Guys,

I was hoping to get some well thought out feedback on my new website launch. I still have a few minor things to take care of, and I plan to add some video clips shortly - but if anyone sees anything that needs to be drastically overhauled let me know. Thanks for the time!

http://www.buxtonmagic.com

-Marc

All that came up is a big rabbit in a hat type logo? Is that all?...

Where's the offer to the prospect to give them something in return for capturing their email and physical address?...THAT SHOULD BE THE NO. 1 PURPOSE OF A WEBSITE!!!

I eventually discovered that if you click on the name it takes you to the actual website, but then I gave up, because the font size is so tiny.

I think you should forget the splash screen (pointless) and increase the font size about 400%.

Loose the light gray on dark gray background. Best advice - white background with (larger) black text. It's easier to read.

Regardless of how cool something looks. If nobody can read it, it's not much good.

And I second James on ditching the splash screen.

Good start though!
Robert

To agree with the poster above, the "enter site" link needs to be more clearly defined. The flash site is very cool in concept and execution; is there a non-flash version? The reason I ask is because some search engines can't index flash sites, some users don't have flash and others are still on slow connections and lose patience quickly with slow-loading sites.

A few quick points:
-It might be worth adding an option to disable sound effects, some find them annoying after awhile.
-Consider a little more contrast with your menu (visibility will vary from user to user)
-The dimensions of your content will be visible on 99% of potential visitors but consider centering the site top to bottom, left to right to look less lopsided on wide monitors.
-The newspaper article needs to be cleaned up. It loads sideways and is difficult to read, even when oriented correctly.
-Your client testimonials are good and I like the way you have bunched them together in a PDF. The heading "Resources" seems a little misleading though.
-Your photo gallery is very cool, although it seems to mostly consist of you holding objects and scowling (which is fine, although it does conflict a little with the testimonials describing you as funny as the pictures portray a serious and mysterious persona) I would consider adding a few reaction shots and shots in-action. If nothing else, you can extract still frames from your videos (or use the photos from your blog).
-Consider an option to increase font size
-finally, I dislike links to youtube, but that is personal preference. I think it is better (and more professional) to embed the videos in your website. Also keep in mind that many offices block sites like youtube.

Overall it's a cool site, I hope I don't come off as overly critical, and feel free to take everything I say with a handful of salt. I'm only stating my opinions and I am, by no means, a design expert.

Good luck!

If you reallly like the rabbit hat logo, use it, there is no problem with it. Use it in the corner of other pages. I agree as an entrance it will cost you more than it will gain you.

Marc,

Your letters of recommendations are fantastic! I'd find a way to may them easier to read and find. I agree that resources is not the right word. How about something like, "Marc's Clients Rave!"

You seem fairly young--maybe you don't realize that the older you get harder it gets to read small font. I also recommend making all of your fonts larger.

Good point, carducci, about embedding your videos instead of linking to youtube.

And I too had trouble finding out where to enter you site.

Best of luck.

NIce site.

Your photos are cool but you need to look friendly in some of them...
SMILE!

Definitely, larger font needed and too dark to read. White on black is a good option.



Hennessey

Hey, thanks everyone for the great honest feedback. Thanks especially to Carducci for your detailed analysis. They confirm some of my own thoughts, so I am going to take some of these suggestions to my web designer. Thanks again - this community is great....

-Marc

Smile for me!!! In every photo of you on the site and the gallery I saw no pictures what so ever of you smiling. People want to see a smiling happy person because that’s what they want for there even (A happy person to entertain there guest). If someone sees a photo of someone and they are not smiling, it instantly gives out a negative message.

Smile

Thanks, magico563

If you continue to use YouTube, I'd suggest that you link directly to the specific video(s) that you wish the visitor to see, not the entire "channel" which currently includes non-magic related videos of your friends.

My 2¢

Chris

I have had several people comment to me on my pictures and my obviously absent smile. I am legendary around friends an family for not smiling in pictures, though I am a very happy person in general. But let's have a serious philosophical discussion here on this - I want some dialogue: What is wrong with portraying that image? There are several magicians who appear this way in all publicity, and yet at their shows they are quite charming and funny. I have never seen DC or Max Maven with a chessy smile (or even a smirk for that matter), and yet each of them presents an engaging good hearted performance. So, why can I not have publicity photos that suggest some mystery or angst or depth, while at the same time presenting a show that is sarcastically comical and light (which is precisely what I do). Your thoughts ladies and gentlemen....

Nothing wrong with a bit of attitude. However, it denotes a very serious theme.

Many of your photos are dark, taken at night, in casual attire. Yet you are clearly(?) are trying to offer both children's and corporate magic shows. From a potential buyer's persective, nothing in your photo gallery suggests that you would be a good fit for either type of venue. I see no pictures of kids having a good time. I see no pictures of business people having a good time. I see no pictures of anyone having a good time.

If you intend to only show off the website to friends and family, nice job. If this is designed to be a sales tool - a new perspective might be in order.

My 2¢

Chris

I have a pop-up blocker installed on my browser, so when it prompts me to temporarily allow pop-ups, the website jumps back to the main page and I have to go through the menu choices again. That's sort of aggravating.

I like the overall look of the site, though.

Nothing wrong with not smiling...you have to sell how you truly are...I would hate to book a "smiling" magician to find out at the day of the show that he is the other way around...true that it might not be very appealing for the paying mom trying to see her kid have a good time, but it's better than selling something you are not...I also try to avoid promoting myself as the "happy, funny" magician...I mostly do children parties, but it does not necesarily means that I have to be the comedian type...there are some humor in my show, but I rather come across as "Magical" rather than funny. I would use some more color or something a little more child-oriented in your Kid's show picture...and you definately need a bigger font...(as you probably read a million times by now)...wish you the best!...(I'll put my site for critique very soon...hope to hear your input...)