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Jim Poor Special user Fairfax, VA 676 Posts |
I imagine there are two different impacts to this depending on one's status as a paid performer or a serious hobbyist.
How do you all justify the expense of magic to your spouse, significant other, family, accountant, or whomever? Or do you? Please don't think I have it rough. I get everything I need, and just about everything I want, but in talking to a few magician friends, it seems that many non-magic folks don't understand the expense. I don't have a line like "well, just like you pay XXX for YYY," because my wife just doesn't ever really spend on herself. I realize that when the magic bug bit, I went overboard, jumped too far too fast, etc. However, comma, now that I am researching, doing homework, etc before purchases, the commenst like "That's $100 for some coins to play with?!" or "Just go to Walmart and but that!" Haven't really stopped. Then we get into instructional materials like books, DVDs, lecture notes, and such. On a side note, how many of us take pains to hide the cost, or just try to let it go under the radar? How much grief do you get when it doesn't work? Thanks and Best, Jim |
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DomKabala Inner circle I've grown old after diggin' holes for 2827 Posts |
My father always said "you can't hide a fish in the closet...sooner or later the smell will give it away". With that said, hiding the cost is a bad idea. God, family, myself in that order is my credo. I am a hobbyist and I have a modest paying job. I pay child support and money for magic is almost nil. Thank God a deck of cards satisfies me and I'm happy with my modest library of card magic. Magic can become addictive and expensive, but it shouldn't cause grief...if it does then you have to put it in it's place. Life is more important. Learn to be happy with what you have and spend wisely. I hope this helps. Good luck!
Cardamagically, <<<KRaZy4KaRdZ>>>
We don't stop playing when we grow old...we grow old when we stop playing.
God is enough, let go, let God. Gal 2:20 "Anything of value is not easily attained and those things which are easily attained are not of lasting value." |
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Justify? I don't have to justify nuthin! I just say "Woman, git back in that kitchen and put my supper on the table else they'll be hell ta pay!"
Seriously though I've got a great wife who never questions a single magic purchase I make. In fact last year at a convention she talked me into spending $350.00 on a vintage set of Nest of Boxes I really didn't need. She didn't bat an I when I plonked down cold hard cash for my Losander Table nor the Himber Pail either. But then magic is a second income and I pay most all the household bills. So as long as there's a roof over our head food on our table and the lights are on she has no reason to question my spending money on magic. Conversely I never question her spending money on her interests either. I suppose if we were barely making ends meet and I just spent the rent money on a Todd Lassen gaffed coin it would be a different story. But fortunately for me at this point in time it isn't the case.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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Jaz Inner circle NJ, U.S. 6111 Posts |
Back when I began magic I spent quite a bit of money and got some reprimanding.
My justification was that magic was something I enjoy, may pusue as an semi-pro and it's keeping me out of trouble. Another thing is that my family was already familiar with my becoming obsessed with hobbies. If it was art, hunting, role playing or whatever I always tended to pusue them with gusto. Today I rarely spend on magic and tend to wait a while for reviews on newer products and do some research. I did recently but "Strong Magic" by Ortiz and "Catapult" by Platt with money I earned from web design. |
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Jim Poor Special user Fairfax, VA 676 Posts |
Very interesting answers so far. I've tried to quell the impulse to just buy, and now that I've been at it a while the "new" has worn off and I can make better choices.
I've gone largely away from collecting gimmicks and just any props to making better (I hope) use of my money buying instructional materials and such along with the occasional well-made props. I've also started taking more advantage of the gently loved, pre-owned market on the Café to get some of the more expensive things that will work in one of the two different acts I am slowly building. I agree that hiding it isn't the right way to go about it. The last time I spent a lot at the magic store and my wife saw the bill, the only answer to "You spent XXX at the store," was "Yes" However I know of at least one story about a magician asking the magic store clerk to re-price items with the price gun at a lower price than actually paid. |
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Dave V Inner circle Las Vegas, NV 4824 Posts |
I used to try to "justify" things with my (ex) wife. Note the "ex," that's important. She didn't like magic, and always complained. Arguing about the cost and what she spends really didn't help.
Now my wife supports what I do, being an entertainer herself she enjoys that I do something performance related. If she complains at all (if ever) I just jokingly say something like "Well, I can always quit magic and take up cigar smoking." That usually gets a smile, and the conversation is over. The hardest thing I ever had to do was call her up from a convention late at night asking if I could use her credit card to buy a set of cups from Gazzo costing a few hundred dollars. The anticipation was the worst part. Her answer? "Of course! You may never have that opportunity again, go for it!" I love my wife.
No trees were killed in the making of this message, but a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.
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Josh the Superfluous Inner circle The man of 1881 Posts |
If you're doing it right, your needs will become less and less (Unless you become a collector). I never go to the local stores anymore. Although I have bought custom knives and a five piece mahogany jumping gems with Russian crystal. But my wife was told about those. The other day I came out of the drugstore and my wife asked what I had purchased. I smiled sheepishly and said "You'll never guess". Without missing a beat, she responded "Another deck of cards". Guys have hobbies. Hobbies cost money.
I heard of a guy who works nights in the warehouse, where I work. He's been telling his fiance that he has to work fridays, just so he can play that computer fantasy game all night long. Now there's a recipe for a successful relationship.
What do you want in a site? "Honesty, integrity and decency." -Mike Doogan
"I hate it, I hate my ironic lovechild. I didn't even have anything to do with it" Josh #2 |
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Payne Inner circle Seattle 4571 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-01-25 14:18, Jim Poor wrote: Once when I was at Denny and Lee's I saw two guys asking Denny to alter their receipts so as to reflect a much lower value than the actual cost of the tricks they just purchased. I'd hate to have to live life like that. Years ago when I had a much worse paying job I never spent much on magic simply because I didn't have the money. But know that my 9 to 5 covers all my day to day expenses I can plow all of my magic income into what ever I like. I don't buy that much magic but it's nice to be able to drop a few C notes on a new trick if I need to.
"America's Foremost Satirical Magician" -- Jeff McBride.
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evolve629 Inner circle A stack of 3838 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-01-25 12:20, Jim Poor wrote: Honesty is the best policy. I respect my significant other's need to spend on hobbies and understand that the spending is not going to create an issue with the accountant. This mutual understanding and respect of each other spending habit of course goes both ways. With that understanding, there's no need to hide personal expenditure. I notice that I've spend way less than when I first got interested in magic. I have on occasions minimized the amount of money I spend on magic. I think one goes through a phrase with magic purchase. Sooner or later, the impulse to buy will tapper off. The closet in my den is now full of magic items that I have not even opened, but I keep thinking I will find some time to do so. Knowing that I have accumulated so much magic staff helps me to put things in prospective when I buy these days.
One hundred percent of the shots you don't take don't go in - Wayne Gretzky
My favorite part is putting the gaffs in the spectators hands...it gives you that warm fuzzy feeling inside! - Bob Kohler |
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tbaer Inner circle Pennsylvania 2003 Posts |
I'm thankful my wife is ok with me purchasing magic effects as long as it's within reason. I'm like Jaz, I don't make hasty purchases like I did when I first got into magic many, many, years ago. Now I read reviews and do research and make sure I know exactly what I'm getting before making a purchase.
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Andy the cardician Inner circle A street named after my dad 3362 Posts |
You can establish a fixed budget per month for private spending - kind of pocket money for both of you. That certainly helps
Cards never lie
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Being a professional, I would view all my magic related purchases as an investment. And being an investment I will work towards a ROI (return on investment) on every prop purchased. That way I won't leave those props lying around without making some money for me - at least make back the cost of that item and of course the profits as well.
I guess it all depends on how we view our puchases. Anyway since we all love magic so much, why not enjoy what we have bought without any guilt feelings? Let's enjoy our magic! |
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GeorgeG Special user Thousand Oaks, CA 977 Posts |
My wife sees my collection as I openly display it, but never really asks how I pay for it. I do lie a lot on how I acquire it and do feel guilty, but I see it as an investment for the family, as well. With all the highly collectible stuff, like Warner, Gerlitz, Milson-Worth, CW, to name a few I have been selective in my "magic portfolio".
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kroberge New user Old Town, Maine 75 Posts |
As a newb I'd like to take my entire tax refund and have a shopping spree on magic. But then I look at the couple DVDs and books I already own and ask myself "what have I done with those?" Have I performed a few of the tricks, have I learned some important lessons and have I used them. If not, then I pop it back in the DVD player or I open up to the bookmark and get back to work. I still buy things, but it helps to slow me down quite a bit.
Oftentimes if you go back over what you already have you find something you have been meaning to do anyway. Mark Wilson's Complete Course... does this for me. I'll just start flipping through it and then "oh yeah, I meant to..." and then I'm satisfied a wee bit longer. Good luck with the budgeting! P.S. For the wife, I always try to see if there's anything she has had her eye on and if so, I use it as a chance to buy a goodie or two. Cheers, Kevin |
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Robert-o New user Sunny Glendale, Arizona 39 Posts |
My wifes hobby is horses.... mine is magic.... which do you think is less expensive. that's how I get away with it.But in the beggining (as others), I overspent on a lot of cr@p that just sits around in drawers. I now do research and wait for reviews before purchasing and then I get my wifes approval before buying. It works out great that way.My biggest problem now is getting her attention for more than 5 minutes so that I can show her a new trick. She loves magic but hates to know how it's done.
"Hey... How'd you do that?".
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DStachowiak Inner circle Baltimore, MD 2158 Posts |
Quote:
On 2007-01-25 22:26, kroberge wrote: This is terrific advice for anyone.
Woke up.
Fell out of bed. Dragged a comb across m' head. |
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Habu Veteran user Texas / Alabama 393 Posts |
Hello,
I had a substantial collection of props, tricks, books, a few stage illusions and portable stage equipment. This was all lost in a fire many years ago, that coupled with a military career and a new family basically stopped my magic "career." I am now in a position that I can jump back in. And with my compulsive personality and my absolute love of magic I know I will be investing much fundage into my passion. I say passion because ever since I made the decision with my daughter to go back into magic I have not had a single nights rest for having constant dreams, I even had a dream that I was reading a book on magic! So I am sitting here ready to start a career with only a "whats next?" for a trick. I am going to be needing to buy effects, power tools, rope, silk etc. I plan to build as much as is humanly possible but some things I will just have to buy...and justify with the Mrs., She is very understanding, but then again we have other things that money could be used for. I like the budget idea, I also plan to put into effect a "magic pays for itself" concept of doing small shows as soon as I have enough properly entertain the guests, and use a set portion of profits to pay for new apparatus, props, tricks etc. Question: I am a full time substitute teacher. We have no special tax write-off,s so do simple EZ form type tax returns. Do any of you "part time" magicians keep track of your expenses for tax purposes...or is it a waste of time until you start making a substantial part of your income via magic? Rick
www.magicbyhabu.com
Real name: Rick Jackson Habu: Taken from SR-71 spy plane I worked on. It's name came from a poisonous snake on Okinawa. Hope my magic isn't poisonous! |
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patrick flanagan Inner circle lisle, illinois 1045 Posts |
The hardest part for me was getting my wife to understand that magic was a JOB. She had, and maybe still does to a smaller degree, a hard time realizing that although I'm in bars, restaurants, mingling with people, what I do is work. I'm a part time pro, although I do about 200-225 shows a year including 3-4 nights a week regularly at bars/restaurants. The "house" gets all of my income from my regular job. I split what I earn from doing magic with the "house", I keep tips...lol. I have a separate checking account for my magic. These days I buy mostly what I think I can use; however, I do have many many items that I thought I could use and for whatever reason, never put them to use. I will admit to an addiction to magic books and DVD's. Sometimes, I will buy something KNOWING that I will never perform it, guess, I just like how it looks or the working of the effect. But, my magic account pays for all my purchases. I find these days that I buy less and less each year, but what I buy now usually costs a lot more than the things I bought before. If I had to fund my magic addiction on only my regular job income, I certainly couldn't justify making most of the purchases I have.
Patrick |
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Ed_Millis Inner circle Yuma, AZ 2292 Posts |
I have a regular job with my own allowance, just like my wife. I save up and buy what I want. Any money from a performance, if not needed for the house, is mine to reinvest in magic or balloons. I also make requests for birthdays, Christmas, and Father's Day!
Ed |
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munkywrench Loyal user Conway, SC 298 Posts |
Whatever magic stuff I buy, I reciprocate by buying my wife and daughter something they want i.e. magic dvd=pair of earings. This way no one is left out and it limits me to better choices in buying stuff instead of impulse buying. Magic is my only real vice and my wife understands my passion for this.
Family Biz. https://www.facebook.com/dreamweaverconway/
Disciple of the Close-Up Kinda Guy PH. Balloon Blast Video Show junkie. Supporter of http://www.myrtlebeachmagician.com/ Retired Demo Dude IBM #334 supporter |
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