Juliegel, it's okay, I didn't want to start an argue, just add my opinion as well. I saw you guys arguing about something that's a minor point for me and tried to say something that could make people think about it a little in-depth.
I'm not yet a real performer, because I started to do magic only some time ago. I'm practicing every day and all I mastered to date are a few beginner tricks, most with coins and cards which I performed for my friends. And I just got a floating cigarette routine and try to master it... and I will go on.
I've read a lot of negative comments about Criss here, and I normally don't argue about personal opinions- but I don't understand the hate and why Criss does anything negative to other magicians? In another topic I've seen posts like, "spectators ask for his stuff and we can't do it". But you could say that about other rich magicians as well, or do you have the money to make the Statue of Liberty disappear like Copperfield did? A good performer must captivate and fascinate his spectators, what Criss already did when he had a low budget. So did you mean that point or something else? I'm really interested to understand the reasons people have. But by what I've read so far, other magicians just seem to be jealous because Criss is so rich and famous. In your eyes he may not be the best magician, but he's a born entertainer. That's what spectators makes not only care about his magic, but also about himself. He started do to magic since he was a kid, and did everything he had to do to get where he is now.
But what I wanted to say, I really see his positive effect on magic. He brings people back to magic who had already lost all interest in it for years, those who maybe could only name Copperfield if asked to name any good magician. People like me want to do magic because of him, and there will always be those who prefer his "modern day magic" and those who prefer "traditional magic". Before I saw Criss, I was one of those who had lost the interest. Now I've seen other great magicians like Banachek, Lance Burton and Jeff McBride. And I'm sure without Criss I would have never known about them.