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Sam Sandler
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Hi there FCM family,

I am saddened today as I have come to learn that some one has spread a Vicious lie about me as to one of my performances at the convention.

I am now facing multiple phone calls of people accusing me of some thing that I have NOT DONE. all due to some ones immature attitude,
who ever you are YOU SHOULD HAVE COME TO ME AND TALKED WITH ME FIRST TO FIND OUT THE FACTS BEFORE CREATING THIS MASSIVE HEADACHE.

I have now lost work due to this foolish behavior by one of our own!

the damage has been done you hurt me and my reputation! I am not sure what or how I will respond but I am deeply deeply hurt and with tears in my eyes that some one would so foolishly AND SUPPOSEDLY AS CHRISTIAN do something such as this.

first you had no right to video my routine with out my permission and YES it was my routine.
second if you believed that I was stealing some one elses routine (which by the way they are my friend and live around the corner from me) you should have come to me and asked the questions not spread lies and hate and create this world of problems for me.

I am just so so mad and disappointed in the FCM right now. yes I realize it is as far as I know only one person that has done this but it is such a horrible thing that it gives me a bad taste for the whole organization right now.

I have worked hard over the last 20 years to create my own original show and although there may be some similarities to some things. the majority of the routines in my show are 100% original. Matter of fact the Tuesday night show each routine was my own original work and or routine aside from the spiker illusion.

others are used by permission or just simply have similarities but nothing in any of my acts contain stolen material! how dare you accuse me of doing so!

Lord I pray that you will help me have a forgiving heart and that the damage that has already been done will find a way to right itself. please carry me thru this storm.


sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com
http://www.deafinitelymagic.com
harris
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Harris Deutsch
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My heart and prayers are with you.

Stay in prayer. I have learned the hard way that individuals can leave a bad taste for the organization.

In the past I could have medaled in the broad jump to conclusions.

Restraint of pen and tongue is difficult. The bible talks a lot about the tongue.

I hope you continue to create and share with others including those in the FCM.

I will. If you are in our neck of the woods, (Kansas City..actually I live south west of KC) let me know..would love to have you at one of our meetings.

Be safe, well and creative.

Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
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ChrisG
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Hi Sam
I am sorry to hear that you have been hurt by someone attending the Tuesday evening show. I heard nothing but accolades for your show and your lectures were superb. I enjoyed your daughters program Thursday as well.

It hurts me to think someone would say harmful things about anyone much less someone that is willing to give of his time and talents. Keep the faith.

I'm praying that all will be well and you will come safely through this storm.

Chris Garner
"Consensus is the negation of Leadership"

M. Thatcher
Sam Sandler
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Chris just to be clear it was from something I did during the LATE show on wednesday not my stage show from tuesday.

regardless it has created a difficult time for me and again I am just so sad that some one from the FCM would rather stir up this situation instead of coming directly to me first to get the facts. worse yet one of the people that have heard about this situation contacted me to tell me what they heard and how they are disappointed with me..what makes it so bad is that this person from FCM blatantly lied saying that I even stole the lines from this other performer.

which is just so sad. I have the whole thing on video so as they say the proof is in the pudding and the pudding is my favorite flavor--truth.
its just hard to swallow that they would lie even when there is proof undeniable proof that I have done nothing wrong.

hey look God is in control I either believe that or I don't! so I am just going to continue to pray and trust the lord to help me fight this battle. apparently an attorney is getting involved now- but my God is bigger then an attorney they can get! I really wish they would just ask to see the video - case closed!
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
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Dougini
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Quote:
On 2012-08-07 16:53, Sam Sandler wrote:
...Lord, I pray that you will help me have a forgiving heart and that the damage that has already been done will find a way to right itself. please carry me thru this storm.


Sam, I just said this prayer with you. Ya know, Christians can be the worst to each other, when it comes to judging. They even think they are doing the right thing, but leave chaos everywhere they go. I left the Baptist Church for such ignorant behavior!

I was constantly judged for being a radio DJ and playing "the devils music!" I had a bad taste for Christianity for many years. Don't blame FCM for this. Blame the idiot(s) who do this in the name of Christianity. Sometimes I don't even want to call myself a Christian because of precisely this.

Not all Christians are "Christ-like". Smile

Doug
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Sam,
I was reading your post. A couple of weeks ago the teaching at my church was about going through hard times. What was relevent was that our lives and circumstaces are like chapters in a book. This is a chapter, albeit not a pleasant one. The book has not been finished but God "IS" the author, sooooooo......Romans 8:28..All things work together for good (you know the rest)...I pray the next chapters in your book will glorify HIM!!

Take Care,
David Paul
Guilt will betray you before technique betrays you!
afun14u
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WHAT? Sam, I for one will back you up on your show! I thought you and your Daughter were WONDERFUL! When you were on stage I truly saw Jesus! In you, with you, and through you! I am praying you through this too. I too have had some comments made that were pretty hurtful from the convention, and by someone from my local FCM to boot. We have a meeting Thursday night and I am having a hard time wanting to go because of. Again, Thank you and I so enjoyed meeting you and seeing you work.

Robert
Empowering Kingdom Growth through Evangelistic Entertainment!
Sam Sandler
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Thank you all that have responded and Know this I am fully aware that this is NOT caused by the FCM itself but rather as I understand it one individual that was at the convention.
I don't know who and if you are that person reading this then please I beg you to contact me privately to discuss what on earth you think I have done.
I am just beside myself as to why you would not come to me first and check the facts. if you had a problem with some thing I did why not talk to me instead of taking the stance that you are judge and jury. please contact me I just want to understand why you have done this and what you think I have stolen.

I mean I know what you think I have stolen as I have gotten phone calls from the people and their Representative and soon I am told, from their attorneys but what I don't get is that I never said what you claim I said nor did do anything that you said I did as well. you claim that you have video footage of me doing this well you really need to watch it because it you do you will see that none of what you said is true. I too have a copy of the video and although I am deaf I don't need to hear it as I am the one performing and I know what I said and did.


thanks again for the prayers and support.

sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
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Rodney Palmer
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Sam,

Here is the problem. I did not attend the FCM this year but I can almost gurantee you I know who is spreading this so called rumor. And I did not even attend. There are problem people in every walk of life and the FCM is no exception. However, to lose Sleep or Shows over this is just letting this person get the best of you and you are actually letting this person win. If you feel that you did nothing wrong then you did nothing wrong. The Enemy is come to Kill and Destroy us and you are letting the enemy do this to you. I have never met you personally but with all I have seen on the Café' I think you to be an Ethical Person. I do not know what happened but I do know this. I/WE serving an ALL POWERFUL GOD and GOD will not let this go unpunished with one of HIS Children. Sit back relax and give it over to GOD and HE will take care of the rest. I have a Mentor that is very well know in the Gospel Magic Community. This person reviews my Show Tapes and gives me suggestions anytime that I ask. I cannot count the times that people have call this performer to tell them I had Ripped of parts of his act. I never did and he has told this to many people that I am one of the few that are allowed to perform his act. And this has happened more times than I care to count. And everyone that went or called my mentor was a Christian. And NOT once did people come to me first as they thought they had something on me.

As the saying goes: Let GO and LET GOD!!!!!!

Rodney
"Creating Memories That Last A Lifetime"



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Joey Evans
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Sam,

Sorry to hear about this. Both of your performances this year were fantastic and something to be proud of. Remember the 99.9% that loved everything you did and disregard the other as much as you can. Every year when I host the late show, inevitably someone writes a letter to complain about something, but the same people never compliment. It's easier for some to be negative and break someone or something down than to build something themselves. That and people LOVE drams. Unfortunately, as we all know, Christians are not exempt.

If I can help in any way, let me know. It was fantastic hanging out with you again at this convention!
The Visual Comedy and Magic of Joey Evans

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The Impossible Has Never Been So Funny!
Sam Sandler
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@ rodney-- I understand your words however this is bigger then I am sharing. it is not the right place to get into what is actually happening but understand that I have not lost shows thru any fault of my own. the person from FCM contacted some one about what they thought was a stolen routine and with out checking the facts they are believing these lies. they are in position that they can keep me for some jobs. any way I don't want to go into details

just know that my family is deeply hurting because of ones stupid actions.

I am praying that it does not come down to me needing an attorney but it appears that may be the case as they have told me they are talking to their attorney.

I am also quite aware GOD is in control and I will continue to perform my shows, create new magic, and enjoy the fact that God has blessed me with the ability to do something I love for a living.

thanks again for all your prayers and concerns.

@ joey, I had a blast all week long and enjoyed hanging with you as well. -- and really enjoyed being able to share my magic with everyone in both shows.

thanks!! oh how I wish there was a steak and shake near by right now! LOL

sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
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MagicBus
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Sam, I want to echo what Joey above said. I absolutely LOVED your program Tuesday night! Just was terrific. I bugged out Wednesday after the business meeting to head over to Abbott's (which is not far from where I live)- so I missed the Wednesday night Late Show. I am a Sam fan! Your show portion was uplifting, energetic, entertaining with a good message. A+!

I did a small bit on the Monday night Late Show- and a gent asked me afterwards if he could use my routine from the Fairchild letter board. Of course I said Yes!- I am humbled that someone would even want to use one of my goofy Gospel magic routines. Anything I have posted to http://www.ChristianMagician.org as well- free for anyone to use anything what I myself have performed on there as well.

Living in SW Michigan where there is nice blevy full time and part time magicians (there are probably more magicians per capita here than anywhere else in the world). All of us do routines and tricks that overlap. So unless you did something so obviously unique to the specific performer (like using a yellow plastic rain coat ala Mac King while doing the very standard 10 to 13 card trick)- it really is sad to even worry or complain about routine "steals." Having been around magic for more than 50 years, there is pretty much nothing I haven't seen at least several times before someplace. I think Jack Alexander told me a couple of months ago that nothing is really new- just the old stuff being recirculated.

Many original performers use items that have been on the magic market for years and years- Mac King and Matt Fore wonderfully doing Terry Seabrooke's Burnt Bill to Wallet comes to mind (as just one of many examples). Hey, I saw four Zombie routines last week, two of which even used the same dragon silk foulard design that Neil Foster originally used.

Without knowing anything about what happened, my guess is somebody is making a mountain out of a mole hill? One lecturer during the week mentioned that he thought there was not enough originality in the FCM, and he is probably right on that. But I also hang out in IBM and other magic circles- and quite frankly- I see as much originality in our local FCM Chapter meetings than I do in other similar magic meetings. Just like we may have Laflin or Mitchell imitators (which is just fine when using their marketed effects and pubically sold routines), IBM and SAM has probably just as many card or coin clones who all do the same card, coin, and floating bill stuff. Hey- I am that way too- it is extremely difficult to dream up, manufacture, and then perform one's own completely new magic. That's why we have our magic dealers to help us out (who often sell us back the copied products now made in China or India).

Sam- I love the FCM- and personally have the most amount of "fellowship" there vs. any other convention. You can sit at a table at other conventions eating dinner, no one will even bother saying one word to you. At the FCM, on the other hand, you can slide in just about anywhere and start of a pleasant conversation about magic. That's what makes in part the FCM convention so good in my view. I am so sorry some FCMer may have upset you, but I guess every magic organization has the same problems- even where some IBM Ring members cannot get along or magic store owners in the same town.

Hope you can get everything so resolved without getting my profession (attorney) involved, that can sometimes result in even more expensive headaches from the fees incurred. The difference between a pizza and a magician may be that a pizza is able to feed a family of five; but the difference between a lawyer and a pizza is that the lawyer cuts the pizza up and then divides it up evenly between the four kids for the additional price ten times higher than the original purchase price of the whole pizza.

Best wishes Sam, hope you pray through it and the two of you, whoever the other person is, put this to rest peacefully. It's just Magic!(as David Ginn would say), in perspective, not life saving brain surgery, not to minimize what we do, but it's still true.
MagicBus
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P.S.: I also sense your disappointment is not with the FCM, but with a specific person who was at the FCM convention who may or not even be a FCM member (or who may also be an IBMer, SAMer, KidAbraer, etc.). I was talking to a magician at Abbott's on Friday who was complaining about everything one could imagine under that very hot sun, but one really can't blame Colon or Abbott's for at least 90% of what he was grumbling about. Would not have mattered if he was complaining in Vegas, Columbus or Norfolk. Just sad (and not very good to listen to either- I finally just left). Smile So hang in there Sam!
Sam Sandler
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Magicbus-- I appreciate your words and encouragement what I guess I should share is that this has gone beyond just one person complaining.

they called at least a few people in the magic world telling them that I stole some ones routine! in turn I have received threats of being sued, and I know that one of the high ups has saw too it that I don't perform at certain magic conventions or that I no longer have the opportunity to perform there. I also know that I have been rejected at certain shows due to this as well.

what is really sad is that this person I supposedly ripped off is a friend of mine although now not sure.
let me be very clear I did not rip off anything

it is like telling some one they can not perform card on forehead because its Michael finneys routine. that's not true although Michael has made a name for himself performing that routine on any given day there are at least 100 magicians performing the same effect. NOW if they are using all his lines verbatim and wearing a red suit then yes that is wrong but if they are performing card on forehead and using standard lines and the like I see no wrong being done.

as you pointed out if some one does cards across and uses something as the cloak of invisibility they are stealing an original idea but any one CAN perform cards across.

so in the end here it is much more then just one person complaining about my routine wednesday night, it has gone so much further then that.

the biggest thing that I can say is that I am just so upset that this person did not have enough integrity to confront me at the convention and ask for details then.

sam
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
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MagicBus
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Sam- the whole thing sounds really awful to me. Let me offer some encouragement if I can.

Unless the person actually has a specific copyright on his performing material (like Teller had on one of his pet routines that was discussed in several magic magazines), you could not be sued. In fact, groups like ApologetiX per a U.S. Supreme Court decision can use the exact tunes of well known pop songs-yet totally change the words without permission of the original author (as also done in many Christian puppet soundtracks). I believe the same applies to jokes or one-liners- once they are told in public- pretty much anybody can use them without permission.

Ironically, the person who believes you stole his/her routine would have to prove you monetarily damaged them- which is almost impossible to do. Hurt feelings amount to nothing in court, and the filing a civil suit without merit could cause the unforseen financial boomerang effect for the frivilous plaintiff. One well known television comic was once found out to be using lots of other folks' material, all the other comics could do was to request a "sit down" with him and ask him to kindly stop.

By the way, I am the appointed legal counsel/advisor to the FCM President (and I talked to Del Saturday night in Colon), and I have not heard one word about this before. So I am quite sure this has zilch to do with the FCM proper but rather some individuals who should have contacted you first if they had a beef with you personally for sure. I heard years ago about a Kazoo area magician who had gotten mad at me for a private review I had written (and it mattered not to me if the review was accurate or not)- I immediately called him up and we got it all straightened out personally. I had highest regard for him as a person and magician and still do.

It is true that it may be tacky to use someone else's UNIQUE material (and it does not sound like you did), or a breach of the unwritten magician's code of ethics, such as rock bands playing each other's music or competition skate boarders or dancers copying each other's "moves". I guess if the performer(s) were so concerned about it, they should have limited their performances to non-magic venues.

So the person(s) hurting your reputation better be extremely careful- and if you can show actual monetary damages to you- you may be the one to have a claim against those fellow(s) for slander or libel if they do not have complete truth as their defense.

Reminds me of the snowstorm effect- so many magicians use the "I wanted to show the children in the audience in hot country X what snow looked like" routine I almost laugh when I continue to hear it. I heard it once from a secular magician doing snowstorm when I knew full well he had never been any where near the foreign land he used in his routine. It would have been more accurate to say: "I nearly gave the watching janitor a heart attack the last time I did this effect while I carelessly spread small bits of paper all over the previously clean theatre auditorium with no intention of ever helping him afterewards clean up the mess I had made..."

So Sam, hopefully these things will pass, I would be surprised too if any FCMers actually have the punch/clout to change national bookings for you, the convention bookers (like Greg Bordner) I know are much smarter than that I'd think and are certainly wise enough to know a good original act when they see one. Shucks, Tom Mullica wonderfully did Red Skelton's act Wednesday night at Abbott's-and has made an entire career out of it (with the permission of the Skelton estate of course). I use real fruit with my Strat-O-Spheres: does that mean other magicians cannot copy me using fruit and can now only use the platic balls that come with the purchased set only? I think not. But I would be upset if they called themselves "The Magic Bus" and did Gospel magic (I am known as Roger Magic Bus). Yep, Bus is my real last name.

Again Sam, sorry about the stress, and I hope it all passes over with little or no effect to you other than perhaps having a short lived churning stomach or loss of some sleep. Aarrgh, even that stinks.
Sam Sandler
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Thanks again for the encouragement.

your point about the snow storm is dead on! did you notice that my routine tuesday night DID NOT sound anything like the others. it is completely original patter! I too was so sick of hearing and still am of magicians saying they never saw snow or had kids that never saw snow or what ever. when I decided to perform the snow storm illusion I set out to make it unique in as many ways as I could. from custom written music to the presentation to my original idea for the steal and ditch.

as for me losing money I can almost say with out question that I have indeed lost out.

there is more to this and maybe I should PM you some of the facts and get some advice- would that be ok??

thanks
sam sandler- America's only full-time DEAF Illusionist
http://www.samsandler.com
http://www.deafinitelymagic.com
Wes Holly
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Been there and done that! I was the target of an individual who made a name for himself by bullying other performers and threatening to sue any organizer who allowed a certain routine idea to be presented. Claimed his routine was copywrited and no one else could do it. I had no disagreement for that, but I wasn't doing his routine, merely using the same premise. After he got his attorney involved, mine shut him down, but good! You can copywrite a performance, which is the presentation of an idea, but not the idea itself.

My guess is that your protagonist will never take you court. He's content with being able to shut you down by threatening the event organizers and slandering you. The guy who was mad at me waited at least 2 years before calling me with a legal threat and then, I think, only because he couldn't bully me any other way since I don't move in the magic circles and perform at conventions. It was fun hearing from my friends how he and his friends were keeping tabs on me.
Happily Yours,
Wes Holly
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revmike
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Sam sorry to hear about the troubles. As I posted in my own Facebook you did a wonderful job on the evening show. I have no clue about your routines at the Late Show as with my Grandkids I wasn't able to attend, but I simply want to echo what many have been saying.

Keep the faith, believe in your own integrity and God will be with you during these troubles. I pray this all sorts itself out for you.

By the way, my grandson had a blast with you on stage.

Mike
The magic is not in our sleights and illusions, but instead in our ability to bring love and joy.
paulmagic
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Sad but these things happen even in Christian circles. But reality ismall are of us are sinners. Unrelated to magic, but this mit be of rncouragement. Around 18 years ago, someone spread lies about me which included poison pen letters to many churches in two countries. It almost cause me to leave full time ministry (I am a pastor) in my denomination as practically everyone believed the lies.
Even when it was proven that I was innocent of rhe accusations (I had audio tapes that proved I did not say the things I was accused of saying), most did not bother to check the facts.
I had a rough time for over ten years and what was most disappointing was that many leaders I considered friends did not (like in your case) even bother to ask me for my side of the story. They just assumed (very unbiblical) that I had done wrong because this person who made the accusations (to cover up some major sins which I was then unaware of but he was feeling threatend) was very influential. Some even when meeting me justnbegan the conversation with telling me off etc.

Here's the redeeming part. I chose not to respond with my own proof to defend my reputation. I did not want to stoop to his level and hit him back via sending my version tomvhuches etc. I discovered through this the blessings of getting to knew, a small group of those who were honourable by the way they treated me. one did not even know me well but wrote to encourage me and told me he was praying for me. These became life long friends and I learnt to be very careful around the rest (yes, I forgave them so I could move on and not become bitter). I stayed on in my denomination despite the way many treated me (openly or secretly) .

I also chose to carry on helping those who knew the truth but were afraid to tell the truth but behind the scenes without their knowledge.

Five or six years (or more) later some of these group discovered what Iwas doing and were both surprised as they thought I "hated them" for keeping quiet.Through a third party (who was the initiator of asking for my behind the scens help), some became ashamed at their actions (or lack of) and they extended invitations to me to help them openly but never apologized. So for a number of years as I helped them (under my own time and expense) and as they matured, one day at a major meeting (tuis part was told to me by fort hand witnnesses) they mentioned my name as one of their beloved teachers. This shocked many leaders - some of whom questioned them publicly ad to their wisdom of associating with someone like me etc. And they publicly defended me and confessed that I did nothing wrong and they were at fault for keeping quiet about the truth. Seems they painted a glowing picture of my ministry to them.depsite how they treated me etc. This blew me away.

Within a few years, they had more occassion to do the same. Of course what is interesting is that quite a number still would not change their view - as they held to a faulty "if ther is smoke, there myst be some fire somewhere" thinking.

It took a few more years ... This influential leader eventually passed away and when that happened, a lot of evidence of his deception began to naturally emerge.

Bottom line is that God vindicated me in His own way and that really rough ten years helped mature me as a person and taught me things I would never have been able to learn without the slander. I think it has in the long run made me better respected and more effective in my ministry - simply because of how I chose to respond in that difficult time. I must say though that it was tough for me not to hit back as I was both angry and hurt. But God granted me amazing grace.

Of course each of our situations is different and yours involves yoru livelihood but God knows and He will guide you and help you through this. God bless brother
Many Blessings!!

Paul
paulmagic
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Excuse the many typos - happens when I type on my ipad :-(
Many Blessings!!

Paul
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