Pick a Side.. Any Side..

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Why should I be pressured into picking a side? Someone's mad at Steve Pellegrino (AtomicBrew) because they thought he said something good about Oz Pearlman.

What if he did? What difference does it make? What if I hated School of Rock ? What if I think Jack Black is no-talent rank amateur?

If you watched the movie, and if you took ANYTHING positive away from School of Rock, what right do I have to criticize you? It's not about whether or not I liked it... it's about whether or not YOU liked it - it's YOUR money !

I don't particularly like country music. I'm a rock/blues/jazz sort of guy. But I just shelled out sixty bucks for a ticket for my wife to go see Toby Keith.. I can think of about three good magical treats I could have bought with that money.

(But... As they say, " If momma ain't happy - then nobody's happy! ")

Oz has a relaxed style that transcribes well to the screen. I have yet to see him screw up a move on a dvd.. And if you're fairly new to magic I wouldn't hesitate for a moment to recommend his "Born to Perform..." .

I just paid good money for two dvd's by one of the most respected magicians in the world. The guy has a rock-solid reputation as a creator/performer of card magic. I promise you I watched him trying to perform a pass that you could have spotted from across the room...

Not once.. but twice.. on the same trick.

I was so bored watching this guy that I cut the dvd off about half-way through to go cut my toenails..

I eventually watched both dvd's, and I cannot remember one single trick from either.

Some of magics top performers have sat at this guys feet and studied his moves. It's a good thing he makes money giving lectures, because he wouldn't last two days in Vegas..

If YOU want to study under this guy, more power to you... I certainly won't hold it against you.
I'm just not going to spend any more of MY money on his dvd's... and I'm not going to trash the guy in public.

I've bought stuff from Penguin, and I've bought stuff from Ellusionist.

I could care less about your feelings toward Brad, or Oz, or Sankey. If they do something worthy of praise, I'll praise them. If they do something that really sucks... I'll criticize.

What I care about is the basics. And if Brad or Oz can help an aspiring magician learn the basics, then they have my support.

Teach me the basics !!

Teach me the move - and let me go my own way. Knowing HOW something is done, and then re-working the magic to make it your own, is the Secret to Success.