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Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
This is a big issue today and there have been lots of debates on this here on the Café. So I thought I'd pop in here and share what I hope to be good advice on this.
I don't think I've ever meet a magician who wasn't at some point proud of themselves when they came up with a new magic trick or sleight of hand move. An idea jumps in our heads. Or sometimes we are practicing and all of the sudden something happens that you find really cool. We analyze that idea or move. Put lots of thought into it then get excited and proud of ourselves for creating something new. First of all I want to say that when these kinds of things happen to you then be proud of yourself. Even if you just thought of an idea to improve something you've learned that's a good sign of a creative mind. But here's where the problem can arrise. You see, when you're new to magic it's pretty much impossible to know what's "Original" or "Has never been done before". In other words you won't know if it's really new or original because you haven't been studying long enough to know enough about what's already been done. So if it's already been done before then it's not a marketable item. That doesn't mean you didn't accomplish something good though. It simply means you've reinvented the wheel that others have had the same idea before you did. I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me. I'd come up with something. Go to a magic convention and show it around and discover the trick or move already has a name. Sometimes they'll even pull out a book or take me to a dealers booth and show me where I can buy what I thought I had created. So how can you find out if what you've come up with is an original? Well I know there are a lot of magicians out there that feel that they should keep their ideas secret so no one would steal it. That does happen but it really doesn't happen as often as some people seem to think. Sure, I've had some of my creations stolen, published and marketed with no mention of my name. But that's a rare thing and when it does happen it's usually just a small matter of me contacting the person and say, "I'd appreciate it if you'd mention my name as a "inspiration" or "This trick is based on" my work. It's no big deal really though. But in truth the only way you'll find out if what you've come up with is original is you have to find some magicians who are experienced and knowledgeable. When I come up with something I show them to the likes of Mike Powers, Sean Bogunia and a long list of others I trust and know are knowledgeable and simply ask, "Have you seen this before?". More then half the time they have seen it before or it's so close to something else that it's not different enough to be marketed. You need to research the memory's of other magicians for they have all studied areas you likely have not. We all have different styles and interests. Now let's assume you've done all this. So far you can't find anyone who has seen what you've come up with so as far as you can tell it's never been done before. Or at least it's never been marketed or published. Let me tell you that this is a rare thing to have happen. With so many creative minds in magic it's no easy task to find something that's never been done before. But let's assume you have done just that. That's all great but it's still not ready for the market. Having worked out a new move, trick, prop or idea is not enough. What you need to do next is to go out and perform it as much as you can. To market something you not only become the "Distributer" of that item. You also become the consultant for that item. When someone purchases it from you I can guarantee that you'll receive questions about it. Some magicians will run into a problem and contact you for advice on that problem. They'll ask for presentation idea and what to do if this or that happens. Unless you yourself have loads of experience with it then you're not going to be much use to them and that won't look good. It also won't look very good if someone else purchases it and does it better then you do. You have to work out all the glitches for every trick and move has them. These things should be gone over in the instructions that come with the item too. You should have enough experience performing that item in front of people to be able to foresee what problems might arrive and tell them that if this or that happens then here's a suggestions or a way to avoid it. Of my trick releases. I performed my trick Outsmokin for about 10 years before releasing. Bill burner about 4 years, Flip-M-Out for about 15 years, VCR about 8 years. I had plenty of experience with these trick prior to releasing so I had the experience to back them up. My description of the tricks were dead on because I knew form personal experience that these were good and entertaining tricks. My instructions were very detailed because I knew what the customers would likely run into and need to know. To top it all off other magician could make comments like, "I saw Ron perform this at _________ and I liked it." If I didn't go out and perform it then I wouldn't have gotten those kinds of endorsements. It's not easy to hold yourself back these days when marketing an item takes little more then a few clicks of a mouse. But I hope you'll think about these things. You don't need to create a new magic trick to be viewed as a good magician or to get any kind of precognition. While marketing is so easy these days it's also easy to get exposure for your performing ability. It only takes a few mouse clicks to make a youtube video too. One more piece of advice is this. Don't try to invent anything. Seriously, I never meet a magician who could sit down with the intention of inventing a new trick and it actually happens. It might be possible but it rarely happens that way. They just come to us out of the blue. So just don't worry "Becoming a creator". IF it happens it'll happen. If it doesn't just keep working on your own shows and becoming the best performer you can be. Ron Jaxon |
Stanyon Inner circle Landrum, S.C. by way of Chicago 3433 Posts |
Absolutely fabulous post Ron!
Must reading for everyone. Cheers!
Stanyon
aka Steve Taylor "Every move a move!" "If you've enjoyed my performance half as much as I've enjoyed performing for you, then you've enjoyed it twice as much as me!" |
spatlind Special user still moving 863 Posts |
Great Post Ron!
Actions lie louder than words - Carolyn Wells
I believe in God, only I spell it Nature - Frank Lloyd Wright. |
kentfgunn Inner circle Merritt Island FL 1639 Posts |
Ron, That was most illuminating, you have no idea!
I just released my very first effect out into the magic universe. I have Zero experience in marketing or being a purveyour of magical effects. I just wrote up my cups and balls routine. I did a lot of the things you spoke of in you posting. Some of the moves are original in my routine, the others are properly credited. Please, as an acknowledged leader in the field, have a look at: http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=_fNO3obSA7M I've managed to sell a few copies of the routine. I fear mostly my buddies are picking it up, only because they know me, personally. I realize the old fat guy doing the routine is ugly and obviously not a pro. I'd appreciate your feedback though. |
spatlind Special user still moving 863 Posts |
Kent
I thought your routine was excellent and should have said so in the appropriate place when I viewed it first. I seem to remember running out the door (no excuse). I have recently just set out on the C&B adventure and having bought Ammar's DVD set and also having Dai Vernon's Book of Magic, I want to limit myself to those resources until I am more comfortable. I do want to buy your routine, in particular to review your loading methods and I hope you are not discouraged by the uptake on it. I don't want to find myself in the market to purchase a copy and not be able to get it!! Should I get it now? Don't let me down!! Cheers Scott
Actions lie louder than words - Carolyn Wells
I believe in God, only I spell it Nature - Frank Lloyd Wright. |
tedski Special user New Jersey 792 Posts |
I don't want to derail the original post too much, but dang Ken - that routine was sweeeet! In my eyes, that is a finished product ready for release (if you choose to do so).
Ron, I do think your post should be required reading for everyone here - great points. |
Jaxon Inner circle Kalamazoo, Mi. 2537 Posts |
Kentfgunn, that is a nice looking routine. I like the use of the three different colors. Of course, I can't get the full effect of the presentation without subtitles, but the visuals of it look great.
In my experience, things like this are best marketed in books or video/DVD. It's also obvious that this doesn't fit into the realm that I talked about in the original post because it's obvious you've put a lot of time, effort and practice into this. So from what I see in the video, I'm sure it's all ready for the market. I'll buy one. What I mainly aimed at was those who have an idea for a trick. Work it out, and then market it as soon as they can without spending enough time performing it in the real world. Even they don't know enough about it to really write detailed descriptions and instructions, and if you ask them to perform it, they usually won't. Because, quite often, they really haven't performed it for more than a few people. You'll notice that they never advertise that the trick has been "3 weeks in the making!" That's not a very good selling point. Ron Jaxon |
Bernoulli New user 16 Posts |
Great post, Ron! I couldn't agree with you more. Your ending regarding just letting the course of action take its place is perfect. The mere thought of someone trying to sit down and think up their own trick is frightening.
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KidMagic Regular user Bradford 183 Posts |
Great post! Thanks for taking the time to write that!
Zach |
MattSconce Special user 654 Posts |
Thanks for the insight. That is helpful to know.
Other effects:
http://www.penguinmagic.com/magician/matt-sconce |
JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Thanks for sharing that invaluable post, Ron. Very useful and a must-read for magicians too.
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