Each year, I promise myself that I'm going to complete one, full year of not buying any new effects. None, nada, zip!!! Then I read the Café and something catches my eye and BAM! But, this time I'm sticking with it. No new mentalism - no new magic. NONE! If I decide to add anything to the act, it's back to the myriad of Banachek, Osterlind, Maven, Hilford, Corinda, Cassidy and other books or DVDs in my collection, for inspiration - without buying anything.

Question: Has anyone else ever gone 12 full months without buying any effects, books or DVDs? If not - how long have you toughed it out? Follow-up: Did it hurt or give you an upset tummy?

I have not bought a new effect for at least a year and a half...

But then I wanted to go propless, at least no gimmicks whatsoever.

I have not bought anything since 2008. But sometimes I wish many of the recent releases had been out before that year.

I have not bought anything until 1995.

I have not bought anything until 1995.



Was that the year you lost your job Parmenion!?

OK - Now you all have me feeling like an addict. Though my goal is a year without buying an effect, book or DVD, I can't imagine going for three full years (Gabor) or *gasp* 17 years (parmenion). I'm feeling a bit spoiled now.

Two questions: How does one go for 17 years without buying an effect, book or DVD? I'd go stark, raving mad. And, Pakar, one can be completely prop-less, yet buy books and DVDs of new, prop-less effects. Are you saying that you haven't bought anything? Wow!

I think you'll find Michael that Parmenion tends to write a lot of his posts with his tongue firmly in cheek!

I try not to buy anything for a month.... if I'm lucky. I'm so far past rock bottom

It's until not for
It means I buy stuff since 1995