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brad12d3 Special user 526 Posts |
Just curious. I am not a professional magician, so I probably see him and his style a little differently. Being in video production I do spot some tricky editing here and there, although not nearly as atrocious as Criss Angel. I cannot stand watching Criss Angel. So, ... how good do you think Blaine is?
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M Sini Inner circle 1359 Posts |
Before you get flamed for asking a question that's been discussed on this forum at nauseum, may I suggest you use the search feature?
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brad12d3 Special user 526 Posts |
Quote:
On 2011-08-18 12:15, M Sini wrote: Sorry. Not trying to start a riot. Was browsing through the forum while his special was on TV and just threw the question out there to see what the general consensus was. Never understood why people feel the need to flame someone just because they think their question is old news. I have never had a problem answering a repeated question on my more frequented forums if I had the time. However, if I am tired of that specific topic and don't feel like discussing it then I don't click on it. Simple as that. Never had the inclination to waste my time bad mouthing someone for asking about a topic I was tired of discussing. To each his own I guess. Haven't gotten flamed yet though, but haven't gotten any real responses either. I'll just assume this thread is dead. Perhaps I will search through the older post sometime to see what you guys have discussed before. |
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I do not personally enjoy his sort of entertainment. I have no idea what "magicians" think about him.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Joey Stalin Inner circle Canada 1072 Posts |
I like him and respect him and what he does. I find it annoying that the general population have some weird thought that he doesn't do magic and only does these "stunts". There has been magic in every one of his specials about each "stunt." There was a short and interesting talk he did about what he went through to train holding his breath on TED.
-A single death is a tragedy, a million deaths is a statistic.
-It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them. -The secret impresses no one. The trick you use it for is everything. See you space cowboy... |
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noble1 Special user 651 Posts |
Most would agree DB is good for the business and certainly projects a more positive image than CA. Not everyone is thrilled with his "endurance" demos or his "non-presentational" way of doing tricks. Magicians credit him for getting close-up on TV by focusing on spectator's reactions as opposed to the performer's presentation which when he started was considered fresh. Personally, I feel without DB there never would have been a CA or Derren Brown.
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brad12d3 Special user 526 Posts |
Thanks for the replies. DB certainly has a different approach. I always figured he wanted his magic to seem as spontaneous and unprepared as possible to give the illusion that he did have the power to do anything at any moment and sometimes unintentionally. Not to say that I haven't seen other magicians take the same approach with their tricks but he seems to have built his whole persona around his spontaneity. CA on the other hand has never really impressed me that much. Perhaps I haven't watched enough of his show, but so much of what I have seen has relied on stooges or camera tricks. He seems to dependent on the cameras ability to provide the misdirection rather than developing illusions that could really withstand the scrutiny of an actual audience.
I will say this, I do get a good laugh from DBs Fearless. The reactions people give are priceless. Particularly when there is no reaction at all. |
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peppermeat2000 Elite user 428 Posts |
Think about the following...Blaine was given an opportunity that thousands of magicians aspire to, a television special(s) on nationwide television. The network "brass" must have seen something in his personality and presentation which convinced them to put him on primetime television performing ,for the most part, fresh out of the magic shop effects. The fact that people who know what sells and what dosent as far as entertainment on TV is concerned obviously do not think in the same circles as we magicians. The networks realized that the magic wasnt really what "sold" Blaine to the public. Blaine sold himself with the personality that many magicans have felt undermines the presentation of magic... we look for upbeat and witty while Blaine portrayed a dry monotone. The public liked him,otherwise we would have witnessed a one trick pony with the first special,never again to see him on television or read about him in the media. The networks liked it,otherwise their money wouldnt be used to produce his subsequent television specials.Because the public liked him,they liked his magic. They could give a rip if it was a cheap ID or a gimmicked quarter. the public,believe it or not, is not interested in a flawless pass or witty patter about three men in a tub. The television exec's, the public,and David Blaine proved that after one Magic Man special and the majority of magic club magicans could not swallow that bitter pill of reality.A pity when you really think about it...I mean arent we a "brotherhood" of magicians?
If our perceptions of Blaine and his performance of magic were spot on,he would not be where he is today. Instead he would be sitting at his laptop posting on the Café while the rest of us were turning down offers from television executives looking for magicans who know how to present and perform magic. |
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Ray Pierce Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 2607 Posts |
Lol... Can I call you Pepper?
What a well thought out and perceptive post. David Blain crafted the "Enigma" role in magic. He sculpted it into a very charismatic career. If you want that guy... you call David. I honestly believe one of the keys that made his initial show so good was accidental. It is rumored that when he first started, his magic technique was not sufficiently advanced to hold up under the scrutiny of the unblinking eye of video, so many of the shots of the magic gave away the method. They kept having to cut to the reaction shots to cover the magic and it created they style that changed the focus from the effect to the reaction. I think David is very smart and he focuses on people with lower expectations to generate greater reactions. That's the reason behind so many of his choices including the underplayed guy in a T shirt and jeans character. The more "ordinary" the surroundings, they more contrast for the extraordinary effect. He doesn't have a personality, he has a character. I wouldn't say that the public likes him as we don't really like "character". We "like" personality but we are sometimes attracted to a "character". Look at the female appeal of the loner on a motorcycle. People are attracted to the enigmatic role he plays. He is trying to be very smart about over exposure. Too much air time would undermine his image. All that really matters to TV producers is that he delivers numbers. People tune in to see what he's going to do next. The dark, brooding, enigmatic loner with a "secret" is a classic archetype. He figured it out either by design or by chance but it worked. No, he probably couldn't pull off a full evening show or any structured show for that matter where there were actual expectations and he had to deliver based on a set ticket price. He is wise to stay with what he can do well, and therein lies his greatest talent.
Ray Pierce
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noble1 Special user 651 Posts |
Some say Blaine got the idea for his character from Paul Harris who expressed the idea that if you perform with little or no presentation, the magic would speak for itself.
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landmark Inner circle within a triangle 5194 Posts |
Oh boy, IDK about that. Those early PH tapes have lots of good magic ideas but the performances themselves are excruciating to watch.
I think DB is very very smart about his career and entertaining, at least to this spectator.
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All proceeds to Open Heart Magic charity. |
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noble1 Special user 651 Posts |
Not from the goofy PH tapes from way back when. Later PH despised those performances himself, stopped performing for the most part and put forth the non-presentational idea of just doing the trick and letting the magic speak for himself. As you may know PH consulted on the first few DB specials.
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noble1 Special user 651 Posts |
I meant itself not himself. Anyway, DB has said he considers PH a guru of sorts.
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
I like David Blaine!
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
For the record, I never aspired to television.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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Doug McKenzie Veteran user New York City 326 Posts |
How many people here have actually met DB, seen him perform, and know what they are talking about?
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
I have done one of each.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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mumford Special user 652 Posts |
I've met DB briefly, he was a reserved sorta quiet respectful guy who was mostly in a hurry to go somewhere but took the time to do a card trick for our little group. He is an adept cardman that seems passionate about magic, but listening to him, as I said only briefly, my impression is that he feels his physical stunts where there is a potential for injury are more magic to him than actual magic tricks.
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charliewerner Regular user 164 Posts |
David Blaine is just a amateur magician if compare to Dai Vernon, Slydini, Paul Daniel. He is a opportunity seeker.. like many of us, we dream of someday appear on tv when we master our craft... most of our dream end then more older we goes.. in the end, we are happy enough to perform at restaurant and other..
David Blaine on other hand, knowing he don't have skill like other, just went ahead to TV producer, perform standard magician (slightly above beginner magic) and become famous for it.... Like Dai Vernon use to said to Michael Ammar "people don't like to see a hamesome young man performing skillful things, they get jealous infact" So David here, different from what people thought of magician see, someone who proud, arrogant, fast talking guy, great charisma and rich .... David wear normal clothing, a street guy... David went to place where people don't see magician often or cant afford one.... He show his magic, and of cos he get a great reaction... To a layperson watch David Blaine show on tv, David use magic making people freak out and brighten their day. TO a Magician like me - never underestimate a simple trick... Finally, David Blaine Choose his audience, only those have great reaction are put on the show, those who react like nothing happen get edited out... Most tv magician do that.. but if we compare david blaine to criss angel, cyril takayama and derren brown... I will rate them as follow: 1) Derren Brown - Create new type of illusion that he control mind, behavior. He is great of his misdirection, cold reading skill.. and super ability of making something wrong to right... He have great card effect.. A magician turning to mentalist. He have his own live show. 2)Cyril Takayama - Friendly neighborhood Magician, Before getting his own show, he is on of "T.H.E.M." Cool group of guy. He earn a living by performing at bar for tips (huge amount since japanese mafia love to give money away)...soon after effect of David Blaine, Japan called him up for Japan street magic show... His performance are better than blaine because he got lot of his friend from "T.H.E.M" to help him out... He have a great style and he first got me interested in Magic.. though right now, he seems stop creating or showing new effect.. in live show, he getting harder time to get a reaction...his works with floating or pk effect are most fantastic!! 3)Criss Angel = He famous for his singing and stage magic... He is great but he have a attitude problem who I hope kids wont follow his footstep..He look more like a pop icon than a magician.. or something to do with dark side of magic, over estimate himself.. He have johnny thompson and banacek to help.. 4)David Blaine - like I say, he a normal guy... seems like a poor guy.. performing magic to audience who rarely see a magician real life.. and get to be famous... 5) Luchen from taiwan - Lu Chen a name that is not so famous now, but one day I hope he going to be.. HE too like cyril, got the skill , the sleight as a magician.. he quite successful in china, taiwan and japan.. He always add a twist to his magic... Although he perform trick that you can buy from magic shop, he make some adjustment to make it different and unique... He need to work on his English and let the world then experience his magic. BTW, He won 1st place at some competition organized by David Copperfield himself.. One of the most creative original magic creator... If we put all the TV magician on the street, without camera trick, with a 50percent lay person, 50 percent magician audience... Perhaps derren brown would be first..for his presentation and smooth taking, great showmanship..i think most people will enjoy him as a entertainer. Cyril and LuChen will be performing wide range of street magic... lot of great effect.. Criss Angel might be doing some a normal standard trick ... David Blaine = Having trouble I think..due to wide range of audience, having harder time getting people to watch him or understanding him...
"Seeing Joy, Sadness, Anger,Contempt,Surprise, Disgust,Fear on people faces are the motivation of my MAGIC" Charlie Werner (C.C.L)
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Dannydoyle Eternal Order 21219 Posts |
Wow seems to be lots of assumin going on in that post.
Danny Doyle
<BR>Semper Occultus <BR>In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act....George Orwell |
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