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This is also belittling someone else by saying that their magic is all camera trickery and that yours is better. The specs believe that Blaine's stuff is performed up close in the street, 'live' as such.
You might as well say "I haven't got my special trick coins and gaffed cards with me."

At what point did I say "camera trickery" I am saying you fund I’ll create in front of you if it's a genuine Trick then there is no reason not to be able to reproduce it in public, which I feel is fair comment to make, it's also positive in the fact if I recreated the trick live then it shows no Camera Tricks hence giving credibility to the other person.
TC All

Mr Deck wrote:My line to people who ask about T.V magicians I say "Give me the money and all the backup staff they have and I will do as they do or maybe somthing you request" This in my mind helps them to appriciate a live performance rather than one on T.V.

TC All

You imply the back-up staff have something to do with the effect. The majority of David Blaine's street material can be recreated by most competent magicians but not Criss Angel's (or Angle as the uneducted refer to him).
Your statement above implies that you are saying that tv magicians have people helping them to recreate their effects and this is quite an unprofesional thing to say to a layman. Why not say that they have their effects and you do yours?

This attitude implies to me that you're a hobbyist rather than someone who has worked professionaly as this is a very amateur attitude to to display and is quite disrespectful to other magicians and implies jealousy.

Just my opinion.

Lord Freddie wrote:

Mr Deck wrote:My line to people who ask about T.V magicians I say "Give me the money and all the backup staff they have and I will do as they do or maybe somthing you request" This in my mind helps them to appriciate a live performance rather than one on T.V.

TC All

You imply the back-up staff have something to do with the effect. The majority of David Blaine's street material can be recreated by most competent magicians but not Criss Angel's (or Angle as the uneducted refer to him).
Your statement above implies that you are saying that tv magicians have people helping them to recreate their effects and this is quite an unprofesional thing to say to a layman. Why not say that they have their effects and you do yours?

This attitude implies to me that you're a hobbyist rather than someone who has worked professionaly as this is a very amateur attitude to to display and is quite disrespectful to other magicians and implies jealousy.

Just my opinion.

I find it funny that you spelt uneducated wrong. I understand it's a typo I just found it funny.



anyway, what I usually say is something along the lines of, "He has some cool stuff, and watching his presentation really helps me."

Even if it tells me what not to do

Saying things like "Well, they have a camera crew and all those tech people with them. I'll show you some real magic."

Would come across as "What they do is spectacular and I'm not good enough to replicate it. I'll show you something less impressive."

When performing, if people mention other magicians, I never put them down (even if they are ones I'm not overly impressed with) nor do I imply anything regarding their methods. It's pointless and makes you look like a bitter little person who wished they could do the same things.

Saying things like "Well, they have a camera crew

I am not the only one that mentions camera crew in this topic.

This attitude implies to me that you're a hobbyist rather than someone who has worked professionaly as this is a very amateur attitude to to display and is quite disrespectful to other magicians and implies jealousy.

Where have I ever said I am a pro? Jealousy I think not I have respect for 70% of the men and women whom perfom magic and I think at time we do envy them, Jealousy does not come into it at all in my view.

TC All

I am not saying that you ARE jealous, but comments like these will make a spec think so.

This attitude implies to me that you're a hobbyist rather than someone who has worked professionaly as this is a very amateur attitude to to display and is quite disrespectful to other magicians and implies jealousy.

You used to words “To Me” not the spec, however I did assume you did mean the spectator and that you where not being disrespectful in anyway. I think also we need to look at a conversation with a spectator or just a 1 liner and whom you are talking to.

TC All

lord freddie wrote

When performing, if people mention other magicians, I never put them down (even if they are ones I'm not overly impressed with) nor do I imply anything regarding their methods. It's pointless and makes you look like a bitter little person who wished they could do the same things.

and I agree. This applies to all walks of life. I usually have specs talking about blaine, angel , copperfeild etc. Some I love some have styles I hate.
If we assume that the customer is always right then if the spec say's " hey that mr X is great " then my reply is something along the lines of "fantastic one of the greats" then I move the conversation swiftly on.."enjoying your meal etc"
If the spec hates him I say, "I would tend to agree but if he finds out he may turn me into a frog" and quickly move the conversation on.
I do not think that it helps one bit to dwell for more than a couple of seconds on other magicians as they should be remembering your amazing performance and not a telly show they watched weeks before. ie whatever the conversation good or bad it will only take away from your performance never add to it.

Just like to add...
In some situations they have hopfully just seen a great magic show, they come up to you afterwards and wish to converse to be polite and congratulate you. The only thing they have in common with this stranger ( ie you ) is magic. And the only magic they know is on the telly, so all they can say is "see that blaine on TV do you think he's good?".
Take it as a compliment that they wish to enguage you in a conversation about your passion.

You should NEVER run down another magician in public. I would tend to praise them as much I sincerely could. Then they will stop talking about them and may perhaps talk about you.

If it truly sticks in my craw to praise the fellow I think I would lie and say I have never seen them perform or just mutter something about them being very successful. I couldn't find it within me to praise Criss Angel or Derren Brown since I personally can't bear either of them so I would do the next best thing and say as little as possible about them. Certainly not say anything negative about them.

In my day it was Chan Canasta who was the big name and people would constantly say to me "you are much better than Chan Canasta" Of course I wasn't but it is something that people will say. Just encourage them to say it by doing a good performance. They will say it all the time not because you really are but because it is something for them to say.

I would often hear "You are better than Paul Daniels" but I didn't take it seriously because I knew they would say that to any good magician and it actually in a perverse way was more praise for Daniels than it was for me.

The modern equivalent will be for them to say "you are better than David Blaine" or "you are better than Criss Angel" When you hear it the key is not to believe it but be grateful for it all the same.

After some really hard card work at a table the spec said"You're good but I saw a guy put a cigarette thru a quarter. Can you do that?" Rather than making magic look common, that everyone can do it, I tell them No way! Get out of town! Thats insane. We want to do two things here. Don't put the other guy down and build magic up. They will remember you and might even say to another magician "You are good but I saw this guy make coins thru the table." They might be talking about you and I hope that the magician hearing this will build me up and keep magic in focus. It helps us all.
Regards
Al