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spangles New user 59 Posts |
Are there props laying around your house that you have had for years? Why are they still there? Do you truly believe that you will ever use them in your act? Many of us, me included, have dens or garages that are full of stuff! I believe that having too much stuff around, that you never use, can inhibit your creative flow. At what point should you start clearing out your shelves, drawers and cupboards? The answer is probably as soon as you have finished reading this sentence!
We are all very good at making up excuses as to why we need to hang on to things. However, the truth is that I am sure you all have many props that are hidden away and costumes that you have grown out of, that you will never use. So why are you keeping them? It could be for a number of reasons. In the western world we are consumed by possessions. As entertainers, it is possible to believe that the more props we own, the better performers we shall be. This is of course, absolute nonsense. I am going to suggest to you at the earliest opportunity that you have a big clear out of all the props and costumes that you own, but never use. This is actually a wonderful therapy. It is therefore unnecessary to cling to the past. As you clear things out, it is possible you may see your whole life flash before you. Memories of prior acts and shows will be rekindled, and you may well go through the emotions of both pain and pleasure. Allow yourself to feel these emotions. You may find you also have stacks of old publicity photos and brochures. By all means keep one or two to pass on to your grandchildren, or put in a scrapbook, but there is little point in keeping the rest. There is a good chance that you may also have old video tapes and audio cassettes that are gathering dust. If you are hesitant to relieve yourself of certain items, ask yourself why? There may be a genuine reason, or you may simply be making up an excuse to keep them. You may find an old prop in a bottom drawer that you had forgotten you had. You might consider that this prop is worth visiting all these years later. If that is the case, then I am certainly not suggesting you rid yourself of it. It might give you inspiration to use it in a whole new routine. When this happens, this is healthy and the creative juices will start flowing. So the act of clearing out the clutter can actually involve keeping some items that you had forgotten you had, and putting them to use in your show, albeit using the prop for a different purpose than you did in the past. This can really be a very cleansing and reawakening experience when it is a prop that has been dormant for some time. However, if you come across a prop that maybe you never used, or you feel certain you will never use again, then it is time to let go. Every time you come across something, ask yourself these questions. “Why am I keeping this?” “Will I ever use this again?” “Why do I have this item in the first place?” “Will my life be any different if I no longer have this item?” The wonderful thing about clearing out your clutter is that it leaves a space. I am not just referring to a physical space, but also to a space within your spirit as an artist. Although this whole experience may be both fun and traumatic, once it is accomplished, you are likely to feel inspired to enter the next phase of your growth. Both life and nature consist of the cycles of birth, life, death and rebirth. By clearing out your clutter, you are making way for the possibility of great new beginnings. |
Spellbinder Inner circle The Holy City of East Orange, NJ 6438 Posts |
And within a week (maybe less) after you have thrown out that useless gimmick, you will suddenly discover a great new use for it and curse the day you threw it out.
The voice of experience.
Professor Spellbinder
Professor Emeritus at the Turkey Buzzard Academy of Magik, Witchcraft and Wizardry http://www.magicnook.com Publisher of The Wizards' Journals |
Stevethomas Inner circle Southern U.S.A. 3728 Posts |
On one hand, I have to agree with the poster. I've been hired by the executors of some wills to appraise and price a few collections/estates of people. No family members were alive in one case, and in the others, none knew ANYthing about anyTHING in the house, so it was my job. My name and number were found in the belongings of the people in charge, so they hired me. In one case, they only had 2 days to clean out the house (and sell the magic), so they couldn't get any major magic dealers to come (to Mississippi, nonetheless) pick up the massive collections. I ended up buying the stuff for a fraction of the amount at which I'd appraised the items.
Don't leave it to your wife or loved ones to try to make sense out of what you own. That being said...I need to get busy and do just what Spangles has suggested. I have 1000 square feet of magic, and only about 20% sees shows. Steve |
spangles New user 59 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-10 00:44, Spellbinder wrote: Indeed, Professor. That can happen. So be wise about the choices of what you discard. However, the process is still important. If the worst happens, and something gets discarded in error, I feel sure The Magic Nook can offer an adequate replacement at dollar store prices lol! |
Signor Blitz Elite user 419 Posts |
Hey Spangles!
Great Post - I was wondering if you are in the market to buy any collections (to 'help' us clean out) or did your wife give give you the ever so popular 'either the magic goes or I goes' speach - lol. By the way, if anyone sees my wife tell her that I mis her very much and if she could check her purse for my pen thru bill - I would be very greatful - lol |
Regan Inner circle U.S.A. 5726 Posts |
I am seriously thinging about clearing some things I have not used in a while. In fact, I have listed a few for sale. I have many things I have bought and intended to use, but just never have. Now I try to write a routine for an expensive prop before I buy it. I have many things that I even have good routines for that I will probably neber be able to use again. We all tweak and perfect our shows, and when we find the right combinations I guess it's natural for many of our beloved props to fall through the cracks. It is hard for me to let them go.
Regan
Mister Mystery
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Dr. Delusion Special user Eugene, Oregon. 733 Posts |
I for one, have way too much stuff. My problem is that I'm kind of an impulse buyer. I buy a trick thinking that I've got to have it, it'll be great in my show, then get it home, mess with it for a while only to discover that it's not really suited for me, and there it sits. I also end up with a lot of extra stuff when I buy a package deal of magic items. For example I currently have 2 Zig Zags and 2 Doll Houses.
Maybe Spangles is right, time to get off my butt and sell off a lot of the extra stuff, then that way I can buy more !! Bob. |
Tony James Inner circle Cheshire UK 1398 Posts |
Tell me please, in America and Canada, don't you have local/regional magical societies and don't they have an annual or periodic auction? Long ago in the UK auctions tended to be mainly for society members only although the odd visitor would be welcomed. Today, auctions are quite big affairs, attracting visiting buyers and sellers from one or two hundred miles away.
With a few knowledgeable auctioneers it can be an entertaining and informative evening (most are held mid-week evenings, a few big ones run all day on Sundays) and it is an excellent opportunity to pick up a bargain or one of those now out of production props which you may have been after for years. Sellers spend their earnings the same day and often take home more props than they brought and the society funds benefit from the commission levied on the hammer price. But don't we all keep some of our earliest props, perhaps from childhood? They are our old stepping stones to where we have arrived today. Or not! In which case, get rid!!!
Tony James
Still A Child At Heart |
harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Elsewhere on this Café, I have posted on magic purchases as an addiction.
In search of the "Perfect Routine or prop".(with apologies to Shel Silverstein's in search of the perfect high. When I belonged to the local ring, we did have yearly auctions. Yes Tony it was fun to see the same items being brought back by their newest owners.(to sell) The club benefited and our auctioneers made the evening a fun outing. My wife who has a good eye for what will work in my programs, is one of the few (wifes encouraging their husband to buy). Donating to youth magic groups is also another option. Harris
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
Wes Holly Special user Cincinnati, OH, USA 644 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-10 00:44, Spellbinder wrote: To avoid this I used the "6 month" method. I cleaned/organized my magic props. Items that weren't being used went into a box. Anything that was still in the box 6 months later was sold/given away. Works for me -Wes Holly- |
TommyJ Inner circle Foxboro, MA 1750 Posts |
I too, like many of us, bought impulsively for years. I built up a huge collection over 30 years. The hardest thing I had to do was come to terms with it all and decide to start unloading the things I knew I would never use. But it was a slow process as I would find excuses NOT to sell a certain prop and then years later, there it is, still NOT being used! lol
It is SO hard to part with our props as they have become our "collection" and our "toys" and it was very hard for the kid in me to let these things go. But over the last 5 years I have managed to sell over half of it and the more you let go, the easier it becomes. Besides, then you have more money to buy some NEW props! But I have become much more selective in the new props I purchase.
"Keep the Kids Laughing!"
https://www.tommyjamesmagic.com/store |
jackturk Elite user 463 Posts |
Okay, just to be contrary in a small way...
Last month I did a week-long series of magic workshops for about 30 kids ages 5 to 11. One of my tasks was to come up with 5 totally different 30+ magic shows for each day of the workshop week. To be honest, I didn't have 5 totally different 30 minute kid shows, with all different effects. So I was a bit anxious about the premise. Nevertheless, by having drawers and cupboards full of stuff I've bought and never / rarely used, I was able to cobble together 5 pretty successful shows -- all unique. And in the process, I rediscovered a few effects that I was able to twist into quite usable routines -- one of which I've since added to my regular show. I'm all for cleaning the mess, absolutely. But there is a potentially positive angle to keeping this stuff around -- I didn't have purchase anything new to put these shows together. And I learned a lot from the pressure of having to do so. Even better, I found some new material to improve my act. There may just be gold in them thar hills... --Jack
"59 Ways To Recession Proof Your Entertainment Business -- FREE!"
http://www.GetLeadsLikeCrazy.com "How To Make $25,000 a Year Doing Birthday Parties Part-Time" http://www.magicmarketingcenter.com/birthdayPT |
Wes Holly Special user Cincinnati, OH, USA 644 Posts |
Quote:
On 2009-08-20 11:57, jackturk wrote: Oh, yes. If you don't need the space, don't throw anything out. Go through your "collection" every other month or so. Touch everything. Play with props you aren't using. Use your "creative thinking" excersises. There IS gold in them thar hills. Wes Holly |
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