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The Mirror Images Inner circle Michigan/USA 1980 Posts |
Hello everyone,
First off I am unable to access my Magic Café account due to my AOL email address, so I have asked this to be posted. The views expressed here are not necessary the views of the individuals who have kindly posted this letter. It is only fair that I get to express my concerns here. Normally I do not try to get into these kind of situations, but since the company that is distributing this Interactive Hank made the comment that Peter 8 and Henry Kappers released theirs before mine, I feel I had to defend myself and my invention. Tim apparently made that comment without doing any research of his own. When I called Tim and explained to him the situation he immediately told me it was not the same as mine, and he did that without doing any research or without ever seeing my RC Hank. He instead compared it to my impossible Hank which it is not the same and once I showed him the evidence he said he was going to keep selling it. My RC Hank has been on my site for six months that is four months BEFORE they released theirs. When I first seen an advertisement for this effect it was on hocus-pocus's website, and when I called Paul Gross he immediately took it off of his website and apologized and now he no longer sells this effect. There has been a video of my double action RC Hank on my website for over three years now, again it was known to the magic community way BEFORE theirs, and Anthony Reed uses it to close the dancing Hank act that I created for him. If you go to my website and check out the PTS video of Anthony Reed you can see him closing his act with my RC Hank. In addition several other credible magicians have purchased this item from me over the years. This was not as underground as one would think, and some simple research would have contained this whole situation. Cyril one of the top magicians in the world today has purchased two from me over a year ago. Also just because this wasn't made available to ALL magicians when I first introduced the system to the magic world, doesn't give the right for someone else to produce it. That's like saying since Steve Fearson only sold his Laser illusion exclusively to David Copperfield, and if by chance someone never watched David perform it, gives them the right to make and sell their own to the rest of the magic community. The problem lies within research and there was obviously a lack thereof in the case of the Interactive Hank. The point is, there is a lot of evidence, and testimonials from, not one, but several magicians that know and used my RC Hank well before the Interactive Hank was ever brought to Market, and the right thing to do would be to pull the product. But I don't expect that to happen. Here are some things to keep in mind when considering buying the other one. Paul from hocus-pocus was kind enough to send me the interactive Hank upon receiving the interactive Hank it came to me broken, and after fixing the problem I took a good look at it. Their unit is made with cheap plastic gear RC servos. In stark contrast mine is made with metal gear servos that will last a lifetime. Their unit uses a very cheap radio system that requires two hands to animate the Hank, where as mine comes with a state-of-the-art radio system that is not affected by other RF signals. In addition my RC Hank can be controlled with one thumb and also comes with a nice protective case. I have seen the comment about setting the hanky on the table, and I'm not sure if you guys have seen the video but it looks terrible as there would be no reason to ever set it on a table. As soon as you set it on the table it looks like there is something in the hanky which defeats the purpose, either that or hankies now have spines. Here's the big difference as well when you make up your mind as to which one to purchase, no one has any idea who Peter 8 or Henry Kappers is, there was no information in the package that I received to get a hold of these people in case there is a problem, there is no website, no mailing address, no e-mail and no phone number. I am very easy to contact, I have a website, I have a real company with a real telephone number and a real e-mail address and you can talk to me the inventor in case there is a problem. And also I'm one of the very few companies in all of magic that offers a refund if you're not happy. I'm going to make no further comments about this. I am the originator of this idea I'm the first magician to ever animate hankies with servo motors. I thank all of the magicians who have backed me up on this. Sincerely, Sean Bogunia
Steven and Michael, The Mirror Images
The MOST Identical Twin Illusionist http://www.themirrorimages.com Check out our latest new effect - Liquid Steel NEW - MotoBox NEW - MotoMation NEW - Voyager |
Magic Patrick Inner circle Minnesota 1591 Posts |
Good luck Sean and we are behind you.
BYUDAD Posted: Mar 11, 2008 9:25pm By The Way - Murphy's magic is selling it as well. Yours looks a lot better and is a lot easier to use. BYUDAD |
Jay Buchanan Special user New Jersey 512 Posts |
It's a *** shame when great people like Sean get screwed over by people that can't even be bothered with a little research. And when faced with the truth, the wrong path was followed anyway. Well... add some more names to those whose products I will never touch.
Good luck Sean. It's such a shame you even have to deal with this crap.
Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt. ~ Shakespeare
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maps Inner circle 1124 Posts |
I know that Sean produces great stuff and I have his junior pts as well as his other hanky stuff.Thay are wonderful but he's not that easy to contact.I tried emailing many times regarding upgrading my junior pts to a full pts but have not heard from him.
I know he's a busy man but I wish he'll get his computer fixed and reply his emails. Maps
the heart is where the magic begins
Visit my website [www.mascotsandpuppets.com] |
Kent Wong Inner circle Edmonton, Alberta, Canada 2458 Posts |
Sean, your name carries instantly credibility with it. I've owned several of your dancing hank products for years and I've never had a regret. But you want to know why I originally purchased your product? I went to a dealer that I knew and trusted. He said if anything ever happened to go wrong, all I had to do was pick up the phone or send you and email - and the problem would be fixed. I've never had to make that phone call, but the strength of that endorsement was good enough for me!
Kent
"Believing is Seeing"
<BR>______________________ <BR> <BR>www.kentwongmagic.com |
Swann101 Special user 558 Posts |
Even if their product was better (but it def isn't) it is still wrong and that is the bottom line. Hope it gets sorted out Sean & good luck!
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Terry Owens Inner circle Ft. Wayne, Indiana 1707 Posts |
I own Sean's products and stand completely behind him.
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mydogripper Regular user Atlanta, GA 182 Posts |
Buy ONLY Sean Bogunia products... from the BEST
Merritt Ambrose
http://www.MerrittAmbrose.com
2011 Greater Atlanta Magician of the Year |
Mad Jack Regular user 195 Posts |
Sean,
I really feel for you. About a year ago I designed a new illusion and contacted Willie Kennedy about marketing the effect. He and I both agreed that it would probably be very popular if released, because of its small size, practicality and deceptiveness. It was (in his words) a winner. The reason I hesitate to move forward on this is because I just don't know if it's worth it. I know that creeps everywhere would just steal it. How many creative people have been stifled by thieves? It's impossible to estimate. I'm sure you will be a little hesitant to design your next great product knowing there are people waiting in the wings to rob you. This is unfortunately the world we live in. It will never change. I wish you the best, and the theives the worst. Mad Jack |
stuartmagic Loyal user Derby England (UK) 240 Posts |
I can honestly say that Seans products are excellent. Although I have never met Sean personally I have never had any problems with his items and have also never had problems with contacting him in any way.
It is a shame that there are always people who will jump on the band wagon and copy someone else's idea , 99% of the time with something more inferior. Always stick with the originator of a particular item. Stuart Brown British Magical Champion Of Stage Manipulation 2007
British Magical Champion
Of Stage Manipulation 2007 Derby Childrens Entertainer https://www.stuartmagic.co.uk Derby Childrens Entertainer https://www.derbymagiccircle.co.uk https://www.derbychildrensentertainer.com www.facebook.com/DerbyChildrensEntertainerStuartBrown |
chmara Inner circle Tucson, AZ 1911 Posts |
Sean --
As one of your first customers after the yo-yo days in Tucson -- I have always found your produc ts and their evolution to be creative and well documented so as not to step on any toes while selling first class product. Even to the extent that you improved Don Wayne's stuff AND gave him credit starting with the first release of the Dancing Hank. Although I have not been able to update my suitcase to remote (my economics) I know your creativity in making my double set-up in it was not shared because you demonstrated an ethical mindset in keeping performance creativity protected. (Now the BUT.) But, you may not remember that at the time I got my first rigs (coming from a business of IT protection mayself) I suggested that you patent and trademark your inventions. I think, perhaps, you were in the same position vis-a-vis paying for the legal process that I have been in for my upgrades from you. Without the protection of patent, or at a minimum of signed trade secrets agreements from purchasers -- you will find it harder and harder to protect your items, if not impossible. I have been at magic on and off since 1954. It has never been pretty to see people's ideas ripped off BUT it is just as disturbing to me that the inventors have not used legal means to protect themselves. (No, I am NOT an attorney.) It is also maddening to see inventors try to "guilt" the magic community into not stealing ideas, tricks and methods that are not legally protected based upon some unenforceable code of ethics. This is a battle between legal protection and the RISK of voluntary non-registration that has been fought over the last two centuries. Winners and losers including Mark Twain (who lost some) Disney who uses corporate dominion and gains new legislation to change laws to suit themselves to be winners, and Robert Harbin who died without having the zig-zag controversy cleared because copyright and patent are two different things. I think your history above speaks for itself as a fair narrative and rightly appeals to the magic community's unenforceable voluntary ethic. But I also realize that the only way to win these things consists of 2 parts: 1. Continue with superior product, ideas and devopment as you always have while letting your story be known. 2. As an old friend of mine said some years ago as his products were inevitably knocked off within weeks of his issuing of a product -- you ain't going to beat them -- so figure that as soon as something goes out it will be knocked off and make sure you have something new coming out right behind it. Paying for development is better than paying lawyers for protection. Now I must admit that this second part caught up with Steve as the pressure of always producing something new made him rich, in that his emotional health was putting his body under pressure into a massive heart attack at age 50. He did not survive the attack -- Another person who married the second philosophy with his inventive and marketing process took a different tack on protecting his stuff legally - no matter how small the advance - with patents. He always sued at the drop of a hat and made sure he got royalties from licenses and knock-offs. He lived to a ripe old age as a multi-millionaire. ..but not too many people "liked" him when he died. (I know you to be a good guy.) His name - Thomas Alva Edison. I understand completely the frustration of paying the development costs of any effect in both time and money -- then someone selling a knock off at a reduced price because they stole your design and produce a cheaper model without those costs included. I also understand your appeal to the better graces of the magic community to make sure they get an original which you stand behind. But, as you know, with the world of the net and the ethics of business -- unless you have legal back-up there is little that can be done to prevent competition. Patent law under the constitution of the USA offers a legitimate way to protect your work long enough to recoup and even profit from invention -- but in no way ever stops legitimate competition after a patent runs out -- or is not registered. The body of law also indicates that organizations who organize to prevent competition outside these laws can be found in restraint of trade. So I must say, I thank you for your explanation here to make us aware of the difference in the products and what we get for the price --- and I am glad you did not vent a ranting anger without offerng us the facts.
Gregg (C. H. Mara) Chmara
Commercial Operations, LLC Tucson, AZ C. H. Mara Illusion & Psychic Entertainments |
thurstonlives Regular user 106 Posts |
Im with you chmara.
Competition is the only way to increase the productivity and release new and better versions of any idea conceived in the world. |
videokideo Special user 895 Posts |
I will say... after two years of owning one of the impossible hanks, a small glitch came about and Sean fixed it within one week without asking any questions. didn't care where or when it was purchased, only the fact that it was his.
Going with Sean is worth the service alone! And the service was only needed due to my stupid error, not his product. |
jaynet Regular user 102 Posts |
Not only are the products real world fantastic but he
constantly improves his unique items and offers the upgrades very reasonably and with quick service. All of my upgrades have been new products not rebuilds. Also on a personal level he and his family are the most wonderful people to talk with. He deserves our support. |
The Drake Inner circle 2274 Posts |
I've never purchased anything from Sean. Not directly anyway. Everything I have of his was bought used, purchased from others who already owned them. He never made a dime off me. He knows this yet he has been more than helpful with any questions I ever had regards the products.
Best, Tim Day 13 |
The Mirror Images Inner circle Michigan/USA 1980 Posts |
Anthony Reed has requested me to make a post for him concerning the issue at hand due to the same reasons Sean is unable to post.
_____________________________________________ To anyone who will listen, About 3 1/2 years ago, Sean Bogunia, originator of many dancing hanky products, sold me a remote control, double action (two servo) hanky. I have used it in hundreds of shows and have cherished it. Funny how someone else has now invented what has already been invented. It always upsets me to see someone take claim to a product or routine that already exists, or re-invented someone elses work by a slight "tweak" to call it there own. I am, I guess, from another generation that protected the ethics and heritage of our wonderful art. I don't know who claims to have invented this "new" double action hanky, but unless they collaborated with Sean or has his permission, I find this another swift blow to our art. David Copperfield once said to Tim Kole "The international acclaim Tim Kole has received is due to the unique talent, and dedication to upholding the finest traditions of the magic society". I truly wish that this was passed on to the new generation of magic. . . Believe me, money is worthless in comparison to what is received from being ethical. I can only hope that magicians will continue to give credit where credit is due and help each other expand our art, Best regards, Anthony Reed.
Steven and Michael, The Mirror Images
The MOST Identical Twin Illusionist http://www.themirrorimages.com Check out our latest new effect - Liquid Steel NEW - MotoBox NEW - MotoMation NEW - Voyager |
Mad Jack Regular user 195 Posts |
I have looked into the patent process for some of my ideas and it seems to be VERY expensive. Also, you must have the money to legally go after any and all infringers. This would be impossible in the age of Youtube and the world wide web. This is why (I believe) even someone as big in our industry as Jim Steinmeyer seems helpless. I believe the legal solution just won't work in magic. If we don't have ethics, then we have nothing.
MJ |
David Bilan Special user Clarksville, TN 714 Posts |
Full Disclosure: I am a recent purchaser of Sean's Complete Dancing Hank Act and am very pleased with the quality of his products.
A few days prior to Sean's post, I had the pleasure of seeing Anthony Reed present the Complete Act at a party hosted by Jeff McBride. After a fabulous presentation, I spoke with Anthony about his experience with the PTS system (used in his stage act). Anthony's comments were virtually identical to his post above and when he found I was a recent addition to the Dancing Hank family, he went out of his way to sing the praises of Sean's support to his customers. It takes a quality product and outstanding support to build this kind of loyalty. Sean, Thank's for your hard work and creativity (also consider setting up a gmail account so you can be a regular poster here). David
Yes, I am a magician. No I did not make my hare (hair) disappear... it just took early retirement.
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