Mr Tuxedo (Thailand) copies Rafael's sawing on a couch illusion!

[Rafael]

Sad to see that Mr. tuxedo (Thailand) has copies my sawing on a couch/sofa and is using this without my permission!
He hasn't even changed anything to it - just copy & paste
you can see my original version on my promo video on my website:
http://www.rafael.be/r08_video_E.htm
I created this illusion over 15 years ago and I performed my illusion act on all the big conventions in Europe, including Blackpool and Fism as well on TV.

His rip off version can be seen on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFEvpDV1 ... r_embedded

You will see on his video that he has copied other illusions as well (suspended animation, fire spikes,...)

It saddens me that these people have no morals and just steal the hard work of others.
If anybody knows Mr. tuxedo please pm me as I like to stop him!

Merry Christmas to you all (well, except maybe for Mr. Tuxedo :-) )

[Richard Kaufman]

And what surprises you about this?

And why should I let you complain about this on my Forum after you promised to do a story with Genii and then jumped to MAGIC?

[Rafael]

Dear Richard,

I'm not sure why you accuse me of promising you a story and then jump to Magic!
We never talked about this and I always keep my word, i'm not Chelman!
I told David Kaye (who asked me if I was interested in a story with Genii) that yes I'm interested to do a story in Genii but since Magic was the first to ask they are first in line! (seems fair to me ?)
I also told David that I would not publish any of my tricks in Magic but keep them till a later date for Genii...(and Magic only got part of my story, there's much more to tell...;-) )

Maybe we should talk about this in private !

[Mark.Lewis]

Why can't you write a story for BOTH Magic and Genii?

[Richard Kaufman]

Not a whole lot of interest in that.

[Tim Ellis]

I see Mr Tuxedo also has a 'Suspended Animation' illusion and Lance Burton's act too!

Rafael, was your couch illusion inspired by Beetlejuice?

[Mark.Lewis]

Not a whole lot of interest in that.

Then go for who is paying the most money. Unless of course magic magazines pay nothing at all which is what seems to be the going rate according to the various contributors I hear from.

[Rafael]

I agree with Richard that the same story in both magazines at the same time is not very interesting!
However it has been more than 2 years since I did the interview with Alan Howard for Magic magazine and a lot has happened since then.
I'm also working on some new projects and I have some unpublished tricks & illusions that haven't appeared in any magazine. so there is still a lot to tell to the Genii readers!

Tim,
He also copied Brett Daniels aga/ashra levitation and Luis De matos Mirror passage and Omar Pasha's BA ring vanish and Mark Kalins fire spiker and the list goes on ...

Yes, my couch was inspired by the Beetlejuice movie and as far as I know Tim Burton has no problems with me using it! (a friend in London who knows him has shown him my promo video & I've been told that apparently he likes it!)

[Tim Ellis]

I thought the couch looked familiar! ;)

[Rafael]

Tim,

Lol
Actually the couch looks very different!
The image of the girl in 2 parts on a couch might look familiar but that's the only resemblance as his is a movie effect & mine is a theatrical illusion.

[Shawn Farquhar]

I just wanted to chime in and say I would love to read more about Rafael and his ideas. He is such an original in a world filled with "Mr. Tuxedo's".

I hope Genii will do a feature article so I can have it in my collection. I have every single issue starting from Vol. 1, No. 1 with the exception of May 1988. My home burned with the issue inside. (yeah I know I can get a copy ... but I haven't for a reason)

Happy Holiday ...

[Nathan Muir]

Some of us only read Genii.

Genii not doing a story on Rafael because MAGIC did would be like The Times not doing a story on Obama because the WSJ did one.

A shame for us if you don't, Richard.

[Richard Kaufman]

Stan Allen and I do try to avoid covering the same people at the same time.

[smokemist]

For what it's worth Rafael, he is struggling selling tickets to his show for $8.00 lowered from $16.00

I reside in Thailand & have personally seen his advertisements with what u have noted. People don't come to that city to see magic, that's for sure..

I guess some feel if they are on the other side of the planet, in a 3rd world country, then it's ok, since magic is sledom seen in this country to begin with.

[callesnegras]

Wow Rafael!!

Your Couch Illusion is amazing!
It's sad that another magician has copied it from you without your permission.

Do you have any more footage? I'd love to see more of that illusion.

I really loved Beetlejuice, hehe

Thanks

Carlos

[Rafael]

First of all, I like to thank everybody for their kind words and support!

Yes, I hope that one day I can share my magic and Ideas with the Genii readers...

Update:
Hereby the reply from Mr Tuxedo Magic theatre Thailand (I send him a email to kindly but firmly ask him to stop using my creation in his show and to stop using it in his advertising)

Dear Rafael
First of all, Please accept my apologized
Ok, I will cut this illusions , Promotional picture in website for instants.
However, before this I just put only some this idea to our performance not all of your act.
and when I have show I insert sound wording to give credit of you, too.
("This Illusions Idea belong Rafael magician of Begium")
but it's not mean I will not cut this show.
So, sorry
Best Regard,
Tuxedo,

If I understand him correctly, he will cut his copy of my couch sawing illusion from his promo material however he will still continue to perform my routine and my 'signature' illusion even when he knows that I didn't give him any permission to use it in his show!
Nice that he writes that it could be much worse since he didn't steal my entire vampire act and that a voice off credit should compensate for copying my illusion!
what a gentleman (not!!!!)

[callesnegras]

Man! That just sucks!!

Obviously, this guy isn't very good at english, but I understood it exactly as you did.

This guy has no honor or shame!

[callesnegras]

By the way Rafael, have you seen this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtYEW5wadg4
I find it very similar to your couch illusion too.

Carlos

[callesnegras]

Rafael. I hate to say this, but here's another one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OozVgCX0pFo

Carlos