Death by magic is a phrase used to describe a situation in which someone dies or appears to die as a result of a magic trick or illusion. This kind of unfortunate incident can occur during live performances or in the context of television shows and other forms of entertainment. In magic performances, magicians often strive to create an illusion of danger and risk to captivate their audience. While the tricks are carefully planned and rehearsed, accidents can still happen, leading to tragic outcomes. It is crucial for magicians to ensure the safety of both themselves and their volunteers or assistants during performances. There have been several instances throughout history when death by magic occurred.
But amid change Smith is confident in the company’s ability to continue to grow, to maintain its long running franchises, and to establish its recent additions as franchises on which will give the company the ability to continue to grow.
There are some unbelievable illusions in the show, but the show is shot on location in South Africa and England and Detroit and London, India, Miami, he says. NBC s success with Ninja Warrior prompted the network to begin searching for a next-level athletic competition and the network turned to Smith, the result being Titan Games.
There have been several instances throughout history when death by magic occurred. One notable example is the bullet catch trick, where a magician catches a bullet fired from a gun in their teeth or hand. This dangerous illusion has resulted in numerous accidents, sometimes leading to the death of the magician attempting the trick.
With ‘Death by Magic,’ Arthur Smith Builds on Unscripted Success
With his new show “Death by Magic,” executive producer Arthur Smith pulls off an impressive feat — expanding a television empire that is already home to some of the most enduring franchises in television.
Through his A. Smith & Co., Smith is the force behind “American Ninja Warrior” and “Hell’s Kitchen.” “Death By Magic,” which premiered last week on Netflix, is the most recent addition to that portfolio. Part of Netflix’s aggressive shift into the unscripted space long dominated by cable and broadcast channels, the show stars U.K. magician Drummond Money-Coutts recreating tricks that other performers dies attempting. Smith touts the “premium” feel of the final product. “There are some unbelievable illusions in the show, but the show is shot on location in South Africa and England and Detroit and London, India, Miami,” he says. “We started talking about the history of magic and we started talking about how we could get a bigger glossier, cinematic kind of show.”
But “Death by Magic is just part of a busy stretch for Smith, in which he is rolling at series of ambitious projects. Up next is NBC’s “The Titan Games,” an athletic competition developed with and hosted by Dwayne Johnson. Later this year is “Mental Samurai,” a game show for Fox hosted by Rob Lowe and featuring an elaborate set piece — a robotic arm that swings contestants through the air from station to station as the face a series of mental tests.
A former sports-TV executive at Fox and CBC, Smith gained experience early on working on Olympic telecasts at the latter. He applied that experience to “American Ninja Warrior,” a rare television phenomena. The show started on bottom-tier cable channel G4 before migrating to NBC, where it’s ratings grew over several seasons — to the point that it is now one of televisions highest rated summer programs.
NBC’s success with “Ninja Warrior” prompted the network to begin searching for a next-level athletic competition — and the network turned to Smith, the result being “Titan Games.” Smith will soon have four current series on broadcast television, in addition to several cable and streaming shows. The volume of programming to come out of A. Smith & Co. is far higher than a most independent production companies.
And Smith is continuing to grow. When his long time exec partner Kent Weed stepped down from the company this year, it capped a reconfiguration of the company as it begins to lean more heavily into documentary and sports programming.
But amid change Smith is confident in the company’s ability to continue to grow, to maintain its long running franchises, and to establish its recent additions as franchises on which will give the company the ability to continue to grow.
“We like to collaborate,” Smith says. “We’re really good at the the creative part and the logistics part of it. I think that’s what sets us apart.”
Another example is the classic "buried alive" trick, where a magician is seemingly buried alive in a coffin or box. Although there are safety protocols in place to prevent actual harm, miscommunications or equipment failures can have devastating consequences. The use of pyrotechnics and other special effects in magic performances can also pose risks. Fire-related tricks, such as those involving escape from burning structures or death-defying stunts, can go wrong if the fire spreads uncontrollably or if the magician becomes trapped. In recent years, there have been efforts to improve safety measures and regulations in the magic community. Many professional magicians now undergo rigorous training and follow strict guidelines to minimize risks during their performances. Additionally, technology advancements have allowed for safer illusions, such as the use of animatronics and special effects to create the appearance of danger without actual harm. Overall, death by magic is a tragic and unfortunate occurrence that reminds us of the risks and responsibilities involved in creating captivating illusions. Magicians play an essential role in entertaining and mystifying their audience, but it is crucial for them to prioritize safety and professionalism to prevent accidents and unforeseen consequences..
Reviews for "When Tricks Go Terribly Wrong: A Closer Look at Fatal Magic Incidents"
1. John Doe - 1/5 stars - The book "Death by Magic Castle" was a complete waste of time. The plot was dull and predictable, and the characters were poorly developed. I couldn't connect with any of them, which made it difficult to care about what happened. Additionally, the writing style was clunky and awkward, full of unnecessary descriptions and overused clichés. I was hoping for an exciting mystery with a touch of magic, but all I got was a snooze fest. Save yourself the disappointment and skip this one.
2. Emily Smith - 2/5 stars - I was highly disappointed with "Death by Magic Castle." The concept seemed intriguing and promising, but the execution fell flat. The story lacked depth and failed to deliver on the magical elements it promised. The writing was basic and lacked finesse, making it difficult to fully immerse myself into the narrative. The characters felt one-dimensional and their motivations were unclear. Overall, this book felt like a missed opportunity to explore an interesting premise and left me feeling unsatisfied.
3. Sophia Thompson - 1/5 stars - "Death by Magic Castle" was an absolute bore. The plot was slow-moving and lacked any sense of urgency or excitement. The supposed magical elements felt forced and unnecessary, adding nothing to the overall story. The characters were forgettable and lacked any real personality or depth. The writing style was monotonous, filled with repetitive phrases and a lack of creativity. I found myself counting down the pages until the end, hoping for some redeeming quality, but was left thoroughly disappointed. I do not recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and enjoyable read.
4. Michael Johnson - 2/5 stars - I had high hopes for "Death by Magic Castle," but it failed to live up to my expectations. The plot was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow along and understand the motivations of the characters. The magical elements felt out of place and poorly integrated into the story. Additionally, the writing lacked polish and finesse, often relying on clichés and predictable dialogue. Overall, this book didn't deliver the mystery and magic it promised, and I was left feeling frustrated and unsatisfied.