Favorite Magicians

Josh Redstone · 5th October 2006, 08:56 AM

You can't have a forum about magic without asking about everyone's favorite magicians

More and more I find myself drawn to the work of Cyril. He'll take something that's already really cool on it's own and put a spin on it, like a card through window routine into a card through aquarium routine.

So how about everyone else's favorite magicians?

firecoins · 6th October 2006, 12:33 PM

David Williamson
Ricky Jay who was directed by David Mamet
David Roth
David Regal

It seems I have a predispostion to people named David.

Kullervo · 6th October 2006, 01:23 PM

Ricky Jay not only for his magic itself but for books like Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women, and Cards as Weapons. And his work with Mamet.

Zygar · 8th October 2006, 07:06 PM

I have to agree about Cyril Takayama. Amazing stuff.

Cain · 8th October 2006, 10:57 PM

I'm keepin' it contemporary.

David Williamson is funny and amazing. Just yesterday I caught this clip of him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCzTYrnOg-8
Pick up Magic Farm if you can!

Bill Malone
Tommy Wonder (recently deceased

)
Simon Aronson (a lawyer by profession)
John Bannon (friend of Aronson, also a lawyer by profession)
Ricky Jay

firecoins · 16th October 2006, 11:32 AM

Steve Cohen

CFLarsen · 16th October 2006, 12:37 PM

Two of my favorites are Randi and Jamy Ian Swiss.

Randi, because...well, just don't ever give Randi a $20 bill, because you will immediately get a $1 bill back. I swear to whatever deity of your fancy, he doesn't do anything - he just hands it back to you.

Swiss? He fooled 20-odd skeptics, up close and personal (any closer, and the vice squad would have been called in), at TAM2, who were just dying to catch him. He can do it again, at will. The swine.

Don't ever think you can't be fooled, especially if you are a skeptic.

firecoins · 16th October 2006, 04:52 PM

Originally Posted by CFLarsen

Two of my favorites are Randi and Jamy Ian Swiss.

Randi, because...well, just don't ever give Randi a $20 bill, because you will immediately get a $1 bill back. I swear to whatever deity of your fancy, he doesn't do anything - he just hands it back to you.

Swiss? He fooled 20-odd skeptics, up close and personal (any closer, and the vice squad would have been called in), at TAM2, who were just dying to catch him. He can do it again, at will. The swine.

Don't ever think you can't be fooled, especially if you are a skeptic.

were these skeptics, magicians?

Josh Redstone · 16th October 2006, 09:20 PM

Speaking of fooling, Banachek actually managed to fool a bunch of scientists in one of Randi's hoaxes.....I think that's awesome, so he'd probably be a potential fav. (I say potential because I'm not really that familiar with his work outside of that project)

Cain · 17th October 2006, 12:02 AM

Gross oversight on my part. I need to add one more: Lennart Green. (I'm basically a card guy.)

CFLarsen · 17th October 2006, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by firecoins

were these skeptics, magicians?

Randi and Swiss? Very skeptic.

HarryKeogh · 17th October 2006, 06:11 AM

My favorite magician is David Blaine. David has dated Madonna, Fiona Apple, and models Josie Moran and Manon von Gerkan.

Yes, he's the greatest magician ever.

Azrael 5 · 17th October 2006, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by HarryKeogh

My favorite magician is David Blaine. David has dated Madonna, Fiona Apple, and models Josie Moran and Manon von Gerkan.

Yes, he's the greatest magician ever.

Where was the ironic smiley?
You were being ironic werenri't you?

I second Magic farm.The trick and anecdotes are first rate.

firecoins · 17th October 2006, 05:42 PM

Originally Posted by CFLarsen

Randi and Swiss? Very skeptic.

but were they magicians? Skeptic, as skeptical as they are, are not fluent in the methods & can still be fooled.

rebecca · 17th October 2006, 07:05 PM

Originally Posted by firecoins

but were they magicians? Skeptic, as skeptical as they are, are not fluent in the methods & can still be fooled.

You're not from around here, are you?

edited to add: I just reread the back and forth and I see it's just a slight problem with writing skills . . . I'm guessing you actually meant to ask if Jami was fooling skeptics or skeptical magicians, so never mind.

Raphael · 17th October 2006, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by HarryKeogh

Yes, he's the greatest magician ever.

His conjuring skills are ok, but to date that collection of women (with a face like his)...yeah he's the greatest magician ever. Although Copperfield married that German model, who's name I forget.

Edit: I forgot to add my favourite magicians. When I was a kid Doug Henning really appealed to me. Maybe because he seemed like such a nice guy. Too bad he went woo with the TM crowd.

Bob Klase · 17th October 2006, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by Raphael

Although Copperfield married that German model, who's name I forget.

They were engaged, but they never got married.

Bob Klase · 17th October 2006, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by firecoins

but were they magicians? Skeptic, as skeptical as they are, are not fluent in the methods & can still be fooled.

It's not even that difficult to fool most people who claim to be magicians. But the average magician is not really fluent in methods.

firecoins · 18th October 2006, 08:12 AM

Originally Posted by Bob Klase

It's not even that difficult to fool most people who claim to be magicians. But the average magician is not really fluent in methods.

I bring up the issue not to debate what the average magician or skeptic knows. Non magicans including skeptics may be fooled by stuff magicans won't be.

BPScooter · 21st October 2006, 02:01 AM

Well, in that case my very favorite magicians, and just about the only ones I've seen while I'm alert and they're alive, are Max Maven (closeup) and Penn and Teller (big show). I saw Paul Daniels on a cruise ship as a little kid and it was total entertainment sho-biz and complete fun. I'm so amazingly gullible when it comes to the art form of magic illusion. Anybody can get me going. I tend to analyze it all only later when I get a chance.

[thinking back, Daniels probably wasn't on the cruise ship, saw him in London]

Azrael 5 · 21st October 2006, 08:31 AM

Paul Daniels gets more entertainment out of a cup and a ball than most magicians can dream of.
I don't think it's an over exaggeration to say he is one of the best entertainers.

Windom · 21st October 2006, 05:16 PM

Penn and Teller

I love gory tricks & dark humor

firecoins · 22nd October 2006, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by Azrael 5

Paul Daniels gets more entertainment out of a cup and a ball than most magicians can dream of.
I don't think it's an over exaggeration to say he is one of the best entertainers.

ill second that.

JollyRoger · 14th November 2006, 11:37 AM

any body who's tricks I can not figure out.

I always enjoyed a good magic show, but I am usually the quiet one in the corner who enjoys thinking up ways to explain what I just saw. I have gotten some strange looks from magicians as if their saying "why do I get the feeling you know my trick" its almost as if they are waiting for me to expose them. I figure its just a good show why should I ruin it, he claims to be an illusionist and I enjoy a good illusion just as much as the next guy. So I just smile back and quietly enjoy the show.

as for my favorite magicians, who ever fools me the best

firecoins · 14th November 2006, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by JollyRoger

as for my favorite magicians, who ever fools me the best

the magician who fools you or the one who fools you best? Who would like a magician who does not fool you at all?

Larry Lovage · 20th November 2006, 07:28 AM

Originally Posted by firecoins

David Williamson
Ricky Jay who was directed by David Mamet
David Roth
David Regal

It seems I have a predispostion to people named David.

And bizarrely you didn't even include David Blaine or David Copperfield. What is it with magical Davids? (I grew up on David Nixon).

Surprised only one person mentioned Penn and Teller. They are the masters of the "reveal", looking at old tricks in a new way, and just being completely entertaining. What David Blaine thought he was doing hanging over the River Thames, I don't know, but I certainly wasn't exactly engaged. Nor did I give a monkeys when he came out, since that was what he was always going to do.

Larry Lovage · 20th November 2006, 07:30 AM

Originally Posted by firecoins

but were they magicians? Skeptic, as skeptical as they are, are not fluent in the methods & can still be fooled.

firecoins, the point was that nobody could see how it was done. They were skeptics who were "fooled", but they weren't "fooled" to the extent of really believing that real magic was involved, whether they were magicians or not.

firecoins · 20th November 2006, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by Larry Lovage

firecoins, the point was that nobody could see how it was done. They were skeptics who were "fooled", but they weren't "fooled" to the extent of really believing that real magic was involved, whether they were magicians or not.

my point being skeptics are in no way harder to fool by good magicians.

BPScooter · 28th November 2006, 02:07 AM

Ricky Jay's books cover stunts, I used inter-library loan from my local college to get his book on the fire-eaters, etc. I think his point is clear, that "stunt-craft" sometimes relies on amazing physique, sometimes Trickery. Some tricks are easier than others, at some times in history, with certain belief structures shared and played upon by the Tricker.

Is anybody using a cell phone as a prop in a demonstration of psychic ability? What activities/behaviors would freak people out? "Put your phone in the lead box, it rings by itself... or "here's an unprogrammed phone, it will now call your number"... if you can freak anyone out with a cell phone, without detection of method, you will be a Freak Master.

Problem with that is that everybody is so used to having these things that nothing too weird seems "magic" any more. Action at a distance is commonplace, now. Some bitchin' magician will figure out something, though.

firecoins · 28th November 2006, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by BPScooter

Is anybody using a cell phone as a prop in a demonstration of psychic ability? What activities/behaviors would freak people out? "Put your phone in the lead box, it rings by itself... or "here's an unprogrammed phone, it will now call your number"... if you can freak anyone out with a cell phone, without detection of method, you will be a Freak Master.

Problem with that is that everybody is so used to having these things that nothing too weird seems "magic" any more. Action at a distance is commonplace, now. Some bitchin' magician will figure out something, though.

It already has. Magicians use cell phones in tricks, to reveal things like selected cards.

Zygar · 4th December 2006, 04:05 PM

Originally Posted by firecoins

It already has. Magicians use cell phones in tricks, to reveal things like selected cards.

In his show Criss Angel did a segment where he took someone's cell phone and put it in a beer bottle. He then had someone call it to prove that it was the correct cell phone.

BPScooter · 6th December 2006, 01:43 AM

OK, sounds like we're on the right track. I sometimes start with the exercise of imagining the seemingly impossible, and then figuring out what combination of preparation, presentation, and maybe luck would make it seem like it was really happening. I brought up cell phones because now everyone is used to the idea of multiple communicators on private frequencies, so stuff like Popoff's act wouldn't be so likely to work. Man, a couple of cell phones could have looked like miracles not so long ago, kind of like Twain's knights on bicycles in Connecticut Yankee.

We don't need to continue the idea, but it is fun to think about. What could a magician have an unprepared cell phone "do" that would seem magic? Maybe have the person set it on to 'vibrate' mode and then hold it over cards (or pictures of dead people, or whatever) and then have it vibrate in the person's own hand to select. How one would do that might be difficult. maybe have a prepared jiggly table and put the phone down, like a ouija pointer. Somehow just sending or recieving a message doesn't feel likely to fool anyone, to me. Seems like all of it would take some cleverness, preparation, and luck.

firecoins · 25th December 2006, 09:47 PM

I am adding Banacheck to the list. He is a top notch mentalist, fooled scientists into believing he was real, designed P&T's bullet catching effect and most importantly, I am learning his metal bending material.

joesixpack · 7th January 2007, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by firecoins

the magician who fools you or the one who fools you best? Who would like a magician who does not fool you at all?

I enjoy any well done magic act, even the guy that does the linking rings at a kids birthday party. Yeah, I know how it's done, but good stagecraft, engaging and original patter, and the indefinable ability to pull an audience along is very entertaining to watch, and even get caught up in.

firecoins · 7th January 2007, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by joesixpack

I enjoy any well done magic act, even the guy that does the linking rings at a kids birthday party. Yeah, I know how it's done, but good stagecraft, engaging and original patter, and the indefinable ability to pull an audience along is very entertaining to watch, and even get caught up in.

yes. that is certainly true.

BPScooter · 11th January 2007, 12:25 AM

Agreed, conjuring is more than a method, it's a real-time (phenomenological, socially constructed) experience. None of its elements are more important than the other, but like a three-legged stool stands sturdily on all.

I didn't know Banachek worked out the bullet catch for/with P&T. It's damned impressive, mystifying, scary, but still safe (I told myself, why have these guys done this happily 6 shows a week and no end in sight, if it was so darned "iffy"???). But the magic stool held, I found myself squinting and cringing as they were about to pull triggers.

firecoins · 11th January 2007, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by BPScooter

Agreed, conjuring is more than a method, it's a real-time (phenomenological, socially constructed) experience. None of its elements are more important than the other, but like a three-legged stool stands sturdily on all.

I didn't know Banachek worked out the bullet catch for/with P&T. It's damned impressive, mystifying, scary, but still safe (I told myself, why have these guys done this happily 6 shows a week and no end in sight, if it was so darned "iffy"???). But the magic stool held, I found myself squinting and cringing as they were about to pull triggers.

Banachek came up with P&T's method which they used with his permission. It was originally something he was doing. P&T came up with their own presentation.

Unalienable · 12th February 2007, 11:57 PM

Lance Burton ... PURE CLASS!!

Sugriva · 14th February 2007, 04:24 PM

Phil Goldstein is not only a talented inventor/refiner of effects but his stage presence straddles that thin line between campy silliness and the mysterious mage. Wonderfully talented guy.
Eugene Burger is another great magician. He can take old timey classics like the rising card, cut and restored string, or three card monte and hone them into performance art.
And Ricky Jay of course!

....there are tons of others....

Corpse Cruncher · 15th February 2007, 03:55 AM

I prefer the old magicians like Tommy cooper, Paul Daniels and James Freedman. Might not be up to the standard today but still entertaining to watch the old re-runs.

5th October 2006, 08:56 AM	#1
Josh Redstone Thinker Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 205	Favorite Magicians You can't have a forum about magic without asking about everyone's favorite magicians More and more I find myself drawn to the work of Cyril. He'll take something that's already really cool on it's own and put a spin on it, like a card through window routine into a card through aquarium routine. So how about everyone else's favorite magicians?
	__________________ The Abecedarian Philosopher Watch me

6th October 2006, 12:33 PM	#2
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	David Williamson Ricky Jay who was directed by David Mamet David Roth David Regal It seems I have a predispostion to people named David.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

8th October 2006, 10:57 PM	#5
Cain Contrarian Join Date: May 2002 Location: S. California Posts: 3,958	I'm keepin' it contemporary. David Williamson is funny and amazing. Just yesterday I caught this clip of him: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gCzTYrnOg-8 Pick up Magic Farm if you can! Bill Malone Tommy Wonder (recently deceased ) Simon Aronson (a lawyer by profession) John Bannon (friend of Aronson, also a lawyer by profession) Ricky Jay
	__________________ Well, well, well. If it ain't the serious, elusive Leroy Green. I've been waitin' a long time for this, Leroy. I am sick of hearin' these ***** Superman stories about the "wassah" legendary Bruce Leroy catchin' bullets with his teeth. Catches bullets with his teeth?! ***** pleeze.

16th October 2006, 11:32 AM	#6
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Steve Cohen
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

16th October 2006, 12:37 PM	#7
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,805	Two of my favorites are Randi and Jamy Ian Swiss. Randi, because...well, just don't ever give Randi a $20 bill, because you will immediately get a $1 bill back. I swear to whatever deity of your fancy, he doesn't do anything - he just hands it back to you. Swiss? He fooled 20-odd skeptics, up close and personal (any closer, and the vice squad would have been called in), at TAM2, who were just dying to catch him. He can do it again, at will. The swine. Don't ever think you can't be fooled, especially if you are a skeptic.
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

6th October 2006, 01:23 PM	#3
Kullervo None of the above Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: No Falcon Way Posts: 2,269	Ricky Jay not only for his magic itself but for books like Learned Pigs and Fireproof Women, and Cards as Weapons. And his work with Mamet.

8th October 2006, 07:06 PM	#4
Zygar Lex Luthor's Evil Twin Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 2,583	I have to agree about Cyril Takayama. Amazing stuff.

16th October 2006, 04:52 PM	#8
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Originally Posted by CFLarsen Two of my favorites are Randi and Jamy Ian Swiss. Randi, because...well, just don't ever give Randi a $20 bill, because you will immediately get a $1 bill back. I swear to whatever deity of your fancy, he doesn't do anything - he just hands it back to you. Swiss? He fooled 20-odd skeptics, up close and personal (any closer, and the vice squad would have been called in), at TAM2, who were just dying to catch him. He can do it again, at will. The swine. Don't ever think you can't be fooled, especially if you are a skeptic. were these skeptics, magicians?
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

16th October 2006, 09:20 PM	#9
Josh Redstone Thinker Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 205	Speaking of fooling, Banachek actually managed to fool a bunch of scientists in one of Randi's hoaxes.....I think that's awesome, so he'd probably be a potential fav. (I say potential because I'm not really that familiar with his work outside of that project)
	__________________ The Abecedarian Philosopher Watch me

17th October 2006, 12:02 AM	#10
Cain Contrarian Join Date: May 2002 Location: S. California Posts: 3,958	Gross oversight on my part. I need to add one more: Lennart Green. (I'm basically a card guy.)
	__________________ Well, well, well. If it ain't the serious, elusive Leroy Green. I've been waitin' a long time for this, Leroy. I am sick of hearin' these ***** Superman stories about the "wassah" legendary Bruce Leroy catchin' bullets with his teeth. Catches bullets with his teeth?! ***** pleeze.

17th October 2006, 12:34 AM	#11
CFLarsen Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 42,805	Originally Posted by firecoins were these skeptics, magicians? Randi and Swiss? Very skeptic.
	__________________ SkepticReport.com

17th October 2006, 06:11 AM	#12
HarryKeogh Catholic School Survivor Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: New York, NY Posts: 10,715	My favorite magician is David Blaine. David has dated Madonna, Fiona Apple, and models Josie Moran and Manon von Gerkan. Yes, he's the greatest magician ever.

17th October 2006, 11:32 AM	#13
Azrael 5 Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Yorkshire,Uk Posts: 4,219	Originally Posted by HarryKeogh My favorite magician is David Blaine. David has dated Madonna, Fiona Apple, and models Josie Moran and Manon von Gerkan. Yes, he's the greatest magician ever. Where was the ironic smiley? You were being ironic werenri't you? I second Magic farm.The trick and anecdotes are first rate.
	__________________ "I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown Photography here

17th October 2006, 05:42 PM	#14
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Originally Posted by CFLarsen Randi and Swiss? Very skeptic. but were they magicians? Skeptic, as skeptical as they are, are not fluent in the methods & can still be fooled.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

17th October 2006, 07:05 PM	#15
rebecca Banned Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: some other spring Posts: 6,852	Originally Posted by firecoins but were they magicians? Skeptic, as skeptical as they are, are not fluent in the methods & can still be fooled. You're not from around here, are you? edited to add: I just reread the back and forth and I see it's just a slight problem with writing skills . . . I'm guessing you actually meant to ask if Jami was fooling skeptics or skeptical magicians, so never mind.
	Last edited by rebecca; 17th October 2006 at 07:10 PM.

17th October 2006, 08:55 PM	#16
Raphael disheveled cell cluster Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: London, Ontario Posts: 1,778	Originally Posted by HarryKeogh Yes, he's the greatest magician ever. His conjuring skills are ok, but to date that collection of women (with a face like his)...yeah he's the greatest magician ever. Although Copperfield married that German model, who's name I forget. Edit: I forgot to add my favourite magicians. When I was a kid Doug Henning really appealed to me. Maybe because he seemed like such a nice guy. Too bad he went woo with the TM crowd.
	__________________ Last edited by Raphael; 17th October 2006 at 09:12 PM.

17th October 2006, 11:02 PM	#17
Bob Klase Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,445	Originally Posted by Raphael Although Copperfield married that German model, who's name I forget. They were engaged, but they never got married.

17th October 2006, 11:04 PM	#18
Bob Klase Master Poster Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Largo, FL Posts: 2,445	Originally Posted by firecoins but were they magicians? Skeptic, as skeptical as they are, are not fluent in the methods & can still be fooled. It's not even that difficult to fool most people who claim to be magicians. But the average magician is not really fluent in methods.

18th October 2006, 08:12 AM	#19
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Originally Posted by Bob Klase It's not even that difficult to fool most people who claim to be magicians. But the average magician is not really fluent in methods. I bring up the issue not to debate what the average magician or skeptic knows. Non magicans including skeptics may be fooled by stuff magicans won't be.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

21st October 2006, 02:01 AM	#20
BPScooter Muse Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 783	Well, in that case my very favorite magicians, and just about the only ones I've seen while I'm alert and they're alive, are Max Maven (closeup) and Penn and Teller (big show). I saw Paul Daniels on a cruise ship as a little kid and it was total entertainment sho-biz and complete fun. I'm so amazingly gullible when it comes to the art form of magic illusion. Anybody can get me going. I tend to analyze it all only later when I get a chance. [thinking back, Daniels probably wasn't on the cruise ship, saw him in London]
BPScooter Muse Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 783	Last edited by BPScooter; 21st October 2006 at 02:03 AM. Reason: adding postscript

21st October 2006, 08:31 AM	#21
Azrael 5 Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Yorkshire,Uk Posts: 4,219	Paul Daniels gets more entertainment out of a cup and a ball than most magicians can dream of. I don't think it's an over exaggeration to say he is one of the best entertainers.
	__________________ "I achieve these results through a mixture of magic,misdirection,suggestion and showmanship"-Derren Brown Photography here

21st October 2006, 05:16 PM	#22
Windom Scholar Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lithuania Posts: 92	Penn and Teller I love gory tricks & dark humor
	__________________ Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both. -- Benjamin Franklin

22nd October 2006, 08:44 PM	#23
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Originally Posted by Azrael 5 Paul Daniels gets more entertainment out of a cup and a ball than most magicians can dream of. I don't think it's an over exaggeration to say he is one of the best entertainers. ill second that.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

14th November 2006, 11:37 AM	#24
JollyRoger Critical Thinker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Buggery's Island Posts: 494	any body who's tricks I can not figure out. I always enjoyed a good magic show, but I am usually the quiet one in the corner who enjoys thinking up ways to explain what I just saw. I have gotten some strange looks from magicians as if their saying "why do I get the feeling you know my trick" its almost as if they are waiting for me to expose them. I figure its just a good show why should I ruin it, he claims to be an illusionist and I enjoy a good illusion just as much as the next guy. So I just smile back and quietly enjoy the show. as for my favorite magicians, who ever fools me the best
	__________________ The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and all science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead: his eyes are closed. Albert Einstein

14th November 2006, 01:46 PM	#25
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Originally Posted by JollyRoger as for my favorite magicians, who ever fools me the best the magician who fools you or the one who fools you best? Who would like a magician who does not fool you at all?
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

20th November 2006, 07:28 AM	#26
Larry Lovage Thinker Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 218	Originally Posted by firecoins David Williamson Ricky Jay who was directed by David Mamet David Roth David Regal It seems I have a predispostion to people named David. And bizarrely you didn't even include David Blaine or David Copperfield. What is it with magical Davids? (I grew up on David Nixon). Surprised only one person mentioned Penn and Teller. They are the masters of the "reveal", looking at old tricks in a new way, and just being completely entertaining. What David Blaine thought he was doing hanging over the River Thames, I don't know, but I certainly wasn't exactly engaged. Nor did I give a monkeys when he came out, since that was what he was always going to do.
Larry Lovage Thinker Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 218

20th November 2006, 07:30 AM	#27
Larry Lovage Thinker Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 218	Originally Posted by firecoins but were they magicians? Skeptic, as skeptical as they are, are not fluent in the methods & can still be fooled. firecoins, the point was that nobody could see how it was done. They were skeptics who were "fooled", but they weren't "fooled" to the extent of really believing that real magic was involved, whether they were magicians or not.
Larry Lovage Thinker Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 218

20th November 2006, 10:30 AM	#28
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Originally Posted by Larry Lovage firecoins, the point was that nobody could see how it was done. They were skeptics who were "fooled", but they weren't "fooled" to the extent of really believing that real magic was involved, whether they were magicians or not. my point being skeptics are in no way harder to fool by good magicians.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

28th November 2006, 02:07 AM	#29
BPScooter Muse Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 783	Ricky Jay's books cover stunts, I used inter-library loan from my local college to get his book on the fire-eaters, etc. I think his point is clear, that "stunt-craft" sometimes relies on amazing physique, sometimes Trickery. Some tricks are easier than others, at some times in history, with certain belief structures shared and played upon by the Tricker. Is anybody using a cell phone as a prop in a demonstration of psychic ability? What activities/behaviors would freak people out? "Put your phone in the lead box, it rings by itself... or "here's an unprogrammed phone, it will now call your number"... if you can freak anyone out with a cell phone, without detection of method, you will be a Freak Master. Problem with that is that everybody is so used to having these things that nothing too weird seems "magic" any more. Action at a distance is commonplace, now. Some bitchin' magician will figure out something, though.
BPScooter Muse Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 783

28th November 2006, 09:52 AM	#30
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Originally Posted by BPScooter Is anybody using a cell phone as a prop in a demonstration of psychic ability? What activities/behaviors would freak people out? "Put your phone in the lead box, it rings by itself... or "here's an unprogrammed phone, it will now call your number"... if you can freak anyone out with a cell phone, without detection of method, you will be a Freak Master. Problem with that is that everybody is so used to having these things that nothing too weird seems "magic" any more. Action at a distance is commonplace, now. Some bitchin' magician will figure out something, though. It already has. Magicians use cell phones in tricks, to reveal things like selected cards.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

4th December 2006, 04:05 PM	#31
Zygar Lex Luthor's Evil Twin Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 2,583	Originally Posted by firecoins It already has. Magicians use cell phones in tricks, to reveal things like selected cards. In his show Criss Angel did a segment where he took someone's cell phone and put it in a beer bottle. He then had someone call it to prove that it was the correct cell phone.

6th December 2006, 01:43 AM	#32
BPScooter Muse Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 783	OK, sounds like we're on the right track. I sometimes start with the exercise of imagining the seemingly impossible, and then figuring out what combination of preparation, presentation, and maybe luck would make it seem like it was really happening. I brought up cell phones because now everyone is used to the idea of multiple communicators on private frequencies, so stuff like Popoff's act wouldn't be so likely to work. Man, a couple of cell phones could have looked like miracles not so long ago, kind of like Twain's knights on bicycles in Connecticut Yankee. We don't need to continue the idea, but it is fun to think about. What could a magician have an unprepared cell phone "do" that would seem magic? Maybe have the person set it on to 'vibrate' mode and then hold it over cards (or pictures of dead people, or whatever) and then have it vibrate in the person's own hand to select. How one would do that might be difficult. maybe have a prepared jiggly table and put the phone down, like a ouija pointer. Somehow just sending or recieving a message doesn't feel likely to fool anyone, to me. Seems like all of it would take some cleverness, preparation, and luck.
BPScooter Muse Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 783

25th December 2006, 09:47 PM	#33
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	I am adding Banacheck to the list. He is a top notch mentalist, fooled scientists into believing he was real, designed P&T's bullet catching effect and most importantly, I am learning his metal bending material.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.

7th January 2007, 10:14 AM	#34
joesixpack Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Edge of the continent, Pacific county, WA Posts: 453	Originally Posted by firecoins the magician who fools you or the one who fools you best? Who would like a magician who does not fool you at all? I enjoy any well done magic act, even the guy that does the linking rings at a kids birthday party. Yeah, I know how it's done, but good stagecraft, engaging and original patter, and the indefinable ability to pull an audience along is very entertaining to watch, and even get caught up in.
	__________________ I never got in trouble by bein' ignorant, I always got in trouble 'cause I thought I wasn't.

7th January 2007, 06:52 PM	#35
firecoins Illuminator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Nyack, NY Posts: 3,065	Originally Posted by joesixpack I enjoy any well done magic act, even the guy that does the linking rings at a kids birthday party. Yeah, I know how it's done, but good stagecraft, engaging and original patter, and the indefinable ability to pull an audience along is very entertaining to watch, and even get caught up in. yes. that is certainly true.
	__________________ NY Paramedic, skeptic, 9/11/01 Reality-ist. I am both right wing nut and left wing lunatic. Deal with it.