Magicians Head to Haiti

[Magic Newswire]

James L Clark & Daniel Ramirez are heading to Haiti to aid in the humanitarian efforts in the region following the recent earthquake which has devastated the region. [url=Daniel Rameriez]More Info[/url]

[Magic Newswire]

David Blaine will begin a 72 hour stretch of performing magic with no sleep in Times Square to benefit the victims of the disaster in Haiti: READ MORE

[Mark.Lewis]

Not in the best of taste I would have thought.

[opie]

Mark.....you are so full of merde.....

All: Please forgive my bad French, but there is no good "taste" remark regarding what has happened....

Mark, get back in your hole....Hey, I love you, Brother, but not in the face of this absolute inhuman occurance...

opie

[Michel Huot]

I am part of an organisation here that is called Magiciens Sans Frontires (translates into Magicians without borders)We visited a lot of countries over the years (Algeria, Lebanon, Ecuador etc)
In 2010, we planned going back to Algeria, Madagascar and a first visit to Haiti.

We will let the dust settle (of course, no pun intended) and we will go there because in a couple of months, they will really need to laugh (because yes Mark even if we Canadians don't have a sense of humor, we are able to make people laugh)and be amazed!

[Mark.Lewis]

I am not referring to Canadians here. I am referring to what seems to me to be the bad taste of David Blaine. 72 hours without sleep performing magic is for the benefit of David Blaine rather than the benefit of Haiti it seems to me. He is obviously getting a lot of publicity out of it. I don't care what kind of money he allegedly collects for Haiti doing it. It is basically for his benefit and not for anyone else's. People have two reasons for doing things. One is the reason that sounds good and the other is the real reason. Not that I am a cynical type of course.

We British consider that sort of thing to be very tut-tut you know.

[Michel Huot]

If he collects 50,000$ for Haiti and gets LOADS of press coverage...good for him! Every penny counts. Oh he probably does it for press coverage also but at the same time, he collects money for those in need. He gained a few points in my heart.

[Michel Huot]

oh and BTW, I don't believe in Santa Clause, I know that a lot of people or companies gives a lot of time and money so the world knows they are good...as long as the money goes where it's suppose to go...I don't mind!. Here a major phone company decided not to charge a penny for every outgoing calls to Haiti (huge Haitian community in Montreal. We know WHY they did it...but the results are the same.
good move

[Mark.Lewis]

I am sorry. I do not approve. If he really wants to help then he should send a large donation which he can well afford and be done with it. And send it anonymously.

Capitalising on a tragedy seems to me to be in bad taste.

[Tim Ellis]

Mark, perhaps Blaine's stunt will draw more attention to the cause and encourage many people to donate who otherwise may not have been aware or have considered doing so.

I don't think it's wise to judge his motives from afar.

[mai-ling]

I actually agree with Mark on this one.
Blaine could easily just donate money to
the Red Cross and then go done to Hati
later on to perform for the teenagers.

I don't see the point of performing 72
hours without sleep to show any significance
than just another sense of sensationalism.

I believe is all good press but in the wake
of what has happened I don't think so.

He could have done that easily when the earthquake
happened in China and the Panada bears had to
be rescued. Why didn't he do it then?

[Magic Newswire]

I am sorry. I do not approve. If he really wants to help then he should send a large donation which he can well afford and be done with it. And send it anonymously. Capitalising on a tragedy seems to me to be in bad taste.

Do you think that he has not already done so Mark? He also donated the proceeds from all sales in his store to the cause and this is simply one more way to bring attention to the cause. Good for him and shame on you.

[Ian Kendall]

Let's not forget that the 72 hours will most likely be edited down to fourteen minutes.

Take care, Ian

[mrgoat]

Mark, perhaps Blaine's stunt will draw more attention to the cause and encourage many people to donate who otherwise may not have been aware or have considered doing so.

I don't think it's wise to judge his motives from afar.

True, after all, no one will have heard of this disaster until a denim-clad mumbling magician goes and does some shop bought tricks on camera there.

That will get the money rolling in, and make no mistake.

I agree with Lewis. Very poor taste, and if you want to help, send money anonymously. I detest people that give to charity, and brag about it publicly. So vulgar.

[Michel Huot]

Ask the Haitian people what they think. All the companies that will donate money that you hear on the news is for the same reason. They want people to talk about them...I have no problems with that.
My point is that Haiti needs the money. Whatever way it reaches them. Too bad people are capitalizing on that but this is secondary to me. The need the money!

[Jonathan Townsend]

David Blaine will begin a 72 hour stretch of performing magic with no sleep in Times Square to benefit the victims of the disaster in Haiti: READ MORE

If he's out there passing a hat for Haiti - bravo!

[Michael Kamen]

Bravo!

[Steve Hook]

And bravo again!

[Tim Ellis]

How do you know Blaine hasn't also made a large anonymous donation and his stunt is to encourage others to donate?

[Richard Kaufman]

Here's a clip of Blaine in Times Square. He doesn't need to do this for publicity--he's doing it because he gives a damn. That's my opinion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XH1_Q0jjUI0

[Michael Kamen]

His technique has improved too. I think I like this guy after all. No harm winning friends, after all either.

[Magic Newswire]

Here's a clip of Blaine in Times Square. He doesn't need to do this for publicity--he's doing it because he gives a damn. That's my opinion.

Here Here!

[Magic Newswire]

I had a chance to speak with David earlier today while he was in Times Square. You can Download the MP3 Here or read more HERE

[Michel Huot]

I agree with Richard. He does that because HE cares. Who wouldn't care.
I am doing a benefit show this coming sunday (it's been organised since october)and we decided (with Alain Choquette) to do a game with the audience...everyone will have to give at least a dollar...there is 537 people...
In a minute, we will give at least 537$...not much but if every magician reading this could do the same at the next show...
we have a talent, we should use it
Blaine uses it.

[Magic Newswire]

My chat with him did nothing but to reaffirm that as well.

[Dale Shrimpton]

Mark, In a way i can see your point. But i can also see the other side of the argument.

I think, no, i know that Davids actions in getting out on the street and doing a bit of magic, has promoted other magicians all over the place, to do the same.

I gather that People on Bunny, and TM, Are trying to round up a few performers to hit the streets this weekend, in order to raise some cash for the fund.

It's quite unlikely that this would of occured, if David hadn't done it first.