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Yes, the production would have cost them a bit, but the rehashing of old effects certainly saved them time and money in the R&D department.

Lord Freddie wrote:Yes, the production would have cost them a bit, but the rehashing of old effects certainly saved them time and money in the R&D department.

And they always knew they were going to recoup the costs, so why make them so expensive when they know they'll sell thousands and break a profit within weeks?

Tomo wrote:

Lord Freddie wrote:Yes, the production would have cost them a bit, but the rehashing of old effects certainly saved them time and money in the R&D department.

And they always knew they were going to recoup the costs, so why make them so expensive when they know they'll sell thousands and break a profit within weeks?

Because they're greedy hype merchants who core audience is skateboard riding idiots who want "tricks" that are "awesome".
It's aimed at Bill and Ted types and the presentation is off putting. It's for people that can't read and dismiss anything that's written over five years ago as "too old".

Lord Freddie wrote:

Tomo wrote:

Lord Freddie wrote:Yes, the production would have cost them a bit, but the rehashing of old effects certainly saved them time and money in the R&D department.

And they always knew they were going to recoup the costs, so why make them so expensive when they know they'll sell thousands and break a profit within weeks?

Because they're greedy hype merchants who core audience is skateboard riding idiots who want "tricks" that are "awesome".
It's aimed at Bill and Ted types and the presentation is off putting. It's for people that can't read and dismiss anything that's written over five years ago as "too old".

I think that is the greatest thing I have ever seen about Ellusionist. bravo

I am still in awe how well Brad has done. He went from poverty to riches virtually overnight.

I knew him personally when he was young and I even went over to him one Christmas day. I still have a book of his. I have no idea if he lent it to me or he gave it to me. Perhaps I stole it. I just can't remember. It is falling to pieces now. A bit like me actually. It is called Amateur Magicians Handbook.

I don't think I have seen him for around 30 years or so. I always think of him as around 20 years old. I suppose he isn't that any more but that is how I visualise him.

The last time I saw him was when I bumped into him at Macdonalds on Yonge St, Toronto. I wonder if he still stares into space like he used to. I used to wonder if he was on drugs or whether he was just looking like a Canadian.

Whatever he was on seems to have made him thrive anyway and I take a perverse pride in his success.

Once again, thanks for your time in replying. The Magic Attic, I was feeling the exact same thing, that there are those who are after the quick fix and those who take a more methodical approach. Which group lasts longer and gets better at magic? Hopefully the latter, because having dipped my toe in, I want to dive in head first and feel that it's unlikely I'll ever come up again.

I work in using outdoor activites as development tools and it's such a small world. I'm always meeting people who know people I know etc. I think that the Magic community may be like this as well, which is very cool.

although many people hate E and they do just repackage old products everyones got to admit... theyre dam good at it....

theyre advertising techniques, marketing style and approach to selling are fantastic...they can hook in any new magician with one glance at the screen... they also have many famous magicians working and advertising for them like david stone...

but it does annoy me when i see things like this blatantly created review... (btw the effects were in caps when i copied it!!!)

erik crow talking about 'sinful'

"I have since performed this a number of times normally towards the end of a routine where I've built up the suspense and freak-out-factor with my audience. It's a great end effect or part of a closing routine. One time I borrowed the quarter, used COIN BITE to test the density of the coin (of course that flipped them out), then had them sign it, used SINFUL on a nearby soda can, and took it back from them after they pulled it from the can and used the REVOLUTION vanish to make it completely disappear. The reactions were hilarious.

"If you haven't purchased this one yet and are looking at all the new videos Brad & Co have released for Xmas then I HIGHLY recommend putting this one at the top of your list."

erik crow

i mean either this guy is sleeping with Brad christian or its clearly been made up... xD

Lord Freddie wrote:

Tomo wrote:

Lord Freddie wrote:Yes, the production would have cost them a bit, but the rehashing of old effects certainly saved them time and money in the R&D department.

And they always knew they were going to recoup the costs, so why make them so expensive when they know they'll sell thousands and break a profit within weeks?

Because they're greedy hype merchants who core audience is skateboard riding idiots who want "tricks" that are "awesome".
It's aimed at Bill and Ted types and the presentation is off putting. It's for people that can't read and dismiss anything that's written over five years ago as "too old".

excuse me but i skate....

though i hate bill and ted..

I think E is just a product of society today. The society that wants ready made microwave meals, and is happy to pay over the odds for them, rather than buy some raw ingredients and a good cook book.

For a quick fix, buying off the shelf packet tricks and DVDs is a good idea, but I firmly believe that everyone should have a firm understanding of the basics, the showmanship, and everything else that you can get from a book, not just copying someone on a DVD.

It is nice to see sleights performed on a video, because you can mimmick them easier than reading paragraphs of text and studying line drawings, but I think it's a bad idea to learn exclusively from videos.

I would recommend, as others have, that the beginner invest in the following:

- Tarbell Course in Magic (at least the first volume)
- JB Bobo's Modern Coin Magic
- Royal Road to Card Magic
- Mark Wilson's Complete Course in Magic

and I would also add:

- Pocket Book of Magic by Peter Eldin

There is a huge wealth of tricks and advice in these volumes, there are enough tricks in Mark Wilson's Course to keep you going for years, and despite being a little dated, you can't beat RRTCM and Tarbell's stuff. OK, Tarbell will cost you a small fortune for the whole lot, but again, no more than half a dozen commercial tricks.

Also, thinking about it another way, these books encourage the use of proper sleight of hand, which is invaluable for any beginner to learn, especially when an impromptu situation pops up.

During my magic career, I have been embarrassed on several occasssions, because someone would hand me a coin, and say, 'right then, do something with that. Make it disappear or something'. I would have to explain, 'well, I don't really do coin magic' or 'here's my (american coins) Scotch and Soda. If you learn via DVDs and packet tricks, unless you carry several gaffs or gimmicks on you wherever you go, you won't necessarily be able to just accept the person's coin, and make it vanish, or transpose or whatever, because you won't have the necessary grounding in the basics.

So anyway, in my experience, quick fix is nice when you have a level understanding, but for beginners, you really should be starting with one or all of the books above. Having never bought anything from Ellusionist, I can't really comment on them in particular, but anytime I visited by local magic shop, Tam Shepherds in Glasgow, the advice was always: by a book. I was advised to get Royal Road to Card Magic rather than the packet trick I was looking at under the glass counter, and it has served me well. If Ellusionist are pushing more expensive stand alone tricks, or DVDs with very few tricks on them, then yup, your getting a nice, colourful video for your money, but you're not really getting very much for your money compared to a good, well written, book. At the end of the day, there's nothing wrong with what Ellusionist are doing - it's no different to what any other business does, but any beginners reading this, don't waste any more money on them, buy a good book instead.

ellusionist is a bit like where i work...

i sell something for £400...

i sell something else for £450...

majority of the time? people go for the £450 item...when all it is is the £400 and coloured in with coloured pens

people to shop at E are getting the royal road book coloured in, with a few pages ripped out, and a brand new title

coloured in? DVD
pages ripped out? not all the basics in there
brand new title? lots

you sell colouring books? lol jk