Who is Steve Brooks?

Someone posted a kiss-ass message at the Cafe asking "Who is Steve Brooks?". A bunch of people responded with more ass-smooching saying they love the new "Buffet" section. Brooks finally replied with this piece of psuedo-humble bullshit:

I'm glad to hear that you are enjoying the recent addition to our Café menu, The Buffet. The members who have offered their time and knowledge in posting to those new forums, each bring something different and unique to the table.
I believe that this will add fresh content to our community and at the very least provide plenty of food for thought as it were. It is extremely gratifying to hear both in this topic and by the large number of private messages and emails that so many of you have sent me, that the response to the new section from our Café members has been a positive one.

Regarding your other comments and questions MagicChris, I'm not sure how to respond. While I am certainly flattered to hear such remarks, I do not believe I have the answers for you.
As far as I'm concerned, I'm just someone who really loves magic and am trying my best to make positive contributions to our art. If any of my projects have benefited you, then I have succeeded.
As a kid, I grew up with the notion that those who can, do. Those who can't, complain about the ones who can. I figure it's better to contribute, then complain about everyone else. So, I'm just trying my best to do my part.
Thanks again for the kind words, and I do appreciate the sentiment.

Speaking of "doing", we've only seen one post (the introductory one) from Brooks in his buffet blog. Did he lose interest already or is he afraid to post because all us sharks are circling waiting to feast? One other note: he loves to say "as it were". 'Nuff said.

New Private Message from Brooks

A friend of mine is putting together a NEW magic based television series and called me this afternoon asking for some suggestions. I am not at liberty to discuss the details, but can say that he is looking for a few people to be in the series.
This is a great opportunity for a young person to be involved. Details follow.

------->TRICKS R 4 KIDS<---------

PROUD MARY ENTERTAINMENT is accepting submissions for a magic related reality TV series.

Breakdown - Magicians: Male and female, 12 to 17 years
old, must have excellent magic skills, out-going, camera friendly, personable, able to act and ad lib.

Send pix, resume, and demo reel (VHS or DVD) by September 12, 2005 to:

433 N. CAMDEN DRIVE
SUITE 600
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210

Only submissions with videos will be reviewed

He's "not at liberty to discuss the details", however "details follow". Which is it? This went to every Crape member but he's not trying to make money out this or anything.

Naming Conventions

Not much going on in the magic blog kingdom so I'll continue to pick on The Magic Cafe. Brooks bugs me so much that I just can't help it. In this latest eposide of the captain not realizing he's sinking his own ship, Brooks shoots down some good feedback from a member. I always thought the forum naming conventions and the sheer amount of forums at the Cafe made for clumsy organization. Anyway, "AndrewBarbour" posted this:

While I like the overall breakdown of the content - I would really prefer to have more intuitive names for the sections. If you are trying to keep track of a number of sections it can be a bit of a pain as when you scan down the section headings you have to remember the 'cutesy' name for the topic.

And Brooks replied with his usual shootdown:

Thanks for your thoughts Andrew. The names are part of the Café's charm if you will and will be staying the same. Don't worry - you'll eventually get it, just have a second cup of coffee.

Granted, it's his forum and he can do what he likes. But notice the condescending tone of "you'll eventually get it" as if it's some deep philosophical treatise Andrew is trying to understand. And "charm"???? WTF?

From the man himself

I received an email from someone who posted about my blog on the Magic Cafe. He told me that he put up a link and asked "why do so many people have a problem with Brooks?" Of course his post was removed and he received a PM from Brooks himself that said:

I removed the following topic:
"Another anti-Brooks blog"
Reason: http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=17&forum=39&0
From said rules:

External Links:

Postings which contain links to websites or Blogs that in our opinion contain material which is in poor taste (Example: Profanity, pornograpgy, etc) will be removed and with no notice given. Members who post such links risk being banned with absolutely no notice given. Do something only an idiot would do and you'll be treated like one. 'Nuff said.
--------------------------

That aside, running a website that is free from idiots and profanity has indeed made me a handful of enemies, mostly disgrunted teenagers who I had to spank due to their foul behavior on the Café. Reading their blogs, you can see their true colors.

Wow man, Brooks the ultimate busy man (see posts below) had time to scold someone over posting a link to a blog. I love "teenagers who I had to spank". I'm sure he does like to spank teenagers.

David Blaine Website

The David Blaine website is finally updated and much improved. I especially like that he has a "blog" and is posting images from his Above the Below journal. I was hoping he would put out a book with those in it.

More Steve Brooks

The more I read from this guy, the more disturbed I become. A member left good feedback about having more freedom and time to post and here is Steve's response. It's unbelievable in its self importance. He's so stuck on himself and how great his forum is that he is blind to the feedback.

Kamus said; "I don't get it"

This much is obvious, but I will do my best to address your concerns anyway.

Kamus said; "Really, I do not have the luxury to hang around the internet all day making sure my reply arrives before the window of opportunity slams shut"

And neither do I or any of my volunteer staff. Literally HUNDREDS of NEW posts are made on a daily basis (as of this writing we are nearing the milestone of one million posts!). Add to that the fact that on average twenty new people join the Café on a daily basis, and you have only seen the tip of the iceberg as it were. Like most of our membership, we all have regular jobs and the responsibilities that come with daily living. Who would have thunk it?

Kamus said; "And Mya, I don't want to PM you to continue this discussion- I brought this up publicly because it is a public issue- TMC's decision to lock threads and to steer the discussion to private channels could be misinterpreted trying to dodge public criticism- or correctly interpreted- I really don't know which at this point"

When Mya asked you to contact her privately, there were a couple of reasons. First, no sense wasting everyone else's time because one of our guests does not agree with the way we operate the place. Secondly, it has always been our policy to handle things behind the scenes. Nothing worse than a member breaking the rules, then have the staff lecture to them publicly in front of their peers. What's the point? We have handled problems like this for several years, and it works, sorry if you don't see it that way.

By the way, did I mention we don't take a vote everytime we make a decision here? Sorry, it is NOT a public issue. Members here do not own stock and therefore do not actually have a voice in how we decide to run the place. Granted, we try our best to provide a friendly atmosphere free of idiots and losers, but that is a never ending task, as the internet allows those folks to join message boards along with all the good folks. We simply make sure the drunks are shown the door so our good customers can enjoy their stay here.

Kamus said; "In response to your challenge to cite specific deleted topics,I do not wish to debate the individual merits of those topics. Suffice it to say, you obviously had your reasons which you would doubtless defend- I would disagree and we would get bogged down pronto"

My parents and I had this same problem when I was growing up. They made the rules of the house, and many times I disagreed. The rules never changed, but then again I was free to leave at anytime. My house, my rules. You naturally are free to leave at anytime. I simply cannot understand the problem with anyone not understanding this philosophy. Our strict rules and policies are free for anyone to read and in fact, all members must agree to abide by these policies when they join the Café. It should therefore be no surprise that we actually enforce said policies.
In addition, Mya was not challenging you at all. You brought the subject of posts being removed and she politely asked you which ones had you concerned. I can certaily understand why you might not want to debate the individual merits of the topics that were removed - if they were removed, it was with good reason.

Kamus said; "You know this happens, everyone here knows this happens. There is a general perception here, though many will doubtless disagree, that you guys censor pretty heavily on this forum"

You're correct, many would disagree and I am one of them. Additionally, I have NEVER hidden the fact that censorship occurs on this board, it does. It is a necessary part of keeping things running smooth. Locks only keep an honest man honest and the police only insure that good folks don't stray from the beaten path as it were. True criminals and trouble makers will always do as they please no matter what - we simply keep the bad guys in check. Most of our membership will never have to worry about a visit from the mod fairy. Most members here follow our rules and policies and think very carefully before engaging in any kind of conversations - others do not, and we are often forced to educate them.
Basically, you do not have the right to do as you please and I have every right to run things as I please. If it wasn't clear to you before, it should be obvious to you now.

Kamus said; "To put it more simply, I think that you throw the baby out with the bathwater when you censor. Yes, some censorship is necessary, too much is repressive and valuable information and /or discourse is lost. Where do you draw the line?- I know it's a tough question but I think that the line is currently in the wrong place"

That of course is your opinion and you are certainly entitled to that - I simply disagree, that's all. Again, if it bothers you that much (and obviously it does), why torture yourself by coming here each day? There are a slew of online communities that one can participate in, even in magic circles. We are but one of many magic sites on the world wide web.

Kamus said; "I find the MC both rewarding and frustrating simultaneously. I do thank you for the rewarding part and wish you luck in improving the frustrating part"

Indeed, it is not a perfect world we live in, but we do our very best. I'm glad that The Magic Café has been a help to you in your magical ventures and appreciate your understanding as we tackle various issues here on a daily basis. No easy task to be sure, but one that we have chosen to take straight on as it were.

The board has grown over the years, and we with it. The rules and policies have changed and become more complex as our membership and its needs have expanded. More forums and features are added from time to time in an ever growing quest to help the many entertainers around the world help each other.

I remember when I started this board, the naysayers of the world told me not to waste my time. The idea I had would never work. The internet already had plenty of online communities for magicians, etc. etc.

As the Café gained a healthy following, the same negative people then shouted that I only created the board to make money selling magic tricks, etc. Then, after spending thousands of dollars of my own money and a incalculable amount of man hours running the place, it finally occurred to me that I could no longer afford to pay for everyone else's good time - so we started accepting advertisers.
The naysayers then accused me of creating the Café to make money from adverts. You simply can't win for losing it would seem. I finally came to the conclusion that there will always be those that wish to rain on your parade, so never leave home without an umbrella. It is a motto I penned and live by each and every day.

Recently I read an article by someone on the net which proudly proclaimed that the success of The Magic Café was achieved out of plain dumb luck. As I read that uninformed statement, I was reminded of something that THOMAS JEFFERSON said; I’m a great believer in luck and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it" I could not agree more.

I love this website, I really do. The community we have created is full of wonderful people, many of them have become very close friends. It has brought many people together from around the globe and provided a wonderful resource for beginners and professionals alike. I do not charge for this resource, it is my gift to magic. A thank you for all the great things that the magic world has done for me. I guess you could say that The Magic Café is my contribution to the art.

In conclusion Kamus, I will say that you and I must agree that we simply disagree, that's all that can really be said. I will never be able to please all the members and I lose no sleep at night because of that small matter.
Frankly, I have no interest whatsoever in convincing anyone of anything. I have far more productive and personally rewarding things to do with my time then debate how or why the Café operates the way that it does. I personally consider the matter closed and not up for any further discussion.
I want to thank you for your continued support and participation here and I look forward to reading your magical related posts on the board.

TMC "Blogs"

The Magic Circle Jerk pointed out the irony that The Magic Cafe now has "blogs". I'm going to post Brooks' first entry. Brooks is a serious assclown. His inflated sense of self importance is sickening. Here it is with my commentary:


In the early days of The Magic Café I participated on a daily basis. Sometimes I was answering a post or making a comment to a topic somebody else had started, but more often than not I was starting my own topics to help get a conversation going on the board. I know, hard to believe, but back then we only had like ten members, and so getting topics started was a real necessity - it is quite obvious that's hardly the case anymore!

It's not hard to believe - the fucking thing had to start somewhere.

That said, my schedule now is pretty tight and I rarely have the opportunity to just relax and participate on my own website. When I say participate, I mean engage in small talk or start interesting topics of my own. My daily routine is filled with answering various emails and private messages, handling dozens of situations that occur from time to time between members, speaking with my staff or spending hours on the telephone consulting with various clients. These clients not only include other magicians who are working on their own projects and are seeking advice and input, but also the sponsors who help pay the bills for this mega site we all enjoy. Add to all this, the time that I spend arranging and shooting various DVD projects for The Magic Bakery, practicing and creating my own magic and then of course the amount of time that I spend with my family and friends, and you can see I pretty much have a full plate as it were.

Such an important man he is. He makes it sound like he's running the world bank or something.

So in that light, why start yet another project? That's a very good question, and one that I hope to answer as we travel together along this new highway I have initiated. I do not think there is really a simple answer here, but multiple reasons have prompted me into taking the time to engage in this new adventure. I say "adventure" because I have no idea where this will end up taking us.

It's just a blog dude. It's not a "new highway". Llama.

I do know that this column (and that's really what it is) will allow me the opportunity to let you know a little more about me, my thoughts, ideas, philosophy and point of view on things. Every magazine has an editor's corner, and as readers we can get to know that person a little better when we read his/her thoughts each issue. When you think about it, The Magic Café is simply a magazine in cyberspace, yet no less important.

Perhaps if you actually knew me, you might have a better insight as to why I do some of the things that happen here from day to day. It is my sincerest hope that through this column you will gain a better understanding as to why I think the way that I do. But then again, perhaps not. We shall see.

1. What's with the faux-it-might-work-it-might-not thing?
2. Does anyone really want to know more about this cock knocker?

Should Have Put Money On It

As I predicted, The Magic Whack is back. But it looks like he's going to do more than just blogging. I respect what he's saying: blogging is just whining; now he's actually going to do something that the magic world needs. I'm interested to see what it is.

Be You

The Magic Enigma nailed it in this post. He's basically saying that in your magical presentation you should be yourself. Easier said than done, but it's the key.

Reminds me of Blackpool 2004 when I saw Rene Levand up close. He blew everyone away. Later I was talking to a wise Irish magician and he asked me what I thought of Rene. I told him. He then said that it's not the magic, it's the person. Even if Rene didn't do any magic, people would be drawn to him. It's the person.

Derren Brown

I spent some time living in Europe and was completely taken in by Derren Brown. I've seen all his shows and seen him live. His Russian Roulette show was some of the best TV I've ever seen.

A recent post at Magicentric talks about how Derren isn't well known in the States and how you can download his stuff on BitTorrent. When I first started watching Derren I thought he would be huge in the States. Not sure why he's not. He's an amazing entertainer.

If you're going to do the BitTorrent thing, get the Russian Roulette show - I'm telling you.

More Mindfreak and a New Playa

Magic Mafia (who I thought had retired) was kind enough to post a comment on one of my posts. They are now on my list of players.

Reading his blog, he has also weighed in on the Criss Angel show.

"The show has an identity crisis, too, wavering between atmospheric magic and behind-the-scenes reality goop. It appears everything comes down to whatever best feeds Angel's ego at the moment."

Lee Asher

Just wanted to give a shoutout to Lee Asher of the Asher Twist fame. Lee is one of the most creative creators out there. He often presents his material in strange b-movie format. Many people are looking forward to the new Pulp Friction DVD.

Simply put: Lee rocks. Support him if you can.

Criss Angel Mindfreak

The playas are all chiming in on Criss's new TV show. I personally didn't see it but I heard the levitation was cool. Here is what the crew are saying:

Magic Circle Jerk: It was "about as culturally relevant as Dog the Bounty Hunter." As usual, he's cutting edge with his cultural references. Although he's no Dan Bern.

I, Magician: Andster dug it and he doesn't know how the levitation was done. “What I liked about it is that the magic wasn’t what carried the whole hour/half-hour (however long the episodes technically are).

Magic Enigma: "I would only add, if you are a self-loathing gay dude you will probably dig his persona. Ok, maybe I'm just critical because I'm another homophobic, white, middle-aged, fat guy, and anything different just scares me."

Sleightgeek: "David Blaine can kick that guy's ASS!!!!"

While I'm at it.

While I'm ripping on Penguin's marketing BS, I'll mention the 3 Domino Monte. Whats next?

The Ultimate 7 Turd Monte! Get it now! A new take on the classic.

Does everything have to be "ultimate"? This is the Ultimate 3 Domino Monte ... is there another?

Spun

Penguin Magic is marketing the shit out this effect called Spun. The only thing that is spun is Penguin Magic. The effect looks lame. Looks like a coin spining on the end of string. And any do-do head can figure out that the coin was swapped.

But wait there's more! All pre-orders are being signed by the creator. Of course there is a delay in shipping these pre-orders for an unspecified reason.

I like how the demo video shows him doing the effect at night .. in Vegas! Oh and the video "Stars" Morgan Strebler.

The "ultimate" coin floatation with the "world's most impossible" coin bend. *puke*

Feck, this whole thing bugs.

Gospel Magic?

They have a forum at TMC called "The Good News" which is about "Gospel Magic". I'm not sure even what to say about this. For one, there are already too many different forums over there. Consolidate for fucks sake. Have a "Presentation" forum and if someone has Christian presentation ideas then start a thread. Where is the Islam Magic forum? Maybe make a new one for "Gay Magic".