Hi guys,
Wanted to take the time on behalf of all of us to respond to this directly, as it's very important for us to make our goals and objectives clear as we continue to grow, improve, and evolve. I do understand that on the surface, at times, it may appear to some that we are out of touch. That said, in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Our team is working 24 / 7 across all areas of the site - with goal being to constantly improve every aspect of this community.
We do everything we can to make that happen: updating the Media Section twice a day (and reviewing hundreds of submissions), leading Saturday Night Contests every single week (giving out free prizes, but the real goal is to cultivate and inspire creativity), 1-on-1 videos every single week to appeal to those of all interests and ability levels, and major, groundbreaking projects from leading artists just about every month - more than anyone. Also on the community side of things, we do frequent podcasts (roundtable discussions) allowing everyone to instantly, directly learn from artists - free.
We have an unrivaled desire to push the envelope - with a team of artists that cannot be compared with anywhere else. Darosa mentioned earlier in the previous thread "those other magic sites with big names" - there are no other magic sites with big names that at all compare to the level of engagement and interaction and activity we provide. Every day. Every week. Every month. It's easy to see all of the activity we have on the site as routine now - because everything does have a schedule and a meaning and a purpose. However, we put our blood, sweat, time, and tears on the line for you guys every single day of the week.
That said, we have a long, long way to go before we sleep. We have made mistakes. Big ones. Small ones. We have learned from our own trial and error. There are so many things we can do better - we would be the absolute first in line to admit it. We thrive off of your feedback - that "Improving T11" thread is incredible, and it's the first thing I check each morning. But for a site only in existence for 10 months, with the goal being to create an online destination for magic and cardistry, I unequivocally believe we have done a pretty damn good job. Do we have our work cut out for us? Absolutely. We have a long way to go before we sleep, but don't forget the little things.
Our goal is to revolutionize and advance this artform. This will not happen overnight, and we never said it would. If we ever said that, it was probably Dana, and he was probably intoxicated [by completely nonalcoholic beverages] at the time. It will take time. It will continue to take work. But in the end, we will achieve our objectives and we will make a difference. And when that day comes, it will not be us that are the ones leading the revolution. It will be you. Our community. Our members. And the next generation of magicians. Our goal is to inspire that - and to inspire you. That is the future, regardless of what has been accepted as tradition in years past.
A revolution occurs when artists like Andrei Jikh -- at the age of 19 -- can be announced in one night as a theory11 artist and turn the tables on how innovation in this industry typically works - upside down. It's proof in concept that any one of our members -- any one of us -- here -- has the potential to make a difference, with dedication, innovation, and determination.
We are not cocky or self-affected to ever claim that we -- as people -- are revolutionary. But what IS revolutionary is when this community we all -- every member included -- have created begins to inspire and create the next generation of artists and innovators -- like Andrei. That, in every definition and characteristic of the term, is a revolution.
Our artists are incredibly involved with the site on every level. Just this morning, I had a 30 minute discussion with CK about a forum topic he read earlier today and wanted to chat about. I had a two hour discussion last night at 3am with Tom Isaacson about new projects and ideas. The phone call ended with us reading Goodnight Moon aloud and falling asleep in eachother's arms. I made that last sentence up. But the fact remains. All of our top artists and crew are intimately involved with the site on every level. We're here. We're listening. We're active beyond belief.
For every member that says "theory11 started off kind of like Ellusionist" - this is no hidden fact. I resided as President of Ellusionist after years of working with a great team there, and - after over 6 years - moved on amicably and respectfully in 2007 with the intention to break the mold that I in part had a role in creation of - as well as Wayne, Dana, and BJ (who all worked with Ellusionist in the past as well). Were we influenced by our own previous work? Absolutely - it was our own previous work. We all respect the company then and today. We respect all of those that respect the art. But we look upon that experience as a foundation - and this is what we're building on top of it.
For every member that says "theory11 is not really underground" - please go to a magic convention as a case study. If you haven't seen the surface, it is impossible to recognize the underground. There is an underground in this industry that defies the ordinary - both in psychology and aesthetic - and questions everything that has been done before - and this is it.
Since the beginning, we've been guided by only ONE thing: achieving the vision we have set out to do, and doing what we believe is right. The goal has not been to create a site that no one hates - but to create a site that some people love. That's important to us, that's what we've set out to do, and that's what we will - with time, dedication, and your support - accomplish.
Wanted to take the time on behalf of all of us to respond to this directly, as it's very important for us to make our goals and objectives clear as we continue to grow, improve, and evolve. I do understand that on the surface, at times, it may appear to some that we are out of touch. That said, in reality, nothing could be further from the truth. Our team is working 24 / 7 across all areas of the site - with goal being to constantly improve every aspect of this community.
We do everything we can to make that happen: updating the Media Section twice a day (and reviewing hundreds of submissions), leading Saturday Night Contests every single week (giving out free prizes, but the real goal is to cultivate and inspire creativity), 1-on-1 videos every single week to appeal to those of all interests and ability levels, and major, groundbreaking projects from leading artists just about every month - more than anyone. Also on the community side of things, we do frequent podcasts (roundtable discussions) allowing everyone to instantly, directly learn from artists - free.
We have an unrivaled desire to push the envelope - with a team of artists that cannot be compared with anywhere else. Darosa mentioned earlier in the previous thread "those other magic sites with big names" - there are no other magic sites with big names that at all compare to the level of engagement and interaction and activity we provide. Every day. Every week. Every month. It's easy to see all of the activity we have on the site as routine now - because everything does have a schedule and a meaning and a purpose. However, we put our blood, sweat, time, and tears on the line for you guys every single day of the week.
That said, we have a long, long way to go before we sleep. We have made mistakes. Big ones. Small ones. We have learned from our own trial and error. There are so many things we can do better - we would be the absolute first in line to admit it. We thrive off of your feedback - that "Improving T11" thread is incredible, and it's the first thing I check each morning. But for a site only in existence for 10 months, with the goal being to create an online destination for magic and cardistry, I unequivocally believe we have done a pretty damn good job. Do we have our work cut out for us? Absolutely. We have a long way to go before we sleep, but don't forget the little things.
Our goal is to revolutionize and advance this artform. This will not happen overnight, and we never said it would. If we ever said that, it was probably Dana, and he was probably intoxicated [by completely nonalcoholic beverages] at the time. It will take time. It will continue to take work. But in the end, we will achieve our objectives and we will make a difference. And when that day comes, it will not be us that are the ones leading the revolution. It will be you. Our community. Our members. And the next generation of magicians. Our goal is to inspire that - and to inspire you. That is the future, regardless of what has been accepted as tradition in years past.
A revolution occurs when artists like Andrei Jikh -- at the age of 19 -- can be announced in one night as a theory11 artist and turn the tables on how innovation in this industry typically works - upside down. It's proof in concept that any one of our members -- any one of us -- here -- has the potential to make a difference, with dedication, innovation, and determination.
We are not cocky or self-affected to ever claim that we -- as people -- are revolutionary. But what IS revolutionary is when this community we all -- every member included -- have created begins to inspire and create the next generation of artists and innovators -- like Andrei. That, in every definition and characteristic of the term, is a revolution.
Our artists are incredibly involved with the site on every level. Just this morning, I had a 30 minute discussion with CK about a forum topic he read earlier today and wanted to chat about. I had a two hour discussion last night at 3am with Tom Isaacson about new projects and ideas. The phone call ended with us reading Goodnight Moon aloud and falling asleep in eachother's arms. I made that last sentence up. But the fact remains. All of our top artists and crew are intimately involved with the site on every level. We're here. We're listening. We're active beyond belief.
For every member that says "theory11 started off kind of like Ellusionist" - this is no hidden fact. I resided as President of Ellusionist after years of working with a great team there, and - after over 6 years - moved on amicably and respectfully in 2007 with the intention to break the mold that I in part had a role in creation of - as well as Wayne, Dana, and BJ (who all worked with Ellusionist in the past as well). Were we influenced by our own previous work? Absolutely - it was our own previous work. We all respect the company then and today. We respect all of those that respect the art. But we look upon that experience as a foundation - and this is what we're building on top of it.
For every member that says "theory11 is not really underground" - please go to a magic convention as a case study. If you haven't seen the surface, it is impossible to recognize the underground. There is an underground in this industry that defies the ordinary - both in psychology and aesthetic - and questions everything that has been done before - and this is it.
Since the beginning, we've been guided by only ONE thing: achieving the vision we have set out to do, and doing what we believe is right. The goal has not been to create a site that no one hates - but to create a site that some people love. That's important to us, that's what we've set out to do, and that's what we will - with time, dedication, and your support - accomplish.