I like Derren but I don't like reading mindless posts that just distract from the forum. Some of the DB threads are fine and contribute. I really miss some of the great pros who used to post here. But I guess I am wasting my time trying to get that over to some of you.

I agree that there has been a lot of Derren posts around here, and I think that nothing is to be learnt by focusing upon another performer so much.

Steve,

I don't see how you come to that conclusion. It's impossible not to learn something by taking note of the work of experts in your field. If you don't do it, you are missing out.

Derren is good at what he does, comes across convincingly and is entertaining. I really am not surprised he has caught the imagination of many people. He is good and has worked extremely hard to get where he is. There aren't any shortcuts.

But too many seem to concentrate on who Derren is and think that by emulating him they will achieve his success rather than concentrating on themselves. Whilst dissecting what he does can be an intellectual challenge, to seek to do this and go out and then go out and perform your own interpretation of it is not only wrong, but unlikely to work for you.

You will learn much more discussing his performance, audience handling, presentational abilities than trying to work out "how it is done"---unless of course your goal is to smugly sit there thinking "I know how that's done".

Marc Climens