Professional magicians are perfectly happy using gimmicks and props if it makes their magic more magical, and helps their shows go off without a hitch (indeed,

Professional magicians are perfectly happy using gimmicks and props if it makes their magic more magical, and helps their shows go off without a hitch (indeed, that huge machine on the stage probably isn't a real body-destroying saw, and the roulette gun probably isn't actually able to shoot real live rounds!). Elitist beginners simultaneously snub their noses and brag about how they only use the hardest possible methods, because they're just that good, and they love that there are so many others that'll chime in along with them. But really it's because they don't really have an audience to worry about whether their routines are stable and will work reliably every time. They're only concerned with telling you and everyone in earshot/eyeshot how great they think themselves to be. It's an opinion of person rather than the quality of work they do. He's the equivalent of a heckler - nothing to add, no reason to entertain their opinions. Comments like his, which are meant to deter people from sharing anything, are what dirties the water. Not the choice of other peoples' tools. Anyway, it's the wuh wuh wuh. You'll never see the end of useless naysayers. Like professional magicians, you just shrug them off in the most hospitable / tactful way you can, and keep doing what you're doing, knowing that you do actually have an appreciative audience. Besides, buddy has "marketing" in his name, but he's clearly lacking in people skills to pull that off. Don't take advice from people who prove themselves to be lesser than you.