David Blaine

[IROC]

Is this guy the greatest magician ever, or what? I saw one of his "Street Magic" shows last night (one that I had seen before) and am still astounded at this guy's skills.

Incredible.

Mike

[Jims5543]

The wife and I love watching his shows. He has a really neat way about him. My wife says he is borderline creepy.

[cstreit]

Seen a few of his specials, great stuff.

He is a bit creepy but it could be part of his "mysterious" act.

I just want to know how he pulls off the levitation thing...

[IROC]

I'd like to know how he pulls off *anything*! One thing is for sure - he can freak some people out.

Mike

[VincentVega]

Saw him on Stern a while ago, he is out there. Not sure if it's act, if not he is borderline psycho.

[adamred]

Good friend is a magician on the side, whenever I mention David Blaine, who amazes the crap out of me he just waves his hand and sighs....

My friend did the levitation thing for me, it really is just about how he positions his viewers and my friend insists that there was some creative editing that went into that street magic show...
Regardless I think he's totally cool....

[89911]

David Copperfield for the MTV crowds. Can't say I've seen anything that he's done that can't be explained.

[IROC]

Originally posted by 89911
David Copperfield for the MTV crowds. Can't say I've seen anything that he's done that can't be explained.

OK, you're on. How does he get someone to think of a name and write it on a piece of paper, fold it up and bring it to him - he then lights it on fire and puts it out on his shirt, then pulls up his shirt to reveal the name written on his stomach.

I mean, obviously, it's a "trick" but explain to me how he does it?

Mike

[dgagne]

Ok, this guy is totally amazing.
I saw two shows on the plane last night. He is doing a card trick for a woman on the street, then her watch is gone and it is in the display window of the jewelery store they are standing next to, he puts a pice of newspaper up against the glass and reaches through to get it back for her! Blew me away!
He walks up to a guy in a park, has an empty beer can, taps the top of it then it is full and carbonated again!
This guy is amazing!!!

Derek

[Blanco]

Yup... seen all the above including where he is standing on his feet atop 10 story column for 1.5 days.

Weird.

[bryanthompson]

Originally posted by IROC
How does he get someone to think of a name and write it on a piece of paper, fold it up and bring it to him - he then lights it on fire and puts it out on his shirt, then pulls up his shirt to reveal the name written on his stomach.

I saw a show that 'exposed' most of his tricks, including the levitation and the trick you mentioned. There is a ton of "creative editing." If I remember correctly, he has them do the trick once, and he intentionally messes it up, then has them write the name again. He keeps the first paper that they wrote on and uses it for the rest of the trick.

He did a similiar trick where the lady picked a card, and at the big finish, he launched the deck at a window, and the card appeared, stuck to the inside of the window. How the hell did he do that?!

[craigster59]

Originally posted by IROC
OK, you're on. How does he get someone to think of a name and write it on a piece of paper, fold it up and bring it to him - he then lights it on fire and puts it out on his shirt, then pulls up his shirt to reveal the name written on his stomach.

I mean, obviously, it's a "trick" but explain to me how he does it?

Mike

You can try this one around the office. Write "Carrot" on a piece of paper, go up to someone and tell them to answer your questions as quickly as possible. Throw a few simple math problems at them (24+15, 28-12, etc.) after about 6 of these, ask them to name a vegetable. 80% of the time they'll answer "Carrot".

[IROC]

As someone mentioned earlier, of course all of his stuff can be explained as he's not *really* magic , but he does some stuff that is truly fascinating and I like his method of engaging people on the street in lieu of getting up on a stage and performing rehearsed tricks.

The card on the window was a good one. Also the one where the card ends up *inside* the policeman's shoe. Freaked the policeman out for sure.

Mike