talkmagic.co.uk

We are all quick to jump on dealers who take an "old" effect, re package it and sell it as "new". we love to diss the profiteer.

Why then do so many of us ignore the exact same thing when it happens in reverse?

An effect is made available, often with much fan fair from a commercial magic dealer. It teaches an effect including presentation skills and subtleties and describes the necessary gimmick.

So when the minnow dealers sell the Gimmick as directly related to the effect at a crazy low price... some of us (who have never purchased the original DVD but have guessed at the gimmick because of a dealer's description) are happy to ignore fair pay for invention to get hold of the gimmick cheap???

The hypocracy exists when (in some cases) the dealer has fabricated an origin that predates the commercial effect/DVD so they can sell the necessary gimmick without the scorn of the magic community.

The point of this post?

Dont "always" be so quick to believe everything you read on the internet.

I think it's got something to do with human nature. Like it or not, most people are out for what they can get - and who can blame us; we're mammals with a latent "me me me" survival instinct, no matter how much we try and veneer it with civilised politeness and received morality. So sayeth I!

While I'm forced to agree with you Queenie, I also think that some people have thicker veneers than others.....

flashman wrote:While I'm forced to agree with you Queenie, I also think that some people have thicker veneers than others.....

Absolutely, if our collected veneers were in the form of a Dulux shade chart there would be countless different shades. That's why the ones with any given shade question all those with lighter and darker ones. It's a matter of "I think X, so I can't understand why everyone else doesn't. I'm guilty of this on a daily basis, but at least I know it.

I personally am completely amoral , I practice sleight of hand by shoplifting, and my story telling skills by coming up with reasons why I can't pay my mums medical bill despite earning thousands online. (there was a fire that I might have started, she went back in to save the baby, blah blah blah, whatever, the house is mine now.)

I usually make most of my money posting online 'how to' videos and placing a Trojan on the site, allowing me access to all the visitors computers (most of my clientele are 13 and under, not the best with computer security.)
I usually pose a hypocritical view, to rally others against my competitors (other reveal sites) and my clientele (the come here asking for advice, I or someone else give them a sound tong lashing, I then p.m them with a link to my site, and a few others I'm paid to advertise.)

My point is its easy to be hypocritical if you truly believe that your happiness is all that's important.

You scare me at times, Jean :p

Might be slightly off topic, but do dealers who reproduce other people's work usually pay a royalty?

I was thinking in particular about the DVDs where someone uses. with credit, another's effect (like Dai Vernon).

Or in the case of the two Royal Road To Card Magic DVDs out there, do both Royol Road To Card Magic DVD producers (paul wilson and magic makers) both pay royalties to the book publishers?

queen of clubs wrote:

I'm guilty of this on a daily basis, but at least I know it.

Don't be so hard on yourself... I know from personal experience that it's just not our fault that we're right all of the time... and everyone else is soooooo wrong.