talkmagic.co.uk

Thank-you for the reply. I found the manual helpful and very clear. I'll type up a routine and see how it turns out. I'll get back to you.

Hi there,

I noticed this software from one of the adverts on this site and thought I'd follow the link.

I've been trying to create a database for my magic for some time now. I use MS Office packages to write up my scripts and routine ideas, and even create prop sheets and lists, but I've always wanted to try and combine everything. My database building skills are pretty limited and therefore my attempts haven't been that useful to date.

So, when I saw this advert I was very interested.

I must admit that the ad copy and the initial ad page makes this look like those 100s of other 'Learn the secrets to magic NOW' websites - and to be honest I nearly didn't install the trial version because of this. Aporia picked up on this 'feeling' also - it just doesn't look like something that a magician would want to bother with – it looks more like an internet spam get rich quick web page.

But following the author’s comments on this thread, I gave it a go, and to be honest, I'm really glad I did. I've since paid for a full licence and I've been using it off and on for a few days now.

It really is a great way of organising your scripts and routines. The pick and mix function, will allow you to easily create shows by searching for keywords, bringing in your routines to a 'show' and then assessing how long this will run for and what props you will need. Even if you don’t perform that many shows, it’s a good way of organising your magic on your pc.

You can include images, web links and even links to files on your own PC, and it has a built in word processor for scripts and instructions. There are a few teething issues maybe (well, not necessarily issues, but things that I'd like to see on it, or things that I'd like done differently) - but I guess this is common in all new software. I'll feed my comments back to the author and maybe he can make some of those changes.

So in summary:

For TM users – if, like me, you write up your scripts and like to organise your magic on your PC - give this a go. There is a free trial download which is well worth investigating.

For the author of the software - drop all the snazzy marketing. I think that this could be the software's downfall. Magicians and users of TM (those that want to create a database of their magic) aren't interested in David Blaine magic books and other internet spam type bonus downloads. Don't get me wrong, they may be legitimate and good products - but it just doesn't help to sell your software - which is genuinely a good idea and product. In fact, I’d say that it does the opposite and puts people off. Likewise with the – one time offer price – it seems to be pushing you into a purchase which looks like all of those internet cons. Make the website a bit more professional looking and I think you'll be onto a winner.

I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has given this a go and what they think of it.

Cheers,

Hmmmm

I've actually been performing magic for more than a few decades and serving as a development consultant for at least 25 years if not longer. NEVER in all that time have I ever had the need for software and data bases... it's an action that seems to be reinventing the wheel in my mind.

If one were to keep an index of every routine you actually know, details on how you personally perform it (in that we all have our little changes) then you are doing what magicians have done for centuries... keeping a log or notebook; one that you will hopefully go back to from time to time, so as to remind yourself as to the things you have done and how they may fill the niche you need filled in some new bit being developed.

Notebooks of this nature are priceless in that they preserve that aspect of magic history few ever learn of.

Though I can see the logic behind such an electronic file system I also see its coldness and the potential of its loss. One simple crash of your system, one bug or virus and voila!

I'm not trying to put down this idea, I'm only encouraging folks to think long and hard when it comes to just how practical it really is, not to mention situations that appear to be quite positive testimonials that smell more like bogus new members... if you know what I mean.

If you have Office or a similar foundation software, you can replicate most everything being offered in this software idea without the risk of having YOUR notes and YOUR secrets "borrowed" and later published or even credited to someone else. You lessen the risks of loosing that material in that you have your own back up in place and do not have to use a specific "rare" software for access... especially when the idea may fail and no longer prove available or else you find yourself in a classic Green Place course of pettiness and get "cut off"... not that magic is full of petty people and political game players or anything

No... I have to say BUYER BEWARE and more so, I'd have to encourage you to stick with what's worked for more than a few hundred years. Handwritten journals are one of the treasures of magic no matter who composed them. Many have been found a generation or two after some obscure person's passing, revealing a master piece of theory and "new" effect concepts never before known to our fraternity; a testament about a life and how a fallen fellow processes their thoughts.

Can you imagine just how horrible it would be, to not have the Sielbit, Harbin and Thayer notebooks today? The loss of the Houdini and Thurston journals?

There's so very much more and we owe it to our industry to make certain our words are preserved in hard form, not just on some data base that will eventually prove obsolete or worse, deteriorate and thus, loosing everything we've entrusted to it (solely).

Just some thoughts...

Hi Craig,

Some interesting points there - and I agree with a lot of what you said. At the end of the it's just up to the individual how we record our magic thoughts and ideas. At the moment I spend a lot of my time with my laptop due to work, and therefore as mentioned in my last post - I've been trying to come up with a way of organising it all. It's just how my brain is wired up I guess, I use similar products with my day job, and organise numerous projects and a large team of people. This database idea is something I’ve had for ages – and well, someone just beat me to it!

As for this bit of your post "situations that appear to be quite positive testimonials that smell more like bogus new members... if you know what I mean" - well I'm not sure if you were referring to me here – but I’d just like to point out that I've been a member of TM for around 5 years now, and although I've been a bit quiet on the forum recently due to work commitments, I’ve tried to be an active member this past 5 years, and offer impartial help and advice when I can. I've certainly never given any kind of bogus reviews or credit (in fact, when popular effects / books have been produced by a friend of mine, I steer clear of the review posts to ensure impartiality and not be biased towards his work). I know a lot of fake reviewing goes on in some magic forums, but I'd like to think most of us here at TM are above that kind of thing! It takes a lot for me to part with my hard earned magic tokens, and a lot to make me want to write a review about something. This database just suits me and I wanted to pass on my feedback. Nothing more.

I’m not sure how info reagarding my ideas could be taken from this database, as as far as I can tell it’s just saved on my C:drive – but if anyone has installed the demo version and can see security issues – then please let me know as I’m no computer expert!

Hi Craig.

What you say about the potential data loss is true. And it goes not only for your magic notes, but for every endeavour that is done on a computer, which in this modern day will be about 80% of everything done, in business, in school, government, church, etc.

Most government records are now in digital format and not in paper, and yes, it will be chaos if the data is lost.
Therefore it is VERY IMPORTANT to back up your data in another disk, USB memory stick, tape or whatever.
BACK UP YOUR DATA.

Now that being said, is a lot easier that your notebooks change hands than your database, as this one is protected by a password, so even if your laptop gets stolen, they won't be able to open the file.
You just reinstall the software in a new computer, bring your backup up and voila! You are back in business.

About the hard sell on the page. Ok I hear loud and clear and I will water it down (against the advice of a lot of marketers that poo-pooed my first sales letter)

I’m not sure how info reagarding my ideas could be taken from this database, as as far as I can tell it’s just saved on my C:drive

That's what makes me nervous... I'm not accusing you directly, but we do have more than a few that came off as "trusted servants" that would never steal from someone... until they saw that golden goose that is.

What makes matters even more "dangerous" in my mind, is the seeming innate desire and pseudo-badge of honor so many (mostly young folks) take in breaking into anyone's data base and not just sending it to their favorite torrent site, but bragging about it all over hell and back.


As to blowing hot up air the skirt of your lads... well, if its the same two or three individuals I'm thinking of, they do plenty of pumping up of the ego for one another and needn't any greater assist. Oddly, none of them are actually known of let alone "praised" in the majority of the "area specific" groups (and the Tragic Cafe don't count at any level... unless maybe you're a fly telling his chums how great the poo is there...)

I am testing price points. So for the moment I have drastically reduced the price for Magic Show Builder to it's lower price ever.

Also, a new version has been uploaded that deals with many request from the users.


Changes to version 1.01

*Act ID numbers are now consecutive numbers: 1, 2, 3 etc.
*Attached Files to Acts are now propagated to the shows.
*Propagated files are listed in green to distinguish them from files attached directly to a Show.
*Listings in the Search tab are now presented alphabetically.
*Double clicking on an act listed in the Search results tab will open that act.
*Now user can hold down CTRL key and select multiple acts from the list to highlight in Search tab.
*Numerous bugs fixed.

To upgrade:

1.-Be sure to backup your database.
2.-Un install the previous version of your software.
3.-Install the new version.
4.-If necessary, replace the new database with your backup.

Despite several people commenting on this, you still have no pricing information on your site.

Ian

Yes, there is. But you need to register to see it.

The clue is in the question. Many people will not want to register just to get a price for something you are trying to sell. I know I wouldn't.

Ian

I would have thought so, but the evidence says otherwise: I had the price on the first page, but got fewer conversions than with this other method.

I love the way you use the word 'conversions'...

Perhaps the change in price has more to do with your increased success? From what you have said, it used to be quite expensive. Perhaps if you made your new, lowest price known you would get more prospects.

Ian

No, It was not expensive. But right now is supercheap. You can buy it for as low as $27, or you can still try it out for free for 30 days.

It sounds like a really nice idea, I might try out the free version when I get home. But one thing that I would like to say is that it might be worth having a rethink of your website, it doesn't really look very professional and isn't a site that I'd be likely to buy from if I stumbled across it.

Lady of Mystery wrote:It sounds like a really nice idea, I might try out the free version when I get home. But one thing that I would like to say is that it might be worth having a rethink of your website, it doesn't really look very professional and isn't a site that I'd be likely to buy from if I stumbled across it.

I have to agree. I mean this in the nicest possible way, but the website strikes me as being all about "sell, sell sell!" It's about a subtle as a snooker ball in a sock, and reminds me of horrible eBay pages made by PowerSellers selling courses in hypnosis. May I suggest a more subtle approach in the selling?

This is only my opinion of course, and I am certainly no marketing expert. I am probably wrong (I usually am!).