talkmagic.co.uk

I was just wondering. Where do you obtain the effects that people like Criss Angel and Cyril use? Do you only have privledge to them with big money tv suits paying for consultants? Or do the inventors actually sell them publically? I know they are probably $$$$$$$$ I am just wondering. I don't plan to buy any of them. I had just heard Cyril uses alot of expensive bought magic and wondered where he purchased it.

I recall from one of Crag Browning's posts about the Masked Magician that a lot of these big illusions are rented out rather than sold. Unless you have shedloads of cash like D.Copperfield etc, it's certainly less expense, no problems with long term storage plus other magicians can use them and thus vary their acts.

I think the secret to that is really just to pay partiular attention to the credits at the end of the shows, looking for "consultants". Google them and see what, if anything, they sell to the public. It's probably more a case of them designing a cause to create a commissioned effect dreamed up by the performer, though.

Major Stage Illusions can be found via several sources with names like Owens, Bill Smith & John Gaughan at the top of the list but, on the lower end of the pole you have resources like Abbotts who make decent props for those just getting started.

Money is a big deal, you average "stock" effect now days, like a Doll's House or traditional Thin Model Sawing start in around $4,500.00 and as much as $7,000.00 with upper-end effects like INTERLUDE reaching into the $12,000.00 area.

Rental varies a bit but as a rule of thumb is is between 10-15% of the current retail cost of the prop and too, if you aren't known to the broker handling the deal, there may be one heck of a huge deposit required. Finally, you need to understand that you are not getting the cream of the crop when you rent or lease in most instances. Rather, you are getting the older equipment that's seen better days. That's not saying that it's beat all to hell, but it is saying that such things require some extra TLC as well as attention as you work with them. You also need to repect them in that it's not your stuff e.g. no slamming blades up against the cabinet to prove them solid or leaving them exposed to the weather or used as a child's play house (and I've seen all the above done).

There is one other thing to bear in mind and that is exclusivity; though Copperfield is best known for this, others are taking his lead and paying the extra cash for extended performance rights on a given effect and actually limiting what markets or mediums other performers can present it in. When we sold Shadow Vision to Siegfred & Roy the contract limited anyone else from performing the effect within the greater Las Vegas area or on U.S. Television for X period of time so that they would have the advantage of novelty.

Used equipment can be found via MagicAuction.com at fair prices for the most part. There are other auction sites now on line as well as eBay, where you can get decent deals on major pieces. You best bet however is to buy out collections (that's what I did) Find someone that's in their retirement days with a stockpile of props and offer to buy it. I've ended up with tens' of thousands of dollars worth of fairly new props for as little as $2,000.00 by doing this kind of thing... essentially paying less than $100.00 per effect in a collection. Though I doubt you'll find deals that sweat in today's world, similar deals are out there.

Thanks alot. I am not really looking to buy any. I was just curious about where they obtained the effects they did not create themselves. (Especially since Cyril and Criss seem to be doing the almost exact same effects now a days.)

I am becoming more and more of a mentalist, so all I need is an office supply store.

Thanks again.

For those in The UK who like to see prices and pictures of effects you can check out http://www.dream-concepts.com/commerce/