Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

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mrgoat
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Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby mrgoat » October 17th, 2014, 2:26 pm

Read the comments here

http://www.penguinmagic.com/p/3907

Whilst I genuinely appreciate Bob Cassidy's contribution to mentalism, I feel aggrieved at paying for 4 hours of wild-eyed semi-inebriated rambling, regurgitated product and punctuated with toilet breaks.

I learnt nothing new from this lecture other than Bob Cassidy has no respect for his audience and apparently not a lot for himself either.

The only 'innovation' over his previously released material was combining "Te**il" with his signature piece, but that was not a great leap for anyone that has actually used this effect before.

At times I felt embarrassed for Dan Harlan, having to plug the holes in the 'sinking ship'. I wish someone had told him that Sandy was actually called Stacey, but how could you not know where the Sh**on envelope was when asked?

I would like to know if Mr Cassidy thought this was his 'finest hour' or his 'swan song'.

--

Oh dear.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 17th, 2014, 3:02 pm

Was this necessary?

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Rick Ruhl » October 17th, 2014, 4:04 pm

No, it wasn't

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby mrgoat » October 17th, 2014, 4:46 pm

billmccloskey wrote:Was this necessary?


So, we shouldn't discuss things like this?

I missed that memo. Sorry.

What else shouldn't we discuss? If you issue a list, then I'll be sure to avoid things that upset you in the future.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 17th, 2014, 5:05 pm

Randomly bashing a magician with "Reviews" from nearly a year ago might be a good start.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Dustin Stinett » October 17th, 2014, 8:06 pm

billmccloskey wrote:Randomly bashing a magician with "Reviews" from nearly a year ago might be a good start.

Why? Particularly if they have never been talked about before now. I did a search and couldn't find one.

Perhaps Goat just found the download on Penguin's site and read the comments. As the download is still for sale, it makes it fair game.

What is also fair game is for people to come to Mr. Cassidy's defense regarding the validity of the negative comments.

I like and respect Mr. Cassidy and have reviewed his work in the past and have found it quite good. So I hope this is an anomaly. But that, or the age of something, cannot prevent someone from talking about it here.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 17th, 2014, 8:30 pm

"But that, or the age of something, cannot prevent someone from talking about it here."

clearly. Nor good taste apparently.

sorry, it is all just hurtful gossip. Why you think it is worthy of discussion is beyond me.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Dustin Stinett » October 17th, 2014, 10:47 pm

A lot of things that I consider less than "worthy" and of "poor taste" are discussed on the Internet. My job has nothing to do with deciding if it's "worthy"; only if it's allowed under the rules we have in place here. If you do not like a subject, exercise your right to not discus it and watch how quickly it goes away.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Roger M. » October 17th, 2014, 11:47 pm

Where is this discussion presumably taking place Dustin?

Certainly not in this thread. There's isn't even a hint of a discussion taking place to be found here.

Cheap shots and insults are all I see in this thread.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Dustin Stinett » October 18th, 2014, 2:39 am

Apparently Roger also wants to extend this non-debate with another comment that keeps it alive. That shines a bright light on his and Mr. McCloskey's inability to realize that had no one ever said anything in response to Goat's initial post (or left it with the first two reasonable replies and called it good), it would have just gone away all by itself.

It's like people who complain about trolls and then fall hook line and sinker for their bait. (And after all, I'll wager Damian calls himself "MrGoat" for a reason.)

But most importantly, to me--and the sole reason I posted at all--is that apparently Mr. McCloskey, and perhaps now Roger, want us to to control threads here based on "taste" and "worthiness."

Who gets to decide just what is "worthy" and "tasteful"?

Me? Richard? Are we to set the level of discourse here based on our personal values beyond the reasonable rules we have already set?

What a fabulous idea! I'm the first one to point out that the clause that covers "Freedom of Speech" in the First Amendment really does not apply here, so let's just take that concept to its full and logical conclusion, shall we?

Of course, the moment I start deleting threads and posts because I personally do not like or agree with them, I suspect that the line of those complaining about it will start behind Roger M. and Bill McCloskey.

So better yet: Let's allow the readers to decide. It's not a lot different than the on/off switch on your television, except in this case it's done by NOT clicking on the "Submit" button. Try it.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Matthew Field » October 18th, 2014, 4:55 am

There's a difference between what was called "randomly bashing" and commenting on a professional's paid performance. Mr. Goat, Damian, whom I consider my friend, was giving his reaction to a lecture he paid to see, and which he felt was less than professional. And he obviously respects Mr. Cassidy -- he stated this. I do as well.

I've been a professional performer and writer/editor for much of my life, and bad reviews are something not completely foreign to me, alas. I've also been a reviewer (for Genii and The Magic Circular, among other publications). When you put yourself out there for a paying audience you must accept the idea of reviews, and some of these will be bad. Bob Cassidy has not commented on Damien's assessment, and those who would attempt to restrict reviews to only the "good news" are, I believe, badly misguided.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 8:58 am

Matthew,

No where does Mr. goat say he paid for the lecture. And it wasn't his opinion he was expressing. He copied and pasted one bad review from back in last january that someone else posted, of course completely ignoring the majority of positive reviews for the same lecture.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby JHostler » October 18th, 2014, 9:05 am

billmccloskey wrote:Matthew,

No where does Mr. goat say he paid for the lecture. And it wasn't his opinion he was expressing. He copied and pasted one bad review from back in last january that someone else posted, of course completely ignoring the majority of positive reviews for the same lecture.


Wasn't that review his?
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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 9:07 am

Just so I have the rules down: it is okay for a talentless hack to post a jealous hatchet job of a fellow performer, but it is not okay for any of us to comment on that? Do I have that right?

If those are the rules, I'm out. Nice seeing you all again, but sorry, Damian's post was inexcusable and your defense of him kind of sickening. I'd rather not have anything to do with this place if that is the case. Adios.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 9:09 am

"Wasn't that review his?"

NO!

If you had clicked through to the link, you would have seen that he grabbed a review that someone else wrote nearly a year ago. If you also click through to the link you will find that most of the post were positive, and that damian pulled the worst review he could find.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Matthew Field » October 18th, 2014, 9:15 am

Adios, Bill. We'll try to muddle through without you.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 9:18 am

You have before, so no doubt you will again, but at least i won't feel the need to take shower after reading one of damian's bile filled posts.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby mrgoat » October 18th, 2014, 9:39 am

I didn't claim it was my review. I posted a link in the link watch section and pasted the first review from there saying read the comments. As many of them were equally disappointed with the lecture

It was via Weeklymagicfailure blog.

I love it when people like bill try to stir stuff up not understand that link watch is where people post, ya know, links. Then pretend to storm off and then when no one cares they come back carrying on try to stir stuff up pissed that no one said, oh please don't go

Funny stuff indeed.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 10:54 am

Here are some you missed:
Fantastic. Its funny (if a bit vulgar but who doesn't love a little vulgarity?), its informative about the "Why's" of mentalism that so many people fail to ask. Additionally he is strongly opinionated and gives rationales for these views. Priceless information. I mean they even when into old time hustles and their format...I mean just awesome. (The only downside was that he was drinking during this so some slight slurring was inevitable...but come on, it ups the funny and Dan's there to always guide it all back on track). 5 stars is too few to give.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 10:54 am

This was Bob in his zone! Typical genius and gruff personality! He added an additional touch to one of my all time favorite routines that makes this lecture one of my favorite by far. No surprise there though since Cassidy is my favorite Mentalist period. His insights on theory alone are a master class in Mentalism.

And I must admit, hearing Bob's colorful language while sipping joy joy juice while sitting next to a giant stuffed Penguin was just plain priceless! LOL

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 10:55 am

i have a feeling what was shared and taught might be over-looked by some...this was a lecture by a master mindreader, someone who has performed for decades under all kinds of circumstances...listen and learn from his hard won experience....

Routines
Techniques
Methods
Stories
Experience

Money doesn't often buy you all those things in the one purchase. Nearly FOUR HOURS worth of Bob Cassidy. The man who consults for tv shows, performed all over the world, and created so many subtle and amazing presentations.

Put your magic tricks to one side, learn to be a natural and confident mentalist instead... be prepared for home-truths, in the field experience, straight as an arrow methodologies yet devious in their execution. Tell people the place they are thinking of, tell people the name of someone dear to them, see how a p*** wallet SHOULD be used. All these things and more are within.

The man blazes with energy even now, he passion and his care for the art of mentalism is there for all to see.

Pay up, buckle up, settle down and take note from the most masterful of all mentalists...9.5/10

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 10:56 am

It's always a treat to watch Dr. Bob pontificate. He has a wealth of experience and is willing to share the insights gathered through a long and rich career.

If you are interested in the real work of mentalism, this lecture is a chance to listen in on a master.

Dan Harlan provides an excellent foil to Bob's discursive manner, with questions that prompt either a return to the point or an illuminating anecdote.

Highly recommended

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 10:57 am

All I can say is Bob Cassidy is THE MAN! What more could you ask for. You have a guy who's been doing this in the real world since he was a kid. Loves what he does. He's a great thinker who is constantly tweaking his ideas and presentations. What an explosive combination... and it's all handed to you on a silver platter. If you're serious, you'll want to study the S%#T out of ALL OF HIS STUFF! (I just ordered artful mentalism 2 and can't wait to dig in) Do yourself a favor and watch the Card Memory performance on the mental miracles dvd. Sit at your computer and write out the script for the whole routine. The years of refinement should then be made very apparent. Then, using the dynamics you witnessed in his performance as a roadmap, make it your own.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 10:58 am

was very impressed with Bob's lecture. Bob is a man who knows what he is talking about. He provided valuable information along with presentation ideas and the reasons why he does certain things.

He is a man who tells it like it is and he doesn't hide his persona. His attitude; "I'm old so I don't give a sh*t" is priceless.

Way to go Bob. I just ordered your book... under another entertainers credit card. Don't want the wife going psycho if she sees this on my credit card statement.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby billmccloskey » October 18th, 2014, 10:59 am

What damian forgot was that most reviews of the lecture were 5 stars.

But since the once pleasurable genii forum has become the Mr. Goat show, I'll now take my leave.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby mrgoat » October 18th, 2014, 11:32 am

Are you really going this time? Or are you just teasing again?

--

I may be a ‘voice in the wilderness’, but I was quite disappointed in the highly-touted Bob Cassidy Live lecture. There was little new in the almost-four-hour session. With the exception of a unique use for a peek wallet, his other effects have been demonstrated and explained again and again. The three envelope routine, for example, has shown up in at least three of Bob’s books and his earlier Mental Miracles DVD. The same is true of most of the other effects that he demonstrated.

Far too much time was dedicated irrelevant stories about ‘the good old days’. These may have been amusing, but they're not what I’d paid to see. In fact, the anecdotes resulted in a time crunch which forced Bob to run through his routines and explanations very quickly.

Lastly, Bob may be a ‘functioning alcoholic’, but witnessing him repeatedly fill his coffee cup with (what I presume to be) rum and coke was very much out of place. Even President Obama manages to keep his smoking habit off camera.

‘Sorry, but I regret having spent nearly $25 to see the same old-same old.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby mrgoat » October 18th, 2014, 11:33 am

Privacy ON (login to see reviewer names) on January 8th, 2014
What a car wreck ! ive know bob casiddy since I was a kid when I spent almost every Saturday at the Mecca magic store in east orange new jersey where he was employed and taught me many things..
I am a student of much of his work. I’ve read and own many of his books.
I was a member of his on line website thing for a short while as well.
First to watch a man with an admitted drinking problem fall off the wagon in plan sight
During a lecture that is seen all over the world was the most amateurish and sad thing to witness a performer do
Showing the stage no respect is the worst of all sins
Taking bathroom breaks, slurring words, winging it ,
was an insult to us all. He has contributed so much great material over the years
To just present the same old stuff and not get into so many other effects he could have talked about was such a lost opportunity and a big disappointment. It just shows he was on auto pilot and more concerned with getting a buzz on .
Dan was unprepared to guide him threw the myriad of material he could have explained and/or discussed, so he just cackled threw the lecture with his annoying laugh and interruptions
bob was unprepared so he just BSed his way threw it. He did not fool me.
In the end it was as fascinating to watch as is” the jersey shore” reality show if you like that kind of thing.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby mrgoat » October 18th, 2014, 11:35 am

Bob Cassidy is a huge influence on Mentalism today but seeing him drunk was a heart breaker. I was a real let down to see him in this pathetic light

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby mrgoat » October 18th, 2014, 11:35 am

This was my intro to Bob Cassidy. I watched with friends from my magic club who thought this was embarrassing and these are guys in their 20s who love going out on the weekends.

Cassidy obviously has a lifetime of work to share but I felt sorry for him. The longer the lecture goes the more he slurs his words and rambles on and on with a rabid dog look in his eyes.

I felt like I did learn some things but not being able to lay off the booze to present the lecture was disrespectful to Penguin and the audience.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby mrgoat » October 18th, 2014, 11:37 am

And on and on

Bill must have really had to search for those good reviews.

Oh well. He's gone now. Hopefully:)

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Dustin Stinett » October 18th, 2014, 12:22 pm

billmccloskey wrote:Just so I have the rules down: it is okay for a talentless hack to post a jealous hatchet job of a fellow performer, but it is not okay for any of us to comment on that? Do I have that right?

If those are the rules, I'm out. Nice seeing you all again, but sorry, Damian's post was inexcusable and your defense of him kind of sickening. I'd rather not have anything to do with this place if that is the case. Adios.

Did I say that?
No.
Did I say that the first two replies were "reasonable"?
Yes.
Do the members of this forum--yourself included--REALLY want me to start applying a subjective criteria, such as what I might think is "worthy," to the posts made on this forum?
I hope not.
Is my point that the best way to handle something you dislike is to ignore it?
You bet.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Richard Kaufman » October 18th, 2014, 3:02 pm

It is a terrible thing to see someone you admire work while drunk. I saw it with both Jennings and Dingle. It killed me because I knew how good they were, but the spectators only saw the booze and fumbling. Made me very sad.


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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby NYCJoePItt » October 18th, 2014, 3:50 pm

Many a good person have been destroyed by the drink or by their inability to stop partaking in it, and not just in our community... this makes me think of our dear friend who recently returned to England and is struggling to find some sort of life for himself. I wish him the best of luck.

The point of this thread, at this point, is beyond me. Mr Goat always seems to get mine.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby erdnasephile » October 18th, 2014, 3:59 pm

I agree with Richard.

I'm overly sensitive to this issue (because of my day job and certain family members), but I just find the whole thing tragic.

As we all know, substance abuse has factored heavily into the downfalls of a whole lot of great magicians. I really hope Mr. Cassidy gets some help.

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Gordon Meyer » October 19th, 2014, 3:50 pm

My question is, why does Penguin continue to sell it?

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Richard Kaufman » October 19th, 2014, 5:56 pm

Because they paid him to do it.
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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby RenzIII » January 22nd, 2015, 3:59 pm

Last time I checked Bob was paying his own bills, and also over 21. His work is excellent and of great value , his personal life is just that.


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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Bob Cassidy » January 31st, 2015, 1:15 am

I imagine that Penguin continues to sell the lecture because its sold well over a thousand copies and continues to sell well. (I know because I still get royalty checks for it.)

What's not mentioned here is the fact that there 37 reviews of the lecture on the Penguin site and the average rating is FIVE out of FIVE stars. The few negative reviews by a couple of guys who ALWAYS bash my stuff barely aren't the least bit representative of the near total majority who truly enjoyed it.

And the person who reposted only the bad review here was certainly aware of all the others, a strong indication of his agenda.

Since then, Penguin has brought me back four times. Three times for special download videos (Name/Place, Billet Killers and Slte Killers- which is currently the TOP seller on their site) and once for the lecture I did with Richard Osterlind,

They just recently asked me when I could come back to do another.

Thanks to Bill, Renzo and the others who supported my work on this thread.

Good thoughts,

Bob
And remember, my friends, future events such as these will affect you in the future.-Criswell

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby mrgoat » January 31st, 2015, 3:07 am

You are aware penguin have been caught numerous times taking down the bad reviews, right?

So when you watch it back are you happy with or embarrassed about how drunk you were

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Re: Bob Cassidy Drunk Train Wreck

Postby Bob Cassidy » January 31st, 2015, 3:32 am

No reviews were taken down.

And you are hardly worth responding to, except perhaps to remind you, since you started this highly misleading thread, that libelous thread titles that are publicly viewable are actionable.

Is that why you snipe from behind a pseudonym?

No answer required because, as I said, I have no intention responding further to your crap since I am following Mr. McCloskey's lead. I'm really surprised that Richard allows this kind of libel on his forum.
And remember, my friends, future events such as these will affect you in the future.-Criswell


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