um.. you magicians need to get a life.

As an bystander( just trolling around the intertubes) i think this argument is pointless.

Arent you all sucking harry houdini's cock and calling it original?

Most of you build your original acts from the johnson smith catalogue in the back of the comics.

Admit it.

Which among you hasnt tried to "thrill" sombody with the linking rings?

Or better yet, "discover a new way to use a thumb tip."

Original?

Hardly.

Go back to fighting off clowns for your birthday party money.

Dear Walter, no those examples are not current.

I hired a publicist about five years ago and she sent out PR to agents that was not correct. I used he for about two months before releasing her. But thank you for finding those agents for me. Now I can send them (again) my current press info and hopefully they will update it.

And no, other than doing half my act (and portions from every other working magician's act in the country) Matt is not following my lead. He's chosen his own unique path to travel.

If I did what he is doing I'd definitely have a lot more work too but, despite the claims of you three, I actually am ethical.

Think, for a moment, if FISM felt I was breaking their rules, why would they ask me to be on the jury three times in a row?

I respect the opinions of people who post with their real names on all these blogs, even you Roland, but those hiding behind false names, and those who alter comments on their blogs and claim Sue-Anne wrote them (you know who I mean Cardman, and yes, I can still read your blog, whoever's IP you blocked, it wasn't mine) you really are making very foolish accusations.

You started attacking Shawn because he won and you felt he ripped off Russ Steven's act.

He didn't. You obviously don't believe what you're saying because if you did you'd lodged a complaint with FISM, not cry about it in here. Even Russ hasn't filed a complaint.

Then you accuse me of support Shawn because I'm his friend, and Roland even says "the contests must have been rigged".

There were 6 other judges. Even if I was to give Shawn 100, there are 6 other people who could counteract my score.

The FISM scoring system is transparent, the scores are published. The competition is over.

Try again next year.

Surely the point of contention is the effect not the routine. The audience see cards being manipulated to a song and most importantly revelations coinciding with the words of the song. Of course magicians being magicians concentrate on the methods and routine when the critical point is the effect. The effect including the use of the stool is the same.
Tim Ellis should respond to Cardmans direct point about the cups and balls routine !

Tim you're right. I don't think anyone will find YOU claiming World Champion on YOUR site.

That would be unethical and deceptive. And if we can't trust a FISM judge who can we trust? LOL.

But you used to. What changed? Were you found out? FISM told you off? Realized you were becoming a laughing stock? I'm mean it's common sense who can claim the title, but just in case , the rules of fism state clearly who can claim the title.


So, Heres one for the doubters.


http://tinyurl.com/l83ycg


Heres some more to save you some time.. these are current. Did these people make this up?
Anyone with half an understanding of dealing with agents and bookers know how this works. You supply the promotional material and they put it up on their site.

http://tinyurl.com/nwy9gs

http://tinyurl.com/lt7sea

http://tinyurl.com/koh7jm


So, you're happy to feed out false advertising and now are still happy to profit from it.

This debate has moved on from who copied whos act and has become one of the credibility of the participants.

Oh yes, you mentioned Mat Hollywood. I agree. He claims some pretty odd things too. Perhaps he's just been following the example you set.

Tim Ellis wrote "As much as I hate wasting time responding to these stupid allegations. If you can find me referring to myself as WORLD CHAMPION please let me know and I'll delete it immediately.

On the other hand, if you are serious in your intention to correct false claims, why don't you email Matt Hollywood and ask him to stop calling himself "Australia's Comedy Magic Champion, Gold Award Winner of Australia's Magician of the Year" as no such awards even exist."


Nice choice of words .

No, you're right. I don't think anyone will find YOU saying "World Champion"
on YOUR site. That would be unethical and deceptive. And if we can't trust a FISM judge who can we trust? LOL. It's common sense that you can't call your self World Champion, but just in case you don't have any, the fism rules are fairly clear.


But you used to. What changed? Were you found out? FISM told you off? Realised you were becoming a laughing stock? That no one would take you seriously anymore?

Here's one for the doubters.

http://tinyurl.com/l83ycg

Here's some more. these are current. Did these people make this up?
Anyone with half an understanding of dealing with agents and bookers
know how this works. You supply the promotional material and they put
it up on their site.


http://tinyurl.com/nwy9gs

http://tinyurl.com/lt7sea

http://tinyurl.com/koh7jm


So you were happy to feed out false advertising yourself,
and now are happy to profit from it remaining out their unchallenged.

Yes, perhaps people should spend some time trying to get Mat Hollywood to stick to the truth in his advertising material. But perhaps he is just following the example you set? Has that not ever occured to you?

This "debate" has moved on from who copied whos act and has become one of the credibility of the partcipants. You've come out of this badly.

hey james , do you have eyes? can you read the posts from civilize people that type not kidy atacks, try it, if cardman had something against tim, he wouldnt have posted his complete podcast and your post wouldnt be here saying that horrendous acussation, of course he did it intentionally so people would notice how retard you are tim, sorry, sorry, how retard he hes and contradicts himself in everything he does and saids.............that was a twisted strategy on your part cardman, you should be ashamed of yourself, leaving tim to talk, and show his low IQ.

look james (tim) , he hasnt block anything, only editing the posts of harsh kidy atacks from you, come on, cardman proved you one after one all your questions regarding the history on card rep (card rap) from the 1930s, he gave you a free course, and he proved to you how you supiosely came up with your original stuff, i listen to your podcast tim, and i found how you stole lines from mago parra, regarding max maven to make you look good, i know this is lots of fun tim, but you cant compete, your IQ is to low, i know your bored, but cmon, please restrain of playing with the big boys, i dont know how you can increase IQ, i have heard that on harvard they do this exercises called anagrams (not like our magic ones) and they suposely push the limits on our cerebrum, try that, and if you improve, wait, wait, we still have to help you in your witz, mmmhh, how can we help you there, i know, go to your closest bar full of hecklers, and do magic for them, get down from stage and clowing around and dressing like jeannie, thats how bill malone got his witz, facing the fire of improvisation, ok, once you get that witz done for come back, ooohhh, im still forgetting one thing, you need to read dale carnegie, how to influence people, you cant go around the world calling people idiot, thats a no no, in human relations, so just drop your internet atacks a notch, oohh and one more thing, use art of war tactic, LOOK WEAK, AND HIDE THE FORCE, this means dont let them know your IQ is low, its like our main deception tool, "telling people the end of the magic effect, before "
well, i think that if you follow this steps you will be ok, and you will improve, if you have questions, just post them here, and please continue with your blog, ok? remember this is fun for bizarro, coperfield, and big names like that.

I notice Cardman has blocked Ellis & Webster from commenting on his blog. I'm surprised Tim wasted any time at all responding to Cardman's accusations. Cardman continues to attack them both with ridiculous claims from the safety of his anonymity, but he obviously doesn't want to be proven to be wrong in front of his followers

Can you imagine his outcry if he was blocked from his "freedom of speech" here at iTricks?

Smells of hypocrisy to me

Watch out or you'll be the next Weekly Magic Failure

you sadi it wizely bizarro, this is wasy to much fun for us, maybe the internet was menat for magicians having fun, and porn, who knows

I have to comment on a few things here cuz' well, it's too much fun.

"Biggest award in magic" was stated above by someone. Outside of magic, you know what he won? A really nice paper weight. Personally I am more proud of the fact I have NEVER won an award and I get paid to perform for real people who enjoy what I do and don't write slurs on the internet about me.

At this point, I find it amusing that we have run out of things to complain about in the initial argument and have now began to turn inwards and start attacking each other. It's like.. I dunno.. CANCER!!!

I have known Shawn Farquhar for over thirty years and in all of that time found Shawn to be a person who never hesitated to credit an originator of a trick or routine, a most sharing individual with a wealth of knowledge. I find it difficult to believe that anyone would doubt his honesty when he maintains that he came up with his "Shape of my Heart" routine independent of Russ Stevens. In my opinion: the main difference between Russ's routine and Shawn's is that Russ has an act of card fan productions, whereas Shawn presented an ambitious card routine. The music is purely incidental. The ongoing personal attacks upon Shawn and his style of entertainment is totally uncalled for. Shawn had an original presentation and deserved his win.

Dear Gord,

This is now going around in circles isn't it? I can see why other threads have been locked. I will say again, that I stand by every word that I've written.

I think it was you on the cafe that quoted Shawn on the Genii forum saying that we had come up with the idea at the same time (plus the other wording that you added above which was posted by Shawn and was a private email), something he knows is not true and that was, I think, my first post on the matter to put that matter straight. I believe you accepted that in your reply.

As for the fact of 'maybe Shawn' not watching or being impressed by the tape and therefore forgetting he ever saw me. I know that to be incorrect, as Shawn made several observations to Reg afterwards that he's told me about.

I think of particular interest to you might be this article by Tyler Wilson who I respect very much. He is spot on:

http://www.vanishingincmagic.com/clog/posts/stung/

As is Duncan Trillo at:
www.magicweek.co.uk

I would also suggest that there are now also a lot more people that know my side of the situation and because of that, now the next time they watch Shawn Farquhar, his performance will not quite be the same will it? I guess that's just a fact of life too though.

Best,
Russ

i give up, gord boyes, makes so much sense, and convince me, i just cant handle this MAGICIANS ARE SO convincent, and they ramble words with such a conviction,
i would recomed every magician here, if your down on your luck and need fast money, go sell use cars, that talent of deception will help you get the money.
someone here, amybe it was me, i change nicks every 5 seconds, stated that they should toss a coin, and leave it at that, its to damn hard to get the facts. peace brothers

Russ, im so amaze at what you just said, and i can clearly see that your not lying, i tell you not as an NLP trainer, but a follower of the "lie to me" series, i truly have to consider again my posture, and said that your the winner on this debate, the facts are and remain the same, and becuase you have the video of your perfomance first on a live show, that makes you a winner, and my farquar had showed a video of him during an act prior to your show, i would have to reconsider my posture.

So the evidence points out clearly that farquar just use a song that you use, and the teatrics, and thats unethical, but cmon, i do magic all the time using lines from all the great magicians, i use teatrics from all our heroes:
- who does the paper over the head gag/effect, do you think slydinis granson are worried and pointing names? well maybe, if i win fism with that.
- can i have the pen back, thats how i got it.

i think that the main truth here is that these 2 fantastic magicians, are fighting over who contribute something original. and i would sugest to farquar to give up on this tresure, and confess that he did use that original gem from when he saw that video or show, and keep his fism statue, and brag that he is a champion-
and russ should apoligize for not wining a fism act with that routine.
So in the latest podcast the question was asked to bizarro,
¿what can we learn from this????' easy, LETS MAKE A NEW RULE IN MAGIC FOR FISM COMPETITIONS ONLY: if that material hasnt been used in fism, you can use it, in that stage, even if its not yours, on the other hand, if you use that original material on a perfomance outside the fism, you can flame the guy, point with finger, and make a fuzz of how they stole your act-
i tought that the first to publish, or performed an act and all its original structure had the right for the win, but it seams its more dificult then i tought.

Russ, I believe I was the first one to post the message that you sent to Shawn at some point in the past. I found it while I was researching this issue after receiving an email from someone calling themselves Jim McDonald, so I don't think Shawn has been "passing around" correspondence which you seem to have intended as being private. Having said that, I don't see any issue with posting something intended as private if it helps defend against allegations of wrong doing.

I posted it because I felt it was relevant to the issue at hand. It shows that this matter has been discussed in the past with the information that was available at the time. While you point out that you feel you have the "same presentational idea", there are many who disagree with that and feel there is little similarity other than the music. Shawns thought that they were too similar was based on second hand information and before he had seen your routine.

Jim Mcdonald has failed to respond to my emails asking for more information about who he is. I prefer to know who I am corresponding with when I deem it a serious matter, but while it's easy to find information about most of us, he has hidden behind anonymous postings. I can only conclude that whoever he is, he has an axe to grind with Shawn. He is a troll and has no credibility.

You have new information from Reg Donnelly which you say proves that what Shawn has been saying is untrue. Reg says that he and Shawn shared the cost of some conversion and both ended up with a copy. Shawn says it's not so. It would therefore be just as valid for me to say that the information I have from Shawn proves that what Reg is saying is untrue. We can agree that they both can't be correct and I would encourage those two gentleman to discuss their recollections and hopefully come to an agreement.

For the sake of argument, let's say that Reg is correct. If Shawn ended up with a copy of the tape, did he watch it? You are obviously an established and skilled magician but I don't know my history that well, how well known you were 15 years ago and don't know if Shawn would have been motivated to watch the tape (I have boxes of DVD's and tapes, many gifted to me, which I have not viewed). Maybe he watched it and just doesn't remember it because he wasn't that impressed (that is not intended as a slight against you, there are many successfull acts that I don't care for, it's a matter of opinion and taste). Maybe he's just not that into you.

You feel that Shawn has acted in an unethical manner, but that is not consistent with the way he has conducted himself throughout his career in so many ways. He has offered a reasonable explanation to every accusation and allegation thrown at him. I know you're not hearing what you want to hear, but sometimes the truth just has to suffice.

Shawn has done a great job of promoting himself and I'm sure that there are some people who will see you do your act and feel that you're using that song because you saw Shawn do it and were inspired by him. We all know that's not true, so it's unfortunate that some people will have that thought, while it is unfortunate, it's just a fact of life.

Regards,
Gord Boyes
President - IBM Ring 92

@coin heres the link about the egomaniac link, enjoy
http://magichampion.wordpress.com/
heres another link you might enjoy, maybe your mr right for him coin
http://advice.eharmony.com.au/?page=homepages/view&username=Farquar

Dear Big,

As much as I hate wasting time responding to these stupid allegations. If you can find me referring to myself as WORLD CHAMPION please let me know and I'll delete it immediately.

On the other hand, if you are serious in your intention to correct false claims, why don't you email Matt Hollywood and ask him to stop calling himself "Australia's Comedy Magic Champion, Gold Award Winner of Australia's Magician of the Year" as no such awards even exist.

Hello Everyone,

As people seem to love posting private emails between myself and Shawn Farquhar from years ago, which he has obviously been passing around, here you go for one last time:

I WROTE:

"I wouldn't want to ever fall out, and of course, as discussed before, I know that we've simply had the same presentational idea. In fact when a few people first told me of yours, I checked out what you were doing and found it to be obviously different to the extent that a rip-off wouldn't do.".

SF had told ME this in 2005 and being an honest guy I was wiling to believe him. Even then I'm still pointing out it's the same presentational idea. The rest was simply over-politeness on my part.

It was only after this point (recently) that other information was passed onto me which proved that what he was saying was untrue. He had done this for years.

It is not good enough quoting my 'kind' email that I sent years ago when so many new facts have recently come to light.

The last part that you've put my name to:
"I had a blast at Blackpool despite the Compere ..." were not mine although you've attributed them to me?

On another note, Tim Ellis has behaved disgracefully throughout this debate. He has resorted to posting parts of private emails from me in public, posted links to videos making fun of me and even tried to misquote me to shut the debate down on most forums. As a FISM judge I would have expected better and I think he has done nothing to enhance the name of FISM or himself throughout this matter.

Once again. I stand by every word that I've written in my recent posts.

Best,
Russ

Walter,
I am unable to find where Tim has billed himself as a "world champion".
He HAS won a silver medal (1994) and a special jury prize (1991) at FISM. He was named a Teenage Champion Magician of Australia, Champion Close Up Magician of Australia, and Champion Stage Magician of Australia. He is also a Guinness World Record Holder.

His promotional material mentions he won two awards at the 'FISM World Championships of Magic' and that he is an Australian National Champion.

Where does he publicize himself as a FISM World Champion Magician?
Oh. It DOESN'T. You're a liar. Or so quick to jump on a bashing bandwagon that you can't be bothered to read accurately.

It's not enough for you people (Roland and his ilk) to just have a disagreement with someone. You have to tear down, pile on, and try to destroy. Finally, when you run out of ammo you just plain make stuff up.

And why do you imbeciles do this? Because you jealous. You feel left out. You know magic too, but somehow you aren't one of the "popular" kids.

You don't want to pay your dues, so you tear down. You're unable to create, or craft, or do positive things yourself so you bash others, spend hours pointing out (and making up) problems, then pretend you have contributed to the magical discourse. You haven't.
You like to think people have a problem with you because you're "too raw" or "too edgy". But that's not true. You aren't annoying because you're pushing buttons or skewering sacred cows. You're annoying because you're like a spoiled child in a restaurant. You can't contribute anything because you're too busy trying to soak up any attention you can get, negative or otherwise.

You guys are pathetic.

I think Mr Ellis would be taken more seriously by more people around the world if he bothered sticking to the rules of FISM himself and refrained from calling himself a world champion in his publicity material, or perhaps judges are allowed to bend the rules a bit??

mago parra past away a phew minutes ago, and his last words were handed to me to post here, he said before dying that it was important fact for the case of farquar. rest in peace mago parra (this drama was learned from tim using examples like kids beaten in australia and magicians having atacks in plaines to win an argument)

letter from russ 02/29/08

I wouldn't want to ever fall out, and of course, as discussed before, I know that we've simply had the same presentational idea. In fact when a few people first told me of yours, I checked out what you were doing and found it to be obviously different to the extent that a rip-off wouldn't do. "

Russ Stevens

I had a blast at Blackpool despite the Compere ...

Cheers,

Russ Stevens

So Michell,

Do you think I was the only judge? What about the other six on the jury? Didn't you tell Shawn to bribe them as well? Bribing just one wouldn't have been enough...

Don't be surprised if people call you an idiot when you continue to act like one.

amen, i confess, i mett farquar on a convention, and i was overwhealm about his love over his daughter, and i hd a vision that he would be one of our top performers in the near future. and years later, i tell him to bribe tim , and make a bad double lift, and begin a controversial publicity stunt, and thats why i erased all negative steatments and may the gigs foolow farquar. i cant say i know russ, but he seams like a good guy, a little jelous on his part for farquar fame, if he didnt like the publicity, and all the fame, he wouldnt have posted nothing, and continue to go on teh road with paul harris doing nothing, and enjoying nature
i want to thank everyone taht participaded in this reality show, and may our main actors have the fame that they deserved.

How to gain major publicity as a magical entertainer.

I am about to reveal a secret.

Russ Stevens and Shawn Farquhar seem to have already discovered the secret to getting world wide publicity for themselves and their respective magic acts.

Are you ready? Here it is.

1. Do a YouTube search for an act/routine that is similar to yours.(the two acts/routines do not even need to be close to the same)
2. Contact the magician in the video you found and ask him if he would like to collaborate with you in creating a controversy.
3. Have either yourself or your new partner post a vicious comment on the internet accusing the other of stealing your idea for the act/routine. (Must be vicious enough to elicit rebuttals from supporters of both of you)
4. Keep close tabs on the resulting debate and when it appears that the debate is beginning to taper off quickly step in with more of yours and your partner’s comments (make them equally controversial as your first were) to keep the debate wide open.

If the debate is sufficiently interesting you will find that more and more websites will pick up the story and poof, next thing you know you have “World Wide Publicity”.

Granted that this blog comment is entirely satirical but if it has helped either of these two fine performers or myself "book a show" then my time has been well spent.

Well, since you don't seem to like him very much I am sure you wouldn't be in one anothers company often. So, I am willing to guess that your 20 years of 'knowing' him doesn't add up to a lot...since you can't even spell his name right...

Nerden - I have known Fraquhar for twenty years... I know the REAL Shawn Farquhar and I stand by my words. It is you that does not know the real boy. I have never met anyone who likes himself more than S.F.

Your rant is typical of the VMC Lovefest for this ethically challenged performer.

What a great blog. All this friggin fightin and it has nothing to do w/ Criss Angel. I do BeLieve it is a first... ha.

How does it feel? Both parties accused of lying, stealin, cheatin. Geesh Sopranos ain't got nothin over Magicians. Hard crowd.

p.s. Justin, did you get my email?

ok, i have the solution to this dilema, im fliping a coin, and will post the outcome at teh cafe amd all over the net, here goes, heads farquar, and russ tails....wait, lets make a post on whos going to be tails, that could be something more to argue about....geez, i think im an idiot, maybe it makes me laugh so hard, thanks itricks for ispiring my humor.
here goes the toss...........and the winnner is.....................FARQUAR, MY BUDY FROM CANADA, HE WON, and everything said about him must be taken back. and for have competed in this great coin toss, you will get your free video , just go this link to claim your prize http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU_nOtD7acQ&feature=fvst
administrators, i think we are finish here, please close the thread

That is the direction the thread is based on, hook, line and sinker.

The point is ethics are a matter of opinion with theatrics. Personally if I knew about Russ' routine I would never perform it at something like FISM. For laymen and whatnot great. Even Ellis will adjust his ethics as per his own friends and peers. Doing a Cups and Balls to Peggy Sue and Buddy Holly glasses is in poor taste. I think it would be a severe challenge to try and say one is ok in Shawns case while the other isn't. Problem is Ellis is the poster boy for intellectual theft. Yet sat in a judge's chair while saying nothing, and we can assume gave Shawn the highest score of the other performers...after all they are buddies.

Looks like he gave up the internet BTW. So, I doubt he will respond.

The Internet WAS kind of based on visiting forums to
launch petty, childish attacks. :) anen
look yeeris, im not an idiot, tim did understand, what? the message was aboutm regarding to the music , HE USES on his acts , and i doubt he paids a skuat, making him a hipocrit and lier, where he talks to the world about piracy, and there he sits being a judge of a material that we saw in 1993, and even makes him a winner. why, am i an idiot up to here?

@brendan, like farquar said, im not responding to members who hide behind an invisible nick, i bet your that 12 year old retarded kid, and im not going to give you more publicity and atention. im a working profesional in magic, and kids behind the youtube era dont count, so @brenda (a girls name in my country) SHHHHH, WWW.SHHHHH. oopps i stole Dr. evils line, but its ok, because i can use it in the next fism, and everyone would no is Dr. evil, but because he didnt pattent those lines, its ok.

Tim,

Please don't respond to Cardman. He's just trying to push this thread in a different direction.

Thanks,
Yeeris

Brendon. The question is rather simple. Instead of saying "It's not the same", state how it's different, and that analogy is flawed.

Card Rap is not changing subjects. A few used that example in a tone that it was a given that "card rap" is "Ellis'". He just made a video to sell using those theatrics. In no way was he the first to perform it publicly.

I am indeed keeping the topic on track. Usually when confronted with the true grit of the subject at hand Ellis is fairly known to not respond to that question. Still, my previous post should be responded to by Ellis.

Wow

Cardman - what has card rap to do with this? Stop trying to change the topic. And your analogy of the Peggy Sue cups and balls is flawed, very very flawed. I'll leave you to figure out why, you're the clever one after all.

Mago Para - Are you 12 or mentally deficient?

Russ - Nice to see you finally balls up and come out with the accusations you have made privately, got any proof to rebut Shawn with? Are you going to lodge a complaint with FISM? If you truly believe you are right you'll follow this thru', but what will you do if the ruling goes against you, will you continue to make these accusations? And the question on everyones lips "If this really is true why hasn't Russ spoken up previously? Is he simply trying to get some attention from Shawn's win?"

Can I do that "Peggy Sue" routine I talked about with the Buddy Holly Glasses then at FISM? Can you please compare how that would be different? (Try not to avoid that question if you can). A rational response would be nice for everyone here.

I said nothing about piracy, where did that come from? Intellectual theatrical theft is the topic here, not psychical product. You've been avidly against this type of theft for years and is wide open for the world to witness.

If anything, the best we can hope for is that you understand it's not a question of policing or waving a flag of what people can and can't do. That line is too thin to define. As your showing to everyone here even you will "adjust" those morals to your own tastes depending on the situation that serves your own opinion at the time. That's basically the definition of hypocrisy.

If you can simply state how Shawn's act is different than someone going into FISM doing the "Peggy Sue" with Buddy Holly glasses cups and balls we'd all be satisfied.

Mago Parra,

Yes we pay royalties to use the music and Sue-Anne is the official Jannie lookalike.

Go sit with Cardman and Roland and figure out something fresh to challenge me on.

And yes, I am against theft and piracy. In the Russ vs Shawn case, there is no piracy. Get over it

Mago Parra, quit posting. You're an idiot and you're making the rest of us who are trying to defend Russ Stevens look bad.

Yeeris

That would be true I admit as most know you simply became the best model by far for things I pretty much despise. Still you judged the comp, and as I stated many times I think the judges should be mainly shunned in this case. You need to step up a little and realize that you played a very large part in the whole ordeal of defending Shawn's act while claiming to be thoroughly against theft. You by your own design chose to be the team mascot for such years ago. You should somewhat see the validity here. You wanted the role, now you have to take the heat upon the actions of what you've preached for years.

That's not an attack, it's the debate at hand that made it to Itricks and many other sites.

Cardman, I know how much you enjoy ragging on me. I see it in your blog and I see your comments on my YouTube clips. This thread is about Shawn and Russ.

Please start another specifically for attacking me, okay?

can you apoligize tim? for offending me in front of all this kind people, or ill call the duo MACARENA composers del RIO, Cotton Eye Joe red nex, and i dream of jeannie trademark holder, and ill tell them that you said that it was a plesure doing buisness with them, and hope the royalties you paid for using there music was suficient.

im an idiot? lets watch some footage to see whats an idiot , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUbLCsvnnhY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdeadmagicianssociety.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fm%3D200905%26paged%3D8&feature=player_embedded
do i dress like a transvesti?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyC1uVNsn6s&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fdeadmagicianssociety.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fm%3D200905%26paged%3D8&feature=player_embedded
i rest my case on whos an idiot

i been exercizing my nlp skills, and trust me guys, when someone calls you an idiot, its that i hit a nerve. but ok, im an idiot for any reason that tim has to ofend me, but im prety sure im not a hipocrit--- i dont go around the world talking about piracy, and at the same time:

1.- LOS DEL RIO, a spanish duo, the ones that created la MACARENA song, and they comment that they were down on their luck. ¿did you pay royalties to use there song??
2.-'I Dream of Jeannie' is a registered trademark of CPT Holdings and is a Sidney Sheldon . ohh here your wife on this clip, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53u_C_ggwfA&feature=related
did you pay royalties??
3. did you pay Rednex - Cotton Eye Joe, for using there music on your act?? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yoxQR2Eogg&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.magicunlimited.com%2Findex.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26view%3Darticle%26id%3D480%26Itemid%3D269&feature=player_embedded
please apoligize for calling me an idiot, and we forget the past, and move on

I'll say it again. Ellis was not the first to do a "card rap". Take it to the bank. Ellis was just the first to decide to make money on it.

Mago Parra - You are an idiot.

Banester - Yes, I was shocked when 'Card Rap' came out, there are a lot more similarities between 'Card Rap' and 'Six Card Rap' than Russ & Shawn's routines, but I had to accept that it was independent creation.

Yeeris - So it's obvious to you that Shawn is a thief? He's a very bad thief because he changed almost the entire routine he (allegedly) stole!

@justin said these wize words:

To be fair Tim, The Internet WAS kind of based on visiting forums to
launch petty, childish attacks. :)

payne, please dont ruin this moment for us, we all understand that we are backstabbing a kind man like farquar, but it has some reason to exist.

1.- magicians can engage in something, and participate in drama, conflict, if you would utilize this great stuff in your magic, people will love you, and they wont get bored.................in ither words, we are having fun, with our unique reality show, where russ and farquar are the stars, and we are the observers with strings, that could manipulate the opinion, like farquar just did in his response, using his sharp witz, and good humor and charisma.

2.- look at it this way, all this competing thing is just stupid, max maven states that art cant be judged, so whats up with proving whos better between artists. didnt you listen to farquar confess that he only does this competition bit to get more money, HURRA, for farquar, he loves magic, and even understands that this post aint serious, and he knows how to deal it intelectualy (@farquar: " I cannot reply to this blog as it is blocked here in China, but with the help of a friend I am able to read the writings of this vicious individual and his friends with no credentials other than their right to use the internet. I will make no comments to these people as that would only help them in their quest for celebrity) in other words , farquar is playing and having fun with this, its a great game of smarts and witz, where you use your friends, internet, etc. wow, its a like a spy movie. by the way, i like your site payne, congratulations http://www.masterpaynemagic.com/

Wow, some people really need to get a life. I've just finished watching the two videos of the acts in question and can't see, apart from the music and the stool, any similarity at all. But perhaps I blinked and missed the part where Shawn pulled out a card sword. Having once won a gold medal at a major magic convention that was sparsely attended that year I know how it feels to have an award cheapened by what is perceived as a lack of fair or challenging competition. I was fearful that this same sort of attack would be inflicted upon the winner this FISM as I heard that attendance was far below average. But I was not expecting this level of vindictive mendacity with all of the unwarranted character assassination and deluded charges of thievery. Yes, Shawn is no Fred Kaps and better magi have taken home the Grand Prix. conversely worse acts and performers have won FISM in the past. This is the nature of competition. Not every race that is won sets a world record but every race has a winner. The winner is the victor at that place and time not the best that ever was or will be. So all you finger flinger bemoaning the fact that Shawn isn't the greatest card worker that ever their was just get over yourselves. Shawn was the best that was there at that date and time and that's all that counts. If you think you can do better get yourselves a sponsor and make your reservations for Blackpool.

i think my friend farquar used to much structure, to much stage charisma in his line of defense to convince us. So in my eyes, russ is still winning by 5 points

I believe Shawn has posted on The Magic Cafe what should be the final word, other than some apologies to him.

It seems to me that all the people that know Shawn well have defended him and had nothing but good things to say about him, and the few that have decided to attack him really don't know him. That says a lot.

http://themagiccafe.com/forums/viewtopic.php?topic=323977&forum=2&69&start=60#8

What a difference a week makes. A few day ago I was surrounded by friends and colleagues as I experienced a dream come true. Now all that seems so distant.

I am writing from China where I have been since FISM. Internet here is censored and I have been quite busy working on projects here in Asia and spending time with my Wife and Daughter.

I am unable to view most of the sites I normally access like Facebook and YouTube. I have however received a number of emails from friends posting a link to a blog where I am being attacked not only for my magic but for who I am.

I cannot reply to this blog as it is blocked here in China, but with the help of a friend I am able to read the writings of this vicious individual and his friends with no credentials other than their right to use the internet. I will make no comments to these people as that would only help them in their quest for celebrity.

I will how ever address others who have posted in this thread and the blog with the truth and not the fiction that has been left unchallenged until now.

Jim McDonald:

First congratulations for championing what you believe is a mis-justice, no matter how misguided.

On the blog you wrote:

"...you really can't compare Shawn to other FISM winners such as Fred Kaps."

You are absolutely correct. No one can compare to Fred Kaps ... that's why he won three Grand Prix's. duh!

Next you wrote later on iTricks:

"This IS a serious issue as we have a well known magician winning the biggest award in magic with a routine that he saw somebody else do, and is really taking us ALL FOR FOOLS."

This is a lie. I had never seen Russ perform his routine until years after I had established a reputation with mine and was confronted by a number of British magicians who accused me of stealing Russ's routine following my performance at FFFF in New York. They in fact said the routine was identical and that I was a thief. I immediately contacted Russ Stevens to confront him as I believed he had stolen my routine based on the information I was given by his friends. I sent Russ a video link to my performance and he suggested I buy his newly released DVD on the Biggest Secrets of Magic which included a performance video of his routine. I bought the DVD and watched his routine which had nothing in common other than the music and a stool (which by the way I did not use at FISM 2009). I wrote Russ and said it was obvious he had never seen mine and he agreed that I had not seen his either and it was a simple matter of independent creation. I though the mater had ended. Over the years I have corrected friends who have called or emailed to tell me of Russ and his theft of my routine. In each Case I explained how we had independently created the routines and were OK, with each others use of the same song with different routines and that Russ was not a thief, but an ethical magician.

Mr. McDonald also made a post in regards to my getting standing ovations on the ship using the song "stand up for the champions" by Right Said Fred. My friend and I are having problems finding the post anymore so I suspect it my have been removed... hmmm

Regardless:

Your friend, who recently cruised on NCL, is either mistaken, lying or a figment of your own imagination. The video you viewed on YouTube with the music of Right Said Fred is only for promotional purposes. That music has NEVER been used to close a single show in my professional career. Anyone who has actually witnessed my show will tell you this is a fact and that you, your friend or your imagination is fabricating a lie to fuel your initial anger at me for an act you accuse me of committing that is just as false. I have in fact received over 500 standing ovations onboard the vessel of Norwegian Cruise line and the only reason they stood was they felt compelled to because of a connection I made with my audience and my unique style of performance of magic.

dfield wrote:

"However, this should not be about a persons personality. We can't like everybody or their style of performance.

We are getting away from the main point. Did FISM award first place to somebody who took an idea from another person.

Many people are getting caught up in the personality of Shawn Farquhar. This has nothing to do with his character. It has to do with his routine winning first place at FISM. "

You are right. This should not be about personalities. Yet I have been called "hubristic asshole", "self-opinionated shitface", "grinning, presumptuous bastard' and my favorite "waste of humanity". I am saddened that these comments will be forever available on the internet.

FISM awarded me a prize for an original routine that involved multiple decks switches, an ambitious card routine to music which I have performed for fourteen years and my signed card in sealed deck effect which was inspired by the original plot of the Dean of American Magicians, George Schlinder.

korttihai_82 wrote this interesting post and noted he was fellow Fin and felt his friend, Kristina Nivala should have won:

"Its also worth noting that in everything, there is also lots of politics going on. Farquhar has been 2nd in FISM for at least 3? times??? He has won pretty much every competition out there and last year he has been in pretty much every possible magic convention known to a man just to make sure he is known... Its worth noting that when "magic superstar" meets "not so well known" guys in competitions, do you really expect that they will get same judging..."

I resent that you think politics had anything to do with the contest. I have "won pretty much every competition out there" but have lost ones too, such as the IBM/SAM last year in Louisville. I laughed out loud when you wrote "magic superstar". Are you implying that the other competitors are the "not so well known" guys? Backstage on my preliminary day was a who's who's of outstanding acts who I am proud to call friends. In fact it looked like the dressing room of the Ron McMillian contest in December. As an aside I would like to publicly state ... your friend Kristian is an excellent magician and a fellow 4F'er and I wish him nothing but the best in the future.

And now for the one you have all been waiting for ...

Russ Stevens:

Russ wrote on the Cafe:

"Shawn did NOT come up with his routine when I did. The fact is, that I was doing this routine for at least TWO years before him and have the proof to back that up. Shawn was very nice in his emails and I accepted that we'd just had the same presentational idea ..."

Russ I never claimed to performing to Sting's song for as long as you. I understand from our emails that you found the song on the CD which I believe came out in 1993. I discovered the song on a video of the movie Leon which was sometime in the Spring of 1995. I did not see the movie in a theatre but rented the video. This makes your discovery earlier than mine. What I have said repeatedly is that I found the music and created my routine independently and in fact years before I had ever even heard of you.

In a new thread on the Cafe dated August 6, 2009 you have written:

"The gentleman who had the tape (who lived in Vancouver) decided to get it converted from PAL to NTSC (the USA format). It turns out that Shawn Farquhar offered to pay half the cost of the conversion, so that they could both have a copy of the tape to watch. The gentleman said that he has felt guilty ever since, and that he thinks it is time for Shawn to own up."

I know nothing of this and in fact owned a PAL/NTSC conversion machine through most of the nineties (in fact it is still in my spare bedroom), so why would I offer to pay to have something converted? Who is this well respected person you are being so cryptic about?

You then write:

"I have no intention of contacting Shawn Farquhar directly again as previous emails have proved it to be a pointless and empty experience."

Russ, I have replied with honesty and integrity to every email sent by you.

Russ wrote on iTricks:

"Tim knows full well that what I was saying was that I wasn’t the one making the accusations at the time, it was Shawn Fawquar that was doing that. Therefore, unlike you Tim, he obviously thought they were close enough too."

No Russ I did not think they were close enough. In fact I was told by your friends at the FFFF convention that the routines were identical. I had never seen or heard of you for that matter! I contacted you based on their statements and soon discovered the routine had nothing similar other than the use of the same music. As I wrote above I thought we had settled this dispute. In fact you wrote, "I wouldn't want to ever fall out, and of course, as discussed before, I know that we've simply had the same presentational idea. In fact when a few people first told me of yours, I checked out what you were doing and found it to be obviously different to the extent that a rip-off wouldn't do." Now you appear to be upset that I used my routine to compete and win an award. You have also since written you were uncomfortable by my use of a stool ... what?


On the Cafe you wrote:

"... what really lifts them above the norm IS the staging and use of the music. To not understand that, it to not understand the performance of magic. I'd also like to point out that even Shawn considered the routines were too close as it was he who initially was accusing me."

First you are correct in the fact the staging and music are what make our routines. It is also true that our staging is different as pointed out above. As to your claim the I consider our "routines were too close". Nothing is further from the truth and I believed I cleared that up in paragraph above.


In response to Tim Ellis you wrote:

"The only time I've publicly spoken about this was because of Shawn's comments about me to friends at conventions accusing me of copying his idea. I'm completely 100% ethical and the thought of anyone watching my routine and thinking I had stolen Shawn's horrifies me. I suppose at least people now know the truth."

Your post implies that I have made the accusation of theft more than once. You and I are both aware that I have only accused you once and that was when your friends accused me of theft at the FFFF convention. We communicated via email and you indicated all was well. I too am 100% ethical and to read your post that claims I have repeatedly accused you is wrong and you should clarify this in your reply to this post. This is not the act of an honest person. This post is deceptive and wrong.


Russ also wrote:

"when I did finally see his version 'live' in Blackpool a few years ago, the style of performance and staging was uncomfortably close."

Russ there is nothing close about yours and my style of performance. As for staging I use a giant screen, a video camera, a signed card and sit to the extreme left of the stage. I have never seen you perform 'live' but from the DVD you suggested I buy and the YouTube video you posted it appears you sit center stage, use an unsigned card, no screen nor camera and have a card sword as a finale.

In a reply to Tim Ellis you wrote:

"I wouldn’t expect 2,000 people cheering Shawn’s win to be shouting my name. Shawn has spent the last ten years promoting this routine as his signature piece, despite knowing about mine and I’m just setting the record straight."

My math shows that I have been presenting the routine for closer to fourteen years and it is my signature piece. Your routine is yours and you can promote it as you feel, but mine is mine. Original and independent of you. I'm just setting the record straight. Since our initial confrontation I have never said you are not entitled to your presentation. To do so would be wrong, as it is for you to say the same to me.

"Unlike you guy’s, I’m not a serial magic competitor and unlike you guy’s, I don’t feel the need to mention my achievements to anyone that’ll listen. There’s nothing wrong with a little self-promotion, but as I told you before Tim, that’s just not my style. I’ve worked as a professional magician for over thirty-two years and have always let my work speak for itself. I’ve had no shortage of that, so I guess I must be doing something right."

I wasn't aware that I was a "serial magic competitor". I have done my share of contests but since 2003 I have been in just five. Unlike you I do feel the need to promote my accomplishments which allows me to ask high fees and work where and when I want, so I guess I must be doing something right.

Finally you wrote:

"Since Shawn's win, I've been shocked by the number of emails I've received and some of the aggressive feelings that were vented towards him. People have sent links and even photographs with cartoon bubbles, which I believe have been doing the rounds. Personally, I just feel sorry for the guy."

I too would be shocked if I were to receive emails from people with aggressive feelings being vented at an individual who does not deserve their wrath. You could easily have stated the truth and facts as I have laid them out and the issue would be mute. Personally, you should feel sorry.


Russ, you closed your post with this paragraph:

"I don't even dream of comparing myself to such a great technician and creator as people like Roy Walton, but like him I also smile when doing my DVD productions, working with great people who I consider real friends, performing and have a great life with someone that I truly love. No awards, no bulls**t, no thieving. Just a guy that loves magic."

I'm not sure why Mr Walton's name was brought into this discussion? I too would never compare myself to such a brilliant magician and man. I just recently had the chance to meet him in person and loved the time we spent together. Just like you and Roy Walton, I love performing, creating and sharing my magic. My Wife, Daughter and I travel the globe, get paid to do what we love ... lots of awards, no bulls**t, no thieving.

I'm not sure why you have decided now to protest something you had already settled. Your emails to me seemed civil and understanding. I heard nothing from you when I competed in 2006 in Sweden with the routine. Suddenly, after I win this award and am being attacked by a small group of vicious bloggers, you choose to open a discussion you basically closed. Why would you not have address this when I saw you at Blackpool?

I want to thank the people, friends and strangers, who have stepped forward to defend me in this forum. I am touched by the hundreds of communiqués of support.

I have spent my life as a magician trying to do the best I can. Not every show is my best but I strive to improve and elevate the art I love. I do not tear down others. A friend recently told me that "burning down your neighbors home, doesn't make yours look better." To those that think otherwise ... nothing I can say or do will change you.

Sincerely,

Shawn Farquhar





"Card magic is a pretty standard category. But Shawn Farquhar from Canada provided an interesting twist on the genre, that was both flawless and beyond imagination." CCTV - China FISM 2009

I think that Russ' post pretty much says it all. Shawn stole it, plain and simple.

brendan, are you refering to this evidence
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWzykwFc5WU&feature=PlayList&p=1B0B3A7F1CA025D1&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=13
enjoy this act from 1993

Hello Everyone,

Over the past few days there have been numerous threads on various magic forums regarding Shawn Farquhar and “his” Shape of My Heart routine. I am writing this letter openly as I want everyone to know my side of things. These are the facts…

In 1993 I was starring in The Mystique Illusion Show here in the UK. In the March of that year I created a routine using the Sting track “Shape of My Heart” and performed it on national TV (BBC1) twice, during the following few months. The routine was extremely well received and became something that I use as a piece to this day. Some magicians in the UK became aware of my routine and several people asked for permission to take that idea and use it for themselves. All understood completely when I said I’d rather if they didn’t.

By 2005 I had released a DVD through my production company Russ Stevens Video Productions (RSVPMagic) called “Magic’s Biggest Secret” which dealt with the business of working on cruise ships. Featured on this DVD was my “Shape of My Heart” routine. During that time I had heard from friends that Shawn Farquhar was asking if they knew Russ Stevens and that I had stolen his idea. I immediately emailed him and told him this wasn’t the case. He said that it was obviously just a case of independent creation. I took his word for it at the time and why shouldn’t I have?

More recently, over the past year or so, things have been said that made me start to doubt that this was completely correct. Shawn Farquhar has said that he came up with the idea at the same time and on the Genii Forum wrote:

“I have however been doing the routine just as long as Russ and it is quite apparent we came up with our presentation completely on our own”.

This is not true. Shawn has stated that his ‘inspiration’ for the routine came when he saw the Luc Besson movie “Leon” (aka “The Professional”). The movie featured the music. This movie was not released until November 1994, one and a half years after I started performing my routine using that piece of music. Again, this is a fact.

Moving on now to the Blackpool Convention in 2008, Shawn Farquhar performed his routine on the Saturday Gala Show. I hadn’t seen the routine live before and the experience made me feel very uncomfortable (along with several people I know that also watched the same performance).

Recently a rather important piece of information has been passed onto me from a well respected magician, about a VHS promotional tape of mine that ended up in Vancouver in the mid-nineties.

I had given a PAL VHS tape (UK format) as a gift to a magician who had seen my show and who I met in a local magic shop a few days later. It was my promotional tape and featured my entire “Shape of My Heart” routine as a main piece. The gentleman who had the tape (who lived in Vancouver) decided to get it converted from PAL to NTSC (the USA format). It turns out that Shawn Farquhar offered to pay half the cost of the conversion, so that they could both have a copy of the tape to watch. The gentleman said that he has felt guilty ever since, and that he thinks it is time for Shawn to own up.

I have no reason to disbelieve this person and he has nothing to gain from telling me this.

So, when did Shawn Farquhar actually really create his routine? I don’t know. It certainly wasn’t when I did as he has claimed in the past. He had a copy of that VHS tape all along, but never mentioned it at any time during our emails.

Since Shawn Farquhar was voted FISM World Champion I have been inundated with emails from people that knew my routine. They sent me links to various blogs and more. People clearly feel very strongly about this whole situation.

A few days ago I made the decision to contact Tim Ellis because I knew Tim as someone that stood up against this kind of thing. That, it turns out, was my mistake, as I didn’t know at the time he was a FISM judge and a good friend of Shawn Farquhar. I was asking him in a private way, what he thought I should do about this whole situation but within hours he had posted a blog trying to wash over any problem, despite my email, and he defended the situation by saying “Unfortunately, some people are taking the accusations seriously”. All of this without even having seen my original version at that time!

I responded on a few forums as my name was getting mentioned. Tim has quoted me out of context, and has even tried to end a thread by quoting only a partial part of a private email to him.

The only reason for this post is to finally put my side of things out in the open. I was the one that contacted Shawn Farquhar and he was the one that was saying I had copied his idea. People say they are not the same, but obviously Shawn Farquhar thought they were too close for comfort too.

It’s not about whether I am back-palming and he’s doing the Ambitious Card, as both routines are fairly standard in their techniques. What takes this routine to another level is its staging, framing and theatricality. It is a piece of theatre.

I have no interest in entering magic competitions or being the king of self-promotion. I am not jealous of Shawn Farquhar. All I have ever wanted was for people to know that I was the first, not the copy, and that is what I am doing here.

The one undeniable fact is that I was doing this way before him and when he became aware of that fact, he still continued to promote the routine as being his creation and used it as his signature piece. I don’t think that’s right. He saw my performance on a converted VHS tape all those years ago, and simply reworked it. That’s not good. To then enter the routine into FISM even worse.

As for me… No awards, no bullshit, no thieving… just a guy that loves magic.

Best,
Russ (Stevens)

I have no intention of contacting Shawn Farquhar directly again as previous emails have proved it to be a pointless and empty experience.

Wow - you really have no class you know that? If you had anyone's respect from the magic community I am sure it is fading fast. If you want to post your opinion, fine. But leave the other crap out of it. Beyond unprofessional.

Emerald Princess - Venice to Spain - 12 days - May 2007. Again, just judging people you do not know...

ALL OF YOU SHUT THE HELL UP! MOVE ON! THIS IS THE EXACT REASON THE ART FORM IS IN DIRE NEED OF HELP!

The C. Rap I was taking about is on your blog page Tim.

"Which came first? The '6 Card Rap' in 1991 or the 'Card Rap' being released on the magic market this month?" ...posted January 8th 2007

Russ, to be honest, I thought that you when you said "I never accused Shawn of copying me" you meant "I never accused Shawn of copying me."

So are you saying "I do accuse Shawn of copying me?"

Or should I quote your entire email so it's not taken out of context?

Maybe you should just stop beating about the bush and make a clear statement, lay your cards on the table and - if you do truly believe Shawn copied you - submit an official complaint to FISM and it will be investigated as they did last FISM with Ayala vs Sittah.

I know you've read all this in my private emails to you, but you seem almost like a different person when you write in here.

Let's face it a lot of magicians use other peoples stuff in their day to day work, but In a competition such as this???? Well hmmm!

hmmmm...FISM FISM FISM. I'm sorry guys I was disapointed with all the vids I saw.
Yes 'originality' is a must, but I for one am not going to kiss the arses of performers who I think (just my personal opinion) are great at what they do 'performing for magicians' technically brilliant, original and as about entertaining as watching grass grow!!!!

Brendan,
I’ve never said that the judging wasn’t fair. Here’s my whole paragraph so I don’t get misquoted again:

“Someone has sent me the link to Tim Ellis' blog. Strangely enough I knew about his blog and his stance towards theft in magic and so wrote him about 24 hours ago about this whole situation as I genuinely wondered what he thought about it, knowing that he attended FISM. I've since been told he was also a judge (which I didn't know), which probably explains why he's just posted the blog that he has. I wonder how he would feel if someone did a Cups & Balls Routine of any kind to "Runaround Sue". Still, now I know he's a judge I guess he has to cover his ass”.

I was saying that Tims’s blog was completely one-sided in his assumptions and were made without even seeing my routine.

The only reason I ever got in touch with Shawn Fawquar was because he was saying to friends that I had copied his idea and that is not the case. He told me at that time that he had come up with the idea independently and at the time I had to accept that. He’s also said that we’d come up with the routine at the same time. I now know that this is not correct. Fact. He was aware of my routine, knew that I had been doing it for years before him and yet still proceeded to perform it in competitions as his ‘signature’ piece. So, there you are. Neither is a lie from my end of things.

You also say:

“… but then you start shooting off "private" emails claiming that he did steal it and you have un-provable (a new word?) proof I love to know just where you read that”?

Are my private emails being sent to you? Please confirm.

“Since your here tho' perhaps you can enlighten us all as to what proof you have of Shawn's theft, beyond the word of a third party who happens to be a friend of yours”.

Who is this third party. Please tell?

Best,
Russ

"Yes, he was shaking and fumbled on the day (he had a pinched nerve and the shaking was involuntary)"

He was shaking badly last year at the IBM SAM competition. So either he had a "pinched nerve" then too or he gets nervous in high pressure situations. One of these seems more likely than the other.

@Margo

You assume he didn't lose points for that flash.

I assume you saw all the other acts and can list all of their mistakes too. I feel safe in this assumption as I'm sure you wouldn't be making comments like that without seeing all the acts first and knowing about that which you speak of.

Has any one actually seen the entire act of Shawn's from this years FISM? Not just the short video piece! I don't recall seeing the end of the routine, but I'm sure you all have seen the entire performance from FISM 2009 or you wouldn't be commenting on it's validity as winner.

If Shawn hadn't won closeup, which of the bumbling fools should it have been awarded to? Keep in mind that any flash or shake seems to be grounds to be considered unworthy, as does doing anything remotely similar to anything else.

@Russ Your implication about FISM judging was pretty clear. Since your here tho' perhaps you can enlighten us all as to what proof you have of Shawn's theft, beyond the word of a third party who happens to be a friend of yours. If Shawn accused you of theft I would expect the same from him.

You previously said you and Shawn had spoken and agreed it was independent creation, but then you start shooting off "private" emails claiming that he did steal it and you have un-provable (a new word?) proof. Obviously both of these statements can't be true, so which one is the lie?

Hello Everyone,
Oh boy!
Now people are deciding to take selective bits from private emails and quote not in their entirety (You should get a job for the tabloids Tim).

Tim knows full well that what I was saying was that I wasn’t the one making the accusations at the time, it was Shawn Fawquar that was doing that. Therefore, unlike you Tim, he obviously thought they were close enough too.

You know full well that I do have a problem about this situation and to misquote me again is not on. When `I first contacted you, it was to ask advice as I knew you to be the kind of guy that stood up to copying. Sadly what I didn’t know was that 1 – You were a FISM judge and 2 – Shawn Fawquar is your friend.

On another forum you tried to accuse me of implying the judging process was not above board, which I corrected you on, and now here you’re doing the same kind of thing. Don’t try and stop the debate by shutting it down with “Okay? If Russ says Shawn didn't copy him can others please give it a rest???

Best,
Russ

To be fair Tim, The Internet WAS kind of based on visiting forums to
launch petty, childish attacks. :)

tim, i think the guys are right on this one. we are hearing .at 1:06- that he found the perfect song” he did in fact found the perfect song, it was on this youtube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkYNAwdFH9M&feature=PlayList&p=1B0B3A7F1CA025D1&index=14&playnext=2&playnext_from=PL

thats the problem we see here, he didnt do what we do in this art form, AND ITS GIVE CREDIT, where credit is due. thats something that we do in this part of the world ---
dont take me wrong, i super love farquar and you also tim, your my idols. but we have someone that did FLASH UNDER THAT FAN and the camera doesnt forgive, so thats the problem, you made a guy win, even that he didnt deserve it, just because you were guilty for all those 2nds places.
now, dont worry about it, life goes on, and just remember that art cant be judged on. but if we have to do it on some fism, PLEASE NO CORRUPTION, if someone flashes, take a point off his poor dexterity, and if you see someone doing a david blaine flipy ambitiuos, please tell him to abandon the stage, and go participate at a junior convention, and not fism, please.

Stop expecting logical and reasonable behavior Tim, Roland and his friends have made it quite clear that they don't care about the truth, and simply want to trash Shawn. We're dealing with people that don't even know the difference between a song and a routine.

They claim to like Russ, but ignoring his statement that no rip-off occurred seems to show a complete lack of respect to me.

To quote Russ Stevens in his last email to me:

"I've never accused Shawn of copying me, he was the one originally doing that."

Okay? If Russ says Shawn didn't copy him can others please give it a rest???

Banestar, no I don't know the 'Load of C. Rap' act you're talking about.

I can't believe that Shawn is copping so much flak (even more than Jason Latimer and Johnny Ace Palmer did). First people accuse him of ripping off Russ Steven's because they both did (different) card routines to the same song, then when it's made apparent that's not enough to constitute a "rip-off" they attack him because the routine is not technically skilful enough and he was shaking. Yes, he was shaking and fumbled on the day (he had a pinched nerve and the shaking was involuntary). If Marc Oberon had delivered a fault-free performance on the day he would have been declared Grand Prix winner (that's how close it was) but he didn't and, unfortunately, flashed a few of his loads as well.

However, the new FISM rules state that one of the finalists must walk away with the Grand Prix.

There was no booing at FISM when Shawn's name was announced (as has unfortunately happened in the past) but the sheer vitriol expressed by a small group of very opinionated bloggers seems totally out of proportion.

As has been suggested by others, if you really feel that Russ Stevens was ripped off you are welcome to submit an application to FISM who will investigate it (as they did in the case against Sittah last year) but to visit all the forums and attack Shawn and anyone who dares to defend him is just childish and petty.

"....a routine that he saw somebody else do..."

Now you're just ignoring the facts and telling lies Jim. If you can't see that they are vastly different routines then simply listen to what the actual performers said, or perhaps concede you don't know the difference between a song and a routine.

This IS a serious issue as we have a well known magician winning the biggest award in magic with a routine that he saw somebody else do, and is really taking us ALL FOR FOOLS.
At the end of the day - the magic world is saying this is OK. In that case I am going to do cups and balls using Run around Sue and enter FISM as Tim Ellis is telling me it's OK. Oh yeah, I came up with that idea twenty years ago so it's OK.

Mr. Nordan - you said Russ Stevens "blew you off". In my country that means something else - I didn't know you bent that way. By the way, what ship did you see Stevens on?

Jim

"Card Rapping" was first done by another first. Had to set that straight.

This is typical in magic! why is everyone making a big deal out of it, music that lends itself to magic usually ends up in many acts. It is only a problem because magicians have nothing better to do! Unreal if you ask me. This was one of my biggest complaints on my first DVD F*cK Street Magic( shameless Plug)! In fact I dedicated the DVD to all those b@#ches that would rather play on the computer then actually work on their magic!

GROW UP KIDS! It is an art and music that lends itself to magic will end up being used by many magicians..THIS IS NOT THE FIRST OF IT! Now if the routine was stolen that would be a different story!

Todd

www.magicfromthegrave.com
www.tpdmagic.com

Tim, do you recall "A load of C. Rap"? What if that won at FISM, would you feel proud because it was yours or violated (even though it was not exactly the same). I think that answer can vary from magician to magician.

If he came up with the presentation all by himself and picked that song out from numerous others, well then thats great.

I don't think the judges are "rigged", can you really expect each judge to know performances from other magicians around the world? I am sure there are alot of aspects they are judging. Besides that, I think Tim has always been a fair guy who has alot of personal integrity.

HOLY S--T! "Waste of Humanity?"... Osama Bin Laden is a waste of humanity... Shawn Farquhar is one of the most generous and likable people I know. I hope you are using the term "waste of humanity" a bit loosely... maybe even tongue in cheek. Otherwise you may need some anger management classes and professional help. Better yet, get to know Shawn and see that he loves life, loves people and loves magic!

It does seem that the only 2 people who actually have any right to be pissed have already spoken and settled this issue. Both seem to concede independent development and no rip off, and this song isn't some random non card related song, it's one of the most obvious card songs and MANY have used it. I'm surprised there wasn't a flurry of SOMH card routines in the 1990's FISM's.....I've seen a fair few card acts use a stool too.

@jmcdonald - I didn't mean using all at once or for a card routine, that would be copying now, but 10 years or more ago.......

Well said Tim... Shawn had the GUTS to compete at FISM and he won his award.. he should proud of it.. I've seen Shawn perform many times, and loved every performance.. and for the most part, I've not seen him shake, or flash.. he also competed at FISM 2006 and did a perfect performance and didn't shake or flash..

I mind it astounding that people can attack someone they dont know, as for RolandHenning , who exactly are you, except someone who seems to have a view on someone they dont know.. Roland you wrote : "Yes I wrote a lot of mean things about Mr. Farquhar, and I made it very clear, that this was an emotional thing, not a professional post." your right its a completely unprofessional post..

maybe we can write some mean stuff about you just because we fancy it.. ? If you have competed at FISM, then you have some grounds to pick holes in a FISM winning act, but you no grounds for your comments about Shawn personally, your post isnt worth the space it takes up.. if you compete at FISM 2012, you might claw back some credibility

Nordan says he has watched Shawn perfect this routine over the past ten years.
So you are claiming that Shawn started doing this in 1999 - hmmm, interesting. If he has indeed be working on this for ten years then he should have waited another 10 years until it was perfected to bring it to FISM. Having said that - there were A LOT of acts that were not good enough for FISM.

I agree with you Nordan - I also cried watching Shawn's performance - it was THAT BAD! What they judges are saying is that his shaky and exposed performance of the ambitious card trick is right up there with the likes of Fred Kaps and other greats. Again, what message is FISM sending to magicians. Shawn's card trick is NOT up to a FISM award winning standard.

Brendan - YES if you use shape of my heart and a stool doing a card trick then YES you are ripping off the creator of this idea. It would be like you doing a four ace trick and patter about your grandfather to the same music used by Copperfield. You saw him do it, got the same music and story and did a 4 ace trick. You are actually taking somebody's creative idea and stealing it!!

What does this tell us about the people who feel it is OK to do what Shawn has done - people like this Bredan and Nordan. It tells us a lot about THEM and it also tells us why magic gets a bad rap. Unethical, unimaginative people who know nothing about the ART OF MAGIC. They have NO RESPECT for the real artists. These guys have no right calling themselves magicians. Also Nordan, can you name the ship who saw Russ working on? What ports did you visit? I have a sneaky feeling you are telling a little white lie.

I am glad Russ has spoken out - and this is being blasted world wide. People DO NEED TO KNOW the truth - and FISM needs to re-think who they ask to be judges. Not others who think it is OK for somebody to rip another person off and pass it off as their own. SHAME ON YOU FISM JUDGES!!!

Well said Mike.

As for me, yes I am against theft in magic but I do not believe Shawn ripped anything off Russ. If he did, all he can be accused of is ripping off the song.

If some did Cups & Balls to Runaround Sue...? I guess if they do a different routine to me some will see their version first and assume I ripped them off... but as I have competed with it at FISM it is generally known as my trademark effect. Yes, I have paid for the rights to use the music, but so can anyone else.

As I said elsewhere, I was working on a card act to 'Shape of my Heart' but when I saw Shawn do it I decided to work on something else instead. I wasn't ripping off Shawn or Russ but I'd rather not set myself up for comparison.

As for the implication that the Jury was rigged. Absolutely not. Boris Wild, head of the jury, made 100% sure that everything was totally above board.

If you feel that the competition at FISM was not up to standard this year, then you have three years to get your act together for Blackpool.

Wow - it is amazing what people will say about someone they barely know. To call someone a waste of humanity is extreme. To say someone is a disgrace to magic, without knowing their history is sad.

I think you all need to take a step back and relax.

First off I know Shawn quite well. He is an amazing magician and talented beyond most of us. He is a real working magician and most of cannot say the same. The amount of time, effort and money he has spent to help spread and encourage money is beyond compare. To say he is a disgrace is to drag his good name through the mud unnecessarily.

I have watched Shawn hone and perfect his routine over the past 10 years. It is a thing of beauty. My wife cried when she first say it. She did not have the same experience when she saw Russ perform it live on a cruise in Europe. We both thought Shawn's take on this was superior.

Yes - I have had the privilege to see both. I found them to be very different in sleights, style and approach. The song was the same of course. But who would not think of doing a routine the Sting song? It is about cards...

I asked Shawn about Russ when I came back - he advised me of the afore mentioned contact he had with Russ as he though Russ has seen his. It had seemed to be a case of independent creation. Nuff said.

Russ could well have taken his act to FISM and compete. He did not. Shawn did and won and I think kudos are to be given - not harsh words.

If you meet someone for 10 minutes it is not fair to judge them so. I met Russ and when he found out I was a magician he basically blew me off. I was disappointed - but that is where my word end on Russ. I don't KNOW they guy so anything beyond that is speculation about his life.

A disgrace? A waste of humanity? Please. You do not know the real Shawn Farquhar.

Mike

I use Shape of my heart too, do I need to ask Russ's permission? I also have a stool, am I allowed to sit on the stool without being accused of theft?
Grow up people, Russ did a boring act that took him no where and Shawn did an act that people liked and it took him forward.
So much jealousy, so little magic.

Russ Stevens is a class act. Farquhar on the other hand is waste of humanity. Nice to see him exposed.

So glad Russ said his peace! Much respect to you sir!

None the less I'll always stand by the fact that routine in no way should have won. Sometimes the best magic is simple, and my opinion is not based on the fact he didn't prove himself with a burnable second or anything of those sorts. It's just not a top notch routine at all. I can see winning an award at the local gathering or something, but FISM is (or was) the apex of cream of the crop. It's just somewhat a shame to many of us.

Then again I'm repeating what everyone else is saying. I think our hearts just sink a little sometimes when we feel that such things are given unjustly.

That last paragraph Russ made stirred my soul. Much admiration. *salute*

Russ, finally you speak out. Dude, where have you been? This was long overdue.

The question of whether or not he stole the routine from Russ Stevens aside, let's face it: Shawn Farquhar's card handling is terrible.

Should the world champion of card magic/FISM Grand Prix winner really be nervous and shaky, pushing off cards to get a break, using obvious get-readys, flashing/exposing productions and using basic beginners false cuts? The shape of my heart routine even includes the most hack of all card magic moves where the card goes to the mouth!

Nobody in their right mind can say that he is a great card magician. For the cruise audiences he works for what he does is fine but for a panel of his peers and contemporaries to vote him as being the best in the world really is a joke.

Yes I wrote alot of mean things about Mr. Farquhar, and I made it very clear, that this was an emotional thing, not a professional post. Because I can look past my hate towards Shawn and see it from a professional point of view. For I am a real working magician. I was never out to win any prizes, for I like actually performing for real people. and to Chase_Goforth. If you actually read my blog you will see that jelousy is the last thing that motivates me. But it is so good to finally hear Russ Stevens side of the story. Dude, you should have done that a long time ago. ^^

max maven doesnt believe in competing, he states that art cant be judge on--
i feel exactly like cardman, where he states the nature of how they give these awards. here a trivia.........how many times did chris angel receive the best magician awars, if you state above 3, i think we have answer this topic well.

Hello Everyone,

As some of you may know, I have generally kept out of this situation publicly. The only time I ever got involved was when Shawn was saying to friends of mine that I'd lifted 'his' idea and I emailed him to prove that I hadn't. The fact is, that I was doing this routine for at least TWO years before him and have the proof to back that up. Shawn was very nice in his emails and I accepted that we'd just had the same idea, although when I did finally see his version 'live' in Blackpool a few years ago, the style of performance and staging was uncomfortably close.

Some people seem to miss the point. The routines are both pretty standard in their techniques, but what really lifts them above the norm IS the staging and use of the music. To not understand that, it to not understand the performance of magic. I'd also like to point out that even Shawn considered the routines were too close as it was he who initially was accusing me.

Since Shawn's win, I've been shocked by the number of emails I've received and some of the aggressive feelings that were vented towards him. People have sent links and even photographs with cartoon bubbles, which I believe have been doing the rounds. Personally, I just feel sorry for the guy.

Someone has sent me the link to Tim Ellis' blog. Strangely enough I knew about his blog and his stance towards theft in magic and so wrote him about 24 hours ago about this whole situation as I genuinely wondered what he thought about it, knowing that he attended FISM. I've since been told he was also a judge (which I didn't know), which probably explains why he's just posted the blog that he has. I wonder how he would feel if someone did a Cups & Balls Routine of any kind to "Runaround Sue". Still, now I know he's a judge I guess he has to cover his ass.

I don't even dream of comparing myself to such a great technician and creator as Roy Walton, but like him I also smile when doing my DVD productions, working with great people who I consider real friends, performing and have a great life with someone that I truly love. No awards, no bullshit, no thieving. Just a guy that loves magic.

Best,
Russ (Stevens)

tdid you know criss angel is been awarded best magician for 3 times in a roll

There really is no excuse though. That IS NOT up to standards of a FISM award. Then again few to no magic awards are anymore. It's not even up for debate.

It's a funny thing these days. If you release a DVD of half baked ideas your no longer a "hobbyist" and a "pro". You win some award in magic you must be better than the guy that has performed for years upon years in public at no cost. I remind everyone Krystyn Lambert also should be the "best teen magician". Criss Angel got best magician of the DECADE. Meanwhile Roy Walton is just smiling and performing some of the best card magic in the land selflessly at his shop with no awards in hand. Can we stop the MTV mentality in our art. Awards don't mean squat to real talent in magic anymore. The BEST of the BEST out there don't need or want the so called fame and glory. Nor does Roland. He just plays it like he sees it. Jealous my #ss.

It ain't braggin if you done it.

Yes, Shawn likes to talk. Yes, Shawn likes to be the center of attention. Yes, Shawn mentions other people's names, generally because he actually knows them (unlike most other name droppers around here.)

Shawn also has logged hundreds upon hundreds of performance hours doing solid magic for lay audiences. Hundreds of hours. Maybe thousands. And Roland calls Shawn a DISGRACE to MAGIC? There's your WTF moment.

It sounds to me like Roland is another hobbyist/semi pro who sits back and decides what's good or bad for magic with the distinct advantage of never having to perform.

I find Shawn's onstage character likable, funny, and charming. And so do laypeople. You want the evidence: Shawn is STILL a popular cruise performer. People find you offensive or off-putting on a cruise... you're off the boat.

Roland's rant, like most of the jealous garbage on his blog, is a crock.

i think that cardman should of won teh fism competition or a guy that called himself the classicforce of magic, but because they didnt go to fism, it doesnt mean they arent good enough.

Do either of these men make a point of paying (or crediting) Sting for the use of his song when they perform it in public?

Are we really supposed to take seriously the notion that only Russ Stevens has the "right" to perform to Sting's song? Really?

SF performs an ambitious card routine to the song with some interesting additions. RS performs a series of card-from-midair sleights to the song. SF's entire routine is choreographed to the song. RS's routine is occasionally choreographed to the song. SF's routine is all about the spectator's signed card in one deck. RS's routine features multiple decks, and stabbing a selected (unsigned) card in mid-air.

And, aside from the song, the "look and feel" of the performances are completely different. One is intimate and joyful. The other is big stage and professional. Both have their merits... but they are completely different merits.

Is the issue here really about one person stealing another person's act? Is the notion of performing to one of the only popular songs that mentions playing cards really such a ground-breaking, original, proprietary idea? Or is it about personality? (ie, did SF piss off somebody at some point?)

BTW, neither performance seemed to include any ground-breaking new elements in their routines. I don't see a single original ingredient in either one. What makes them both interesting is how the ingredients are combined. Both of these recipes are different, and I'm surprised anyone would think otherwise.

I too have been following this saga with keen interest. Simply to get to the bottom of it. Like many who saw the act, we too were surprised by awarding first place to Shawn. This observation is nothing against Shawn personally. He is certainly friendly and perhaps a little over the top for many, but you should look at the act, not the person.

It is a good little routine if you work on a cruise ship as Shawn does, but you really can't compare Shawn to other FISM winners such as Fred Kaps. The card act just does not measure up to what I would consider an award winning FISM act. Actually, if you do some research on youtube you'll find a young kid doing a routine using the same music and his routine blows Shawn's out of the water!! Also, at least this kid acknowledges he got the basic idea from Shawn.

I feel this year the acts weren't up to the high standard - there is a lot of politics at FISM and you almost 'have to play the game'. Shawn is definitely a player and is a magician who craves accolades and pats on his back.

I guess the real issue if Shawn did 'lift' this idea from Russ Stevens. If you can sit through a Shawn Farquhar LoveFest on his VLOG then you'll hear him repeatably say "FISM IS THE OLYMPICS OF MAGIC". If this is the case, then just like the Olympics, if somebody is caught 'borrowing' an idea from another person without acknowledgment then the award should be taken away from the person who won!

Thanks itricks for putting this link on your site. You guys are leading the way when it comes to letting magician know about the latest news in magic!!

Personally I agree with Roland 100 percent. I think most card magic folks are disturbed such a bad routine can win a world championship.

I and Roland are simply coming forward with a "hearty" WTF at the magic world. It got so bad at least in my world I decided I needed a place to vent and cuss online even if no one listened.

Farquhar has lots of room for improvement as an understatement. We all do. I don't think anyone takes FISM seriously anymore anyway. It's a good time and all, but the awards/judges are a joke.

Apologies on the double post.

I am somewhat divided on this issue. After meeting Shawn and speaking with him on a few occasions, I can confirm that he does have a small (well, maybe not so small) bragging problem. I feel like he doesn't have a lot of confidence for some strange reason, so he needs to Brag in order to make himself feel better. That being said, this Roland guy did not win FISM, so he should not talk. He is not an expert in the judging or any other part of the competition for that matter. No matter what, even if you do not necessarily LOVE Shawn, he is still a fellow magician and he deserves respect.

I must say this article is way off base. Shawn is one of the nicest guys I've met. And if you've seen him live, you'll know his character is EXTREMELY likable. Plus his lecture is one of the best I've seen in years.

As far as originality...I view it as ones own take on something. So what if the same piece of music inspired both Farquhar and Stevnes? It's not like the routine is exactly the same. Shawn's routine connects with the audience and fits him... and obviously fit him well enough to win a FISM.