I don't see it as exposure. Selling magic to those interested in magic is not exposure.

My problem is: I'm trying to sell a four hundred dollar head twister now.
Asking two hundred but that's still way more than the cardboard one. LOL

But here is a very serious thought:

The Childs dream is to one day move up in magic (and life) enough to own a Zig Zag.

If you start putting cardboard Zig Zags and other large illusions in kits, what happens to that dream?

Tom

This post seems to go on forever ..

Anyway, I just did a family party the other day and after the show they pulled out this very set of Fantasmo Magic. They brought to my attention that the set has a smaller set of Linking Rings like I just performed .. but, "They have a crack in the side."

Good thing I was using a different method of course ...

Steve

P.S. It just goes to show you that if you perform an effect well .. the secret will be intact.

But surely people forget about the exposure the Masked Magician did on TV? I am not for exposure, don't get me wrong but people do forget. Therefore I think it is quite hasty to sell a Head Twister just because it has been in a set. What are the odds of performing it to a some child who also bought the set? I am sure it is pretty slim

I'm not selling it because it's in a kit. I'm just selling it.

This thread reminded me I had one packed away that I never use.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vie......ESELX:IT

Anyway, now they have a choice. Cardboard or wood.

Tom

Ah ok. Misunderstood. My aplogies.

No problem.

My point with the first post was, it could make it hard on those selling the better items. Because unless you get the opportunity to explain the difference, most never know. They assume that all work the same and think, why own a wood copy of a cheap trick.

Thanks
Tom

Oh.. I see I missed an O. Tut tut!

==>"Quality today in most any merchandise is lacking. Everywhere. $27 Electric Can openers work for two weeks to a month, and quit working. Cars are recalled by the thousands. We even have food recalled now, due to glass shards, etc."

the general quality of manufactured goods is vastly better today than ever before. cars? when exactly were they better? and food is perhaps the worst example you could have offered.

b.f.d; a mediocre 'illusion' is exposed to a few costco dolts who didn't somehow figure out that people's necks were not in fact being rotated 360 degrees. the outrage is as self-impostant as writing sh*** when talking about the billiard balls that are in every kit at target and wal-mart

My interest in Magic was sparked my Mark Wilson and pre packaged magic kits.
Have we forgot that Steinmeyer released the Wakeling book to the general public a few years ago, but that's ok, he's part of the magic elite.

"If a Head Twister can't be included in a magic set then that means a thumb tip can't, a Svengali deck can't a pen thru bill can't etc as they are still used by professionals too!"

not quite. though I don't share their outrage, those opposed to the head twister's inclusion are taking that position because they have paid a lot for it, and its inclusion in the Costco kit in an inferior, cheap form threatens to nullify the value of their investment, without there being any countervailing benefit from the proliferation. a thumb tip is distinguishible on numerous grounds. foremost, it is far less expensive. additionally, there is a long history of thumb tips being included in magic kits, and a corresponding history of magicians working around that. thus much as innovative performers have given the thumb tip continued vitality, those who do the head twister can (and have) done the same. perhaps it requires buying two and merging it with other illusion principles, for instance. if so, then the low Costco price might ironically be the source of both the head twister's demise and its revival. in any event, the premise isn't that anything that's merely "still used" should be excluded from all kits; their point is a bit more nuanced than that.

the indignation about the head twister is dumb; just not as dumb as you suggest.

Many years ago, right after the masked magician exposed the sword basket, I had a client that had to use our "Modern Sword Basket" for a show that weekend. The quote some in the audience was, "I saw that on TV, but I don't know how YOU do it.
Remember, we as magicians make the magic, we all started buying magic kits, and some of the effects in those kits are of course still performed by magi today.
If you buy the kit, you buy the secret. I personally have to say that I wish I had the quality of kit that Criss Angel has out, when I was a kid.

Is the head twister still for sale at costco? I can't find it on there web site.

"Is the head twister still for sale at costco? I can't find it on there web site."

I had the same thought, and came up empty, too. I'm thinking of finding a kid who bought it, and confiscating the head twister, along with anything else I might own or perform.

apparently the new marshall brodien kit uses an elmsley count and a bunch of roy walton moves, and it comes with a cardboard floating table, which some are calling a losander rip-off.

I am waiting patiently for the "Head Chopper/salad shooter" combo from Walmart that can work in your kitchen between gigs.

Pretty sure there are already several threads on the WalMart Head Chopper/salad shooter; please do a search in the future, especially when it's a topic that's clearly come up already

"I just did a family party the other day and after the show they pulled out this very set of Fantasmo Magic. They brought to my attention that the set has a smaller set of Linking Rings like I just performed .. but, "They have a crack in the side." Good thing I was using a different method of course ...
P.S. It just goes to show you that if you perform an effect well .. the secret will be intact.""


they believed that their linking rings had a space in them and that yours did not -- without your proving that yours were different? definitely suggests a great performance.

This is the Cut the Lady effect from the beautiful Sneaky Pete's set:

http://www.youtube.com/user/cormatches?f......stIQhGi8

Patagonia,
I enjoyed seeing that, I never have before, only heard about the effect.

Thanks for taking the time to make the video and sharing it with us!

--Vinny

Ah, memories! Mine had yellow pantaloons, I think. Other than that, same deal.

-Philip

I still have the linking rings I got in a magic set when I was 8, 44 years ago. It was a few years before I really knew how to do them correctly and still like to break them out every once in a while.

Neal! I saw your paper bag version of the head twister on YouTube and it was hilarious. Great performance.