Foaming at the lips...

I have just been witness to some of the worst magic on television I think I have ever seen. (Which says a lot considering the most recent Criss Fishing Rod shows) I am 90% sure at one point they just ran the footage backward to make the "magic" happen. I have never seen so much obvious (and bad) editing in a magic special EVER.

In my opinion good magic on TV died with Gary Oullet. Today we don't have magic shows, we have reality TV with some magic in it. The worst part is shows, like this and the other before it are HURTING magic. I don't mean outwardly. The target audience of these shows will like it or they won't, just like with live shows. However internally they are doing more magic than good. By using camera angles, audio editing, and other such nonsense you are effectively telling the future generations it's ok to not have skill and cheating at your magic is ok as long as it gets ratings.

"You don't have to work hard. We can fix it in post!" 
"Just stare at them until they react. Knowing how to perform is so passe."

I am sick of this shit. As someone who takes magic seriously as a performer and an artist, this makes me very angry. I have no respect for those in front of or behind the camera. The so-called consultants who allow this kind of bad magic and TV to happen can just choke on their own magnificent penis for all I care.

For those of you thinking "Well let's see you do better captain critical", my response to you is find me some TV execs with half a brain in their head willing to give people like me a chance and I'll be happy to.

Until then we get stuck with "master magicians"...

3652.42

What do you say after ten years of keeping a magic journal on the internet?

I think the question is rhetorical...

Bubble Wrap

Did you know I write articles for Vanish Magazine? Welcome to education. Now watch this video and go read the article about it.

Haters gonna hate...

You ever get the feeling someone is out to get you?

Many years ago, shortly after the big green weenie started, I got banned for speaking my mind behind closed doors. (long time readers will note my disdain for censorship and the practices of the cafe)

Eventually I had to appoint an intermediary to take up random issues about my products on the forums. Well I just was told that he too got banned. This comes upon the heels of a thread someone else started about my new Overstuft effect getting deleted.

To whomever the ass clown is who apparently has it in for me, why not contact me directly and air your grievances instead of being a huge douche and hiding behind an admin position on a website?

There is a reason websites like this exist.

Update: A second post started by some random person about the aforementioned product has also been deleted.

"A paranoid is simply someone in possession of all the facts" - Spider Jerusalem 

Tiny objects, big reactions?

One thing I cannot stand is when a magician makes a small item vanish (because that is the best thing they could come up with apparently) and then demand applause for it. It's even worse when they expect it to be a BIG reaction and just hold a pose until the audience gives them that all too often heard pity applause. (I am mainly referring to stage and manip acts here)

Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with doing a simple vanish of an object BUT (and this is a big butt) it should further the narrative of the routine. It can't be done "just because". There needs to be motivation or a reason. If it's just for the hell of it you have a LARGE field of vision for people to back track to. As a stage performer you don't have the luxury of being up close and personal to misdirect someone. You gotta be sneaky.

PS - Can we stop vanishing or color changing or whatever you do to an object and thn just reproduce it because you have no other way to ditch it? FIND A WAY!!

PPS - I had a magic trick come out Friday.