Magician Ed Alonzo and Illusionist and video expert Greg Wilson have created a promotional trailer for a new TV special called "Total Freak," a comedy street magic show. In a trial that reflects internet realities, the pair have posted the video on YouTube to prove to Alonzo's producer that the show will attract viewers.

Magicians are being asked to view the video and leave comments. (Search YouTube for "Alonzo" and "Total Freak" to locate the video.)

Is YouTube a wave of the future to promote magicians and convince producers to green light TV shows and specials?

Magic.about.com had an opportunity to talk with Greg Wilson.

Wayne N. Kawamoto: Why are you and Ed promoting on YouTube?

Greg Wilson: YouTube is the number one site for hosting videos and reaching a very diverse market. It is also a wonderful way to test market a project and get real feedback from viewers.

We are using it in the same way that a feature film will have an advance screening to get honest opinions. Then we can use the positive results to further promote or use other comments to restructure our project.

WK: Is this the wave of the future for magicians to promote themselves?

GW: YouTube is an excellent way for magicians and artists of all kinds to promote themselves. You can send your prospective clients to view your demo online without any effort on your part to build a website, etc. Once again, you can also use that site for your feedback.

Why not ask a good client to leave a quick note for you on your YouTube video so that future clients can easily read your testimonials?

WK: Can you please tell me how you plan to use the ratings and views to get attention and promote the TV show?

GW: Well, good ratings and feedback and total number of views will help the networks feel more comfortable to take a risk with a new show. It is very difficult to show the popularity of a project before it is actually broadcast.

YouTube now offers us a chance to prove the potential success of our project at least on a smaller scale. Get enough of a BUZZ going and pretty soon we can all be watching Ed Alonzo on our TV's at home.

Back in the 50's and 60's my dad, Mark Wilson, had to pioneer magic on TV by proving himself in the local markets in Texas. With the great feedback from local viewers and positive results for his sponsors, he was finally able to sell his Allakazam show to the networks.

Due to all of that hard labor, he was able to make 99 episodes that ran for five years on both the ABC and CBS networks. Criss Angel is still catching up to that one.