New trick in the making!

[chrisponline123]

Ok so I'm new here and needing some advice... I'm planning on releasing my first trick in a few weeks but after sending it off to be reviewed I was told I need to research and make sure I reference people as there's a lot of similar tricks out there.

Basically the effect goes like this:

A selection of books are brought out in front of the audience. The magician states that he will need two helpers to demonstrate his skill. With the first helper, spectator (A), he asks them to pick any book from the selection and also a page from the chosen book. (This can all be completely free choice).

Once a page is selected another spectator(spectator B) is asked to join the stage. The magician then blindfolds spectator B and hands her a pen. Spectator A is asked to hold the book out in front of her so the pages face spectator B. Spectator B then makes a stab with the page at the page and hopefully lands on a word.

Long story short the magician is able to determine which word was marked with the pen at random. He doesn't even have to be on stage at the time and can even be blindfolded himself.

So... does anyone know of any similar tricks to this? I know Corinda did something similar with a spectator placing a pin on a map?

Any help for references would be much appreciated!

 

[obrienmagic]

Are you looking for credits i assume?

I would start by thinking about where you got some of your ideas from. Even if it isn't the same type of effect, maybe you borrowed some ideas from different types of magic. Best to name the person and the effect at the least and if able source where they can find said effect.

As for the type of effect you are talking about, sounds like you want to look up the "book test" plot. There are hundreds of versions basically identical to what you just have said and all with different methods.

 

[RealityOne]

It is hard to provide references without knowing the method. Based on your reference to Corinda, I'm guessing your method is the similar to the method in the Magazine Test on page 322 of Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic. Rather than having the spectator mark the page behind their back, you are using a blindfold.

My sense is that the use of the blindfold takes away from the fairness of the selection. You will need to justify using it in your presentation. The perfect book test is to have the spectator pick any book, any page and any word completely on their own. Each step you take away from that needs to be justified.

 

[chrisponline123]

Hi both, thankyou for your advice I really appreciate it. The method is indeed very similar to that of Mark Wilson's so thankyou for that! I will put that in the credits. The big differences are that the book and selected page can be examined and shown completely clean before marking takes place and it obviously uses a small pen mark rather than a big cross.

I've had a look at some of Annemanns stuff but I'm struggling to find anything similar. The effect involves a very subtle way of marking the page right before the spectator 'marks' it. Any further ideas would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Josh Burch]

So, originality in new creations is very difficult. Most magic companies are looking for something that feels completely new.

I have a series of self working card effects that are completely original in method but the effect looks the same. I talked directly with people at Penguin about publishing them. Companies want new presentational angles along with new methods. They want something that is as new as possible. If your effect resembles anything on the market that could be an issue.

 

[chrisponline123]

Hi,

Hmm that's a good point, it's a busy market. I think I might think about altering it slightly. Have you released anything with penguin as of yet?

Also any suggestions for reading/research on book tests with the use of a pen or pencil?

 

[garrybarton6]

Hi,

Hmm that's a good point, it's a busy market. I think I might think about altering it slightly. Have you released anything with penguin as of yet?

Also any suggestions for reading/research on book tests with the use of a pen or pencil?

You don't need a pencil or pen if you just read the books. hehe!

 

[Josh Burch]

Hi,

Hmm that's a good point, it's a busy market. I think I might think about altering it slightly. Have you released anything with penguin as of yet?

Also any suggestions for reading/research on book tests with the use of a pen or pencil?

I have and am in the process, right now, of releasing a product. A few years ago Penguin flew me out to film a creation of mine. They produced my first collection of card magic called Electro.

Since then I have self produced many effects on Jay Sankey's Inside Deception Website, Theory11 and Penguin (I've had my magic appear in the Linking Ring as well). I now create magic for other magicians on a regular basis. Rick Lax, Adam Trent, Jibrizy and others have used my magic on their viral videos and magic specials.

I wouldn't alter it slightly, I'd try to alter it significantly. Look at what the trick would look like if you performed it backwards. Look at what it would look like with props that no one has ever used before.

If you are using a secret marking system you might want to look into all the various nail writers, boon writers, and pocket writing resources. If you are using one of these methods the literature is already saturated with this type of method. In other words what you are doing has probably already been done.

I'd also look into the dumb tip pen, or dry sharpie type effect. It seems like this is the principal you are using. This has been used a lot unfortunately. It very common way to have a spectator "mark" something while blind folded or behind their back. Unfortunately, if I give specific routines for either of these I run into exposing published products.

If you are a performer (that's where the real money is) then maybe you have created a routine that you can do and you don't have to worry about selling it.

 

[chrisponline123]

I have and am in the process, right now, of releasing a product. A few years ago Penguin flew me out to film a creation of mine. They produced my first collection of card magic called Electro.

Since then I have self produced many effects on Jay Sankey's Inside Deception Website, Theory11 and Penguin (I've had my magic appear in the Linking Ring as well). I now create magic for other magicians on a regular basis. Rick Lax, Adam Trent, Jibrizy and others have used my magic on their viral videos and magic specials.

I wouldn't alter it slightly, I'd try to alter it significantly. Look at what the trick would look like if you performed it backwards. Look at what it would look like with props that no one has ever used before.

If you are using a secret marking system you might want to look into all the various nail writers, boon writers, and pocket writing resources. If you are using one of these methods the literature is already saturated with this type of method. In other words what you are doing has probably already been done.

I'd also look into the dumb tip pen, or dry sharpie type effect. It seems like this is the principal you are using. This has been used a lot unfortunately. It very common way to have a spectator "mark" something while blind folded or behind their back. Unfortunately, if I give specific routines for either of these I run into exposing published products.

If you are a performer (that's where the real money is) then maybe you have created a routine that you can do and you don't have to worry about selling it.

Hi Josh,

Thank you once again for your advice, I'm new to actually marketing a trick so I really appreciate any help from people who have been there. Sounds like I need to have a real think. I think the method I've come up with is strong but from what you've said I'm thinking I need to make the effect way different and more impossible.

In terms of actual sales I guess it's hard to give an estimate seeing as every trick is different but have you generally found tricks get a decent number of sales through penguin? I'm eager to learn what I can expect.