Derren Brown vs. David Blaine
A 2-hour magic special was shown on Channel 4 in the UK on Friday 11 September 2009. First it was Derren Brown explaining how he predicted the lottery and this was followed by David Blaine performing What Is Magic. The next day a new topic of conversation was born:
Who is the better magician David Blaine or Derren Brown?
Both DB-UK and DB-USA started out as close-up magicians and both got their big break demonstrating card magic. Derren played Smoke and David performing a wide variety of card tricks including; Ambitious Card and 2 Card Monte respectfully. Ironically neither is considered ‘a magician’, David Blaine is more of an endurance artist and Derren is a psychological illusionist.
So what makes a good wizard?
Identity / Brand Having a strong identity in magic is one of the main keys to success, Houdini was the escapist, Paul Daniels was the brash close-up magician, David Copperfield the illusionist, Penn & Teller the aggressive magic revealers. David Blaine became the street magician who could levitate a deck of cards through a window. Derren Brown became the mind reader who could control people’s decisions to the point of risking his life in defiance of the Russian Revolution. Both Derren and David have established a good, strong and consistent identity: -Derren: sophisticated, cheeky, playful, smart, mischievous David: mysterious, deep, troubled, calm, spiritual.
Result: tie
tricks performed David Blaine’s most talked about trick was the card through the window. Even now, some 10 years after it first aired on TV, magicians are still asked how he accomplished the feat. Just like Michael Jackson didn’t invent the Moonwalk; David Blaine did not invent the idea of this trick or even the method, but it is still widely known to the public as David Blaine’s ‘Card Through Window’. Derren Brown has done more TV stunts than David, he has had more TV series airings and has had about as many 1 TV specials. He also performs a stage show annually throughout the UK. For some strange reason, people talk about what Amazing Derren was like, but they don’t pick a specific memorable gimmick. So while Derren wins the battle over quantity, David Bliane gets more talk time after his shows.
Result: David Blaine
Entertainment Value After David Blaine started doing stress tests, his entertainment value dropped significantly. He seemed to master staying in the same place for a long time doing nothing. Derren performs a branch of magic referred to in the business as mentalism. Mentalism is often thought of as boring, but Derren incorporates humor to break up the act.
Result: Derren Brown
originality David Blaine has taken many non-original effects and incorporated them into his act with his playing style.
Similarly, Derren has incorporated a lot of other people’s effects, but Derren can take an effect like the cute silks – a trick with 2 handkerchiefs with a knot and turn it into a mind reading effect somehow.
Result: Derren
likeability factor Possibly the most important weapon in a wizard’s arsenal is the likability factor. If the audience doesn’t like the magician, they won’t care about his tricks. It was the main fall of Paul Daniels. In the world of magic he is incredibly respected; but, it almost seems cool not to like it. People usually say that he got annoying, but it’s more a case of familiarity breeds contempt.
David Blaine has never really been a likeable character because he’s so aloof and the eye-in-hand stunt with Eamonn Holmes was a PR nightmare. However, with recent voiceovers during his series about his childhood and going back to his roots in street magic. The likability factor of him has grown considerably. On the other hand, Derren’s popularity has taken a dip recently. With the third highest number of complaints with his Russian Revolution gimmick, his bewildering explanation of the lottery prediction and his inability to get his audience glued to his chairs has lowered his likability factor. However, this won’t bother Derren in the slightest, as he goes out of his way to offend certain groups of people in posts about him.
This is a tough call because until recently Derren has been more popular, but as of this writing the pendulum has swung in favor of…
Result: David Blaine
Overall result: Draw
Since I’ve never been one to sit on the fence and am a hugely biased Derren Brown fan, I’ve decided to create another category)
Technical ability
This should not influence the overall decision, but it would be unfair not to mention it. The wizarding fraternity looks at one’s skill with a deck of cards like the Jedi Knights look at one’s skill with a lightsaber. So while they are both strong with the force, Derren is given a higher degree of respect in the wizarding world.
David Blaine performs in methods that do not rely on complex digital dexterity, and his tricks can often be replicated by many magicians. However, Derren Brown performs several tricks that rely on complex card manipulation that cannot be easily replicated by magicians.
Result: Derren
Final Result: Derren 3 David 2 Winner Derren Brown
In the true definition of who is the best magician, David Blaine would win because he makes people believe in magic. However, if people investigate David’s tricks, they will discover his methods. Derren Brown has started to “reveal” the methods of how tricks are done. His goal is to educate people that if we put our mind to anything, it can be achieved. If people investigate this… they’ll find out it’s true. This essay is an opinion essay, the facts may be incorrect, and it is largely biased and subjective. I hope you enjoyed reading it, but if you are going to cite any part, please think it over carefully and do the proper research.