|
|
Go to page [Previous] 1~2 | ||||||||||
DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Another tip.If the uncollated decks are in cellophane like a pack of cigarettes be sure to take cellophane completly off and don't leave it on the bottom part of the box.Marks will think you are selling them an open deck.But if there isn't any cellophane at all they won't say a thing.
Later Don |
|||||||||
Brent McLeod Inner circle 1792 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-03-09 16:24, DonDriver wrote: A few years backI actually bought the decks the cut the cards, collated then packaged them with Instructions Started out as fun then became hard work When my first of many 500 decks arrived from Loftus-as Don Mentions-Packaged, cut ready to go Definetly the way to go..... I then spent my energies selling the decks to the large festival and corporate trade shows! But the last year or so delays in decks being in stock has hindered my business.. Brent |
|||||||||
Jon-O the Great Elite user 493 Posts |
What a diff when you change key cards! I kept trying to say "9 of hearts" instead of "Ace of diamonds"!
And where before I wanted a black ace for my 1st DL card, having TWO aces next to each other made me just that much more confused. So now I use a black King. But there was an advantage in having all the items in the clear plastic baggy at the end of the demo. Not only does it look professional, it's much easier to put the whole thing into the "virgin vinyl custom carrying case". One guy bought 3 sets, one for the kid I demo'd to and 2 more for kids at home. Not sure if it would have happened if I'd had them loose in the carrying bag. One thing: the MM cards are thinner than the Loftus cards, so it is a little harder (for me!) to only get 2 cards in the DL. I found myself getting 4 cards a couple of times. But they ARE shinier and slipperier. So they work better in that respect. But being slipperier, I also dropped a couple of cards a couple of times. I covered that by saying, "Man, these little devils want to get away from ME and go home with YOU. I did only about 10 Svengali demos today, so it's hard to know if, being thinner whether they don't hold up as well as Loftus. They seem to be OK for the times I used them. One new twist that I learned on one of the DVDs MM sent with my order. The deck comes wrapped in kind of cellophane/plastic with a strip near the top so you can unwrap it. Instead of having the TCM cards in Don's package, when you remove the top part of the cellophane, leave the bottom cellophane on the package. Slide the TCM cards down that cellophane, so they look like part of the box. When you take the cards out of the box to demo, make it a point a couple of time to mention that the box is empty. I even used the "empty" box when I make the key card go "thru the box". Then when I'm ready to do the TCM, I say, "And here's one more trick using this empty box. Watch...." And turn the box around so no one can see me take the TCM cards from the cellophane. Then go into my TCM demo. Three kids today said, "Wow--how did you get the cards out of that empty box?" Of course, if they buy it, I tell 'em. So my 1st day wih the new cards was a relative success. Now if I can ONLY get ACE OF DIAMONDS straight in my mind! Jon |
|||||||||
DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Jon I see the problem with the TCM in the cellophane from the Svengali deck that they look like they come with the deck and aren't a FREE extra card trick.
The tip has to believe the TCM has nothing what so ever to do with the deck.Than and only than does it become a FREE trick and a "kicker".I think being in the box cellophane is killing this idea in the marks mind. Later,Don |
|||||||||
Aus Special user Australia 996 Posts |
Do any of you guys know if loftus has a min order requirment I can't seem to find any details on their site. B robbins has a $300 min for overseas buyers.
Magically Aus |
|||||||||
Jon-O the Great Elite user 493 Posts |
Quote:
On 2010-03-13 22:04, DonDriver wrote: I can see how it might be seen as a continuation of the deck, but I DO say, as similar to what's on your video, "But wait--hold your money. Here's a new trick. It has nothing to do with the deck. It's a way to win your money back." Then at the end of the demo, when I show them the plastic baggie, the TCM cards are separate from the deck, beside the deck. And I only tell them how the trick is done IF they buy the package. I'm gonna e-mail you a pic of the package as they see it. I think it may show better than I can say it. Jon |
|||||||||
DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Aus,
The Robbins deck is really bad.Don't buy it.loftus dosen't have a min. order but to get the deck for.60 you have to buy 2 gross.If I were you and you have the money you should buy atleast 2 gross because of how long it will take to shio to you. Don't forget my friend David Haversat at Thurston magic.He has Svengali decks for .70 and no min..Just google Thurston Magic. Jon I got your email with the photos.If its working for you than don't fix it. Later,Don |
|||||||||
Jon-O the Great Elite user 493 Posts |
I felt much more confident today with the new key card. And I only dropped some cards twice! (They are VERY slippery AND thinner AND more flexible [AND shinier!] than Loftus, so have to concentrate to be sure I DL only 2 cards. So far, because I'm accustomed to them, I still have much more confidence with Loftus.
But the "cards in the cellophane" trick really seems to get attention, especially when I say, "And now from a completely empty box--a new trick, it's got nothing to do with the deck, blah blah blah,.." Hope the cellophane lasts until my deck gets dirty! With the Loftus cards, I used to already have the cards out of the box before the demo. But with these, I wait 'til the prospect is at the table, then take the card out of the box and toss it aside. I also use it when I say, "I'm gonna cover that (indifferent card) with this empty box...." so they KNOW it's empty. Another 8 or 10 years, I'll have it down! Jon P.S. I'll be sending the pix today, to the guys who asked for them. Sorry for the delay. |
|||||||||
sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
Jon-O, if you bevel the deck slightly just before you do your DL, that should help to ensure that you pick up exactly two cards (one key and one indifferent) -- no less and no more. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
|||||||||
Jon-O the Great Elite user 493 Posts |
Quote: So you mean have the cards you DL higher than the rest of the deck, kinda like having the tops of the cards of the rest of the deck point to the DL cards? WHAT a guy! Thanx, Seth.
On 2010-03-15 19:12, sethb wrote: Jon |
|||||||||
sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
Jon, before I start the pitch, I tap the deck gently to settle the key cards, and then make sure that the "business end" of the deck is facing inward towards me.
Next I press on the outer narrow end of the deck with my first two fingers of my right hand, and bevel the deck back about 1/4". The specs don't notice this or else they just ignore it. Now instead of being square, the deck takes the shape of a little parallelogram (pardon the geometry here). But the point is that at the rear of the deck, the top cards will stick out just enough to ensure that your right thumb picks up only the top indifferent card and the key card that's on top of it -- for a perfect DL every time. Of course, I do the DL from the rear of the deck with my thumb. Not only is this easier and more natural for me, but it keeps the business end of the deck and the DL move further out of the specs' view. Some folks use the front edge of the deck instead, in which case you'd have to play around with and adapt this handling. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
|||||||||
Jon-O the Great Elite user 493 Posts |
Got it!
Thanx, Seth. John |
|||||||||
Rod Pringle Special user 543 Posts |
Hello Seth:
In your post you mentioned you are using Royal mid priced Svengali decks. Are these collated? Is the card stock close to Loftus? I use Loftus cards, but incase I need back up would you go with MM/ or Fun inc.? The idea of collating cards for so many decks in the MM just is a big waste of time. I want something that's collated. What do you recommend Seth? Thanks Rod |
|||||||||
DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Rod and who ever,
Try http://thurstonmagic.com/ and tell David Haversat I sent you.His are collated and .70 cents a deck with no minimum. Later,Don |
|||||||||
Rod Pringle Special user 543 Posts |
Hey Don:
THANKS!! I Will check this out. ROD |
|||||||||
sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
Rod, the Royal Magic decks from FUN, Inc. are a cut above the Loftus decks, in my opinion. The card stock is thicker, the deck is collated, it comes with good instructions packed inside the deck, and they come wrapped in a good-looking colorful sleeve that helps to sell them. They are very durable, and I find that one deck will often last me through at least 4-5 shows or 80-100 performances.
However, the Royal Magic decks cost more than three times what the Loftus or Thurston decks run, so they are really borderline useful for pitching at that price. In my opinion, they are really meant for sale in a magic shop as a good budget-value bridge-size Svengali Deck for someone who does not want to spend the bucks on a deck made with Bicycle stock. I started with the Royal Magic decks because I wanted to start small with a small order (6 dozen) and also had other stuff I needed from FUN, Inc. If I had my druthers after that first order, I probably would have switched to Loftus, bought two gross and lived happily ever after. But I didn't, and so I still use the FUN decks. But now I probably sell 8-10 Magic Worms for every Svengali Deck, so my need for them has dropped quite a bit. If collating is the only issue, I don't know how much of a big deal that is; my inclination would be to let the marks collate the deck themselves -- I'd love to hear Don's opinion on that. I think the determining factors should be the card stock and the form/content of the instructions, and to a lesser extent, the packaging. If Dave Haversat is selling Svengali Decks, I believe they may be the same somewhat thinner card stock that FUN, Inc. uses in its uncollated pitch decks. If so, it's pretty decent, and probably still better than whatever MM is selling. I don't know how it compares with Loftus, which is a very good deck for the price. I hope someone gives the Haversat/Thurston cards a try, and provides us with an opinion. When I run out of the Royal Magic decks, I may give them a try. If Don likes them, that's a pretty good recommendation right there. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
|||||||||
Rod Pringle Special user 543 Posts |
Hello Seth:
Thanks too for this valuable info. I am glad to read that there are some good card companies out there, that can be used as a back up if we can't get the Loftus decks on a regular basis. Thanks Again! ROD |
|||||||||
DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Hey guys,
First off David Haversat when he had S.S.Adams and Gram Putam from Fun Inc.used to split a container of Svengali cards.So they were the same deck.I'm not sure if David is still doing that or not. I haved sold decks that were NOT collated.I would make the turn and say: "don't leave yet...I have one more thing that's very important to tell everyone that just bought a deck ( I wait till the turn is over first so nobody backs out thinking its to much of a hasle to collat them)Than to be sure they all understand what I was about to tell tham,I would hold both hands up using my fingers to represent the cards. I would wiggle the fingles in my left hand and say ' these are your key cards,than wiggle the fingles on my right hand ans say these are all the other cards,than interlock all my fingers and say you have to put the deck together like this...one key card,than one regular .its real easy ...thanks everybody..." It didn't seem to hurt or have anybody come back any more than if the deck were collated. Hope this helped. Later,Don |
|||||||||
Rod Pringle Special user 543 Posts |
Don:
This is good info, as always. Thanks ROD |
|||||||||
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Step right up! » » Loftus is out of Svengalis! (0 Likes) | ||||||||||
Go to page [Previous] 1~2 |
[ 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 < |