Edward S. Majian Comments On Chris and David and MagicInside MagicMagic News Updated Daily for the Professional Magician

Being the positive person I am, if Criss Angel didn’t seem to be so arrogant, perhaps I’d have more positive things to say about him and his brand of whatever it is he does. I did see Criss’s live show and I thought it was very cool. However, he must have been off that night because his pass could have formed a shadow on the wall. Am I being too critical? Maybe but that’s what comes with the arrogance I’m sensing.

Back when I first heard about Criss Angel, it occurred to me that a challenge shot out to David Blaine was only a matter of time. I saw Criss in a giant fish tank and knew exactly what was happening. In a matter of days, someone informed me that Mr. Angel was out of the fish tank and just challenged David Blaine. I actually remember having a conversation with Eugene Burger about this.

Perhaps I’m being too moral but this challenge nonsense bothers me. It’s quite obvious to me and has been for quite some time that Criss is going to feed of David’s fame as much as he can and in any way he can; even if that means flat out, unsophisticated and unprofessional challenges.

Personally, I don’t think there’s enough magic (in any form) in the world and we should all be on the same team. After Criss Angel puts so much obvious effort into making himself “unique,” he goes out of his way to compare himself to and challenges David in efforts to score the publicity he says he’s not interested in. To me, the fact that Mr. Angel is so interested in putting David Blaine down is what detracts from his credibility.

Honestly, I think David Blaine gets enough grief about his behavior. I believe Criss should worry more about practicing his pass and less about who?s the best magician because neither of them get my vote. I find it odd that being the ?best magician? doesn’t even have anything to do with magic. How exactly did Criss Angel receive the Magician of the Year award? – He throws that around like it’s an Oscar. No offence to Mr. Hassini and the IMS but his only competition (commercially) is David Blaine and the community doesn’t seem to be much of a fan.

What does it take to get a Merlin award? A TV special, make up and an attitude?

Did Criss get the award just because he?s not David Blaine, the black sheep of the magic community? Let?s face it – the world is interrelated. Had there not been a David Blaine, there would probably not be a Criss Angel ? at least not one who walks around on the street just like the person he apparently dislikes. Did David get a Merlin award?

Where?s MY Merlin award? (Laughs)

I have an idea! – Lets get the networks to air a magic face off… Forget the starvation, shit talking and ego trips. Just a standard camera and real magic – STANDARD CAMERA is key here. After these far fetched TV specials, I really wonder if either Criss or David would take up an offer like that. I’d actually love to jump into that mix. It’s amusing to me but also a bit sad that they create TV specials they can’t live up to.

I once wrote an essay entitled “WIM” that was actually published on here. In that essay, I confronted the popular accusation of magic being fake. I made the statement that magic is not fake but rather, a very real art form. Well… What these guys claim magic to be is fake. – It’s no longer a pure art form but rather a race to the Hollywood studio in hopes to be crowned world’s ?best magician.” Perhaps real magic can’t even be called magic anymore and true magicians no longer exist. Or do they?

Magic and magicians have been raped of Truth by commercialism and business.

Criss Angel claims to blur the line between reality and whatever. The only line of reality he blurs is the line between the art of magic and digital special effects. I?ve always viewed magic to be an acoustic version of movie special effects. Criss Angel has blurred the lines between magic and special effects, making them one. People will no longer watch these specials in awe at human ability. They will begin watching magic specials the same way they watch Sci-Fi movies.

?Supernatural? was aired on the Sci-Fi channel? Go figure. And the title: Supernatural? I won?t even start with my opinion on that.

“Anytime, anywhere, any challenge — I’m prepared for him. It’s insignificant to me [what it is] because, at the end of the day, I’ll be the one who wins. There’s no way I would lose. It’s absolutely impossible.” ?Criss Angel on David Blaine

Oh, please… Get out of your head, dude. ? Remember: nothing?s impossible; you?re a magician. You are a magician, right?

While Criss Angel and David Blaine battle it out to what seems to be a death of some sort, Majik will be brewing.

In conclusion to this long-winded post, I think Criss Angel would be a hell of a lot better if he dropped the ?cool guy? attitude and focused more on himself instead of David Blaine. Maybe with a bit more focus and work, he wouldn?t need to rely on special effects. As for David Blaine? Well… Is he still doing magic? Anyway, I hope he doesn?t respond to Criss Angel. Although, I have to admit: I wonder what awesomely creative ideas they could come up with together. I bet it would be sheer magic!

You know what I just realized? David Blaine and Criss Angel are all the world knows of magic right now and they?re so interrelated that the alphabet wouldn?t even work without the both of them. [A]ngel, [B]laine, [C]hris, [D]avid. The next letter is?

I like the number three? A lot.

Keep the Magic alive!

Edward S. Majian
http://www.emajian.com