talkmagic.co.uk

I run a small company called the Magic Wand Shop. We specialise in making very high quality wooden wands in silk-lined boxes. For the past couple of years we have been concentrating on selling these to Harry Potter fans. We also sell quite a few to pagan/witchcraft shops who have sourced us out themselves. This always surprises me as our wands are so obviously tongue-in-cheek in their packaging.

We've also begun to supply 1 or 2 magic (as opposed to magick) shops, but I have no idea how you magicians will view our wands. I've heard from various sources that magicians only want wands that "do" something, ie are part of a trick or bend or explode or something!

I would love to hear your views on this. Would we be wasting our time by promoting our wands in the magic world? Or do you think that some magicians might actually like a nice wooden wand that doesn't explode every time they drop it???!

You can see the wands at www.themagicwandshop.co.uk

Look forward to hearing your comments.

it helps if it does something.
Even if its break-away item, Or it has something within that can aid with a trick, like say for example, a magnet.
Traditionaly the conjurers magic wand is totally different to the fine examples available from people like yourselves, in that they are straight, with tips. The potteresque wand, is more akin to the wand used by pagan communities.
Neverteless, there may be some buiseness in the magical trophy trade. One of your wands, with an engraved plaque would be a very nice thing to give as a prize.

Hi and thanks for your message - I've often visited your website and looked at the wands on offer and, along with the storyline, they seem to be rather attractively presented!

It's no secret that it's nice if a Magician's wand can do a little extra but the main function is misdirection and decoration so, in laymen's terms, a length of dowel painted black and white will do just as well. Having said that, a decent wand is as much a part of a Conjurer's kit as the props and is still an emblem of his skill. Mentalists and card workers may not need them but the classics of magic such as cups and balls, some rope tricks, linking items and so on still use a wand at some point so there might be a market. Sadly, the price of the plastic tube wands is now so low (35p for a 10" wand at our local arts & crafts centre shop!) that a quality wand would need a fair amount of promotion to justify the cost involved. I have to admit, I rather like the Harry Potter 'Wizard' style wands so I hope that market keeps going for you.

Mandrake wrote:a length of dowel painted black and white will do just as well

Actually I use a length of waxed dowel when I do cups and balls, though I have always intended to get some brass endcaps on it.

I think that there would be quite a large market for wands that didn't do anything but just looked good, though being more like the balck and white sticks, I would certainly buy a decent attractive polished wood wand with metal ends if it was the right size and weight. True it is always nice if a prop does something your audience isn't aware of but there does seem to be a dearth of nice looking wands around. I am also sure that the Bizzare magic community would snap up any wands you made that had a 'black magick' look to them or would look right in a very ceremonial setting.

I agree with everything said so far.

I have a fairly nice two section wand with brass ends, which I bought for the day when I actually start learning more than a very basic cups and balls routine (one day, one day).

However, it would have been even nicer had it been black and white/silver.

I think some people who style themselves as 'wizards' could make use of Harry Potter style wands, and the comments about bizarre magic are very good. A sort of voodoo wand with black feathers and red and black cords and beads might sell, as might a 'gypsy wand', although I'm not sure what that would look like (I'm waiting for the jokes). Maybe it would be brightly painted like a gypsy caravan, in red and gold, and perhaps square in profile, so it doesn't roll round in a caravan?

EDIT: Thought of a few more ideas.

A jester's wand, with a jester head at the end, a bit like in the series 'Rentaghost'. This could be good for effects for people who act like jesters (ancient or modern) and possibly for tricks involving jokers.

Egyptian wand. Yellow and blue, with the Eye of Ra detailed in one end. That one might do double duty with New Age people.

Chinese wand. Some people use a chopstick for Oriental effects, but a nice faux black or red lacquer wand, perhaps with authentic Chinese characters for the five elements could sell.

i had a nice brass wand with a crystal at one end and a chop device at the other end, very usefull

i also had a sectional wand which had a chop device, a tt ok wt , a hook and variouse tips all in a nice case, it was made for me by a friend who was an engineer as a project for his college course, he got an a+ but I'm the one who came out on top.

There is a bit of a market for nice wands. Check out the wand section at The Cups and Balls Museum http://www.cupsandballsmuseum.com/wands.htm

Also, here are my two wands. The card is for size comparison

The uppermost is Michael Ammar's Mercury Wand. It has a steel core with a rubber outer sheath.
The lower is and Exotic Wood wand I purchased from Cards4Magic, some time ago. It is made from a hard wood core and the tips are a different wood all together. It has a varnished coating.

The Ammar wand is made specially for the Vernon wand spin.
It's weighted just right, and the rubber coating gives you enough grip.

I'd love one of those but they're difficult to find.

saxmad wrote:The Ammar wand is made specially for the Vernon wand spin.
It's weighted just right, and the rubber coating gives you enough grip.

I'd love one of those but they're difficult to find.

Indeed, hence why I have one. I'm currently studying the Dai Vernon Routine you see.

I'd love one of those but they're difficult to find.

The mercury wand can be brought from Michael's website.. Very reasonibly priced they are too.

As a side note. Between May and June the wonderfully talented Mr. Ammar will be lecturing in the UK. One of th evenues I believe is Watford (Although I am trying to get him to Ipswich).

Wicked news about Michael Ammar! Keep us updated, won't you...

bananafish wrote:The mercury wand can be brought from Michael's website.. Very reasonibly priced they are too.

Thanks for that bananafish.
He was selling them on his last uk tour, years ago, for £20 and I regretted not getting one then.
The current crazy exchange rate means these things, amongst others, are bargains!

Well, I noticed some people mentioning that "Potteresque" wands really weren't what magicians wanted (since they don't do anything specific, but imho they do cover up palms/loading/etc!). I can't claim I've given the issue a whole lot of thought, but I did just finish reading a convincing article by Joe Lantiere on the importance of the use of wands as symbols for modern magicians. Sort of, to keep tradition alive, since it is a powerful symbol.
It was enough to make me come here and search for a good wand to buy!
(Again, take what I say with a grain of salt since I'm a newbie. )

-Nyct (Rachel)

but imho they do cover up palms/loading/etc!).

Youre quite right of course, the misdirectional capabilities of the humble wand are probably it's most useful feature.

Thanks to everyone who replied to my original post - lots to think about. Just to let you know, we are now stocking more traditional black with chrome tips and red/brown with brass tips wands as well as our more Potter-esque wands. The traditional wands are 13" long, have a nice weight about them, and come in a silk-lined presentation box.

We've also produced a 50 page book which you may find of interest. Back in 1905 a small shop opened in Sheffield. This was called Mr. Pullman's Magic Wand Shop, and I *think* it is the UK's only bricks & mortar shop that specialised in wooden magic wands produced on the premises. The shop closed in 1915, but we have brought out this small book which recounts the history of Mr. Pullman's shop, and also tells the tale of one of the children who used to frequent the shop. A great "cobble-stones, pea soup fog and magic" tale! It has pictures too!

All at www.themagicwandshop.co.uk