by seige » Aug 13th, '03, 14:28
Thanks for the 'venting'...
You've basically hit a couple of proverbial nails on their metaphorical heads...
Now, I'm treading on thin ice here - because I've been promising demos of the NFW effect and the Elmsley count for ages. (Fear not - NUMS is coming, and it delivers all I promise and more).
The problem here is not the move, as such - it is the abject misery involved in receiving cleverly marketed 'poo' (for want of a better word).
I work with a marketing agency, and our job here is to take a concept, product, service or idea - and make it a commercially saleable item - whether it is rubbish or not. That's our job. In fact - we're paid to glorify things, or 'lie' in other words (DON'T LET A FEW WHITE LIES GET IN THE WAY OF A SALE! - as I was told once by a marketing guy).
This type of thing happens all the time around us, and we're susceptible... e.g.
NEW AND IMPROVED CLEANING POWER - OUR BEST EVER
So, this is the best ever. Sounds good - but it implies the previous product was therefore NOT the best???
NOTHING IS BETTER FOR RELIEVING YOUR HEADACHE
If 'nothing' is better - use nothing!
REASSURINGLY EXPENSIVE
Are you calling me a cheapskate???
OK, so you see what I mean?
Effects and illusions are dressed up in glamour - and although sometimes we're suckered in, we only have ourselves to blame.
Forums like this one are invaluable for avoiding 'turkeys'. And we can all thank Tom for his advice on this one.
The Elmsley Count is NOT readily available in RRTCM (as I had pointed out to me! - must remember to read it again soon to avoid 'egging' my face...). Therefore, effects like this are NOT within the skill level of your average 'self-working' magician!
We need to see more of these reviews... in fact, I will endeavour to create a new area for the specific purpose of sounding-off about 'turkeys' and 'lemons'.