Attracting A Crowd

Most probably Harry Houdini was not the greatest magician who ever lived, but he was arguably the greatest showman and certainly the world's most famous illusionist. He found out that the easiest way to attract a crowd is to let it be known that at a given time and a given place someone is going to attempt something that in the event of failure will result in sudden death. I think that is a truth every writer should remember when he starts concocting a story.