Completely agree. Blowhards, windbags, and people who like to talk in circles like Brad are why most people think magicians have low social IQ and are out of touch with trends and what is cool and current.
This is why I asked what sepcifically about criss do you feel is worthy of emulation? What specifically is he doing that is better or different?
Is it the clothing? Is criss fashion forward? Does his choice open doors, close them, or both?
See, I think what keeps criss in the public eye is the celebrity nonsense he engages in - calling audience members foul language for not applauding, threatening reporters, and the like.
And as I've said, if you want to be famous, this may be a path worth following. But if you want to be good ...
Of course, once again you've resorted to a personal attack. Amazing you know how my audiences think of me when you repeatedly also state that no one has heard of me.
If you cannot stay on topic and discuss issues without personal attacks, please go elsewhere.
This is why Criss "got lucky" and guys like Brad didn't.
Why the personal attacks, b? Can you not defend your position by appeals to facts and logic.I don't think this approach speaks well of one's iq, social or otherwise? I choose to believe you have a point and are not just engaging in order to hurl insults at people. These types of statements undermine your central tenet. Off topic posts designed to elicit emotional responses are the definition of trolling. Please refrain.
Here is the fundamental difference all this arguing comes down too: I don't think the magicians during the Letterman show represented us positively, I think it only furthers the stereotypes (an unfortunately true one) that the general public has of us.
How so, specifically? And how do you reconcile their choices and outcome with the obstacles they had to face. In fact, why don't you tell us a bit about those obstacles ...
What did criss do when he was on letterman? Did that represent us well?
What about when criss was hired to introduce the new management of the hard rock? He only had to come out and say one name and still got it wrong? Does that represent us well?
Just spoke with a professional pianist at a show this morning. He mentioned he saw a mindfreak episode and that he thought it all looked like camera tricks and then explained how he thought the 'audience' may have been in on it.
This is a layman. Can we say criss represented us well to him?
But this is a performative contradiction - according to your logic, b, these men MUST be doing something right because they are on tv and we are not. Unless they just got lucky? Or perhaps being on tv is not the only measure of what's best for the art?
Brad believes the magicians did fine and that people saw it and didn't dislike it.
Where did I say that exactly?
I did make a comment that it was unfair to judge them given the challenges involved.
B, tell us about those challenges ...
I know some people who didn't dislike it.
I also understand, from people close to the production, that they are planning on doing it again.
So, to use b's logic, whose opinion most accurately reflects current media trends - a bunch of people (some of whom may have never done a show in their life) on a magic forum, or the executive producers of one of the longer running, valuable entertainment franchises in the us? And to take b's logic further, since more people know letterman and see his show on any given night than watch angel, shouldn't we be emulating what HE values?
And that's where it is. That's the baseline fundamental difference and no amount of talking in circles is going to change that. Brad sees that everything is fine and rattles off names no one cares about, I live in the real world where the Masked Magician is infinitely more of a household name than most magicians.
I think that says more about your households than it does the state of entertainment - which is why an understanding of demographics is critically important.
Murder she wrote was one of the most watched syndicated tv shows of the day. Made a lot of money and was talked about constantly - among older people and retirees.
More people may have watched one season of murder than will ever see mindfreak, which according to b's logic makes it more relevant, more successful, and more worthy of emulation.
It also oversimplifies things to the point of making the conclusions drawn meaningless.
I keep hearing from b that everyone not criss, not known among his circle of friends is meaningless.
Is this true? Shall we define the worth of the world by one person's knowledge base and the taste of one group of people, of a certain age and specfic soci-economic status?
Well, if we are in the business of sales and marketing, sure. And a lot of tv is about sale and marketing.
It would be amusing if it weren't so sad to see people make starry eyed statements about how the entertainment industry works when those statements in no way reflect the nuances, positive and negative, that are in play.
Did I say everything is fine, b? Where did I say that?
I do think we have perception issues. But I don't think over simplifying matters and making claims back with nothing will improve anything.
Those 'names no one cares about' are cared about. Some of them defined everything that set the entire ball of magic on tv rolling. One of the names was directly responsible for blaine having a shot which led to angel.
To ignore history is to guarantee your conclusions will be wrong. What 'is' today was defined and built by what 'was' yesterday.
Simply because they may be a name of which you are ignorant does not mean that 'name' isn't still influencing the world in ways invisible to your eyes.
And by 'the world' I mean those people and places beyond the households which you have stepped inside.
It amazes me how often people call for something new and revolutionary only to offer what's been done dozens of times before.
To the exact same results.
My "fight" here was simply to get magicians who still are young enough to not fall for the same path that guys like Brad did because it only leads to bitterness at the end.
That's it for me on this.
What is the other path, b?
Specifics.
What does someone need to be relevant and connect with an audience? Give me a plan? Do you have one? See, 'copy criss angel" is not a plan. 'Copying' is the one skill set magicians seem to have universally mastered. You imply there is an answer. You have come here to herald it's existance.
So - what is it EXACTLY?
(While any attempt at an answer would be great, you get bonus points if these tactics are in anyway new.)
But I have to ask again, b, why the attack? Are you refusing to back up statements with logic and facts or are you incapable of it?
And what power allows you to divulge my state of mind. And as you have stated repeatedly - no one has ever heard of me - then can you know what choices I've made?
Please refrain from personal attacks and unfounded allegations. Can you do that?
If you want to know how I feel, why not ask instead of guess? In fact. I'll tell you.
Since you have walked away, closing with a prescription for future generations of magicians, I will offer the following
First.
Not bitter.
Lucky.
My choices have led me to places I would have never dreamed I would have landed. The st barths party you harp on was not mentioned (at your demand) to prove any worth I have, but because to me, when I look at my life I think of that as a measure of my success. I wasn't brought on the boat to perform. The show I did was two days before. I was invited because people had a great time at the show and wanted me to come hang at their party.
Is it a failing show at the luxor?
No. But when I look back on my life I will remember that because of the choices I made, the skills I honed, and the magic I have created I got to do something I would have never even dreamed of.
And I have lots of those moments.
So do many of my peers.
Sure, they don't have a cable tv show that's synonymous with using stooges and camera tricks, but being able to travel the world doing what you love - I don't think any of them would trade a moment of it just to be on basic cable.
So, to the young magicians out there I would say success comes in many forms. For some it may be a tv series and thongs with your name on it. For some, it may be being treated like a king every time you walk into your favorite restaurant because they enjoy what you do so much.
Ultimatley at the end of your last day you get to look back and decide.
For me, If, after seeing my work, I can say people thought better of magic, considered it an art worthy of contemplation by intelligent people, I will have considered myself successful. If I can say that I created experiences that uplifted, amused, and transformed my guests while challenging my skills and imagination, I will consider myself successful. And if I can say that I left ideas that allowed others to more readily realize their vision for themselves - not what someone else says they should want to be - then I can consider myself successful.
In the meantime, I will enjoy the perks when they come.
I'm lucky to be the one who gets to benefit from them.
Luck