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Bball5630 Regular user 140 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-08-05 23:41, Chris Berry wrote: Quote:
On 2004-08-09 04:19, Arlen wrote: Whoa. I never realized that magic was about to disappear and was so much in danger of being forgotten. Guess that Copper-guy and Lance-guy were just not cutting it, maybe if there were other magic specials or if Vegas would've had a few magicians. I never looked at Blaine as the savior he really was. *wipes a tear away* If only Vernon could have seen this wonder of a man sit in a glass bubble and ride a 6-inch bike down the street, and he would've never forgot when David laid down in the street and acted like he was dead. Man, my eyes are open now. Gotta go build my David shrine now, and hope that he makes it back in time to save the art of magic. P.S. Forgive my sarcasm. I don't hate Blaine, he does what he does. I don't like how people act like he "saved" the art. There was a great interest in magic before Blaine, and there is now, after Blaine. |
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Chris Berry Special user 831 Posts |
What you fail to realize is tht Lance Burton isn't a household name like Blaine is. Copperfield was and still is to an extent. But Blaine has really given magic that big PUSH it's needed lately and put it in the 'hotseat' of public interest again.
Chris |
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Bball5630 Regular user 140 Posts |
Blaine's target audience is quite different than Copperfield's or Burton's. He did get a following among the people that were in HIS audience. Everyone knows people that love Blaine, and everyone knows people that hate Blaine. Also, everyone knows people that say Blaine who? He's another magician, good at what he does, but not a savior of the art. He's actually slipped far away from the art and what he does now is not what the laypeople consider "magic".
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Chris Berry Special user 831 Posts |
What would you consider to be Blaine's target audience?
I know people from ages 5 up into their 80's that have know who he is and have talked about him. The thing is, there is no "David Blaine audience". Sure the same can be said about Copperfield and Burton, but like I said, neither one of them are a household name like Blaine is. I guess it would be safe to say that Copperfield once was, but all good things end with time. Chris |
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Bball5630 Regular user 140 Posts |
Okay, Copperfield is still more of a household name than Blaine ever was or will be. Over half of the people who see a card trick and bring up the Blaine, say, "Oh, that's like the street guy, what's his name. The one who does those card tricks." Blaine is not as a household name as you think. If you disagree, ask around more. Those are the facts. Ask 50 people at random, if they've heard of Blaine and ask them if they've heard of David frikin' Copperfield. And tell me your results. Now don't walk into a high school or ask all the people on Penguin Magic or Ellusionist. Ask real people, a variety. Don't put Blaine in the same area as David Copperfield, or even the same vicinity, or country. His popularity is nowhere near David's. If you disagree do the survey, I would be suprised if you had 2 or 3 people who had never heard of Copperfield. He made the statue of liberty vanish, walked through the china wall, a jumbo jet vanish while surrounded, vanished the Orient Express, and did so much more. Blaine flopped like a fish on the sidewalk, jumped off a pole into boxes, stayed in a glass bubble for 30 days, officially making him the world's worst escape artist. And yes he levitated, the same way Superman flew in the movies. People remember some of his effects, but not many remember his name. How many times after people see you perform do they say, Boy, you're the next Houdini, or they say the next David Copperfield. No one has ever said, "You're the next Blaine." I give Blaine respect for what he does, but let's not get crazy and say that he has surpasses David Copperfield as a household name. That's just ludicrous.
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Mark Rough Inner circle Ivy, Virginia 2110 Posts |
I did bit of an experiment this summer when I was busking a lot. I dropped Blaine's and Copperfield's name in my routine. 9.5 times out of ten I got blank stares and confusion. Copperfield, however was recognized about 8 times out of ten. This was purely to satisfy my own curiosity about which has had a greater impact on public perceptions. Keep in mind, this is in Charlottesville VA. Not a huge metropolis, but a small city that's pretty hip none the less.
I learned a couple of things. 1) The latest sensation is usually not when it comes to the general public. 2) Steal a really catchy name from something you had to read in high school. Mark
What would Wavy do?
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Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
The younger folk know Blaine. I have a friend who's youngster started to like magic, said he wanted to be "Like David Blaine." Hmmmmmmmmmmm....
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
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JoeJoe Inner circle Myrtle Beach 1915 Posts |
> What happened to this guy? He did that box stunt and
> then disappeared. I never saw a TV special on it or > anything! The special was not air'd in the US - I believe it was broadcast on something called Sky Network in the UK? Regardless of who is more "popular" today, history will be written by whats printed in the newspaper. To that extend, David Blaine has even magician beat ... perhaps he has even recieved more publicity than Harry Houdini did in his day. There are reports of how much of a better magician Carter was over Houdini, yet few laymen have ever heard of Carter the Great. It was Houdini's publicty stunts with his Strait Jacket Escape on Main Street USA that made him a legend ... history is written by whats in the newspaper, not how many theater seats are sold and certainly not by who is the better than who.
Amazing JoeJoe on YouTube[url=https://www.youtube.com/user/AmazingJoeJoe]
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
David Blaine? Gone....
....to wherever it is you can spend a couple of million dollars having a great time! Wouldn't you? I for one hope he comes back... I like his Specials. There, I said it. And you cannot change my opinion. They are mine.
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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Jerry Inner circle Some where in Florida 1402 Posts |
I could never really understand why so many magicains bust this guy's (David B) chops. I mean, what did he do that is so horrible to have that much hatred? The masked magicain I can understand, even Penn and Teller! But Dave, what? what?
Jerry |
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mattneufeld Regular user 119 Posts |
Read the above posts and talk to real magicians. His stuff is so amateurish and banal it's detrimental to real magic. Standing on a box or standing in ice or sitting in a box, well, uh, so what? You'll find that obviously he angers people, many people, so obviously there are many reasons why he angers people. It's pretty simple. Let's just forget about him and move on and concentrate on....magic. That should be easy.
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Jerry Inner circle Some where in Florida 1402 Posts |
Well if David is so amateurish, then the TV airwaves would be filled with constant amateurish magicians! This nation alone has a surplus of banal/amature magicians, the networks could call on them for a faction of the cost. And I have not read or seen any "real" magicians comment on how terrible David is in his performace of magic. Could you direct me to your sources.
Jerry |
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Pakar Ilusi Inner circle 5777 Posts |
My opinion is that he's just receiving the same treatment that all celebrities get from people of their respective professions...
I don't think Blaine really minds though... I'll say it again, I like his performances... I hope he comes back when he's ready...
"Dreams aren't a matter of Chance but a matter of Choice." -DC-
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rikbrooks Inner circle Olive Branch, Mississippi 1317 Posts |
I like Blaine's style. I wouldn't try to reproduce it or to be anything like it - it's not me, but when I watch him I'm entertained.
Is he amateurish? Well, I think that's a matter of opinion, isn't it? It can't be his presentations, he gets reactions. Maybe its the tricks themselves that are amateurish. I don't think so though, the value of a trick is solely in the reaction that it gets. I think that any statement that Blaine is amateurish betrays just a little jeolousy, don't you think? Perhaps it's because he gets big bucks for effects that can be learned quickly and cheaply while others slave away at their craft for years and don't get those bucks. But that's how it always is. There will always be better technicians who earn less. And I imagine these people will always be just a little touchy about it. |
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Magicbarry Loyal user Toronto 276 Posts |
Criticisms based on Blaine's technical abilities are unwarranted, in my opinion. He performs simple tricks -- well, some of my best tricks are easy to do. They're still killers. An audience doesn't want to be impressed by my passes, side slips, and culls. They want to be entertained, and if they're even aware of whether something is easy to do or hard to do, I've done something wrong. Magic occurs in the minds of the audience, not in the hands of the magician.
Where Blaine does deserve criticism is for his use of camera tricks and edits. These are the things that I hear most professional magicians complaining about, not Blaine's technical abilities. They may scoff at him for using an invisible deck, but their really bitterness has to do with what they see as "cheating". When Blaine uses edits to make it appear that his Balducci levitation raises him five feet off the ground, how is that any more magical than Jeannie popping out of nowhere on "I Dream of Jeannie"? I'm fine with Blaine as a performer. He gets great reactions from his audience, and that's what we're all aiming for. And he's opened doors for other magicians (Korn and Benn, for example, might not have a weekly series if not for Blaine). But the camera tricks are hard to get past. Do it straight and you've got my respect, David. But use the camera to enhance or alter your effect and I'm going to cringe, every time. |
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tuffnavyrn Inner circle San Diego, CA 1238 Posts |
David Blaine has created a market for himself and a following of rather young magicians who if you asked them who is Kreskin or Dante they would think you were an Alien. Blaine is ok with me....he has recently kept magic in the spotlight which is more than I can say for the aged Copperfield....Dave you gotta bring something for the folks at home and not the $100.00 per ticket folks at Vegas. Anyhow, what Blaine has done is well.....let's just say aside from his "stunts" which weren't earth shattering, he does stuff that any of us could do with a little research and many of you probally already own on your bookshelves. Case in point.....recall special #2 I think where he swallows a large piece of thread then pulls it directly from his stomach!!!!.....gross right? Impossible...must be fake skin or Harry Anderson's "Needle Thru Arm" stuff right? Well, check-out (if you can get it) "Swami Mantra" by Sam Dalal (you must be 18 to purchase) published by Kaufman & Co. On pg.99 you will find "The Bramo Thread Mystery" and you'll see what I mean. This effect was originally published In January 1974. Blaine presents it for the first time on TV and the world thinks he's the real deal...please. As I've learned from many older magi (and I'm only 29), some of the best kept secrets are in books....just read and become learned. Thanks for reading!
Brian-
"That smart thing that somebody else said". |
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music Special user 623 Posts |
Blaine has a unique type of presentation style and it entertains, period. Regardless of the type of tricks he does, off the shelf magic or not, he entertains and that is the bottom line. With that said however I would rather see him get himself away from the use of camera tricks.
chuck |
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minig New user Newcastle, England 18 Posts |
Quote:
On 2004-06-24 19:48, Mistro wrote: Apparently, he is going to jump out of a helicopter, locked inside a safe.
My site: www.minig.co.uk
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Vibono Magic Special user Växjö,Sweden 647 Posts |
Didn't Robert Gallup do that in his first TV special?
And I who thought David Blain only did his own original material...
Vibono Mirage
Magic entertainer and Balloon artist |
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Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
Whether you like Blaine or not. It don't matter.
Musically, what do you prefer? Jazz? Hip Hop? Southern Rock? etc/ etc? Each different and each having a place in entertaiment. Blaine does stuff that is seen a basic by magicians but has not been seen by the public. The public knew Copperfield, Penn & Teller and other larger acts via television but not much, if any, closeup and intimate effects that Blaine does. Are some magicians jealous that he's been televised? Heheh! Here's a tidbit for you. I talked to an old schoolmate from NJ who knew Blaine. Apparently Blaine and her son were working on an effect and nearly set her home on fire. Ashes to arm? Intimate, in your face, impromptu type magic is the in thing! So is Baine. I'm sure Blaine is still around. Maybe he's busy reading Volumes 4-6 of the Tarbell Course. |
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