talkmagic.co.uk

Marvell wrote:

Wukfit wrote:Where did you read this?

I made it up

You should do a mentalist show... and get to the bookies quick

BAH. youtube is not a threat. We could go through this time and time again as through the politics but I'll say this much,

first off- piracy is a threat and that's a completely different subject, that I am completely unwilling to discuss.

but most the time kids are just trying out new tricks they bought from ellusionist, and unfortuantley theyre doing them real sloppy.

Now if someone posts the actual footage of a method of a trick, the original publisher has complete rights to contact youtube and report the video. Resulting in it being banned.

I know, because I posted a video of a band performing live here in dallas and shortly after youtube contacted me stating the artist DEMANDS! that I take down the video before legal action was taken.

in part, it is the publishers responsibility to check sites like youtube and send in requests to ban exposure.

But so far as kids doing horrible renditions of tricks they bought so as to reveal them? thats life friends

youtube isn't the first place this has happened. I can't tell how many times I have found out the method of an effect simply by going down to the local magic shop and watching someone slip up. Hell I've done the same thing!

The difference is, this is the virtual age and everything is simply much more accessible. There's no stopping such thing. The method may become lost in space, but technology will never replace the ART that is magic. One can know of all the different sleights and tricks of the trade, but until one excersises outside of piracy they could never be considered a true artist

As I've said before, I don't really think youtube is a problem. It's mostly just a bunch of kids doing tricks to show their mates. It's not really any different to me at 13, standing in the playground doing my tricks. Youtube might have a bigger audience but does it really matter, their audience still only make up such a small percentage of the population that I really don't see the threat.

Lady of Mystery wrote:As I've said before, ...

I think I've done a lot of "saying before" as well. Time for a hijack, me thinks.

Marvell wrote:

Lady of Mystery wrote:As I've said before, ...

I think I've done a lot of "saying before" as well. Time for a hijack, me thinks.

It was bound to happen. At least we're not ending up sidetracked to pink fluffy things though, that WOULD be a hijack!

seige wrote:It was bound to happen. At least we're not ending up sidetracked to pink fluffy things though, that WOULD be a hijack!

Well I've just done a youtube search for pink and fluffy but can't find anything worth posting a link too

Why is everyone so quick to slate Ellusionist?

Brad Christian has been running Ellusionist since 2000. I'm not sure if any of you used the internet that far back, but the site was created to 'bring magic to the common man'.

Ellusionist are catering for demand, and doing very well at it.

From a marketing aspect, their business and media package is sound, and I can only commend Brad for taking what used to be an 'information only' site to what we know today.

I also personally attribute the humble magic download to Ellusionist. Where would most of you be without those.

Ellusionist is a business... and whether you like them or not, they are very clever, mightily resourceful and well respected.

Respect where respect is due.

I keep seeing Magic tutorial videos all over youtube, of people showing how to do very bad passes and DLs. The biggest problem is that these are public, anyone can view them, and next time a magician performs a trick that requires certain moves, theres a higher chance that he or she is going to get caught.

On the other hand, I love youtube because I get to see certain tricks performed by real people. Alot of the previews I see on magic websites only show the reaction of the spectators, not so much the actual trick itself. Going on youtube lets me know what the trick will really look like, whether its done properly or not is another matter altogether

requiemfad wrote:The biggest problem is that these are public, anyone can view them, and next time a magician performs a trick that requires certain moves, theres a higher chance that he or she is going to get caught.

Would you care to quantify that? I mean, how much more likely do you think it is?

Also, just because you know what a pass is, doesn't mean youcan't be misdirected. We know lotsof sleights, but that doesn't mean that we can't perform for eachother.

I really doesn't matter if someone knows how to do the pass or DL or something similar. If your performance is good enough you should have no problems at all. I was totally baffled by an very good magician a while ago, I really couldn't figure out how he did what he did until I thought back over it and realised he'd managed to get something as simple as a cross cut force past me.

It's all about the way YOU perform rather than what half knowledge the spectator might have.

Every time an inexperienced hobbyist adds nonsense to this thread, I'm adding a notch to the 'locked' stick. When the stick has enough notches, it will be locked.

If you're going to post on here with your 'thoughts', try reading the whole thread before you do, not just the title.

i've re-thought my slight anti-ellusionist stance, i think they should actually raise their prices...might encourage people to buy more books instead...

i often wonder is YouTube was created by a Scotsman...

I've never really understood why people buy those ellusionist dvds, I find that I can get so much more out of a decent book.

Lady of Mystery wrote:I've never really understood why people buy those ellusionist dvds, I find that I can get so much more out of a decent book.

People buy them because they are the quick-fix, they are well publicised, and they are marketed towards the younger audience—who have more disposable income than they used to.

The whole market has swayed away from books and lecture notes towards 'one-hit' DVDs and the likes.

The Ellusionst site is accessible and can make a wannabe Criss Angel feel like a superstar overnight.

Plus, it's addictive... buy one trick, get hooked, buy another—and another.

Great for Ellusionist, which is why you HAVE to respect them as business people.

However, if you're serious about magic, it becomes clear that a £6 paperback MAY be a lot of hard work, but you get a lot more value in the long run.

Horses for courses.

I still can't believe how well Brad Christian has done since he used to stare with open mouthed slack jawed admiration at me ripping off the public years ago.

I expect he will sell a few more of my books now that it has been reviewed in Genii magazine of all places. I wonder if the rather awful Kaufmann has noticed the review in his own magazine. He will probably have heart failure if he does. Serves him right for banning me from the Genii Forum.

As for You Tube it really doesn't matter and is of no importance whatever. The ironic thing is that when I first met Brad he would be the first one to complain about youtube and internet companies like his own. I can see him now in a psychic flashback tut-tutting about such matters.

The wheel has turned. It is strange what life brings.