Derren Brown is having a competition to select participants in his next television series, "The Event" (which will include 4 1-hour segments).
Winners will be announced before February 1, and the actual competition will be held February 12.
Have you entered? Do you plan to?
Be sure to check out Howty
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Derren Brown's Evening of Wonders -- Answers and Speculations
I am enjoying the on-line speculation about how Derren performed his Evening of Wonders tricks.
A blog called "Kim Thomas" has an interesting explanation of the black envelope trick: "An accomplice comes on at half-time posing as a member of the audience, and instead of putting an envelope into the bowl, takes a handful out and gives them to Brown backstage."
That is along the lines of our "hot reading" discussion in the comments to my last entry.
Kim Thomas then pokes fun at the Observer's attempts to explain Derren Brown's show. I do not claim to know the secrets to Derren's tricks, but it is pretty clear to me that the Observer's explanations are wrong.
Another blog (at mtdsalestraining.com) speculates about whether Derren could use his skills to succeed as a salesman. It reminds me of my discussion of Derren Brown as a lawyer.
The joy of Derren Brown performances is trying to guess how he does it. And in Evening of Wonders, he left us plenty of room to speculate.
A blog called "Kim Thomas" has an interesting explanation of the black envelope trick: "An accomplice comes on at half-time posing as a member of the audience, and instead of putting an envelope into the bowl, takes a handful out and gives them to Brown backstage."
That is along the lines of our "hot reading" discussion in the comments to my last entry.
Kim Thomas then pokes fun at the Observer's attempts to explain Derren Brown's show. I do not claim to know the secrets to Derren's tricks, but it is pretty clear to me that the Observer's explanations are wrong.
Another blog (at mtdsalestraining.com) speculates about whether Derren could use his skills to succeed as a salesman. It reminds me of my discussion of Derren Brown as a lawyer.
The joy of Derren Brown performances is trying to guess how he does it. And in Evening of Wonders, he left us plenty of room to speculate.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Does Derren Brown Use Google?
This past Wednesday, Derren Brown's "Evening of Wonders" stage show aired on British television. Media reaction was mixed. The Times Online published a mostly positive review, which included the following speculation:
A caption promised at the start [of Derren's televised stage show]: “None of the members of tonight's audience were actors or stooges. Neither Derren nor his production team had any contact with them before the show.” But did that mean they had not been spied upon in the lobby or their names, after they had booked tickets, checked on Google or Facebook?
I have encountered many explanations of Derren's mind-reading effects, but this is a new one. If the Times is right, then DB, like a crooked televangelist (see Fletch Lives), stands up on stage with an earpiece while his staff read him background information about his audience volunteers.
It could work, but with 1000 guests in a single stage show, it would be too burdensome to do background research on everyone. Also, most of his tricks could be accomplished in a simpler way. Possible, though...
Are Derren's assistants backstage Googling his guests? Thoughts?
A caption promised at the start [of Derren's televised stage show]: “None of the members of tonight's audience were actors or stooges. Neither Derren nor his production team had any contact with them before the show.” But did that mean they had not been spied upon in the lobby or their names, after they had booked tickets, checked on Google or Facebook?
I have encountered many explanations of Derren's mind-reading effects, but this is a new one. If the Times is right, then DB, like a crooked televangelist (see Fletch Lives), stands up on stage with an earpiece while his staff read him background information about his audience volunteers.
It could work, but with 1000 guests in a single stage show, it would be too burdensome to do background research on everyone. Also, most of his tricks could be accomplished in a simpler way. Possible, though...
Are Derren's assistants backstage Googling his guests? Thoughts?
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Has Derren Brown's Official Blog Run Amok?
When Derren Brown's official blog launched in September, I thought AboutDerrenBrown's days as a successful fan blog were numbered.
After all, my sole purpose with this blog has been to write about DB's amazing career as an illusionist. Surely, I thought, his personal blog will do a better job of that than I can do.
It has been almost 60 days since my last post, but I have decided to revive this blog because Derren's official blog is failing.
Derren Brown's Official Blog Does Not Cater to the Fans
Why are you a Derren Brown fan? Is it because of his amazing illusions, or because you look to him as a spiritual leader? I'm guessing the former.
Now look at DB's blog. If you scan through it, you will find that about 5% of the entries address Derren's performances, while about 20% of them discuss his atheist views. The remaining 75% are links to weird news (the type of thing a friend or coworker might e-mail you about).
Derren is treating his blog as an amateur personal webpage. As a celebrity with a loyal following, he ought to be catering to his fans. He could provide information unavailable anywhere else (e.g., stories about his interaction with fans, behind-the-scenes details about his shows, or teasers for future tricks). Or he could provide readily available information that caters to his fans (e.g., information about other performers he admires, tutorials in simple magic tricks, etc.).
Instead, he's promoting his personal views on religion (don't miss his certain-to-alienate-many-fans Christmas post), and filling the daily posts with irrelevant nonsense. I like Derren, but his blog is pathetic.
So I will keep providing the content you want, right here at AboutDerrenBrown.
Related (and completely unsubstantiated) Speculation
While I think it's unwise for Derren to focus his blog on atheism rather than magic, his decision to do so has led me to develop an interesting conspiracy theory:
Remember our disappointment this past September when Derren's SciFi series was postponed? The series was supposed to air this past fall in the U.S., and it was supposed to include a one-hour special, presumably one of Derren's past TV specials.
What if the one-hour special in question was "Messiah" - the show in which Derren tried to convince five new-age and religious authorities that he had supernatural powers?
I think it's possible that SciFi would refuse to include that special in the series, knowing that it would offend many American viewers (who are less accepting of frontal assaults on religion than British viewers, in my experience).
This is complete speculation. But maybe the U.S. deal fell apart because Derren insisted on his more atheistic material, which SciFi knew would be unpopular.
Thoughts?
After all, my sole purpose with this blog has been to write about DB's amazing career as an illusionist. Surely, I thought, his personal blog will do a better job of that than I can do.
It has been almost 60 days since my last post, but I have decided to revive this blog because Derren's official blog is failing.
Derren Brown's Official Blog Does Not Cater to the Fans
Why are you a Derren Brown fan? Is it because of his amazing illusions, or because you look to him as a spiritual leader? I'm guessing the former.
Now look at DB's blog. If you scan through it, you will find that about 5% of the entries address Derren's performances, while about 20% of them discuss his atheist views. The remaining 75% are links to weird news (the type of thing a friend or coworker might e-mail you about).
Derren is treating his blog as an amateur personal webpage. As a celebrity with a loyal following, he ought to be catering to his fans. He could provide information unavailable anywhere else (e.g., stories about his interaction with fans, behind-the-scenes details about his shows, or teasers for future tricks). Or he could provide readily available information that caters to his fans (e.g., information about other performers he admires, tutorials in simple magic tricks, etc.).
Instead, he's promoting his personal views on religion (don't miss his certain-to-alienate-many-fans Christmas post), and filling the daily posts with irrelevant nonsense. I like Derren, but his blog is pathetic.
So I will keep providing the content you want, right here at AboutDerrenBrown.
Related (and completely unsubstantiated) Speculation
While I think it's unwise for Derren to focus his blog on atheism rather than magic, his decision to do so has led me to develop an interesting conspiracy theory:
Remember our disappointment this past September when Derren's SciFi series was postponed? The series was supposed to air this past fall in the U.S., and it was supposed to include a one-hour special, presumably one of Derren's past TV specials.
What if the one-hour special in question was "Messiah" - the show in which Derren tried to convince five new-age and religious authorities that he had supernatural powers?
I think it's possible that SciFi would refuse to include that special in the series, knowing that it would offend many American viewers (who are less accepting of frontal assaults on religion than British viewers, in my experience).
This is complete speculation. But maybe the U.S. deal fell apart because Derren insisted on his more atheistic material, which SciFi knew would be unpopular.
Thoughts?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Nekros000 Snags the Hypno Pig
Previously, I announced the auction of Derren Brown's hypno pig. The auction has ended, with the pig going to nekros000 for £205.00
In other news, Derren's new blog has about 20 posts per day (I might be exaggerating slightly - but it's a lot). Is this a case of beginning blogger's enthusiasm, or will DB maintain this pace?
The best entry so far is a long piece about upcoming projects, written by Derren himself. HIs next TV appearance will be a Christmas 2008 airing of his "Evening of Wonders" TV show.
Another amusing entry, written by Coops, relates to Obama's election.
In other news, Derren's new blog has about 20 posts per day (I might be exaggerating slightly - but it's a lot). Is this a case of beginning blogger's enthusiasm, or will DB maintain this pace?
The best entry so far is a long piece about upcoming projects, written by Derren himself. HIs next TV appearance will be a Christmas 2008 airing of his "Evening of Wonders" TV show.
Another amusing entry, written by Coops, relates to Obama's election.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Derren Talks to DigitalSpy -- Reveals Upcoming Projects
In an interview with DigitalSpy posted today, Derren Brown reveals the following about his upcoming programs:
[A] series that's going out next September, so it's quite early but we're getting started on it now. I don't quite know what the shape of it is yet. I think it'll be four one hours instead of six half hours. Before then, though, I'm doing some documentaries which will be going out in spring. They're documentaries concerned with people involved in paranormal areas. It's taking off a little from where Messiah left off. I've only done one of those at the moment, so I've got another few to do. The next series is out next September, so that's a way off yet. The next thing is the Christmas special which will be the stage show I did this year called 'An Evening of Wonders'.
Unfortunately, DB gives no hint about the status of his postponed SciFi Channel series. He does, however, iscuss a fan "who thought I was psychically assaulting them in their dreams." That's worth a read.
In other news, DB's assistant, Coops, has started a strange new blog: http://derrenbrownart.com/blog/
[A] series that's going out next September, so it's quite early but we're getting started on it now. I don't quite know what the shape of it is yet. I think it'll be four one hours instead of six half hours. Before then, though, I'm doing some documentaries which will be going out in spring. They're documentaries concerned with people involved in paranormal areas. It's taking off a little from where Messiah left off. I've only done one of those at the moment, so I've got another few to do. The next series is out next September, so that's a way off yet. The next thing is the Christmas special which will be the stage show I did this year called 'An Evening of Wonders'.
Unfortunately, DB gives no hint about the status of his postponed SciFi Channel series. He does, however, iscuss a fan "who thought I was psychically assaulting them in their dreams." That's worth a read.
In other news, DB's assistant, Coops, has started a strange new blog: http://derrenbrownart.com/blog/
Friday, October 31, 2008
Derren Tricks Booksellers: Or, The Phantom Derren Brown Book
Derren Brown has apparently been playing tricks of some kind on UK booksellers. The story comes from a blog called "Open a Bookshop, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?"
The blogger writes:
About 4-5 years ago,... there was a number of people in a short space of time who came into the shop to ask if we stocked a copy of the new book by Derren Brown. We looked on the computer and found that there wasn't anything available.... The customers were absolutely sure they'd seen something about the book on a poster or in a newspaper recently but couldn't remember the name of the book. Nothing unusual about this, but the strange thing is that every one of the customers who came in were so so sure they'd seen an advert about this book, they simply couldn't understand why we couldn't find it on the computer.... Katie and I have talked about this a few times and laughingly suggested that maybe these people had been hypnotised into thinking that the book existed.
But what's most provocative about the story is that several other booksellers report the same phenomenon -- see the comments section on the blog post.
What is going on here? Did Derren advertise a book, which was never released? Was this part of a trick? Any ideas?
The blogger writes:
About 4-5 years ago,... there was a number of people in a short space of time who came into the shop to ask if we stocked a copy of the new book by Derren Brown. We looked on the computer and found that there wasn't anything available.... The customers were absolutely sure they'd seen something about the book on a poster or in a newspaper recently but couldn't remember the name of the book. Nothing unusual about this, but the strange thing is that every one of the customers who came in were so so sure they'd seen an advert about this book, they simply couldn't understand why we couldn't find it on the computer.... Katie and I have talked about this a few times and laughingly suggested that maybe these people had been hypnotised into thinking that the book existed.
But what's most provocative about the story is that several other booksellers report the same phenomenon -- see the comments section on the blog post.
What is going on here? Did Derren advertise a book, which was never released? Was this part of a trick? Any ideas?
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