Criss Angel steals effect and markets it...

[popchris3]

He didn't steal the effect; he is marketing it as a different version. Regardless of how original, this is an effect that has been marketed SO many times... He isn't the first or the last.

As far as the hate for him, I have no hate for him at ALL. I very much enjoy Mindfreak (as unpopular as it is to say) for it is an incredibly entertaining show. He brought magic into the mainstream again and made magicians seem "cool" to laypeople. This is something that I am eternally thankful for.

I am not a HUGE fan of him as a person (based on his ethics of terminating Banachek) but I don't mind his show or insult his skill as a magician. In the words of my friend...

"I don't see why people hate him; every magician on this EARTH would take a multi-million dollar A&E gig and be treated the same way."

In response to the camera tricks and stooges, who CARES? If I am performing ambitious card, I am lying the same way! I am not lifting and showing the TOP card, so what would be the difference if I used a camera to do the same thing? It is all in the name of magic, and the laypeople are none the wiser.

I can openly say that I am a Mindfreak fan. Not a huge fan of Criss' ethics, but his performances are good and he seems like a cool guy.

 

[descartes]

He didn't steal the effect; he is marketing it as a different version. Regardless of how original, this is an effect that has been marketed SO many times... He isn't the first or the last.

Therein lies a big problem in magic. This problem is not just about Criss Angel releasing the same old McDonald's aces on DVD. It is a problem of too many classic tricks being repeatedly sold as "new and improved" when in fact there is nothing new about it at all.

Did you know that Criss Angel's DVD sells for almost $35? That is making a one trick DVD out of a trick that magicians have known about for ages (it's in the inner card trilogy for heaven's sake). In this particular case, I'll come out and say it (since many don't seem to want to). This DVD by Criss is a RIP OFF. People should just ignore this DVD and buy the Vernon's More Inner Secrets instead. You will get a thousand times the value for your money.

Of course, this isn't like I'm out to correct some cosmic injustice here. There are plenty of used car salesmen out there who will gladly sell you a lemon if you aren't wary. There are plenty of other examples of people trying to sell junk in large quantities. There is an overall trend in magic of people repackaging stuff like this for outrageous prices.

The only way things will change is if we, the consumers decide not to support rip offs. Judging by the replies on this thread, I'm not going to bet on that ever happening.

 

[JetEyeNight]

Just because you have a "real" passion for magic, doesn't make you a magician.

Just because you have your own TV show doesn't make you a magician.

So you're saying all I have to do is hire a bunch of stooges, and a bunch of special effects creators/clever camera men, and I'll be a magician?? Where can I sign up?!

Also Mr. Hankins, I was just stating MY opinion. He is not what I call a magician by any means. The actual sleight of hand he does is sloppy. To say that is not rude, it's the TRUTH. Can you name one effect that HE actually performed well? The camera tricks and stooges make his effects seem amazing, but I know better, therefore can't be entertained by it. Mr. Hankins, I respect you and I really like your Harbor change. I'd like to see something from Criss that original. If you can point me to any specific material of his that you recommend, I'd really love to see it. I don't like how he dressed up as David Blaine. Was he trying to flatter or to mock? I don't like how he called out other magicians and claims what he does is real.

Do I find he has Charisma? Yes, do I think he's a decent enough guy? Yes. I'd even love to be his friend. He's a great motivational speaker. But is he a magician? Not in my book, not in any sense of the word. Just because you do lots of practical jokes doesn't make you a magician. I may be off base, but I expect more from a "magician" of such high standing.

 

[CallingEagle]

Just because you have a "real" passion for magic, doesn't make you a magician.

Just because you have your own TV show doesn't make you a magician.

So you're saying all I have to do is hire a bunch of stooges, and a bunch of special effects creators/clever camera men, and I'll be a magician?? Where can I sign up?!

Also Mr. Hankins, I was just stating MY opinion. He is not what I call a magician by any means. The actual sleight of hand he does is sloppy. To say that is not rude, it's the TRUTH. Can you name one effect that HE actually performed well? The camera tricks and stooges make his effects seem amazing, but I know better, therefore can't be entertained by it. Mr. Hankins, I respect you and I really like your Harbor change. I'd like to see something from Criss that original. If you can point me to any specific material of his that you recommend, I'd really love to see it. I don't like how he dressed up as David Blaine. Was he trying to flatter or to mock? I don't like how he called out other magicians and claims what he does is real.

Do I find he has Charisma? Yes, do I think he's a decent enough guy? Yes. I'd even love to be his friend. He's a great motivational speaker. But is he a magician? Not in my book, not in any sense of the word. Just because you do lots of practical jokes doesn't make you a magician. I may be off base, but I expect more from a "magician" of such high standing.

Right on JetEyeNight I agree.

 

[TheatreHead]

He is not what I call a magician by any means.

He is creates the illusion that something impossible is actually happening. Isn't that what a magician is?

I'd love to know what your means for calling someone a magician are, because I don't know what he is or isn't doing to be a magician.

 

[Mike.Hankins]

Just because you have a "real" passion for magic, doesn't make you a magician.

Just because you have your own TV show doesn't make you a magician.

So you're saying all I have to do is hire a bunch of stooges, and a bunch of special effects creators/clever camera men, and I'll be a magician?? Where can I sign up?!

Also Mr. Hankins, I was just stating MY opinion. He is not what I call a magician by any means. The actual sleight of hand he does is sloppy.

So in order to be considered a magician, you have to be amazing at sleight of hand? What about someone who has been in the art say...6 months? Are they not a magician until they can execute a perfect pass? Where are these rules located for when you can call yourself a magician and when you cannot??

To say that is not rude, it's the TRUTH. Can you name one effect that HE actually performed well?

Sinful. Sick

I don't like how he dressed up as David Blaine. Was he trying to flatter or to mock? I don't like how he called out other magicians and claims what he does is real.

I didn't like it either. It was later explained that he did what he did because he respects Blaine. I dunno though, maybe we can get some sort of clarification on that? They do say copying is the highest form of flattery...

I did not like what he did on that Phenomenon show either. I think there could have been a better way to have done that. But I think he did it that way to make himself look better...didn't work for me.

Do I find he has Charisma? Yes, do I think he's a decent enough guy? Yes. I'd even love to be his friend. He's a great motivational speaker. But is he a magician? Not in my book, not in any sense of the word. Just because you do lots of practical jokes doesn't make you a magician. I may be off base, but I expect more from a "magician" of such high standing.

Again, what is YOUR definition of a magician? From what I have heard, in his Vegas show, he has a few illusions and even does some dove manipulation. Still not a magician?

Mike

 

[safuto]

Joe Monti responds to MF Aces

The MF aces is just another routine. A bit more direct and simplified. At no time did I or Criss claim credit for inventing the double backed card(s).

Since the time of Hofzinser double backed card "tricks" have been very visual and effective. Even if this routine where done poorly it would still kick laymen's butts.

I love magic and would not have been involved in this if I didn't think it was good. There are many variations on the DVD. Good stuff.

I don't make a dime for saying good things about any version or variation of "McDonalds" aces...I just love the trick

Power to the Peep Hole!

Joe Monti
www.3cardjoe.com

Little plug there

 

[JetEyeNight]

So in order to be considered a magician, you have to be amazing at sleight of hand? What about someone who has been in the art say...6 months? Are they not a magician until they can execute a perfect pass? Where are these rules located for when you can call yourself a magician and when you cannot??


Sinful. Sick



I didn't like it either. It was later explained that he did what he did because he respects Blaine. I dunno though, maybe we can get some sort of clarification on that? They do say copying is the highest form of flattery...

I did not like what he did on that Phenomenon show either. I think there could have been a better way to have done that. But I think he did it that way to make himself look better...didn't work for me.



Again, what is YOUR definition of a magician? From what I have heard, in his Vegas show, he has a few illusions and even does some dove manipulation. Still not a magician?

Mike

Thanks for the reply, I appreciate the conversation, and clearly we do stand mostly on common ground.

I do agree with you that a magician is a magician, 6 months or 6 years in. However, I hold people as famous as Criss to a much higher standard. There's quite a bit of difference between someone 6 months into the art and someone as famous as Criss Angel. For someone like Criss who claims to be the best, he's far from it. If you're going to claim to have the chops, you had better bring the goods. For a magician of such high standing, who claims to be a master of his class, his skills are mediocre at best. I'd never rate him anywhere near Copperfield, Blaine, or Houdini. How long has he been in the art?

I watched him perform Sinful, amazing how the camera cuts away halfway through the performance. I'd like to actually see a continuous shot of him performing it. I can also point you to several youtube videos of amature magicians performing sinful just as well as he did. I understand that not all magic needs to be difficult to be hard-hitting, but I'd like to see Criss actually perform something a little more difficult, something that would justify his place on top, at least in my mind. I'm still waiting to see it.

I also understand that 90% of success is about people skills, not necessarily technical skill, and this is where Criss thrives, most of the time. He can win over the hearts of the masses.

I don't think what he did with the Blaine episode of Mindfreak was flattery, I think it was mockery. Some clarification would be nice.

I've never seen his Vegas show, but I've read reviews ranging from "terrible" to "it's nothing special." Magician? Perhaps... but not what I would consider a master as he claims to be. See reviews at this link:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/cirque-du-soleil---criss-angel-believe-las-vegas

What he did on Phenomenon just put a bad taste in my mouth that not even the strongest of Listerine can wash away. Such a hypocrite! It was the turning point for me and a real eye opener.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1KM8U--QUU&feature=related

 

[TheatreHead]

But is he a magician? Not in my book, not in any sense of the word.

He is creates the illusion that something impossible is actually happening. Isn't that what a magician is?

I'd love to know what your means for calling someone a magician are, because I don't know what he is or isn't doing to be a magician.

 

[BrendoneC]

all it takes is the name criss angel to turn someting from one thing to a discusssion of camera tricks.

 

[Brad Henderson]

There are several lines of thinking in this thread that are simply wrong. They are also all too common ways of thinking that we see on these forums and in magic in general. I have cut and pasted some of them here with comment:

1) He can stand in the middle of a mall, do a simple card effect and have literally hundreds of people go nuts. Do you or anyone else on this forum have that ability?

Unless you can say you do....you have absolutely no credibility to critize him and instead should be learning from him.

Reply:

First, we can argue whether or not Criss can actually do this. Take away the camera crew and the filtered volunteers and then we can discuss "skills."

But that is not the issue. The issue is with the bull**** notion that one has to have done something in order to be allowed or qualified to criticize something. Most movie critics have not produced or starred in their own movies. Most food critics are not chefs. Someone can have incredible knowledge and taste in an art or industry without having ever mastered that industry or art. So, this is a bogus argument and one that should be banished from our discussions.

Because my guess is that the people making it CAN'T and HAVEN'T met the requirements they expect others to fulfill. Saying positive things is also a form of criticism. If not having done something means you aren't allowed to judge - then no judging - good or bad.

See, it's just silly.

2) Instead of the jealousy and bitterness over his money, his ability to attract women, etc....why don't you learn from his showmanship and his ability to connect with people that leads to legions of fans all over the world. . .
He is a success story and I believe most of the Criss haters are fueled by jealousy. I will be the first one to admit that I was.

Reply: And of course the last refuse of those with nothing to support their position is the "sour grapes" argument. Simply because someone does not care for something someone has achieved fame for doing, doesn't make them jealous.

Kim Kardashian is nothing more than a glorified whore. The only reason she is famous is because she made a sex tape.

I am not jealous of her. But I do find her revolting and despicable. Not because she has what I don't want, but because I find her revolting and despicable.

3) he doesn't have the time to even think about stealing effects.

reply: I wonder if Kevin James feels the same way.

4) he has amazing showmanship and a HUGE following. Hes a millionaire with tons of cars and a beautiful home. (If anyone hasnt seen pictures of it check it out) . . . He is obviously good other wise he wouldnt have a show running 6 season. . . He is on national television, he is obviously doing something right.

Heidi and Stewart are household names but as far as I know they are talentless boobs. Paris Hilton - like Kardashian, is an A list porn star. Fame and talent have nothing in common.

But let's consider the notion of showmanship: If you have to continually scream into my face telling me how dangerous or extreme something is - then it's probably not all that dangerous or extreme. A great showman doesn't have to keep yelling at us. A great showman knows how to make us care.

Criss has never made me care.

5) Paid actors? Seriously?

Reply: Yes. Seriously.

6) The way I see it, you can achieve exactly the same effects and more with camera editing, stooging and the suchlike, and therefore, why not?

reply: Because it ceases to be magic, and it's now a special effects show. The only reason magic "works" is because there is an experienced discrepancy between what you know is impossible, and what you are experiencing at that moment. You know that bill CANNOT float in the air - but there it is.

Without that violation of reality, we have no magic. We have The Matrix or Star Wars. Not that these things don't entertain or have value - but it is different.

Magicians have spent decades building a trust between the audience at home and the televised content. They have proven that what you see at home is exactly what you would experience if you were there. That is the only way in which magic can have any impact on a home viewer.

Criss has willfully chosen to break that trust. What the people see at a Criss Angel taping and what the audience sees at home are not always the same thing. Now, some people will play the nonsensical "dual reality" card - but ultimately this is just a justification for the inability to produce what you claim to be able to produce.

A cirque executive said of Believe that one of their obstacles was managing the difference between what a magician can do on tv versus what they can do in real life.

Copperfield never had that problem. Henning never had that problem.

Angel has decided to place his own needs and success ahead of the trust built by magicians over decades with their televised audiences.

I don't know how you define scumbag - but it might be fitting here, yes?

6) Many magicians have used the TV to their advantage, using camera tricks and special edits to make their effect "look" better...

Reply: I have seen every Copperfield special and have seen his stage show dozens of times. While small adjustments must always be made when filming something live, I cannot think of any trick Copperfield did (with perhaps one exception) that would not effectively be considered identical when compared to his live performance. In other words, if someone saw both the televised version and a live performance, they would not recognize anything being different between the two.

I do not know if this can be said for Blaine, and I know it CANNOT be said for Angel.

Lumping all of these magicians into the same category is unfair and simply inaccurate.


7) Criss Angel is a magician. Even by definition of what a magician is: an actor playing the part of a magician. And Criss fits this bill. He actually had a pretty kickass show in NYC some time ago - before his now known Mindfreak show.

Reply: His show was in the basement of the (then) WWF Restaurant. Some people liked it - but "kickass" is probably a theatrical overstatement.

Having said that, several people have commented that Criss's goal was not to be a magician. It was to be famous. His first choice was music, but realized he did not have the talent for that. He did realize, with just a little work - and the right financial backing - he could make a name for himself with magic.

And that's what he wanted - to make a name for himself.

Those at Magic Con received some interesting insights on this, and I will leave it to those presenters to share more information on it. But Criss is not about the magic - he is about being Criss, famous, a celebrity.

You do not need talent to be a celebrity.

Likewise, I know several very successful and even talented people who have magic acts - but I do not consider them magicians. They know their act, they perform it, and that's it.

Are these people to be considered the same class of artist as Vernon, Jay, Carney, or Tamariz? Or are these people just doing a service?

There is nothing wrong with what they do. In fact, I would often hire one of them over some less talented and commercially viable "magicians."

But I don't think simply because someone choose to call themselves a magician, makes them a magician.

 

[Mat La Vore]

Well said, Brad.

Great post on the issue.

I agree with all seven of your replies.

 

[JetEyeNight]

Thanks for the reply Brad. I also agree with everything you said. Nice post.

 

[b_08]

You see Brad...this whole "we hate Criss Angel he is a scumbag" thing is why I feel bad for our community as a whole sometimes.

It doesn't matter what you or the "community" thinks about him; the rest of the world says otherwise. His show has gone on for 6 Seasons, when he shows up for an event literally thousands show up. To say that half of them are paid actors just shows zero intelligence. And I know that most of you are a lot smarter than that...you just let the hate and jealousy blind you.

Time and time again we hear (from people we magicians respect) that magic is not what we do but what is in the mind of the spectators. Criss Angel, along with David Blaine, has a better grasp of that than anyone here.

I absolutely love Wayne Houchin, Aaron Fisher, Joel Paschall...I think those guys (among others) are brillant and truly cool guys. I had a chance to meet them and hang out with them a bit at the Dinner Magic Theatre not too long ago but you know what? None of those guys will ever be a household name. They could hire all the stooges in the world and do all the camera tricks in the world but they cannot connect with a world wide audience like Angel can. They're all terrific guys and I would pay to see them lecture every chance I get...but to the rest of the world, they are not better magicians than Criss Angel.

Nobody outside the magic community knows who Dai Vernon is. No one cares either.

The thing that makes me sad is that the general public still looks at magicians as dorky, nerdy, and introverted guys. At least once every two weeks I get people that would commment, "Why aren't you dorky like most magicians?" Why do you think that's the general perception? Guys like Angel help change that perception. I feel like sometimes we're like people in the ghettos who hate on the ones who make it out because they "sell out". It's total bullschit. It really is.

You guys hate him for his style, his ability to get hot women, his over the top personality...all the things you guys don't have. Let's be serious here, most of you guys wouldn't remember how to spell Theory11 if you had half his opportunities.

It makes me sad that you guys refuse to learn from him because he has a ton to teach you about showmanship and how to lock in an audience. Will he go down as a legend like David Copperfield? No...I don't think he will. But for the last 5 years and for the near future, he is the most well known magician in the world.

What you (we) think here doesn't matter and if you think it does, then you're the one who has lost sight of what a magician truly is...not Criss.

 

[Brad Henderson]

More people know who Brittany Spears is than Duke Ellington. More people know who Jim Carey is than Phillip Seymour Hoffman. More people will buy posters of cats hanging from ropes with the phrase 'hang on it's almost friday' than will ever see a picasso or pollack in person.

But if you try to make the case that a teenage girl who developed too quickly, a one character mimic with an elastic face, or bathroom decor are somehow more artistic over the presented counterparts simply because they have achieved greater commercial success, then you are ... Well, I don't know if there are words for that.

The roman colloseum was filled to capacity on weekends and reality tv shows keep earning ratings.

The thing is, you assume criss resonates with people. He does. He has a large following among teens and middle aged women. I saw believe. I saw the audience. The only people who cheered were teens and middle aged women.

At the conclusion, the audience walked out in silence. In fact, criss demanded that we applaud him. He has resorted to this ruse in several performances, in ours he called the audience a bunch of 'f&$kers'. Do talented magicians have to resort to that?

I work corporate audiences primarily. Most successful adults have never heard of criss, and if they have, he's 'that weird looking guy with the lisp'. This is how I have heard him described.

Each summer I perform for about 15,000 people. I get to spend a lot of time with them and talk magic. Want to know the word that ALWAYS comes up as soon as someone mentions Angel ---- camera tricks.

Ok, that was two words. I cheated.

This comes from the majority of laypeople with whom I speak.

Oh- these are people in the 9-29 age demographic.

As to the stooging, I appreciate your passion for supporting criss, but you clearly have no idea how tv is done. Nor do I think you have any idea what 'thousands' look like.

Here's a fun fact. I was producing a show in vegas and was talking to an agent from whom I had hired an act. She worked with criss once. She was producing an event for a major casino and the owners wanted criss to introduce them.

All he had to do is come out and say their name. She (the agent) tried to get him to run through it. I don't remember if he wouldn't or if he just couldn't get it right. Regardless, show time came - he walked out - and screwed it up. He even had the name written on his hand.

Is this something you would expect from a talented magician?

I care about how magic is perceived by the public. Criss's use of editing and stooges is a violation of the trust built by magicians over decades. You might not care about that. Clearly, he doesn't. But that makes him a scumbag in my book.

Now there are other things that personally make him a scumbag in my eyes. But then again, I'm friends with many of the people who used to work with him or even the people he's threatened to sue with 'the firm.'

But I actually kind of liked his style - the old gwar style illusions were great. (Shame he set that poor girl on fire.) I thought he had a great vision and I really hoped he would be succesful.

But when you abandon the workshop for the editing bay you cease to be a magician, in my book.

I've seen believe. I have friends of friends who are in the cirque heirarchy. Like they were quoted, a great discrepancy between what the magician can do live and on tv.

Every cabbie I ever asked for show recommendations told me to stay away from believe.

It is currently the butt of many jokes on the vegas strip.

And that's coming from people in the entertainment business, not some fan on a magic forum.

But I'm not jealous. I have no desire to take that path. And quite frankly, I do ok with the women.

Criss will burn out soon enough - or go the way of the crazed celebrity. You can only threaten to punch out so many journalists before they will stop providing the coverage which feeds the ego.

We can learn a lot from criss.

As Teller said - hate breeds more good art than love.

 

[magicalfreak13]

My mixed opinion....

I do have some respect for Criss Angel because he is the reason I got started in magic. If it weren't for him, I never would have gotten started in this wonderful art. So I have that to thank him for. He is also inspirational to many new magicians.

On the other hand... he is not a particularly good influence as far as magic goes. Well... as far as anything, really. He doesn't set up his tricks well enough so it looks like he is just showing off instead of trying to amaze the spectators. Even the effects he has created himself are not showcased properly enough to show them as good.

I have seen this certain effect done by many people before, and marketed by many people. But it is considerably more expensive, which is quite unneccessary. I was able to figure this trick out for myself the first time I saw it, and I'm sure many other people were able to also.

The thing is, Criss milks magic for all the money he can get. But he has to be doing something right..... he's been doing magic since before I was born.

 

[JetEyeNight]

You see Brad...this whole "we hate Criss Angel he is a scumbag" thing is why I feel bad for our community as a whole sometimes.

It doesn't matter what you or the "community" thinks about him; the rest of the world says otherwise. His show has gone on for 6 Seasons, when he shows up for an event literally thousands show up. To say that half of them are paid actors just shows zero intelligence. And I know that most of you are a lot smarter than that...you just let the hate and jealousy blind you.

Time and time again we hear (from people we magicians respect) that magic is not what we do but what is in the mind of the spectators. Criss Angel, along with David Blaine, has a better grasp of that than anyone here.

I absolutely love Wayne Houchin, Aaron Fisher, Joel Paschall...I think those guys (among others) are brillant and truly cool guys. I had a chance to meet them and hang out with them a bit at the Dinner Magic Theatre not too long ago but you know what? None of those guys will ever be a household name. They could hire all the stooges in the world and do all the camera tricks in the world but they cannot connect with a world wide audience like Angel can. They're all terrific guys and I would pay to see them lecture every chance I get...but to the rest of the world, they are not better magicians than Criss Angel.

Nobody outside the magic community knows who Dai Vernon is. No one cares either.

The thing that makes me sad is that the general public still looks at magicians as dorky, nerdy, and introverted guys. At least once every two weeks I get people that would commment, "Why aren't you dorky like most magicians?" Why do you think that's the general perception? Guys like Angel help change that perception. I feel like sometimes we're like people in the ghettos who hate on the ones who make it out because they "sell out". It's total bullschit. It really is.

You guys hate him for his style, his ability to get hot women, his over the top personality...all the things you guys don't have. Let's be serious here, most of you guys wouldn't remember how to spell Theory11 if you had half his opportunities.

It makes me sad that you guys refuse to learn from him because he has a ton to teach you about showmanship and how to lock in an audience. Will he go down as a legend like David Copperfield? No...I don't think he will. But for the last 5 years and for the near future, he is the most well known magician in the world.

What you (we) think here doesn't matter and if you think it does, then you're the one who has lost sight of what a magician truly is...not Criss.

For starters, I've never ever seen "thousands" in attendance at any of his performances on MindFreak. I think that's quite the exageration. If you don't recognize a paid actor when you see one, I think that exhibits "zero intelligence". Are you trying to tell me when he levitated an entire room of people during some sort of hypnosis segment, that they weren't all paid actors??? Segment after segment contains paid actors.

Also to indicate that it's just jealousy and hate that blind us and that's why we critisize Criss also shows "zero intelligence". I'm not quite sure how many times we have to tell you that it's not his ability to attract women, his fame, or his fortune that we are arguing about. It's not about sour grapes, so stop the ad hominem argument. I could care less about his rock n' roll style. That's not the issue! You claim "You guys hate him for his style, his ability to get hot women, his over the top personality...all the things you guys don't have". That's never been the case with me, and how would you know that these are things that I or others like Brad don't have? I have no trouble getting "hot women". In fact, I'm about to get married to one in a month. I'm perfectly happy with my personality and I'm perfectly happy with my own style. What you should have said was that these are all things that YOU don't have.

I believe (no pun intended) that you're the one who has lost sight of what magic truly is. Everything you focus on about Criss is his style, his ability to get hot women, and his over the top personality. You have nothing good to say about the actual magic he performs. These are the parts of Criss that you worship, and that's why you support him. You don't support him because he's a good magician, you support him for other non-relevant factors. You say "He can get hot women! I wanna be just like him!" I say "I can already get hot women, have a great personality and style. I like me and am not going to change who I am just so I can be like Criss Angel."

You ask why we don't like Criss, we say "camera tricks, stooges, ect." Your response "you're just jealous of his ability to get hot women, his style, his personality". WOW, just wow. Talk about not having ANYTHING to do with the discussion. I think you're being just a little bit insecure.

If you think he has good showmanship, then there's actually a lot you need to learn. Did Criss exhibit good showmanship when he called out Jim Callahan as shown here??:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kAdZcbfiGY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1KM8U--QUU


Just because Criss Angel is more famous, does not make him a better magician. I've seen several street performances from guys like us, and I hear all the time that "you're the best magician I've ever seen" or "you're the next David Blaine" ect... It's not fame that makes us better magicians, it's our ability to connect with the "individual". I'm sure if they rest of the world were to see Wayne Houchin on his own TV show, the rest of the world would recognize Houchin as the better magician. I had no idea who Criss was before MindFreak. Having you're own TV show makes you more famous, not more skilled, nor a better magician. Just because he has a "rock star" style doesn't make him a better magician. Would you prefer that all magicians copied his style? I guess for those seeking to be a household name, and want to have their own TV show where they utilize stooges and camera tricks, Criss would be a great mentor. However for me, Criss doesn't have anything I want therefore I won't be emulating his style, or doing what he does, or taking his advice. Only take advice from people who are in life where you want to be.

What I'm understanding from you, you're saying that just because no one knows or cares who Dai Vernon is, we should just throw out all our Dai Vernon material and start emulating Criss. I couldn't disagree more. Please please enlighten us, what EXACTLY does Criss have to teach us. What EXACTLY can we learn from Criss? How to use Camera Tricks 101? Hiring Stooges for Dummies? These are the books that Criss wrote, and I won't be checking one out from the library anytime soon. This will be his legacy.

 

[Ashrei]

Just gonna say, you don't have to learn what a person does wrong, but learn from that people's mistakes.

Just because someone is a complete screw up, you have nothing to learn from them. You can learn what made them to be them and learn to not to be like them. (Yay. pronouns)

 

[b_08]

JetEyeNight and Brad -

Your hatred and jealousy reeks with every post. The funny thing is; when I perform for people and they talk about Criss Angel, I'm the first to tell them that he isn't on the same level as David Copperfield and the like.

However, if you and Brad believe Criss is really such a horrible magician, then I invite you to show us how to do it. I would like to see national reviews about you that says, "These guys are what magicians should be all about".

Give me a link. I doubt you guys could perform for 1500...much less 15,000.

If all it takes to be a good magician is camera tricks, why aren't you guys famous?

If all it takes is for a girl to develop early, why aren't all hot girls famous like Spears was in her day?

You see...what we can learn from people who make it is that they have an "IT Factor", an ability to connect with the audience. That's what we can learn from Criss. You guys can't do it. Brad...how long have you been at this? Why haven't you made it? Because you "don't want to"? Please.

How about you JetEyeNight? Show me what it takes then to "connect with thousands" if you don't think Criss can do it.

Ironically, I'm not a huge Criss Angel supporter....this is more of a knock on how attitudes like yours keep our community down. Criss has done more for the perception of magic then you guys will ever do in 20 lifetimes because you guys can't connect with people. That's what we can learn. Magic isn't suppose to be serious...it's entertainment and that's what you guys have lost sight of.

 

[joshrobarts]

i have a theory..... b_08 is criss angel, just like brianxnation was really Tudor. There debate ended. Lets get back to magic and stop talking about TV?