Really nice review. Very thorough.
I have a question though. You said:
What do you believe is the point of the effect? I agree it's visually very impressive, but I really don't think it's much more than eye candy. As Jon Allen says, how does the effect answer the question "So your point...
Dodd Vickers just posted this over at the Magic Newswire, but in case anyone missed it I thought I'd post it here. Really cool documentary on Eugene Burger. Enjoy. :)
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/2422/A-Magical-Vision
Five Points, Designing Miracles, Scripting Magic--all great books. However, they all assume a certain level of understanding to be of real value. I would hold off on these for now and check out Strong Magic by Darwin Ortiz. It's an excellent book with which to start as it touches on a little bit...
E is giving away some cool prizes, and it really is a free give away (3 ways to enter for a free drawing). Free stuff--what is there to complain about? Pretty cool holiday contest to me--best I can remember a magic company ever doing.
Intention is everything.
I think it's obvious his 365 Days of Magic project is very directly an exercise in creativity. To try and judge his project otherwise would just be an exercise in ignorance.
David Devant's statement--with the proper context of how it fits into the original story--holds true. Without putting it into context, though, quoting Devant's line and expecting it to be interpreted in the original way it was intended is just foolish. The only way to communicate the intended...
Yes, of course he is.
He uses magic principles to create magic effects for the purpose of entertaining his audience--that's his job description--same as all magicians.
And Derren Brown has openly stated he's using magic to accomplish his effects. He's never hidden that.
That's absurd. By your definition you just disqualified Houdini, David Copperfield, Dai Vernon, Derren Brown, David Blaine, etc. as real magicians.
Being a "real magician" has nothing whatsoever to do with how many effects you do or don't know.
FASDIU and FASDIU II are both great. Paul Cummins is the man.
Tap a Lack is very similar to Paul Vigil's Diplopia (also worth checking out). It's pretty much the same effect. iIt differs in only the use of one principle and a slight difference in terms of choosing a red or black card.
Both use...
Not sure if condescendingly laughing in the face of a potential client with your friend is the right approach to getting the gig.
Let's look at the situation: either "your magic was so powerful they forgot everything from the last hour," or "you dress and act like a non-magical being." I think...
I think you meant "[Houdini] isn't the first person in your head as a magician, at least not to other magicians who aren't well read." ;)
Vanishing Elephant, Metamorphosis, Needle Swallowing... Houdini built his name mainly with his escapes, yes, but he had quite a few magic pieces that he was...
Get the book Theater of the Mind by Barrie Richardson. In it he has an effect called "One in a Half Million," which is a phenomenal telephone number prediction that can also be used as a force.
It uses a regular ungimmicked telephone book too. A spectator flips to any page they want, runs their...
Sounds like you're looking for a real miracle to just be handed to you.
Not to be rude, but if you want to be serious about what you're doing you just need to get over not being "comfortable" with reading books. The whole "I'm a visual learner" thing is a lazy cop out. I'll let you in on...