In the hands of a True Showman a simple trick can be a miracle ..... this is not showmanship or less being more.......when they dig up Houdini he will be face down from rolling over so many times....

Why are you trying to impose a style that is not for everyone? There is not only on type audience.
What you beleive to be entertatining is not true for the next person.

Would You deny his appeal to his intended audience?

What is his style ? What is his audience....If his style is subtle without a lot of talk ...that means more detail must be addressed ..If you study pantomime and any non verbal style of performing you will see a lot of work going on.....below the surface .Have you ever extensively studied theatre? ..For me it seems his intended audience is the type that change there musical tastes quickly and will be onto the next thing .
I have worked for every type of performing situation ....2 people to thousands.Tv to theatre...I also used to tour in a rock band for 6 years that did 2 world tours... I learned so much about the entertainment biz during those years......I always look at the group and adjust and modify... If I am performing at a Tattoo convention or a l Ball Park for thousands ...they will be very different in "style"..... What is your definition of style?

.....to play a song with one note ain't easy

Sigh...

When you are able to separate yourself from the image of a typical magician that is in the general public mind.
And, and you are able to create the feeling in the spectators mind that what they are experiencing is real magic.

There is a blur between a trick and reality.

Tha's a Style.

Because many magicians disagree with this Style of performing, is what brought so much criticism.
Others, just can't see passed the handling of a trick as opposed to the performace of an EFFECT on an audience.

Wil

Yeah ... they thought that "card trick" was real magic ...... oh boy..... I'm outa here......I got to go make some dough.......

Exactly...Even a card trick had that feeling....

Go right ahead...make sure to be entertaining...

I was there ... people loved it. that's all that counts.

Doug

Well said, Doug. Audience. Not other magicians. End.

If it was all up to the audience we wouldn't have things like Opera ,Theatre or Classical music anymore ..... Miss Spears and J Lo , would reign Supreme.....

Cardone I suggest you just give it up... there's nothing you can proove. The audience in the video enjoyed it and you're not gonna convince any them (if you can even get them to listen to you) that David Blaine is a bad magician, because if he was he wouldn't be up there.

Remember that the best magician is the one who can convince the world that he is the best magician.

It's true...audiences love David Blaine
See for yourself...
http://darkartsmedia.com/blaine.html

To debate and discuss is fun my friends ... it is how we learn ..... I know people like his stuff ... lots of people like crappy shallow things . Just turn on the TV or Radio ...Oh if they are on TV they must be good ...Most people don't like to debate religion or politics ... I like to debate art, theatre and film . ...It is a way for me to find new ways to conceptualize new ideas art and theatre.... It seems that a lot of you guys do not have discriminating tastes ..thats ok ..... we are all allowed to like what we want ....
If people are fed peanuts they will like them ......

Cardone is right ... not everyone has to love DB and his performances. The controversy is one of the things that makes him so successful.

People must have been hungry for peanuts at the LG show though if you categorize the 400 "taste-maker" guests that were invited as being shallow with no taste.

D

Hello Doug long time no see...... I was the opening act for Miss Hong Kongs Stage pop show in Dec .... 900 + Banquet seating in attendance .. I had to do 10 mins ...My son could have walked out and performed a svengalli deck and amazed them ... I got my first standing O .... well I was a partial standing O the front half stood ... Jeff Sheridan always told me that we must be careful as artists and magicians because magic is a miracle and a rarity and even a poorly presented one will still get a good reaction ......

I have seen plenty of magicians bomb even though they were performing miracles. I am sure you will agree. While there is always room for improvement, the audience still loved the show.
D

Yes..... tis true ...

Finally ... We all agree. Joy to the world

I'm surprised nobody has even mentioned the very cool "Transported Man" effect at the end, utilizing the new sophisticated Pepper's Ghost technology that's being implemented in a lot of theatrical and music performances, as well as business conventions.
Clearly, this was inspired by The Prestige, with David tossing his phone to himself in lieu of a top hat.
I dug it. People enjoy him and he and Paul have created a character that's managed to stick in the public's mind.

Let's not be narrow and dogmatic about what performance is. There are standards, to be sure, but it's nice when anyone comes along and breaks the mold, or at least reshapes it a little.

I'd venture to say we have David to thank for much of the current interest and awareness of magic. Much more than Criss Angel, but that's just my opinion.

The transported man effect was cool. The lighting guy missed a cue at the end which would have made the effect stand out a lot better.

David has definitely changed magic for good.