Question of Ethics

[haroldross]

Suppose you had the opportunity to perform on a TV show that would give you tremendous exposure (every magician's dream), and the producers wanted you to sensationalize (compromise) your effect, would you make the changes or refuse to change the effect even if it meant losing the opportunity of a lifetime?

[OwenGraven]

Here in my country I had that oportunity to be on TV.

Well it's kind of frustating, you need to do anything on script and tricks that suddenly take another ending aren't well recieved by the producers because their tests were on what you did for them.

I was asked to change the chicago opener, The colored card was with the Tv's logo on it instead and they prefered another speech around it. Well that didn't make a lot of change for me and it suited my style anyway.

But if it is out of my style, doesn't suit me or if I feel left out by it, I'd just refuse.

Beter to be seen once good, than ten times bad

Greetings,

Owen Graven

[Misjief]

H-

You know I look at what happened with the masked magician ... He was well known all right BUT...

Things really didn't go well for him since.

I know it not quite the same as what you are asking but still. I don't think you should compromise your ethics as yet I have never been tempted either.

-misj-

[Eoin Lavery]

Good question. If it were to be a small change such as card colour or design as Owen suggested I would go along with it. I would also go along with some patter changing as suggested, maybe because of broadcasting laws for example. Unless it is an extreme change which would make my image look different than usual, I would happily pass it along because people expect what they see in that kind of exposure.

[haroldross]

Let me give you an example.

Watch this video of Lu Chen:

‪Ghost Nail 2.0 Laser Edition Devil's TV...

Suppose this was the effect you were to do on the show. Normally you have a spectator check the nail and mix up the order of the bags. The producers want to add a little more suspense to the effect by you having the spectator also smash one of the bags or else you would be off the show. What would you do?

[OwenGraven]

Well, in answer to your video question.

I would refuse, because I do not like to put spectator in danger (even if their is not) because it scares them in a way you doesn't do good.

When you take your hand and crush them down, it's all right, because you put yourself in danger and the people expect you to win because they know someone that puts himself in danger will know nothing can happen, (or he's crazy )

But when you involve someone else, it's like saying someone: Hey, in fact i'm not sure if I want to lose my hand so maybe you could do me that favor?

So if I need to do that effect, and they ask me that.. well i would refuse. A good exemple was Jon allen's Fool us performance, not a lot of people liked it because of the way he used the spectator.

Greetings

Owen Graven