|
|
Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3~4~5~6~7~8~9~10~11 [Next] | ||||||||||
acortest Regular user 123 Posts |
I have to add something to my post from earlier today. I hadn't read the entire thread when I posted, but I just did and someone posted that there was a number force earlier in the routine that was not on the demo video. I will do my best to try and read the entire threads before posting in the future.
|
|||||||||
emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
I don't see how this is in any way magicical. At most, it seems like a show of skill...and a boring one at that. Given the 1000's of killer effects to choose from, I can't see a professional looking at this and going, "gee, that looks strong enough to add to my set." Maybe it's just me, but I can't see anyone but a hobbyist using this.
|
|||||||||
NFW Inner circle UK 1002 Posts |
Not even a hobbyist unless kids were involved.
|
|||||||||
Xiqual Inner circle Upper left quadrant 4935 Posts |
Be careful emyers99! All the cronies are going to jump on you. I posted the same comment at the top of the page and all Dean's friends jumped all over me.
I totally agree. In Pure Effect Derren Brown states that we need to be "ruthless" about cutting out the just "so-so" effects from our acts. James Quote: On 2012-04-12 13:11, emyers99 wrote:
Still with the Chinese circus
|
|||||||||
randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Yeah! I mean come on.
People love counting. That's always a great point in a magic routine. :rolleyes: |
|||||||||
emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
Especially counting tiny beads that even people standing close up can't see. Like everyone, I love Dean, but he has released some stinkers...and not even the cronies can deny this is a stinker.
|
|||||||||
JD_UK Regular user 155 Posts |
I'd be interested in this if the beads were able to be worn as everyday jewellery but I would never wear something like that so its just a pain having to carry them as a hobbiest.
Like the effect though although to me the method is obvious! |
|||||||||
Pete Biro 1933 - 2018 18558 Posts |
I you saw the effect this has on people you would not call it a "stinker". Some will say I am a "biased" friend of Dean's. Maybe so, but this is fact and he's selling these almost faster than he can put them together.
Somewhere earlier in this thread he was accused of using a stooge. No way... pre-show work, yes, but not a stooge.
STAY TOONED... @ www.pete-biro.com
|
|||||||||
randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
Well, not saying anything bad really. Dean might kill with this for all I know. Anything is possible.
I would just like to point out that just because they are selling faster than they can be made, doesn't make it great. Every magician here has a "magic junk drawer" full of tricks that flew off the shelves when they came out. Again... not commenting on the trick. Just saying that it's usually hype that sells tricks, not the quality. Randi |
|||||||||
FrenchDrop Inner circle I can name that tune in 1647 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-04-13 13:37, Pete Biro wrote: With all due respect to Dean, I wonder how many of those sales are the result of people watching the deceptive demo and thinking "I've got to have that!" If I thought you legitimately could do what the demo makes it look like you can do -- have the beads separate at a number a spectator is merely thinking of -- I'd be very interested in buying Dean's Beads, if only to figure out how the heck it's done.
"A great magician has said of his profession that its practitioners '… must pound and rack their brains to make the least learning go in, but quarrelling always comes very naturally to them.'” -- Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
|
|||||||||
Magicsquared Inner circle 1262 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-04-13 13:37, Pete Biro wrote: I hope we haven't evolved to the point where it becomes okay to show demos that require some pre-show work without indicating that there is pre-show work involved. Because if that becomes okay then you can show an effect of virtually anything and then try and sell it (because what CAN'T be achieved with some pre-show work). This might be a cute close-up effect in a casual environment, but it's hardly the type of thing you would assume pre-show work is involved with, so in that sense I think the demo is kind of misleading. |
|||||||||
emyers99 Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 4741 Posts |
I honestly can't see this getting any reaction other than "that's cute" or "so what." The day that becomes an acceptable reaction is the day I sell my act and take up bowling. So if he truly is selling a bunch of these, all that proves is that magicians will buy anything that is slapped with a big name and the glowing packaging quotes we've all grown to love.
|
|||||||||
Rodney Palmer Inner circle 1317 Posts |
I purchased this awhile back. And let me be CLEAR, I do not know Dean or any of his so called followers. I have used this many times and the reactions have been really good. Not jump out of your seat good and run down the hall. Dean has developed many routines with this effect and to be honest when I do this at Birthday Parties for the Adult Guests after the show they really have fun with this and enjoy the presentation. It is all in the presentation. Does it look like something a Child made? YES but the story you can make up for this are truly endless. Just get a little creative and this can be a hit at your shows.
REMLAP
"Creating Memories That Last A Lifetime"
In order to keep "MAGIC ALIVE" Please become a Mentor to a Young Person. |
|||||||||
Andrew Zuber Inner circle Los Angeles, CA 3014 Posts |
What one person considers "so-so" another person can slay with. Is this for everyone? No. Do the people that put effort into the presentation do well with it? Absolutely. Am I a friend of Dean's? You bet. But if he released something that didn't interest me, I wouldn't do it. I was skeptical at first myself but these things really do get awesome reactions. I have a very small case that I carry when I'm working...four decks of cards, some coins and a few final loads. The beads are the only other item in there. I don't have space to carry junk with me. I've been using them at the castle recently and our guests always get a kick out of them.
Anyway...carry on with your assumptions.
"I'm sorry - if you were right, I would agree with you." -Robin Williams, Awakenings
|
|||||||||
FrenchDrop Inner circle I can name that tune in 1647 Posts |
The only assumption I make about Dean's Beads is that the demo is misleading. Do you feel it isn't, Andrew?
"A great magician has said of his profession that its practitioners '… must pound and rack their brains to make the least learning go in, but quarrelling always comes very naturally to them.'” -- Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
|
|||||||||
randirain Inner circle Fort Worth, TX 1650 Posts |
It is true that the prop doesn't make the magician.
The magician makes the magician. |
|||||||||
NotYourAverageJOE New user 34 Posts |
I have a weekly gig performing table side magic for a restaurant’s family night. I am always looking for kid friendly tricks and this is indeed one of them. I have worked this for a few months now and it’s very entertaining for the children and parents. Do I consider it to be the most magical thing I do, No. But, I do consider it to be one of the most engaging because the kids easily understand it, they get to hold onto the beds and pull them apart (they really enjoy this), and it brings moms back to childhood memories.
I performed this just the other night for a table with about 8 children at it and everyone wanted a go at it. A table across the way saw this and when I got to them they also wanted to do it. For me it’s a keeper. BTW I also do not know Dean.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE MAGIC
|
|||||||||
rnaviaux Loyal user 287 Posts |
When I visited Deans place a few weeks ago he not only demo'd it for me he also tipped the work. Like I mentioned before the routine builds and builds. Depending on your skill set you can take this effect in a lot of different directions. Not for everybody but a great idea nonetheless.
|
|||||||||
Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
It's a way of looking at things magically. Is the demo deceptive? Yes and no. It's like asking is 'magic' deceptive. I 'know' from 40+ years of experience that folks can't really read minds. Or, at least, to most accurate, that's my general experience. I didn't particularly like the Beads frankly until the last phase, but it NEVER entered my mind that Dean actually had 'real' mind reading beads. I simply assumed some form of pre-work. Not because I'm so smart, but because it's the only way it could be done. So my question to myself was, "What form did that work take?"
The 'sell' for me, oddly enough, was not the demoed routine, but the ideas that were tossed off by Mr. Biro I believe. That is, using the beads to 'Force' a number! Now, that's cool and I can see using it for that purpose alone. Demo how it breaks at differing places, etc. When you are a dealer or a creator/dealer you walk a very odd line in deciding how something should be described or demoed. Should you tend towards what you know from experience IS in fact that way that most lay folk perceive the 'effect', or should you give the information in a manner that really only a magician would understand the 'why' of your disclosure of so much of that information and actually take the chance that the item will not be purchased and for the wrong reason. I have always tended toward the latter of the two and would almost inevitably given in the description and indication of what actually happens in the third phase, but with explanation of how I perceive it's strengths or weakness. This is not a criticism of Dean. I know him to be a totally honest and ethical guy and I don't believe he was trying to 'con' anyone on the third phase. I honestly believe that it never occurred to him that someone actively in magic would have thought for a minute that he had actually come up with a way of really reading minds and then forcing that number via the beads. It's a weird line to walk especially if you are attempting to be ethical in your sales. We've all bought stuff from the description and found the item to be a total waste. Some of magic's past ad copy is just amazing in it's mendacity. And, oddly, this might be a case in which the demo has to an extent worked against sales. I don't know, but there was enough negative comment here to suggest that it did. I honestly believe that I would have liked it more if I had seen the 'full' picture. All the best,
Brad Burt
|
|||||||||
FrenchDrop Inner circle I can name that tune in 1647 Posts |
To me, there's no question that the demo is deceptive. It's like showing a new ACAAN effect and leaving out an initial phase where you use a different deck to force the card, ending up with a demo that makes it look like the spectator simply named the first card he thought of.
It's true that an experienced magician is not going to look at the demo for Dean's Beads and assume the beads can read minds -- but leaving the "pre-work" out of the demo and giving no indication that there was pre-work leaves the potential buyer with insufficient information to base his decision on. He may well know there must be some kind of pre-work, but if he doesn't know the exact nature of it, he may buy the effect, learn how it works, and decide it's not for him. And another effect goes into The Drawer because of a deceptive demo.
"A great magician has said of his profession that its practitioners '… must pound and rack their brains to make the least learning go in, but quarrelling always comes very naturally to them.'” -- Susanna Clarke, Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell
|
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Tricks & Effects » » Deans Beads (3 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page [Previous] 1~2~3~4~5~6~7~8~9~10~11 [Next] |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.03 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |