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Beezer109 Regular user 123 Posts |
Hey everyone - as a magician myself, I always like to hear what other pro magicians would like to see in a magic shop, such as a feature that isn't available in a shop, but should be.
Anyone? ALSO - Do you think that all the features that you can possible want are ALREADY available? Elaborate! Thanks...Nick |
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Marcus K New user Bay Area, California 96 Posts |
Slot machines, pole dancers, shoe shine guys, and a crepe station.
Wait... that's Vegas. I suppose I've always wanted a lounge where the learned men can hold court with the rest of us. That doesn't mean it can't have a pole dancer every now and then. Check this out... http://www.calmagic.com Gerry has created a magnificent space here. Magic shop, restaurant, lounge, theatre, **magic library**, museum, all in one place. Started out small, but since then, Daryl, Colombini, Lewis... everyone performs there. Lance Burton even did a presentation there. I can't think of much more I could want... except... well... you know.
The beatings will continue until morale improves.
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Beezer109 Regular user 123 Posts |
Haha, I chuckled....well, I was focusing more on ONLINE MAGIC SHOPS.
I know your probably saying under your breath **BORING** But, I don't have a brick and mortar shop available within a 2 Hour radius, so that's why I am wondering about ONLINE SHOPs mainly. So again, any features you WISH online shops had, or what are your FAVORITE features that are already available. Thanks!!!...Nick |
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Daegs Inner circle USA 4291 Posts |
A really good magician behind the counter....
A 3 webcam setup so that you can practice stuff getting video'd from 3 different angles at once, and then a cheap PC to watch all 3 streams. I think it would be cool, while hanging out, to get some video's made of sessions... Also some food and places to lounge including a table with pad so we can throw down some stuff in between customers coming in. |
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bitterman Inner circle 1189 Posts |
How about a guy behind the counter that won't try to sell every kid in the door dross like Carpenter's Nightmare?
If you are not cheating, you are only cheating yourself.
Dutchco is about to put out some new Ebook: DUTCHCO. Get 'em while you can. |
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T. Joseph O'Malley Inner circle Canada 1937 Posts |
Online shops can never match the guidance, instruction and helpfulness that real live behind the counter magic shop employees can provide. Never. Ever. They can provide access to secret forums or downloadable videos but it's just not the same as being able to interact with a flesh and blood shop owner who has a passion for magic.
I suppose it would be nice for online shops to provide secure reliable service, and some of them do, and some online shops are great. Though I would rather shop at a brick and mortar store, I admit that I am always happy to shop online from David Malek's online shop. He carries some good stuff and gives very good reviews and consideration to what he sells. Price, although a driving factor for many, doesn't matter so much to me. Not because I'm rich, but because I figure it's worth it to pay a buck or two more at a brick and mortar shop because you're paying for the service they offer.
tjo'
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Zazz Veteran user California 315 Posts |
I will have to put some thought in the online shop ideas.
The first place that came to mind was also California Magic Dinner Theater. http://www.calmagic.com I think Gerry Griffin created the ideal magic shop. 1) Great selection of magic to purchase. 2) Expert inhouse magicians to give advice. I have walked into the shop on different occasions and have seen magicians such as Losander or Aldo Colombini there. 3) Great lunches and even better dinners. 4) The atmosphere, music and videos are very relaxing. 5) The dinner shows. To date I have seen Aldo Colombini, John Carney, Daryl, Losander, Dana Daniels, John Calvert, Jeff Ezell, Jon Armstrong, and just this weekend Daryl once again. The opening magicians for the show are very good. 6) Once a month I look forward to attending our local S.A.M. meeting there. I couldn't think of a better place to meet. 7) Great stage. I'm luck to be living so close to a place like this. |
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Turk Inner circle Portland, OR 3546 Posts |
On-line dealers?
1. Either free shipping or having the shipping already being factored into the advertised price. Being paranoid about unspecified unjustifiably high S&H (welcome to eBay), I get tired of having to put an item in a cart and then go through all the hassle of "checking out" 2-3 screens later just to finally be advised of the actual S&H. 2. NOT advertising any product that is not in stock. It is a VERY simple matter for a computer database to automatically remove an item from stock or to post a "temporarily out of stock" designation whenever the last "in stock" item is sold. I HATE buying something, and then later being advised that the item is out of stock. I want to know that up front so that I can decide whether or not to "buy and wait" or to buy elsewhere. As a corollary, I'd also like to be advised of reasonable ETA of the out of stock item both into the store and delivered to me. 3. Stores that have large inventories of magic merchandise so that I can do "one stop" shopping. I don't like to shop around nor to pit one dealer against the other. I want to develop a good on-going relationship with 1-3 dealers and stick with them, if possible. Mike P.S. Note that nowhere in the above is "low price" or "discount" mentioned. Dealers have to make reasonable profits to stay in business and if magicians keep beating them up on prices, the stores won't be able to make their profit margin necessary to stay in business. And once their cash flow starts to deteriorate, then "all he** breaks loose" as the law of Unintended Consequences rears its ugly head. The dealers start robbing Peter to pay Paul and the last thing they have any money for is to "stock the shelves". Their slow pay with their jobbers catches up with them and they are then put on a COD basis only. Hence, they tend to have more out of stock and they require your cash up front before they can even order the merchandise you just paid for. A dealer who requires your money up front and who has a high percentage of his "inventory" out of stock,...is a dealer hanging on by his fingernails. Shopping for the lowest price is a self-fulfilling recipe for disaster. When I discover a dealer such as this, I take my business elsewhere.
Magic is a vanishing Art.
This must not be Kansas anymore, Toto. Eschew obfuscation. |
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Ben Train Inner circle Erdnase never had 4639 Posts |
Large stock, cheap shipping, videos and pictures of stock, posting of the first few pages of each book, forum for discussion.
But other then as an intellectual discusion, I don't really care. Im not going to buy from an online store unless I know the owner. Ide much rather support a brick and morter store. as far as that goes, a table or two to sit down at, access to the books and a chance to look through them, a large stock, a good group of regulars, and a demenstrator who is knowledgable, proficent, and helpful. I also wouldnt mind a tv and dvd player to preview dvds. Ive gotten way to many where the effects where not as advertised. no one I know of has the dvds, but the rest describe browsers den and Denny and Lees (denny may not have the table, but he has th room next store to sesion in and a couch in the main room...) If I can, Im going to shop at those two.
If you're reading this you're my favourite magician.
Check out www.TorontoMagicCompany.com for upcoming shows, and instagram.com/train.ben for god knows what! |
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scorch Inner circle 1480 Posts |
Yeah Gerry Griffin's place is really cool. Not the best selection of effects, however. It's more of a performance space than a retail space, which is fine, and just a matter of priorities.
I'd also like the idea of a lounge for card workers to hang out, and maybe have access to a decent library of out of print books. |
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Father Photius Grammar Host El Paso, TX (Formerly Amarillo) 17161 Posts |
An online shop would best have an interactive mechanism where you could ask question, and see products demonstrated in real time. Actually, I'm not real keen on on line shops, though they are more and more becoming a necessity sometimes. Hard to beat a brick and mortar walk in store, and if such stores have a "lounge" in which the local magi can gather and exchange ideas, all the better. Also nice to have two demo areas, one for pitching (which is almost necessary for such stores to survive anymore) and one for demos for magicians. Also they really need a separate room to show how a trick is done to a customer who just purchased it. I've seen too many demo this at the demo stand while a dozen non buyers looked on. Of course, in return, the local magi need to be supportive of the store, and if things are busy be willing to help out with a demo or two, in exhcange for the lounge provided. I never tell anyone to "not buy" something in a store. I've seen that done, or worse tell them "go to penguin (or some other net store) you can get it a lot cheaper". Best way I know to be uninvited to return to a store.
"Now here's the man with the 25 cent hands, that two bit magician..."
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SPINE New user Chicago 87 Posts |
Go to Midwest Magic in Franklin Park, Illinois.
You won't be dissapointed! Online - http://www.midwestmagic.net
Card Ruse
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bsears Inner circle Cincinnati, Ohio 1040 Posts |
What would I like to see most when I visit an on-line magic shop? How about a sign that says "site closed: please visit my brick and mortar shop for service."
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Jimmy Y Regular user 108 Posts |
I agree 100% with Turk.
Its best to have online shops with real time stock indicator, real time shipping quotes. Demos for all of the items they are selling...etc, /dream off. Some of the popluar online shops never tell you whether the item you ordered is in stock or not, then you placed an order, it arrives, ended up missing few pieces. This happened to me a lot. Some shops even advertised xx% off discount but ended up ripped you off with shipping cost which they never stated in your cart, not even after you paid. This is really annoying.
Nice to meet you
Jimmy |
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Nosher Loyal user 261 Posts |
Why is this topic in Pasteboards?
I'm just saying...
Escapemaster-in-chief from all sorts of houdingplaces - Finnegans Wake
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kid iowa Loyal user Oklahoma 300 Posts |
The best shop I've ever been in was the Magic Depot in Tulsa. Huge selection, great prices, lounge area, stage, complimentary food/drink. Aaron Smith has the coolest job in the world running that store. Can't beat it in my opinion.
Any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile...can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, "I served in the United States Navy." J.F.K.
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Atrophy New user Canton, Ohio 5 Posts |
I've only ever been to one "brick and mortar" magic store and that is The Cuckoo's Nest in Pittsburgh, PA. I love this store because it doesn't just appeal to the tourist type people who just want to learn a simple gag to get their friends with. It's a gathering place for local magicians and has a huge stock of dvds and books with more advanced material. Their website ( http://www.thecuckoosnest.com ) isn't nearly as good as the actual store, but it does show some of their amazing selection. The site could use some work, so don't judge the shop by the site.
Midwest Magic seems like it would be a good place to shop. I wish it wasn't so far away or I'd visit the actual store. |
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jcigam Special user Bellevue, Nebraska 512 Posts |
Check out http://www.williamsmagic.com they have some great photos and descriptions of how a magic shop should be.
Take special notice of the performing stage they have set up for magicians. Awesome magic shop; if you are ever in Tucson, Arizona you have to check it out. Jered S.
"The mind has exactly the same power as the hand, not merely to grasp the world, but to change it."
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scorch Inner circle 1480 Posts |
I think a bricks and mortar shop should have an old world sense of wonder about it, while totally eschewing the "magic shop" cheesiness with the dorky effects painted in bright colors and fake chinese writing on them. And when I saw old world I don't mean 1970s old world. I mean Houdini-Erdnase old world. That would be really cool if it were done tastefully, and a fantastic sort of a way that would appeal to young and old alike.
And absolutely no minimum price on demos. What a silly, anti-child policy that is. Does Tannen's still have a minimum price on effects that they're willing to demo? I couldn't believe it when I found out they were doing that. |
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Alan Munro Inner circle Kentwood, Michigan, USA 5952 Posts |
In a brick and mortar shop. I'd like to see demonstrators who can demonstrate and have some knowledge of working in the real world.
In an online shop, I want to see video demos of every trick. It also helps if the performing conditions are discussed in the description. Nothing is worse that buying a trick and finding out that it can only be performed for friends, under very controlled conditions. Sometimes a magician needs something, fast. It helps if the inventory status of the item is current, so he isn't wasting time trying to order it. |
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