Inside Magic

Through a Mirror Magically

Today’s Press and Sun-Bulletin from Binghampton (NY) 
proves our case.  Although it is not a paper that normally covers Magic
News like Quinlan’s Inside Magic or our newsletter Today’s Magic News,
it does cover real news.

We sound like a broken record, or whatever the modern-day equivalent
of our anachronistic reference would be — perhaps an ever-looping
mp3.  But here we cannot help it.  (Or we can help it but don’t want
to). 

David Copperfield works the press better than anyone in the magic
biz.  Why might he be better at it than say Criss Angel or David
Blaine?  Arguably, Mr. Blaine had the best of all possible access to
the press during his 44 day performance art piece in which he portrayed
a starving, despondent artist with no-known porta-pottie. 

While we like to watch depressed, self-indulgent, rich people
starving themselves as much as the next guy (assuming we’re not sitting
next to normal people), hasn’t that market niche already been filled
with Kate Moss and Paris Hilton?  We note that of the three performers,
only Paris Hilton actually did tricks while publicly starving. 

Plus, it is our theory built upon our own insecurities and jealousy
that Mr. Blaine doesn’t like to talk too much.  This cuts down
significantly on interview opportunities.  Guy Tussle wrote, “He is a
man of few words and he likes to save them for his shows.”  True
enough.  We recall his last special in which he offered the following
set-up, delivery, and punch-line for an effect.  We can’t recall what
trick it was, but the patter is the same for each.

Hey, wait, look.  Look here.  Seriously, look at this.
Can you see what that is?  Right, now look, look, look closer.  Do you
see . . . Right!  Wait, look at … Cool, you can have this back.
Right.  Thanks.    

Criss Angel deserves more press but perhaps his handlers at A&E
Networks wanted to carefully work his development and help craft the
right image.  In our book, though, anyone who shoves steel hooks
through back muscles, gets hoisted above some canyon floor by a
helicopter, can pretty much handle anything the press can toss his
way. 

We hope they let him loose — not literally or at least not he’s doing the meat-hook hanging dealie.

So David Copperfield remains top of the list for Press Craft.
Before entering any town in the world, he gives an interview with the
local paper.  He’ll work his advance-man magic no matter the size of
the market or the sophistication of the paper.  We’ve seen interviews
given to weekly news rags offered with the same excitement and energy
as those given to the major metropolitan dailies. 

Mr. Copperfield performs his real magic in those interviews.  He
gives autobiographical details as if he is revealing a true exclusive
to the reporter.  He builds excitement…
Continue reading The Master Works the Media