talkmagic.co.uk

This one is really baffling me. I cant find anywhere that will help me get my own tricks into the market. Do you need a patent??
If anyone knows anything about this please post back.

Thanks

The first thing I would do if I invented a trick, would be to talk to the owner of an online magic shop (ie, Laurence).

For one thing they could offer good advice on
a) whether the trick is indeed new, or if it already exists in perhaps a slightky different format. The guys that run these stores get to see a heck of a lot of magic tricks, and are usually pretty useful in the magician stakes themselves.
b) they would offer good advice on the actual marketability of the trick. Would it be too expensive to make up? would the going price for similar tricks be enough to offer a reasonable profit margin.

You could try marketing it yourself, but the online magic stores have a lot of experience in this area and already get seen by many people.

This is just what I would do... Good luck with it.

I agree with Bananafish.

Ask Laurence. He's been more than helpful with when approached by myself, and Yankee Tom, a forum regular, already has his own line of products at eMagictricks.

I would not bother applying for a patent unless what you have 'invented' is a marketable gimmick or physical item. Patents for intellectual property are a VERY difficult area, you're better off just publishing it with a Copyright notice.

Alternatively, you could send it to one of us, we'd vet it for you and try and advise you more clearly.

Being honest, I've published many of my tricks and inventions in the restricted area of this forum - I'm not really hoping to make money from them - they're just to share with other members!

You have to work out if it's all worth the hassle. If it's a ground-breaking, easily manufactured effect, start with Laurence.

On the other hand, if it's something which would be a mass-produced item of any complexity, you really either need to be quite rich or you'll need a sponsor.

Sometimes, you have to spend money to make money!

Thanks guys I think I will do what you said and try and make my trick as cost effective as possible before I introduce it to anyone

Once again, your advice is much appreciated.
Hopefully you will be seeing one of my tricks on the market in a few years-if I'm very very lucky!