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RookieMage New user Rookies only have 58 Posts |
Since I found my way back to exploring the art of magic, I seem to have acquired a need to buy cool effects/gaffs, not all of which were the best purchases... Is it time for an intervention or rehab or is this something that lots of Rookie Mages experience? Maybe 1 out of 5 purchases looks like an error; is a 20% failure rate proof that I need to admit I am powerless over this craving? One thing is for sure, I love bringing home new effects/books/DVDs etc... that help to broaden my mind about magic, it definitely gives me a buzz... And so far, my wife has not given me the dirt nap, and she handles the money around here :o)
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Sam Hagen Regular user 170 Posts |
Buy what you need, not what you want.
S.H.
May you live in interesting times.
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Levi Bennett Inner circle 1778 Posts |
This is pretty normal. New toys are fun! After you get ripped off enough times you'll come to your senses and realize that you really don't NEED that next great thing.
Hopefully. You'll probably discover BOOKS and generic, "old school" props and realize that the real value lies here- if you stick around and listen to the pros long enough. Things like ropes, sponges, cups, coins, TTs, cards, etc, can't be beat for value. That is; money spent for the return on your investment, which can be measured in audience reactions and principles learned. Also, I've come to pretty much trust reviews around here. If most people say it sucks... it probably does and vice versa. So reading those can help. Another way of looking at it that helps is: How does this fit into my current set? If it doesn't, then you probably don't have to buy it. And again- I find if I wait a while, the desire goes away. But still, have fun with it where you're at and try to avoid the dirt nap. My guess is you'll settle down a bit eventually. Theodore-
Performing magic unprofessionally since 2008!
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RookieMage New user Rookies only have 58 Posts |
Thanks for your feedback Sam and Theodore, I am slowing down a bit and that seems to help reduce the itch. And yes, looking at my stash of purchases that I no longer care for has helped too; money spent on these items could have gone towards more productive purchases (of which there are many...)
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Ray Bertrand Inner circle Ottawa, Ontario 1452 Posts |
You can always sell some of these items on the Café.
Ray
Mentalism in Ontario.
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RookieMage New user Rookies only have 58 Posts |
Thanks Ray, that is my plan after I get past the 50 post thingy, I could use eBay but I would prefer to help my fellow Caféterians find cool stuff at a reasonable price right here, I am very grateful for the welcoming attitude and help this place provides.
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Jan Schattling New user Hamburg, Germany 89 Posts |
Even though I am also trapped in the "buy all the cool new stuff now" mode right now, maybe you should look out for a magic club.
There you could meet like minded people and learn new stuff for (almost) free and all without any shipping charges.
"Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." - Lee Jun-fan
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RookieMage New user Rookies only have 58 Posts |
Hey Jan, thanks for your input, I too have been thinking of joining SAM or IBM or both. The bug to pick up the many cool magical effects that are available today is pretty strong, especially since So Many Amazing Inventors have put their effects/books/DVDs on sale! At this time we have more access to magical secrets than at any other time before. Thus the large volume of temptations we have to sort through, right?
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MagicalEducator Veteran user 369 Posts |
As Eugene Burger often states "most magicians are already drowning in magic they don't perform". You don't need another trick. Save your money for magical experiences. These will help your magic more than the latest gizmo.
Voted "Canada's Most Inspirational Magician"
www.MagicalEducator.com Check out my column "Magic is Education" in Vanish Magazine |
RookieMage New user Rookies only have 58 Posts |
Hey orshalom, Great Point there, I am looking forward to going to lectures/conventions more than buying the new thing. Shalom!
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Snoogansgt New user 74 Posts |
Best investments I have found are books and DVD's. I too fell into this trap early on.
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harris Inner circle Harris Deutsch 8812 Posts |
Welcome to P. A.
Props Anonymous Step 1 I'm powerless over prop purchasing and my life (or wife if you want to go for wrong gender humor) is unmanageable. "If we can't laugh at ourselves, others will beat us to it."
Harris Deutsch aka dr laugh
drlaugh4u@gmail.com music, magic and marvelous toys http://magician.org/member/drlaugh4u |
GS121002 Veteran user but he still can't help build a border wall with only 313 Posts |
We all fall into that trap and buy the things we like rather than what we really need. I seem to have accumulated boxes full over the years. It didn't really became apparent to me until my wife asked me one day, "What am I going to do with all that crap when you're gone?"
Gary Salisbury
San Diego, CA It's a fact! - Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. (This line censored by Dave Scribner because it is in Latin) - What you believe is real, is real! Who was that masked man and what is he all about? - https://www.pinterest.com/garydsalisbury/ |
Xaa New user 56 Posts |
I make use of a wish list. Items have to sit there awhile and I review them another day. If it still seems like a good idea after some wait time, I make the purchase. This eliminates the "impulse buy." I have generally found that I still want books on the list but often props lose some of their sparkle after some aging on the list.
"The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." - Albert Einstein, What I Believe (1930)
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magicshowprod Regular user Seattle, WA 109 Posts |
After making many purchases I recently got bit by one I don't think I will ever use. It looked great in the video but....not so good in my hands. The device wouldn't even stick to my hand like it was supposed to.
But I understand the "need" to buy all the cool stuff. After going to the Seattle Magic Expo and being able to see how an illusion is performed before I buy it, I think I am now spoiled. That's an awesome way to purchase illusions. Had I known how this latest one worked I wouldn't have bought it. Still living and learning after all these years
Don Shock
The Magical World of Don Shock |
zoescout New user Washington 48 Posts |
I wish I could have gone to the Seattle Magic Expo! Unfortunately, I was out of town..... Seems like a great way to see and buy magic. I too often fall into buying the latest and greatest for no good reason.
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