talkmagic.co.uk

Sure, sad but true. We could say the same of many, many things, or, we can work to stop such things from happening. Of course, it is something that we must, in our industry, work to overcome. When did the idea that we should not strive to be above other industries come into vogue?

As with anything, what is, is. There are children starving in other countries, so do we say, "Well, that's the way that it is and always will be, so oh well?" Or, do we try to change it? We try to change it, of course.

Only if we decide that the status quo isn't right does it change. So, should we just continue on and not try to change injustice?

I'll leave that decision up to you...

Mike.

Sharpie thru note

approx £15

Difficulty 3=Some sleights used, but easy (evne for me )

9/10

Great effect

I really liked this version, as I always use a Sharpie it looks natural rather than pulling out a rather odd and cheap pen (at least until someone invents one with a good copy of a Mont Blanc pen). My only little complaint is that the gimmick pen does not write, due to poor ink.
I got mine from Alakazam.

You can't fight market forces.

Firstly, manufacturers sell thousands of copies a year. A few passionate individuals rejecting copied products will have no impact on sales. The fact that everything is kept as secret as possible in magic works against the idea of a general boycott, as people just starting out in the field will not know the history of what they are buying or how it works till they've bought it. And they will not go for the more expensive, original versions until they've tried out the cheaper, mass-produced ones. A consumer does not ask "Will the inventor profit by my purchase?" but "Will I benefit from my purchase?"

The analogy with the starving millions doesn't work. Hunger is a problem that bombards everyone through the media, it is not a secret. You can put big ads in the newspapers explaining the problems in Africa and asking people to collaborate, but you can't lead newcomers in magic towards the right products in the same way. Until you're in the "magic circle" (internet forums, groups, etc.) you aren't even aware the problem exists, and unless you've been shown the short-term effects of plagiarism you won't really care. And even then magicians will choose what suits them best from the range of versions available.

Secondly, the mass production of magic props brings the idea into public domain. I'm not referring to copyright issues, but just the concept. People now know magicians can make pens penetrate coins and paper and leave them undamaged. The idea is now public, not exclusive to some guy's show or private parties. I'm sure even my mother knows magicians do it. And when an idea becomes public, nobody can claim they have an exclusive right to it. The idea becomes as widespread as origami.

I'm not saying you're wrong, Mike, only that refusing to buy cloned products is not going to have an impact. It's not the solution, in magic or in any other global industry. Magic Makers (for example) sells to Africa, Asia, all over the world, to amateurs, professionals, teenagers and mothers looking out for a Xmas gift for their budding young sorcerer. As internet grows, it'll become even bigger. EBay is the biggest shop window there is, and it has Magic Makers all over.

Unless the law changes in every country, which it won't, the only way to combat plagiarism is by staying ahead in the market, working hard to promote yourself and to improve your products.

the gimmick pen does not write, due to poor ink

Try leaving the nib portion standing for an hour or two in a small jar or egg cup with black endorsing or similar ink. The pen will absorb a lot of it and will write convincingly on paper although it won't be permanent like the usual Sharpie. Failing that, if you can disassemble your Sharpie Thru' then change the ink container for a new one from a normal Sharpie. Mucky job but it can be done.

In other words, everyone's doing it, I might as well too.

Mike.

I read that you can revive dried markers by dipping them in nail ponish remover very briefly. You put the cap on again and leave it for a few minutes. Otherwise, as Mandrake says, try to get it to soak up some ink. You can buy refills on the internet, too.

Sharpies usually go dry in the end anyway (they contain about 2000 feet of ink but most dry up before it gets used), though the gimmick will last years, so think that it's going to be dry for most of the time you own it.

I have two pen-thrus. No idea what make they are, both are black. I tell people I bought them in 50p shops to cover up for the fact they look cheap. One of them has run out of ink, so ironically I explain that I have found a different use for it rather than throw away something I spent good money on. When I'm travelling, I say, I use it for self protection, as I don't like offensive weapons. Then I show them I can rip holes in serviettes with it, and even let them stab one themselves. This proves it's a normal pen. Afterwards I show them a less violent technique which doesn't leave a single mark...

There are other things you could do with a Sharpie if you can handle the switches and moves. One forum mentions a colour changing Sharpie, mysterious pen spinning, a signed note reappearing in the Sharpie cap, a Sharpie that can be pushed into its own cap, vanishes, and more. You can combine any of these with a neat PK effect and build quite a routine.

http://www.pentrix.com/news.html

So very true! There's a considerable amount of gimmicked Sharpies available and if you combine and interchange these with using ordinary Sharpies to mark, sign, draw or whatever, there should be very little audience suspicion on them. With unusual props, cards or coins there may be a hint of suspicion that they're not ordinary but who would suspect an 'umble marker pen?

Michael Jay wrote:In other words, everyone's doing it, I might as well too.

Mike.

Think of gaffed coins. The idea is no more complex than a pen-thru gimmick. If it's Coin Unique you have a [ and an ins**t with a m*. You'll notice there's no discussion about who invented it in the forums, only about which are the better quality versions available.

Whoever did think of it (Gibson perhaps?) has to compete with a lot of highly skilled and respected craftsmen. If he wants to stay ahead in the market forever he has to work hard.

But there's another factor, too. What about countries where people use a different make of writing pen? What about different coinage? I can't use a Sharpie in Spain, people just usually don't have them at home. I actually had to search for "Sharpies" on Google to see what they looked like. I can't use pounds or dollars very easily, either, in my tricks (some routines require borrowing a coin and here in Spain people carry euros). No single manufacturer will produce gimmicked pens and coins for every country, so the result is that "unapproved" clones are made to fit the case. Nowadays these are often made in China or India and sent around the world in bulk, which is why they are so cheap-looking.

No wonder there are five or ten different makes of pen-thru! If magic becomes more popular in the future, there will be two dozen.

I'm not supporting plagiarism, or saying it's all for the good of the industry, or that I am happy that companies are ripping off poor inventors left, right and centre. But if there's a solution it hasn't been found yet, and meanwhile we have to face reality. I advocate doing what makes you feel most comfortable with yourself, which can include encouraging a boycott on ripped-off products if you like.

Just my opinion,

Chris

What about countries where people use a different make of writing pen?

Intriguing point! I've never had any problems with Sharpies being accepted for what they are - 'just a pen' I've occasionally had problems getting them back off the specs but that's another story! In fact, I was using black Sharpies at work for a number of years before I realised the magical significance - I even went scouring shops to find proper Sharpies not too long ago and then realised there were three of them on my desk which were used for marking up exhibition items and so on.

If you refer to them as 'the pen' or 'my pen' or something equally insignificant then they will be more or less invisible to the spec's perception and attention. After all, they're only a writing instrument and the whole point is not the item but the marks they make with it. Specific coinage and types/brands of playing cards will draw more attention because we tend to ask the specs to memorise them, look closely at them, or mark them but they rarely pay any attention to the writing instrument itself. I know the coin experts like using Dollars and half Dollars but they tend to stand out a bit as not being local currency so I'd have some reservations about using them.

At least, that's how it seems to me!

The trouble is that many countries don't have such a vast range of pens to choose from as in England. In the Iberian peninsula some companies virtually have a monopoly on everyday items, so unusual brands do stand out (things are improving fast, so I hope some Spaniards reading this will disagree with me - but I'm describing the way things have been here for years). Other countries are bound to have the same problem.

Another factor: if there is no writing on the pen, it often looks fake and strange (it needn't but the pen-thrus I have seen just do). But if there is writing, the language may draw attention to itself! Thank God all the euros are mixed up now, so I can take out an Irish, Italian or German coin and nobody suspects anything. Magicians hate euros, but there are advantages.

I know there are ways to avoid questions about foreign currency and unusual brands, but I don't want to have to go through that every time I take out a gimmicked matchbox or marker pen.

"Globalization" is fun! Next week I will receive a new package: made in Japan, but sent from the Netherlands to my house in Spain, it will consist of sets of gaffed euros with Dutch faces. I'll send in a review when they arrive.

Hmm, Chris very good point on the coins, one I hadn't considered before.

A fun thing to do with euros is to place a common euro [ over a British euro and make the transformation. All you do is change the country of origin. Nobody suspects there's been a switch till the [ is out of sight, but the whole thing looks impossible.

And oh yes, you can buy British euro coins at collectors' fairs and stores.

Next week I will receive a new package: made in Japan, but sent from the Netherlands to my house in Spain, it will consist of sets of gaffed euros with Dutch faces.

Suggest you pay for 'em in Dollars - Australian Dollars!

you can buy British euro coins at collectors' fairs and stores

Blimey - now I really am depressed!

http://www.eurocoins.co.uk/britainblisterpack.html

Not long now...

Thank goodness for that - I see very reassuring phrases such as 'unofficial patterns', 'suggested British designs', 'a design exercise'. (Which probably means they'll be introduced next Tuesday!)