With About.com's "Readers' Choice" nominations in full swing. many readers have e-mailed and posted questions about the nominations and upcoming voting in the finals. I'll try and answer them here.
I agree with Levantino in his recent comment that it would be interesting to break down the stage and close-up magicians by country. After all, readers are more likely to vote for those that they have seen. However, I didn't make that distinction between categories when I created them, nor, at this time, can the voting process distinguish votes based on their geographical areas. I anticipate that many of the nominees, thanks to online video and television, will cross international boundaries. I won't mention names as I don't want to influence the nominations, but there are many magicians with international reputations.
Keeping the nominations and voting positive, I won't be adding a new category to find the "five worst magicians." Also, regarding magic products, the nominations are specifically for marketed effects and not utility props. But "Most Useful Utility Prop" could make for an interesting "Readers' Choice" in the future.
You can read Levantino's post here.
Furthermore, Levantino took the time to post a list of his top magicians along with links to their YouTube videos. Since this was published with an earlier "Readers' Choice" entry, I'm listing them here with links (these are strictly the opinions of Levantino and not an endorsement from this site):
Paul Daniels via Laura London's performance of his "Bill in lemon."
Again, you can read Levantino's original posting here (as well as his nominations for best product). (Thank you Levantino for your many postings. -WK)
Please nominate in the following categories:
1. Best Stage Magician (please click here to nominate your top five)
2. Best Close-up Magician (please click here to nominate your top five)
3. Best Magic Product (please click here to nominate your top five)
Readers' Choice nominations will be accepted until February 15. Based on the nominations, voting on the finalists will take place from Feb. 22 through March 21. The winners will be announced March 30. There's no prize -- just the bragging rights that come with getting recognized by the readers of one of the most popular magic web sites. Please make sure that we receive your nominations during the next week.
More Reading
The Top Ten Magicians of Our Time
The Ten Best Close-Up Magicians
Comments
@ Wayne Thank you. Respected and appreciated.
Sometimes we slap the wrists of people because we fail to think through why the person whom we chastised behaved in the way that they did. We have a case in point here.
Whilst on the face of it, my suggestion to name and shame the low scum who betray their brethren through hapless meaningless, rude, condescending performances, exposure of effects, and offering for sale useless merchandise that is not worth the paper the script is printed upon, might appear to some to be negative; be assured that by condescending to it, one is meekly accepting and CONDONING a far WORSE negative. If doctors behaved in such a manner they would be struck off and never be allowed near patients again.
Why are we accepting oxymorons (paradoxes)? Old news; eco-tourism; buy one get one free (AKA buy two); half price; 70% off; peace force; ill health; and alternative medicine (I have yet to meet a homeopathic surgeon) to name but a few. Maybe you would like to add your own and put them in a random order?
A very famous magician once said “Blessed are the MEEK – for they shall inherit the EARTH!” Thank goodness we have Greenpeace.