Sean, I apologize for apparently coming off too harshly. For the record, I said I do respect your work-- I think you have some of the most interesting angles in mentalism in recent history. Your ring flight effects are very elegant and demonstrate a genuine passion for thought in magic. ...I just fail to see any of that in this particular effect. I remember watching Criss Angel perform it on national television-- and I don't think he really pulled it off well at all. It irked me ever since that episode aired... I guess I don't see the art in it. I also don't see how it makes any sense... a coin reappears in a bleeding cut. All I see is a desperate attempt at getting any reaction from an audience-- even if it's a negative, disturbed one.
But as previously stated, different strokes for different folks. I understand that. I can respect that. The unstated point of my previous post was that I think it's important for people to question material. All too often, people buy something just because it looked "intriguing" when someone else did it... but they end up ruining the effect, the performance, and the overall reputation of magic in someone's mind. If one spectator feels offended by one experience with a magician's act, I think it's harmful to the overall community as a whole. And unfortunately, I feel it's very easy to do with this type of effect. Frankly, it's too "extreme" and comes dangerously close to leaving a bad taste in too many situations, professional or casual.
Again, it's only my opinion. To be honest, my observations probably aren't even worth much to the community as a whole anyway. I'm sure people will still get this. People will still enjoy it. I just won't be one of them. I'm sorry I can't see eye-to-eye with whatever thinking there was behind the effect. So with that, I'll digress out of respect for its creator.
RS.