I know the people on this forum would be the right ones to ask for obvious reasons. Some of the things I saw this weirdo do makes me shiver. It's just not right.

They are called illusions. It's just using science and practical effects (like slight of hand or optical illusions) to trick the human eye/brain.

There is nothing "wrong" or "weird" about illusions, it's just magical and shocking because we (the audience) don't know how he does them.

Also, the audience wants to be tricked, so we will get distracted and not think logically when we see them. That's part of the fun!

I actually found David Copperfield more weird and creepy than David Blane. Copperfield stare is mesmerizingly creepy.

thankfully no one mentioned Chris Angel... Obvious overuse of audience plants is obvious.