Is it just me, or are names of tricks getting way too bold and in some cases, gory? I mean, Kaos, Stigmata? At least Theory11 keeps it subtle. Next we'll have Vengeance, and Painful. Anyone with me?
Trick names getting out of hand?
- Thread starter The Tumbleweed
- Start date
There was a thread about this not too long ago.
I totally agree with you, that Kaos and Stigmata are ridiculous names, but I disagree on that Theory11 keeps it subtle. Prophet? Panic? Marketing...
EDIT: http://forums.theory11.com/showthread.php?t=5816&highlight=magic+trick+names+are+weird
I agree 110%, next thing you know we'll be seeing tricks named after songs and books... who knows, the list of shameful name-ripoffs is endless...
*Edit* I don't mind stigmata as a name because it's bold and stands out, but if I ever see a trick named oh I dunno... "Bohemian Rhapsody" for example, then I wouldn't be happy. You agree Tumbleweed?
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wow, forgot about panic and that, i just called my latest trick Vengeance, as a joke. Might put up a vid of it some day
How are Prophet and Panic gory?
Not necessarily gory, but over-dramatic, and they have nothing to do with effect. "Cool" sounding.
'Dramatic' seems to be the key word here. Which is funny because my first trick was called dramatic
Hmm dramatic, my new trick is called "in vain". Trendy, you will get the Dramatic significance of that... (not what you expect either).
There's nothing wrong with using powerful or interesting names for effects, You want your effect to be on everyones lips so you put time and effort into coming up with a powerful, solid, catchy title which has at least SOME relevance to the effect it describes.
Stigmata for instance - when I heard about stigmata I sought it out straight away as it sounded very cool, and then the effect, which the name represents perfectly, seemed awesome also.
Stigmata is the appearance of the wounds of christ on the subjects body, often relevant to the persons religious belief. The trick stigmata is the appearance of essentially wounds on the body relevant to the spectator's thought of card/word/etc.
I'm aware that there are lots of effect names out there which don't really represent the effect in essence, but are powerful titles all the same, which I feel having a background in corporate l marketing, can be just as valid as those that are representative of the product.
Just my 2c on a subject that has been brought up over and over!
In the end a title is something designed to create a hook to the product and to make you pick up and have a look at the back of the DVD or check out the site - When you see awesome cover graphics and a cool name it makes you want to check out the trick, or the movie, or whatever else.
In the end it's the content that counts, but having a good identity is a sure fire way to get people looking it up and talking about your product.
Cheers, D.
Stigmata for instance - when I heard about stigmata I sought it out straight away as it sounded very cool, and then the effect, which the name represents perfectly, seemed awesome also.
Stigmata is the appearance of the wounds of christ on the subjects body, often relevant to the persons religious belief. The trick stigmata is the appearance of essentially wounds on the body relevant to the spectator's thought of card/word/etc.
I'm aware that there are lots of effect names out there which don't really represent the effect in essence, but are powerful titles all the same, which I feel having a background in corporate l marketing, can be just as valid as those that are representative of the product.
Just my 2c on a subject that has been brought up over and over!
In the end a title is something designed to create a hook to the product and to make you pick up and have a look at the back of the DVD or check out the site - When you see awesome cover graphics and a cool name it makes you want to check out the trick, or the movie, or whatever else.
In the end it's the content that counts, but having a good identity is a sure fire way to get people looking it up and talking about your product.
Cheers, D.
That's what upsets me. That works with movies, as movies are marketed to everyone. Why are magic effects marketed the same way? Magicians are a small group. Also, an effect that needs marketing isn't probably that good.
Think about it. Movies are marketed like that because they compete with each other. Are magic effects competing with each other? At the moment, Magic Companies are competing against each other, and they are competing about customers, and those customers are beginners.
I believe this is one of the biggest problems in magic nowdays.
Having worked in a few magic shops, I have seen the oddest names for magic effects. Problem is, some of these things need names because it's hard to call something "That one card trick where the thing moves around with the stuff".
Problem is some guys think they are being cute.. and they're not. However, it's entirely up to the creator. Nothing much you can do about it... except make yer own effect and see if you can make the next memorable moniker.
Problem is some guys think they are being cute.. and they're not. However, it's entirely up to the creator. Nothing much you can do about it... except make yer own effect and see if you can make the next memorable moniker.
I disagree with earlier comments about the name "Prophet". It's got everything to do with the trick! It's simply a different way of spelling "Profit" - which is very money related.
And I also agree with the name Stigmata, that has everything to do with the trick.
However, tricks like Indecent, Kaos, Witness and Panic have nothing to do with the tricks, no, but I quite like the big, dramatic names, even if they are completely irrelevant.
And I also agree with the name Stigmata, that has everything to do with the trick.
However, tricks like Indecent, Kaos, Witness and Panic have nothing to do with the tricks, no, but I quite like the big, dramatic names, even if they are completely irrelevant.
Well said.
It would be cool if someone would explain some of these names and how they are related to the actual effect. For example, was Deuce Bag's name changed to Witness because it would've looked funny in an image with Lee Asher's dramatic pose and the title next to him stating "Deuce Bag".
I don't see why it matters. I think that if these tricks are pretty good, or at least powerful for the spectator; I think that the "powerful" effect needs a more or less powerful name.
Aside from us, the consumers, what does it really matter what a trick is called? Unless you are going up to your spectators and naming the effects you are performing it really doesn't make a bit of difference if they call it Panic or Cheesecake Deluxe. Half the time the name has no relevance whatsoever to the actual effect being performed.
--Jim
I don't mean to sound harsh...but this statement was a joke...right?
If an effect isn't marketed...then you wouldn't know about it, and therefore you wouldn't be able to buy it. Because you wouldn't know it existed. Because it wasn't marketed. Period
Yes...magic effects are competing with each other.
How could they not be??
So the only customers worth competing over...are beginners?
What an odd thing to say.
I'd have suspected that magic companies are competing over anyone who would be willing to buy their products...the same as any other business that sells a product to make profit. That the businesses in question are Magic related is irrelevant. They're still businesses.
Huh?
One of the biggest problems in magic today is that the creators / publishers give their effects a marketable name and sell them?
Like I said at the outset...I don't mean to be harsh, but that entire post was just another example of jumping on a bandwagon. What has the name of a trick got to do with anything?
At all??
And if it wasn't marketed for sale...how would you get hold of it??
Rabid
Wow... I would've bought it straight away if it was called Cheesecake Deluxe.
- Sean
P.S. I'm serious.
It wasn't a joke, although I exaggerated. I mean that magic effects shouldn't need flashy names to sell, or a huge hype behind it.
There was a poll recently here that showed that most of the community here at Theory11 have been into magic for a couple of years only. Majority of those who buy products from T11 or E are beginners. Professionals don't buy every new effect that comes out from Theory11. Those who buy, are almost always beginners
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That's the problem from my point of view. They are businesses trying to make profit.
Or course I didn't mean names. I meant the whole business aspect of releasing effects.
It's a perfect example of magic businesses methods of selling. Cool effects, with cool names, you get huge reactions with these effects, you are cool if you do these.
Of course there has to be some information around about the effect, I agree. My point wasn't that there shouldn't be marketing at all, but that there shouldn't be this kind of marketing we see at the moment.
Of course I exaggerate and I hope I didn't insult anybody.