Maybe it is just me, but almost every time i preform, someone has to say something like, Whoa! way to go chis Angel. Or Your like David Blane. This drives me crazy. . yes they are both well known magicians. . The thing is its not just the spectators who do it. Last night I was out to the bars with a few friends of mine, and we were all having a smoke outside, and we got to talking with this girl One of my friends said you have to see Luka do a trick, he does some David Blane ****. I feel that when people say thing like that they portray me as some cheap generic rip off. I hate it when laymen say something like. "one time i saw a magician on tv, and he....(insert any trick here.)...can you do that one. But the absoulte worse thing is after I introduce myself and say they can call me Luka, the spectator calls me magic man, or mindfreak, Mr. Magic, or some lame name like that...Does anyone else feel this way, or am I over looking everything.
The general public will naturally relate their experience with you to the closest available thing they know of in their repituar of experiences for conversation starters or complements. It's just how we are programed as humans. Unfortunately for young magicians 98% of the common public are only familular with Blaine and Angel as their names are dominating the media right now. 20 years ago it was Burton and Copperfield. So the trend never changes, only the associated names.
You're going to have to deal with it the best you can. It really is almost a complement in a way. They are associating your work with the work of one of the industries biggest names. Weather you realize it or not, they are basicly putting you on even ground with them in their mind. I'd be lying if I didn't say I half tune out what someone says the instant I hear Blaine or Angels name, but thats because I'm at a point in my career now where I'm trying to establish myself as my own entity. I think looking at the bigger picture here, it's harmless. Annoying but harmless.
If you feel you are getting associated
too much with other magicians by your audience after you perform you may want to consider changing up the type of tricks you do, your presentation of these tricks, or maybe both. Chances are if you bought the card trick "Strange Travelers" and perform it line for line as suggested by the patter that comes with the trick then you are going to be taken for David Blaine as it's -his- trick. You're just doing it. Make it your OWN trick somehow. This segways into performance character, and show routining. Both are lectures I don't have the time to get into. But I encourage you to put a good amount of practical thought to.
People that know you are going to associate all kinds of pet names with you. Laughably they aren't as original as the mark may think. I get on a daily bases:
Mr. Magic, The Wizard, Magic Man, Freaky, and Gambit to just name a few.
Take it in stride. Most of the time it's harmless pet names. Again people are just trying to relate to you because they find you interesting the only way they know how. The only time I would be very clear as to what I expect to be called is during a show. When I'm on stage it is Draven, William Draven, William Draven: Master of the Macabre, or Master Draven. I accept no others and I will correct someone on site should they address me as anything but. The reason is of course branding. I want a certain name and mental image associated with my style of act. But when I'm at work, and a Blues Brother passes me by with his sing song tune of "Do you believe in Mr. Magic" then I just smile and sing back "And I hope you do." It's harmless fun. I'm touched that I've made such an impact on that person to get my own tune as a way of greeting.
Hope that helps.
