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I would have to say I prefer Cyril against Criss. They are both excellent performers, but the think I prefer Cyril, hes able to take already known tricks and take them to the next level.

Cyril take on the coin matrix is very clever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVYs7NyhLyc

He really managed to grab my attention, a very good manipulator.

My favourite style of 'magic' at the moment actually comes from the likes of Derren Brown for sheer cheekiness! But they are complety different styles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqmc-iN_jXg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwthqRJ1Khg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c29hGAC9leQ

Magic is a broad subject and you have to accept different types of people prefer different tricks.

Perhaps Kati has hit the nail on the head. Some TV performancers go to the average person on the street and perform for them for free, then get money from the TV network that airs him.

Excuse me? Exactly how could ANYTHING I said be seen as a racial slur?

Why not pull your head out of your ass and actually READ what I said? It's one thing to disagree with me - do that all you want. But I will not sit by and allow you to make a claim like that. Nothing I said was even remotely on the subject you've just accused me of.

I'm officially done with this.

Out of respect for these forums and the members here, I'll hold my tongue.

In the future gunnarkr, kindly do me the favor of never responding to anything I post, again.

I just saw some new Cyril Takayama clips and he's truly amazing. Great performer and great magic.

chinease criss angel?? lol

When I think street magic, I think along the lines of some of the Gregory Wilson stuff - magic with found/borrowed objects. That sort of thing. Same reason I wouldn't consider Criss Angel a street magician. David Blaine is more of a street magician, I think.

Good point, Demitr. I believe Cyril can do the same kind of tricks like Gregory Wilson. Unfortunately those tricks don't impress "the TV audiences" anymore. I understand that some of Cyil's tricks require gimmicks and set up but they still require great skill to perform the tricks. You think David Blaine is a street magician but David Blaine uses gimmicks as well(The Raven, Coin Bite...etc). To me, a street magician is someone who can perform magic tricks live in front of real audiences on the street. Cyil peforms his tricks in front of real audiences and the reactions from his audiences are genuine. Therefor Cyril qualify as street magician.

okok whether cyril qualifies as a street magician or not it really depends on one's personal opinion. some think magic is a waste of money and time, some dont think so, and there is just no way to justify this, just like many other things on this planet. so i think we should respect each other and stop insulting each other's mindset/decision. cyril may be a good performer outside the television while performing for friends or at parties. he has done many shows and i have seen some of them and im impressed. that is why i chose cyril as the better street magician. some may still not be convinced. and this is because of one's mindset of a very diversified topic such as magic. so in my opinion we should all stop blaming each other or criticising each other and maybe be more harmonious? im new to this forum but i like it here so a debate should remain as a debate and not some coffee shop where u just keep posting bad or criticism remarks. world peace man

I never said his work lacked skill or showmanship - and once again, I'm confused how people keep thinking I'm being negative.

I didn't say I didn't like Cyril - far from it. I have nothing but respect for his work - in all avenues. I just wouldn't classify him as a traditional street performer. That's hardly saying anything bad about his performance.

ok i think u misunderstood me all i wanted to do was just to reason out that everyone has their own way of thinking, so that the arguments here would stop. i didnt mean to say you hate cyril or anything. chill man

A street magician can do something completely impromptu and most of the tricks I've seen Cyril do require a set up (Card thru window, egg, lemon, orange and bird trick, pulling a hamburger through a picture of a hamburger) so I wouldn't call him a street magician maybe illusionist he might do a couple of things impromptu but most of his stuff relies on props and a set up same as Criss Angel I think thats why so many people on here compare them to each other. I'd call David Blaine more of a street magician because most of the stuff he does is impromptu (except for his levitation)

I like David Blaine.. great magician.. but he uses just as many props and gimmicks as the next person. Most of the stuff he does ISNT impromptu. I have a copy of his "Street Magic" special and skipping through it now, he does half gimmicked/half impromptu just like Cyril and Angel.

I think another thing that needs mentioning is that a lot of the magic Cyril does is controlled magic in an uncontrolled situation. Controlled in the sense that any needed probs might be placed in certain places in advance and that if he's doing a trick at a store, the store owner will know about it.. however you can see in a LOT of his tricks that there is often big crowds of people and while he may or may not be using props, a fair amount of it is done "live".

Criss however, does controlled magic in a controlled situation. A lot of the times only so many people will be allowed to watch the trick and it is possible that the trick is a "TV trick" as I mentioned in another post and he isnt actually performing for spectators there. Everyone could be in on the trick as the spectators are me and you sitting at home watching it on TV.

Cyril definately does more "live" street magic than Criss does which is another reason why he is one of my favourites.

Cyril is considered a "Cyber Celebrity".

cyril should be respected as a street magician, or at least a street entertainer. even though many of his street magic are not impromptu, they are still tricks which entertain people, which makes tham believe that a miracle has happened. this, i guess, is the true meaning behind magic. to make people entertained and somehow amazed that a miracle has happened. so he should be respected as a street magician. this is just my opinion.

but seriously, magic that requires gimmicks or setups are still magic tricks, and they are gimmicked or set up for the one reason-- to entertain people.

CYRIL IS A VERY, VERY GOOD MAGICIAN!

i do think cyril is a good magician, but i do also agree with a lot of you guys on here that he doesn't compare to the likes of magicians who have earned their talent through experience and hard work. don't get me wrong I'm sure takayama has also put in a lot of hard work, but in my opinion he doesn't reach the level others have through experience.
on the other hand i think takayama is great at slight of hand, he does some amazing flourishes and although you don't see much of this, he does do some great sleights and takes some to a new level! if any of you look through youtube for performances, you'll see this, and also the effect he has on laypeople, which remember is what magic is all about! if you read through their reactions on sites such as youtube, you'll see exactly what i mean, he has amazed audiences far better than blaine or criss angel at times.