talkmagic.co.uk

Hi all,

So this is a notion I've just taken to myself, and figure it can't hurt to ask for opinions/advice...

When I was most into magic - in my late teens, about a decade ago - I invented a fair few packet tricks, and a couple of full deck tricks that used gimmicks. Now, in hindsight, I realise that some of them were awful/awkward, some were merely variations on existing (bought) tricks, and most were unmarketable (though I did try...) Oh, and there was one I was very proud of and I think it still holds up as a very nice little packet trick (how modest to say so...)

I'm just wondering if there's any merit in now sending the working to magazines, to see if anyone will give me a fee of some sort to publish any of them. Having been largely out of the 'scene' for this last decade, I'm looking for ideas of who I could approach with articles/effects. Abra would be the (to me, obvious) choice - but a Google of "Goodliffe Abra" returns no results - are they even still going?

If anyone can recommend magazines that I can look into, I'll check their submissions policies - but right now I don't even know names of magazines to check out. Abra and Genii were the only ones I ever bought, and like I said, the former's website seems unavailable...

Any help appreciated, thanks.

Jordan.

I'd try Magicseen first, since they're currently the only UK-based magic magazine (I think). Website here. They seem to have a very friendly and helpful editorial staff. They were certainly pleasant to me when I contacted them once.

The only thing I can think of against Magicseen is that they don't use many tricks per issue, and the ones they do use are mainly from big names. But you won't lose anything by asking. If they say no, try elsewhere.

Write up and proofread your material as well as you can, and try to match the magazine's style. (Which means you should have read at least one recent issue -- or a good selection of recent articles from their website, if they offer this.)

According to every writers' resource ever, you need patience when submitting to magazines. They may take months to decide whether to accept or reject your submission. Magazines also have long lead times (I'm currently proofing November issues), so if you're accepted, it will be quite a while before you see your work in print.

It's usually a good idea to start your approach by sending a query letter or e-mail. This should be a brief description of what you've got to offer, and anything about yourself that shows you know what you're talking about (qualifications, memberships, etc.). Make it sound tasty, and remember your query is also doubling as a sample of how well you can write.

Thanks for that. I checked their site, and will make an initial approach soon. I see their editor is Mark Leveridge though, and so I suspect they are used to receiving articles from far-higher calibre magicians than I! Can't hurt to ask, of course.

If it comes to it, I will just make my material available online somewhere in the end - I had enough belief in it at the time to write it down, and to try selling some of it myself, and even after a decade in which I've become increasingly cynical, I still think some of it holds up. I'll look out my notes and select the best stuff and maybe put up some of it here - it'd be nice to make a little money from it but I'm a realist... There's also the very real possibility someone far more experienced will see something I thought unique and go "Elmsley, Flushtration, Hamman, Elmsley, Hamman, Jordan, Elmsley" and then identify it as a variation on something I never read (which is equally likely, I have Royal Road and Erdnase, but I didn't finish let alone learn either...and that's the tip of the iceberg)

I imagine competition to be published is fierce, and I was never a working professional, but I came up with enough small things that someone might pick up on something they can use or adapt to their own ends.

Thanks again for your help, further advice or suggestions still welcome.

Abra closed last year.

As an unknown, you are very unlikely to get any remuneration for a trick that is published in a magazine. Also, trying to market it yourself will be an uphill struggle.

If you would still like to publish the two places where you are likely to get the most exposure are Genii and Magic. The Genii trick section is run by David Acer (davidacer@davidacer.com) and Magic by Josh Jay (don't have an email for Josh - try through the VanishingIncmagic.com site). Be aware that it will probably be months, rather then weeks before it appears. Both men do place a premium on non card material though, and you are more likely to get something published if you stay away from cards.

Ian

Thanks. It's all cards, so maybe I should quit while I'm behind!

I'm sure I saw your act at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1997 or 1998 by the way. Though all I remember of it now is a bit about how Calvin can write 'Transmogrifier' on the side of a cardboard box, and that's what it becomes. I think you used it as an intro to vanishing a ketchup bottle in a paper bag...?
Our paths definitely crossed a couple of times during my extremely short-lived magic 'career' (hobby), but you have no real reason to remember me. Whereas I've only ever seen one person do the anti-gravity vertical coin thing

Robbie wrote:I'd try Magicseen first, since they're currently the only UK-based magic magazine (I think). Website here. They seem to have a very friendly and helpful editorial staff. They were certainly pleasant to me when I contacted them once.

The only thing I can think of against Magicseen is that they don't use many tricks per issue, and the ones they do use are mainly from big names.

Erm, they've put me in at least 4 issues!
They also published a draft I sent them without waiting for the final write up, ah well, I don't think no one really noticed.

But seriously, yeah, contact Magicseen. Good magazine and good contact from the staff.

That could have been either 97 or 98 - I did that routine in both years.

Perhaps we will cross paths again someday sooner, now that you are back in the fold

Ian

IanKendall wrote:
If you would still like to publish the two places where you are likely to get the most exposure are Genii and Magic.
Ian

And if you obtain a special in both magazines the same month, some people will remember you...

And both editors will publicly say that they are pi**ed off with you for decieving them and will never write about you again.

Real cool.

Sounds like a can of worms there, so I think I'll neatly sidestep that one

Lawrence - thanks, I'll look out my absolute, very best routine in time, redraft it and see if they'll take it. It can't hurt to ask, and certainly not if they're as pleasant as I keep hearing.

Thanks all.

David Acer is a really nice guy, and he got his name recognition largely by getting stuff in magazines. So he knows where you are coming from. Getting money for publishing the effects is not really all that likely. But it is usually a stepping stone to move onto bigger and better things.

IanKendall wrote:And both editors will publicly say that they are pi**ed off with you for decieving them and will never write about you again.

Real cool.

Especially if no one ever put a gun on their head to publish the specials and they decide altogether to publish on Halloween...
Bah, I've already 13 specials in various magic magazines*, it's a good number for a bizarrist.
And you know what Barnum said...

Plus: who decides that's a crime against humanity to have 2 specials in magazines at the same time ? You ?


*Not to mention the numerous articles in real magazines about my work and the Surnateum.