On 2009-08-24 01:47, Todd Robbins wrote:
Some time ago I asked if anyone had any trouble performing magic or lost a gig because of the Masked Magician. No one responded. So I ask again. What negative effect has the Masked Magician had on your performing career?

On 2009-08-25 06:45, msmaster wrote:
It is very difficult to expose the real secrets of magic, and in fact the very tricks that have been explained on this barely watched show, presented expertly, continue to astonish.

On 2009-06-02 08:54, Ken Northridge wrote:

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On 2009-06-01 12:32, WDI Magic wrote:
I haven't seen all of the episodes, but as far as levitations, I've only seen a Gamalo Levi, a forklift contraption, and a couple of bad ideas using electromagnets. Did this air recently? What was it?

If he would stick to revealing these types of effects I think it would be great.

On 2009-06-04 15:44, mrdane wrote:
As you sold official rights, is there any legal action you can take?

On 2009-08-17 15:40, Dougini wrote:

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On 2009-06-01 09:52, Jacob Spinney wrote:
So last night my friend Dana told me that she was watching the masked magician the other day revealing how this levitation works and explained it and asked if it was my levitation that he was revealing . . . YEP. That's the one; the levitation that I gave Criss Angel the conditional rights to market in the Masterminds Volume II release. I guess I can kiss any further royalty checks goodbye. Thanks Masked Magician. I hope taking the money out of the pockets of a poor 23 year old trying to make it will help you sleep at night.

I hear ya, Jacob! I hope Charlie Justice gets "justice", as I found out that the fantastic effect "Prohibition" is now exposed.

I think it's the Nash Group (Wildest Police Videos) that is partly responsible. Quick buck. Screw the silly magicians. I wonder how Nash sleeps at night.

Doug

On 2009-08-23 17:19, kelleyro wrote:
Exposure the first time may not be seen but what if they put this show in re-runs for the next ten years? and what is up with Penn and Teller showing secrets? The Masked Magician may not be our only problem, how many others will copy him and think it is ok to expose because he is doing it?

There is already ten thousand 10 year olds exposing tricks on YouTube and they are probably copying the Masked Magician..The kids didn't start exposing until the Masked Magician came along!?

On 2009-09-21 19:16, Bill Palmer wrote:

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On 2009-06-02 08:54, Ken Northridge wrote:

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On 2009-06-01 12:32, WDI Magic wrote:
I haven't seen all of the episodes, but as far as levis, I've only seen a Gamalo Levi, a forklift contraption, and a couple of bad ideas using electro magnets. Did this air recently? What was it?

If he would stick to revealing these types of effects I think it would be great.

It would be "great" to expose the Gamolo levitation? That's a VERY expensive piece of material. It's also patented, although the patent has expired.

Why is it "great" if he would stick to exposing the Gamolo?

On 2009-08-24 10:03, mandarin wrote:

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On 2009-08-24 01:47, Todd Robbins wrote:
Some time ago I asked if anyone had any trouble performing magic or lost a gig because of the Masked Magician. No one responded. So I ask again. What negative effect has the Masked Magician had on your performing career?

Jim,

I agree! I have noticed that my kids shows are tougher than they have ever been. I continue to alter the show, but there is always that one kid that can spoil it for everybody. Exposure of magic is out of control and I think it's time us magicians come together and do something about it. Get a petition against the company that produce and air these exposure episodes, wipe out youtube exposure videos. Non of this will happen if we do not come together and stand up for our INCOME..our families that we have to feed and the bills we have to pay.

I will try to answer from my own experience, Todd.

While I would decline to ascribe a direct link between MM and personal performance difficulties I would most assuredly accuse him, and others like him who reach a very large audience, with laying the groundwork for exposure becoming rather de rigueur, or at least socially acceptable and even commendable.

This never APPEARS to be a problem with stage performances, because there is still a social scrim that is seldom violated. That, however, merely hides the possibility that the audience may be walking away discussing how they know the secrets of the tricks, so the magician is more fooled than the audience.

In "parlor" however, there is a familiarity that allows for the exposure of the trick, and therefore the magician, even during the performance! I have come upon this mostly in children's shows, and it is getting much worse. We have altered our show at least a half-dozen times, and the other day I saw the magic coloring book among things for kids to do while they waited for their table at a local restaurant.

In an audience of 50, it only takes one to spoil the show, a sort of logarithmic cause and effect.

So for me, Todd, MM has, albeit indirectly, made my job, actually passion, less than it could be, and if only just for that I find him, and those of his ilk, despicable.

Jim