Mixing known types of entertainment or artistic genres in some original way has proven successful--for example the television show _Dallas_, which combined elements of the Western with elements of the Soap Opera, or _Star Wars_ which combined elements of the Fairy Tale with elements of the Space Adventure.

Well, it is less unlikely than my falling back on my former career as a "bluegrass banjo star!"

Magicians like cats have many lives (I'm supposed to know that much)

The title to this topic made me think of this reply to the first post:

We won't get fooled again!


Some here will get that reference.

It is the future. It is destiny. Got to be this one:



This is what reliable sources tell me...

Ah! So I see that you know the clairvoyant Dr Reliablesource as well.

Well, my Eight Ball does...

That's the same face I made when I shot out a kidney stone that size.
Greg

Looks more like the Reliable Sorcerer.
Turn that ball into an iPhone and he's a contender.

Your eight ball? I need a cue!

The Eight Ball says, "Murky, Try again later."

I feel the power! It's almost self-hyping!

The force is strong in you.

This new concept of Whit's will sell itself! When this takes off the new age is going to be old hat.

Whit channeling Frank Morgan.

He's come a long way, though, since the unfortunate incident at Virginia Theological Seminary.

Please let's not bring that up again. I really had planned to use the sheep in my magic act. It is not what everyone thought...

Sheep? Ha! What about the Inflatable Elenore Roosevelt doll!

I'd like to see more from Apollo. What about James Galea?

http://jamesgalea.com/

I think Todd poses an interesting question to ponder. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a single answer to it. First, it isn't so much about skills as much as it is about marketability. There are many excellent technicians and creative inventors of magical effects, however, for there to be the level of success Todd talks about requires more than just magic and creativity.

It requires all that and more. Most importantly it requires the ability to get people's attention. On a mass scale. A good PR person and good management team can certainly help. I am reminded of Houdini. He had the ability to hold a person's attention for hours with nothing more than his person and a few handcuffs. This new person would have to do even more than that.

With television and computer graphics people, especially the younger crowd, have a lot to compare magic too. What used to be magical and mysterious is often viewed as commonplace these days. Movies like the Matrix, Harry Potter, etc. make some of the old classics seem boring, comparatively speaking. Today's magician/entertainer must find new ways of gaining people's attention.

I truly enjoy a good entertainer, whether he or she is doing magic, clowning, mime, ventriloquism, or whatever. I'm hooked on the entertainment aspect. Does the person have a good sense of what audiences enjoy? Do they have adequate skills to back it up. Have they made a name for themselves by getting proper publicity? I think their marketing is the most important thing in terms of fame.

David Blaine wasn't and still isn't that great a magician, in my opinion. There are plenty with better technical skills. He made a name by performing old standby tricks in a different way; in a different place. He had a mysterious way of speaking. He had a certain look. And people were hooked. The web has made it easy for anyone to post videos.

I have no idea who the next "one" will be. I am more drawn to creative minds like Peter Loughran, Steve Fearson, Andrew Mayne, Jason Latimore, etc. These guys get my attention. David Blaine, Cris Angel, and the others don't really do it for me. I find them entertaining but mostly just fluff. I'm curious though and will definitely be keeping my eyes open.