Success?
This should be looked at from a lay person way of viewing it. I'm not looking for the "he revinented this sleight or what ever"... lay people don't know that! The main point here is what success variables have caused Copperfield to sell out day after day year after year... mostly of lay people in the audience? like c'mon over 500 shows a year every year... for how long? he must be doign somethign right? How is his marketing? |
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collective foundry Inner circle 1404 Posts |
Read the credits for his shows. Its his cast. His crew. The people behind the scenes. And the showmanship of the man himself. . . . . To be the best you must surround yourself with the best. I feel this has greatly contributed to his success.
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Killed_CZ Regular user Czech republic, Prague 173 Posts |
And it is about many years of practice and many years in front of audience Practice make masters and originality In my point of view, he can make you feel special even with simply cutting rope routine, that is presented clean and perfectly
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The Mac Inner circle 1982 Posts |
He is comfortable infront of an audience.every element of his show probably has a contingency.He has the best minds in the business.His "landmark illusions" like statue of liberty,great wall etc makes him a legend and a tough act to follow hence 500 shows a year.
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silvercard New user Singapore 18 Posts |
Sorry if I am off topic. Has anyone saw DC perform Cups and Balls before ?
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Killed_CZ Regular user Czech republic, Prague 173 Posts |
SilverCard : maybe when starting with magic As I can say in his specials there were no cups and balls.
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Oliver - Twist Regular user France 170 Posts |
Hi,
Returning to the initial topic, I agree with Ryan and Killed_CZ. He always hired the best people to work with him and this right from the beginning. When time changed (i'm talking about what is in and out during the passed years) he changed aswell (look, music, presentations). Reaching always for the highest impact he's practicing every day and for hours (before the show starts and after the show ends during the packing of the trucks). Filming his shows and doing feedback meetings with his crew are aswell an important point. He never stops working on things until it's perfect to his eyes. All TV shows have an theme, an important thing were lay people can relate to : dreams, goals of life... Always trying to be original he pushes the limits of what people could think of or have already seen. All this makes him so different.
May all your days be magical
Oliver Twist |
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Christopher Starr Inner circle Heart of America 1850 Posts |
I believe also that David has a great mind for business. His father, who owned a men's clothing store in New Jersey, was a tremendous influence for him.
I noticed a pivotal point about the mid-1980s, when reading the trade papers one day, and there was a small article stating that DC had retained the same management team to secure fair bookings, etc. that at the time, also managed a country artist by the name of Box Car Willie. I laughed to myself at the time, as I thought that it was humorous that he would select some firm who's biggest client appeared to be a country act that sold most of their records on late night tv. HOWEVER, as we now know, it proved to be a great business move, as it seemed to help propel DC into the non-stop touring act that continues today. There was also a great interview with a personal manager by the name of Rick Marcelli in Magic Magazine, I think about 2000, wherein he details his invlolvement with DC in the early years. He talks about how their goal was to be bigger than Doug Henning, and how he tried to fashion an image for each of his clients. For DC, they were after a "Robert Wagner" of magic look - a magic playboy. Hence the Ferrari's, etc. It is a very good read. Today, Marcelli is managing Connie Boyd and Ed Alonzo. I think what helps any artist, and Marcelli agrees, is a combination of a unique act/look, and timing, all converging to create a perfect storm. This was the case with DC, and continues today with Criss Angel. Not to go off topic, but look at how Angel's current bigtime management team helped "soften" Criss's look, taking him from his "Crow" makeup look to the still goth but easier on the (female) eye look he has today. It was the same evolving technique for DC. Lastly, DC never rested on his previous year's accomplishments. There was an ongoing push to keep things new and different. Just as a musical artist must regularly release new material to retain his audience, DC was always working on the next tv special, while at the same time touring like a maniac. It is no wonder that he is worn out! |
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
Drive to succeed in a difficult business has been his main asset. People who make it in show business often aren't the funniest, best singer, or best actor, they are people who have a lot of drive and don't give up. David's bigger break came back in his earlier years when he latched onto the concept of magic theater that was just beginning to emerge. He did routines around little short plays, rather than the usual stand up way magic was largely done at the time. He did it very well. The old find a niche and fill it. Plus in show business you have to have a hook that makes you stand out above the crowd. Add to all this, as was noted above, you have to know the business end of show business, how to put together a team that can book you, promote you, stage you, etc. The performer has to focus on his performance, he needs creative people for creating illusions, routining, scripting, correography, music, lighting, etc. It takes all of that coming together to get David's kind of success.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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Illucifer Inner circle 1403 Posts |
David is clearly a shrewd businessman.
He recognized early on that getting on television was his road to success and he targeted that medium. He didn't start touring until he'd made a name for himself on television. Then for 17 straight years, his annual CBS special was an event, further fueling the tours. He wisely dropped out of the television scene around the time of the horrendous "World's Greatest Magic" specials. David's always been careful to establish himself as something different than other magicians. This is why you'll never see him appear on a program such as "The World's Greatest Magic". In his world, there are magicans and then there is David Copperfield. David can now ride on his name alone and hasn't done a tv special since the somewhat disappointing "Tornado of Fire" which seemed to be an attempt to go head-to-head with David Blaine who, at the time, was the talk of the town. David may have felt rather de-throned by Blaine's television success and this was reflected in his decision to take some of his illusions out into the "streets". As if to say, "See? I can do things in the real world, too". For the first time, he seemed influenced by the style of another magician, which speaks volumes for Blaine's (and Harris and Kalush's) brilliant assault on television.
It's all in the reflexes.
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silverking Inner circle 4574 Posts |
I think DC owes where he is to one thing over all others.
His personal work ethic, some would say 'workaholic ethic'. Touring ANYTHING from magic to music to dance is a grind at the best of times. To be out there on tour and live for his fans for as long as he's been doing it is a grand accomplishment, not only in magic but in touring entertainment of ANY type over the last 20 years. DC is where he is because he works, and works, and works, and then works some more....then he goes back to Vegas and works there too! That his brilliant cast and crew share his work ethic only makes everything that much MORE of an impressive undertaking. There's just nobody like DC in magic, and you'd have to look hard to find anybody like him in touring entertainment of ANY kind. (the Grateful Dead and their endless touring could be a past example). He's King of the Hill simply because he makes himself do what no other magi will do, or can do.....and he's been doing it for over two decades. |
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Banester Special user 669 Posts |
David is magic. He eats, breathes and you know what magic. Almost every aspect of his life has something to do with magic. As a result you get someone who wants to perform for you all the time and not someone who has to perform for you. Also, his big illusions (flying, great wall, etc) have never been done by anyone else. That makes him and his show unique. How many times do you want to see zig zag even as a muggle? I hate to say it, but I think the guy is quite the charmer, I know several woman who are ghah ghah over him. Also I think some of the appeal is that he is someone I could imagine sitting down with and having a beer, not some guy who doesn't want to be aroudn the laymen.
The art of a magician is to create wonder.
If we live with a sense of wonder, our lives become filled with joy -Doug Henning- |
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Christopher Starr Inner circle Heart of America 1850 Posts |
silverking - I think that you summed it up best! DC took the breaks that were given him, and then ran with the ball.
Also, for those interested in that Rick Marcelli interview, it was in the April 2000 issue of Magic Magazine with Doug Henning on the cover. Chris |
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videokideo Special user 895 Posts |
I give a lot of the credit to Don Wayne... most of davids routines were produced by Don. Then you have all of the loyal stage assistants like Joanie Spina who was with him for over 10 years. Builds confidence when you know your assistants understand the need to be perfect. Then the builders like John G.
Lastly, signing autographs after every show didn't hurt. Personalizing yourself with your audience buys you 3 more years of loyalty! |
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shazammagic New user Maryland 32 Posts |
David understands that "show business" is two words. In an interview with Michael Eisner (of Disney fame), David said that each illusion goes through at least two years of development, and that each routine has at least four methods in place before it appears onstage.
While I'm sure he's still on Method #1 for many of his illusions, it allows him to stay ahead of the competition and secret-spillers by creating contingency methods for his effects. That's the mark of a master. |
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phillipsje Veteran user 329 Posts |
The people around him and the fact that magic is his life.
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purplemonk Regular user 116 Posts |
I think we touched on all very good points..mainly the most that come out so far is:
1. he surrounds himself with the right people/team 2. he is constantly working on his shows 3. he has an amazing work ethic 4. understand the business of show business I really hope once he retires that he writes an autobiography or something. I woudl really like to learn more about his early years -- meaning.. did he do birthday parties? Christmas Parties?.... or was he fortunate to know people who knew people... and got a break with the network. How do you even put a show like that together for TV ... he must have had his dad back him financially. I too have to agree that his touring is amazing. I don't know really of any other Magician who tours as much as DC with such a big set |
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Irish_matt Loyal user St.Louis, MO 204 Posts |
I believe he used to do parties and such, but his first break was as the lead in a play in Chicago called "the Magic Man". Then came a part in the movie "Terror Train" which I believe led to the tv special "the magic of ABC".
I can't think of any artist in the magic field or other that tours like Copperfield does. There's one thing having a run in Vegas for a load of years but there, everything is set up all the time. There's no load in set up and breakdown and certainly no travel. I don't even think the Grateful Dead toured constantly night after night for 20 years straight, which is what Copperfield is on right now. Matt |
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Illucifer Inner circle 1403 Posts |
Having 4 methods in place before an illusion appears in the show is nothing more than a yarn for the media.
It's all in the reflexes.
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purplemonk Regular user 116 Posts |
Meaufeaux...I couldn't agree more. I mean surely they have contingencies...but 4 ways of doing a whole presentation for all effects...that is just babble to make the whole thing that much more interesting.
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