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Texas36 New user 92 Posts 
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I went to see this show at the 59e59 theater in New York this evening and was troubled by it. Drummond is an excellent magician and actor and the show is captivating BUT at one point during the show Drummond performs the levitating table. It looks like a Losander table with the box. Then, he took a vote of the audience to see who wanted to know how it was done. Finding a majority he then proceeded to openly expose how the effect was performed. I know a lot of us use that effect(which is not a cheap give-away) in our acts and I do not appreciate that kind of exposure. I regard it as inappropriate, unnecessary and unethical. In any event, I would never have gone to the show and given it my support if I had known this was happening and wanted to offer you the warning.
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Zombie Magic Inner circle I went out for a beer and now have 8736 Posts
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He's known for doing that. Very strange thing to do.
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Blindside785 Inner circle Olympia, WA 4522 Posts
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If you can email about him, find his website or contact information, do it. An awful thing to do, highly unethical.
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takeachance Inner circle 3727 Posts
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Its hard to understand why someone would do this
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simon hughes Veteran user London 357 Posts
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He's not a magician, its just a production that involves magic. Unfortunately he doesn't care.
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NFW Inner circle UK 1002 Posts
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Whats his motivation ? why do that ??
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gdw Inner circle 4869 Posts
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Is that the only effect he does that with? Is it a full magic show, with other effects, or is the table an isolated magic performance in a show staged around a bullet catch?
Either way, it's odd, but if it's the only effect in a full magic show, that's even more bizarre.
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
I won't forget you Robert. |
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george1953 Inner circle Mallorca (Spain) 5943 Posts
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Why would anyone want to do that is beyond me, if he is a magician he would surely not want to expose anything, if as you say he is only an actor theres not a lot we can do. If he is a magician I suggest going to one of his ahows sit at the back and shout out how every trick he does works and see if he still thinks its a good idea.
By failing to prepare, we are preparing to fail.
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r99h Loyal user Southampton, UK 257 Posts
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Quote:
On 2013-04-12 11:56, george1953 wrote: And lower yourself to his level? Rich |
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NYCJoePitt Special user 556 Posts
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This is an off-broadway theatre piece that played at the Edinborough. It's almost, but not quite, performance art. There is a good article in The New York POST if you want to look it up, that explains the show. It also explains a bit of his rational for the floating table. I may not agree with it, but I don't agree with everything I see on the the New York stage these days, lol.
I don't think I personally will compare this small bit of exposure at a one off-broadway show to some of the other issues that are occuring on TV, you-tube, and the net. Just not on the same level in my opinion. |
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gdw Inner circle 4869 Posts
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I only found this article:
http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/th......jhxlmnFK Though it does mention HOW he explains the floating table, which reminds me of an illusion Penn and Teller do, though I have not seen it myself. Or rather, "experienced" it myself, as one's sight is not entirely necessary. However, P&T's is perhaps infinitely more brilliant, as the entire ability to experience it as an illusion is built into the "expose´" dammit, how do I get the accent over the 'e?' Any how, P&T's illusion is brilliant in premise, and I have yet to see it, and when I do, I may still not see it.
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
I won't forget you Robert. |
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MaxfieldsMagic Inner circle Instead of practicing, I made 3010 Posts
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Maybe this jerk hasn't considered the fact that, in the process of selfishly ingratiating himself with his audience, he is also ruining part of the act of many working magicians. I don't do the floating table myself, but if I did I would certainly be ****ed at having invested so much in an effect that another pro - who didn't invent it - chose to spoil for selfish reasons.
If someone is going to profit by exposure, they should limit themselves to exposing effects of their own creation.
Now appearing nightly in my basement.
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Texas36 New user 92 Posts
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This is the only effect that Drummond explains during the show. The show is billed as a combination of magic and theater and it is that. What is odd about it is that Drummond does things like Delites and a book test and lots of conventional and fairly pedestrian stuff but out of all that he chooses probably the most unique and effective thing in his show (other than the bullet catch) to expose. And this is not a Penn and Teller thing where the explanation is part of making the true effect work or providing context. This is basically "Wasn't that amazing? How many of you want to know how this is done? Ok, watch this and anybody who doesn't want to know close your eyes." I don't buy the explanation that Drummond is merely an actor and not a magician. He is playing the part of a magician and is performing magical effects that were purchased or learned as part of the art of magic.Acting is a closely connected art to magic. Every magician is in some sense an actor. If a magician went into a performance of the Mousetrap and yelled out the identity of the killer at the beginning of the first act nobody would say "well, that's ok; he's a magician and not an actor." Scotland has produced a lot of fine magicians and contributed much to the craft of magic. This show and performer are an unfortunate setback of that tradition.
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Chad Sanborn Inner circle my fingers hurt from typing, 2206 Posts
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Are we all not just actors playing the part of a magician? Was this same illusion not exposed to the many who bought it?
If anyone could or would do anything, it would have to be Losander. After all its his trick. But once you agree to sell it, you give up certain rights that you have to it. Its why a lot of good magic will never be sold. Nor should it be. |
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gdw Inner circle 4869 Posts
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Quote:
On 2013-04-12 23:24, Cotham wrote: . . . No, obvioyusly not, I was just mentioning it in comparison, and pointing out that P&T's is infinitely better. Quote:
On 2013-04-12 23:24, Cotham wrote: . . . No, and such a person would be being a jerk. However, that's not what is being done here. He's not "forcing" the secret on anyone. What he's doing is the equivalent of asking people "Do you WANT to know the identity of the killer? If not, I won't say ANYTHING, but if you do, I will tell you." Even better than a spoiler warning in a review if you ask me. Not that I'm saying what he's doing is "good," just that it's not AS jerky as 'yelling out spoilers in a crowded theater,' if you will.
"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."
I won't forget you Robert. |
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Ron Vergilio Special user Murrieta, CA 835 Posts
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This is for gdw... To get the accent over the e you just type Alt+023. However, in testing it here, it doesn't work on this site. Bummer.
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ViolinKing Veteran user a loyal user has no more than 307 Posts
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éééééééééééééééééééééé
This is a limited edition printing of accented e. These are all the accented e's that will ever be produced. Copy and paste one "e`" to any post you wish to use one in. $250 per "e`" However, since I'm selling it, I give up the right to control how it is used. When these are gone, they're gone. Read what the critics are saying. "Don't buy one, buy ten." ~David Devant. "I bought one, and I'm exposing how it works." ~Losander "I'm selling these." ~Magic Geek "I don't know what it is, but I have to have one." ~Mr. McAmateur "There is nothing magical about this, and I'm 1,000 times the magician this 'violakid' is." ~Houdini |
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Deej1 New user 25 Posts
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If you get a chance to see this show, I strongly recommend magicians go along. Putting aside the question of exposure for a moment, I believe the vast majority of us could learn a great deal from Rob Drummond...
First, as a playwright and actor, he creates more 'theatre magic' in one show than many magicians will ever achieve. Second, the respect he shows for his volunteers is refreshing and exemplary. It's a horrible thing to admit, but I immediately had the suspicion Rob's background wasn't in magic because he - at no time - belittles, insults, patronizes, trumps, badgers or embarrasses his assistants. Finally, in regard to the exposure, I understand why some might feel outraged. However, I wonder if perhaps people might consider speaking with, or writing to, Mr. Drummond in the event that he continues to expose the effect. Certainly, that would seem a more appropriate course of action than yelling out our feelings in a crowded theatre. On the night that I saw the play, though, Rob asked if there were any magicians in... He then invited one to explain why the effect shouldn't be exposed; the audience subsequently voted to keep the method a secret.
Careful shopper & author of 'Magic by phone'
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Steve Hook Inner circle Raleigh, NC, USA 1266 Posts
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Quote:
On 2013-06-01 18:27, Deej1 wrote: Deej1: Your post may be thoughtful but (in my opinion) it errs in two respects: 1) Whether Drummond is a good playwright or actor is irrelevant in this thread and 2) his asking the audience if he should or should not reveal the method of a trick not invented by him is yet another smokescreen. The fact is, regardless of his talent or polling, the trick is not his to reveal. He obviously doesn't have magic-community (at the least) ethics. He can't, on the other hand, avoid whatever force it is behind what we call "karma". The one and only thing I agree with you about from your post is that it would be fortuitous for everyone if someone could engage in some polite discourse with him, hopefully persuading him that what he's doing could harm others (and actually magic in general). Steve H
Like Bonnie Raitt said, "I miss Little Feat more than I miss being 8 years old." Thanks for the concerts + recordings, Lowell, Richie, and Paul!
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Deej1 New user 25 Posts
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Thanks for your thoughts Steve. Despite appearances, it actually feels to me like we do, in fact, agree almost entirely. To clarify, I'm not suggesting that allowing the audience to vote makes the exposure okay. Rather, I’m implying that Mr. Drummond is performing the effect without exposure at least some of the time… And if he can see that there is theatrical value in keeping the secret some of the time, then that would suggest there’s hope for the rest of time!
Now, before I go on, let me stress again that I don’t believe he has the right to expose the effect. As a writer, actor and complete outsider to the magic community, though, Mr. Drummond believes exposing the secret is better theatre than not exposing it. That’s why he’s doing it… Under those circumstances, I highly doubt any magician is ever going to persuade him otherwise by talking about the ethics of magic... But there’s a very good chance that he can be persuaded through reasonable dialogue about the power of theatre, and - to my thinking - that makes the subject of his being a good playwright essential to this thread... Assuming we would like to dissuade him from exposing the effect rather than merely bemoan that he does! For those reasons, I maintain that magicians should see this play, acknowledge that parts of it are admirable, engage in a dialogue with Mr. Drummond about theatre - his and ours - and discourage the exposure in a reasonable way. Hope that makes sense to you; all the best Deej
Careful shopper & author of 'Magic by phone'
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Posted: Apr 12, 2013 02:10 am 
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