Give Time to "Believe" in Criss Angel
I'm amazed at the amount of e-mail and comments that I have received regarding Criss Angel's previews of "Believe," his highly anticipated Las Vegas show and collaboration with Cirque du Soleil.
With only a few optimistic posts, the comments have not only been negative, but downright scathing. While Angel has not always been a favorite in the magic community, it's in our best interest that he be successful.
Not Primetime
Let me begin by saying that I haven't seen any of the preview shows. Based on the volume of comments that I have received, there are likely problems with his show, at least as it stands. 
However, the show is in previews, a test run that allows the production to gauge audience reactions and make adjustments accordingly. Problems are par for the course for any work in process.
Angel, of course, is controversial in the magic community. His brand of television magic has many detractors for a number of reasons. But I think there's something of a backlash, a type of glee that emerges in many when Angel encounters difficulty in his live show. It's implying that Angel can’t stand on his own without edits, stooges and other tricks that he is often accused of employing.
Skillful Performer
Keep in mind that Angel is a skillful and talented performer with a huge following. He's done live productions. After all, this is what he was doing before "Mindfreak" was picked up by A&E. He's the magician who conceived and performed the open "Metamorphosis" with the cover of a brief curtain of fire. He has the talent and live performance skills to make "Believe" soar.
I want Criss Angel to succeed. 
His success is good for magic and good for magicians. Should "Believe" become a high-level and high-priced failure, it will always be remembered as that experiment when Cirque gambled on the lowly art of magic. Angel's success can raise the prominence and reputation of magic in the minds of lay people.
I'm a Believer
I interviewed Angel back when he was launching his Mindfreak television show. At the time, I was impressed with his humility and love for our art.
"Unfortunately, I think that magic has gotten a bad rap," Angel said during our conversation. "It's been represented, unfortunately, as a cheap novelty. It doesn't garner the respect that I think it deserves."
"I love the art. I think it's a beautiful art form and I want to see it gain the respect that the cinema and musicians have," Angel continued. "If I can be a small part of that, it would be incredibly gratifying. I want to take magic into the future. I want to make it relevant in popular culture."
Well, "Believe" is the future. This is the big one that I want Criss Angel to pull off.
More Reading:
Readers Talk About "CRISS ANGEL Believe" Previews
Las Vegas Magic Shows
About: Criss Angel
Interview with Criss Angel
TV Review: Criss Angel Mindfreak
Comments
I was not there to see the show. I only know what I have read. I too am, and have been, very hopeful that Cirque would hold Criss’ feet to the fire. With Cirque’s resources and Criss’ talent, there is no logical reason why the show should fail. I wish him the best of luck in this project.
However, I disagree with your statement: “it will always be remembered as that experiment when Cirque gambled on the lowly art of magic”.
Vegas has had enough magicians pulling in the big audiences that one failed show will not look bad on the art itself, only the artist.
And the rally call to get behind Criss, why just Criss? I have been in magic longer than Criss has been alive and performing professionally for almost that long. Why not put out the rally call for Kipp Sherry? Or maybe even put out the rally call for one of hundreds of other fine magicians that are really good, but just haven’t been granted the access to fame that Criss has.
Come on everybody, “I want Kipp Sherry to succeed. His success is good for magic and good for magicians”.
Until we appear again,
Kipp Sherry
I want Kipp Sherry to succeed. It’s good for magic and good for magicians.
-Wayne
You can read my review of Kipp Sherry’s excellent “Kings Fool” by clicking http://magic.about.com/od/magicreview/fr/040808kingsfool.htm“>here.
oh shut up!!! the show is doing very well. and will always do well. just stop with all the negativity. The show will go on and will run for 10 wonderful years. i cant wait to see the show myself once i get the chance to. My god you guys are lame!!!! get a life!!
I want Kipp Sherry to succeed. It’s good for magic and good for magicians.
James Jay
I want Wayne Kawamoto, James Jay, Sterling Dietz, Timothy Drake, Payne, (insert your name here) to succeed. It’s good for magic and good for magicians.
Until we appear again,
Kipp Sherry
I want Kipp Sherry to succeed. It’s good for magic and it’s good for magicians.
Maybe we can get this line to be as famous as “I’m mad as hell, and I’m not gonna take it anymore!”
I want MAGIC to succeed! Not camera tricks posing as magic. Believe will fail and hopefully it will set the record straight that a camera edit does not a great magician make.
A weak show doesn’t deserve our support based on a over hyped name being behind it. Clear the air and let some real magicians step up.