I wanted to ask something from the people in the forum here, and please keep the flaming to a minimal. I’ve given all of your comments very serious thought. For those that do not know, I created a card magic website that currently is showing how to do various slights and tricks. Here’s the main feedback that I got from those that posted on the topic.
Exposure is wrong, mainly because it hurts other by taking away revenue from tricks they are trying to sell, by giving them away for free on the internet. I know everyone will say, “you’re wrong Jeremy…”, but here was my idea behind the exposure.
I’ve bought many tricks on DvD and packets, only to learn that some of the ‘easy’ tricks were perhaps too advanced to do, or the trick did not end clean, or something else that was just unforeseen before buying. My original goal for my site was to show all of the tricks that are out there and all of the packets (or non original deck tricks), show how they’re done, and then rate them.
After posting here, I got a lot of negative feedback, and I understand where you’re all coming from. It was never my goal to inhibit the profits of other magicians by exposing tricks, so with that said, I’ve thought of a compromise.
What if I don’t expose the packet tricks, but just rate them and tell if they end clean, etc. I could tell what level of skill you need, and what slights difficulties you may encounter before buying. For example, say Nemesis does not end clean, and someone can’t just pick up the deck when you’re done. I got duped when I bought the online tutorial after it said, “ends clean”, and it did not.
Even if I told what slights were done in the packet tricks, someone would still have to go out to buy them (say for ones with unique cards). I think that this would actually increase sales of packet tricks? I’ve seen a LOT of tricks, but I don’t know what ones are good. A magician just showed me a good 4 card monte, and my Dad liked it so much, he bought it for $24. I thought it was a tad expensive, but if it’s really cool / really easy to learn, an on-line review and showing how it’s done could convince someone, such as myself even, to go buy it.
As far as exposure on other tricks, I view it like this. Everyone here has heard of the story of the Titanic. However, even knowing how the story ends, you go to see the movie anyways. This is my take on magic tricks. Even though I could do a short magic routine, I would rather sit down and see a magician do it and leave him a good tip, even though I know how some of it is done. You do it because it’s their take on things, and they have their own unexpected twists – just like movies. So, I’m not entirely sure how showing exposure on my site would inhibit people from seeing magicians in action. I actually believe that it could make more people interested in it.
At any rate, I know my level of skill isn’t where it needs to be to show these things, but I’ll keep working at it. Please don’t flame this post either – respect the guidelines of the forum. I’m just looking for some constructive feedback on the point of “not exposing packet tricks” vs. “exposing packet tricks” – the ones that have unique cards in which you would have to go out and buy the trick regardless of if you knew the slights or not.
Thanks.
Exposure is wrong, mainly because it hurts other by taking away revenue from tricks they are trying to sell, by giving them away for free on the internet. I know everyone will say, “you’re wrong Jeremy…”, but here was my idea behind the exposure.
I’ve bought many tricks on DvD and packets, only to learn that some of the ‘easy’ tricks were perhaps too advanced to do, or the trick did not end clean, or something else that was just unforeseen before buying. My original goal for my site was to show all of the tricks that are out there and all of the packets (or non original deck tricks), show how they’re done, and then rate them.
After posting here, I got a lot of negative feedback, and I understand where you’re all coming from. It was never my goal to inhibit the profits of other magicians by exposing tricks, so with that said, I’ve thought of a compromise.
What if I don’t expose the packet tricks, but just rate them and tell if they end clean, etc. I could tell what level of skill you need, and what slights difficulties you may encounter before buying. For example, say Nemesis does not end clean, and someone can’t just pick up the deck when you’re done. I got duped when I bought the online tutorial after it said, “ends clean”, and it did not.
Even if I told what slights were done in the packet tricks, someone would still have to go out to buy them (say for ones with unique cards). I think that this would actually increase sales of packet tricks? I’ve seen a LOT of tricks, but I don’t know what ones are good. A magician just showed me a good 4 card monte, and my Dad liked it so much, he bought it for $24. I thought it was a tad expensive, but if it’s really cool / really easy to learn, an on-line review and showing how it’s done could convince someone, such as myself even, to go buy it.
As far as exposure on other tricks, I view it like this. Everyone here has heard of the story of the Titanic. However, even knowing how the story ends, you go to see the movie anyways. This is my take on magic tricks. Even though I could do a short magic routine, I would rather sit down and see a magician do it and leave him a good tip, even though I know how some of it is done. You do it because it’s their take on things, and they have their own unexpected twists – just like movies. So, I’m not entirely sure how showing exposure on my site would inhibit people from seeing magicians in action. I actually believe that it could make more people interested in it.
At any rate, I know my level of skill isn’t where it needs to be to show these things, but I’ll keep working at it. Please don’t flame this post either – respect the guidelines of the forum. I’m just looking for some constructive feedback on the point of “not exposing packet tricks” vs. “exposing packet tricks” – the ones that have unique cards in which you would have to go out and buy the trick regardless of if you knew the slights or not.
Thanks.
