theory11 — Magic Tricks & the World's Finest Playing Cards

Researching Effect History

AsherF

AsherF

Apr 1, 2009
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I don't do much creating outside putting my own spin on effects of other artists. But I think I've come up with something pretty special, working method and everything. But I want to be smart about this, so I was wondering what the most efficiant route to go is when researching the originality of an effect. Because as far as I know there is a boatload of published material out in the world, and itd be pretty difficult to hit them all and still have time to eat. So, if anyone could point me in the right direction, thatd be wonderful.
 
AsherF said:
I don't do much creating outside putting my own spin on effects of other artists. But I think I've come up with something pretty special, working method and everything. But I want to be smart about this, so I was wondering what the most efficiant route to go is when researching the originality of an effect. Because as far as I know there is a boatload of published material out in the world, and itd be pretty difficult to hit them all and still have time to eat. So, if anyone could point me in the right direction, thatd be wonderful.
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I'd find someone who has an encyclopedic knowledge of magic effects, Brad Henderson for example, and ask about the general effect. For example, if you have a new coin vanish, ask about coin vanishes. If it's off the wall maybe explain the effect in general to a few people (in PM's) and see if they've heard of anything like it.

If they have then you can look up those specific sources and compare methods/ideas to see if yours is original.

Just a few ideas, I've never had to do research on something, but this seems like a good route. Just make sure you're asking people you trust, some magicians (sadly) would steal your idea in a heartbeat to have something published...anyone you'd readily recognize as reputable (alliteration!) in the community would be a good source.

Maybe send a PM to Raiker or JB and ask how T11 goes about it. :)
 
You could give a basic overview of the effect and I'm sure someone on the forums will know if its been done before.
 
Justin.Morris said:
Tyler Wilson is one of these guys. If you can get in touch with the guy.
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Yeah he is, I had actually forgotten that until you mentioned it. At Tri C's a bunch of us were in a room jamming and everything showed us was followed (or was introduced with) history of the effect, every source you could find it, what variations he liked/didn't like...etc...

I want to say Steve Beam has a lot of knowledge, and if he doesn't he loves to delve into these things.
 
Sir FansAlot said:
You could give a basic overview of the effect and I'm sure someone on the forums will know if its been done before.
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I agree with this, I have also created several effects in the last little while and what I did was looked for anything remotely similar to see if anyone had anything close to what I made. I looked at different sites such as D&D, Ellusionist, Exomagic, and so on. Because I know that there are people on those sites that don't visit T11.

What I did this with was a steal that I had created, I looked at other steals and new ones to see if there was anything like I had made, if they were at all similar I looked at the history of the move to see if there was anything close to my invention. Because my move also doubles aa a control to top/bottom and as a color change I did the same thing there
 
Well. The effect is basically a utility device/gimmick that can be used for many different types of tricks. From transformations, to TnR, mentalism, etc... So far the ideas are endless. Its a concept with business cards, that I discovered independently about their structure that allows for this. So someone with great knowledge on business card effects, that could help, would be a big help. I've seen similar concepts used, but never with a business card.
 
I would suggest talking to the creator of the 'similar concepts' then, and see if their work could be used with a business card.
 
AsherF said:
I don't do much creating outside putting my own spin on effects of other artists. But I think I've come up with something pretty special, working method and everything. But I want to be smart about this, so I was wondering what the most efficiant route to go is when researching the originality of an effect. Because as far as I know there is a boatload of published material out in the world, and itd be pretty difficult to hit them all and still have time to eat. So, if anyone could point me in the right direction, thatd be wonderful.
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well whatever you are working with contact as many people with knowledge of what you are working on...if i'm going to do a card effect, you best beleive lee asher is who i'll hit up, also talk with students of vernon, as well as less known magicians....why??? they have some gem of ideas sometimes...and it can be a key component to what you need....

i remember wayne houchin's stigmata, when i first saw it i knew how it went why??? dude when i was little thats how we use to create temporary tattoos, i mean they were so dead on, that it would take months to come up even with extensive washing....houchin's way was no revolutionary of performing but his application used was still slick...

but to make a long story short, when you are creating, the effect you are trying to create is probably already a premise of something else, find out that artist, or magician, and pick their brain...that what i'm currently doing to Doc Eason. trust me all advice he gives me is going right into my notes....
 
See. My problem here is knowing who to go to. The one person who I've drawn any ideas from uses it in a very different form and for a different type of effect.
 
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