talkmagic.co.uk

I disagree what the comment you said above vic_vdb.

I'd echo the fact that there are many magic suppliers who seek to make money from those who believe that these mind-ripping tricks exist on an 'open the packet and perform - no skill needed basis'.

The reason I disagree is because these introduction are the ones received from the wholesalers IE Murphys. So you cant pinpoint anyone dealer on a commercially available item and say he is trying to make money by misleading his customers. If he new what the item was about and verbally told you its very easy when its not, then accuse the supplier of misleading for profit.

The reason I disagree is because these introduction are the ones received from the wholesalers IE Murphys. So you cant pinpoint anyone dealer on a commercially available item and say he is trying to make money by misleading his customers. If he new what the item was about and verbally told you its very easy when its not, then accuse the supplier of misleading for profit.

Sorry to cause you any problems with my views but I don't feel that they are wrong (perhaps for once!). I read an article that said that Tampax would help me 'run. climb, swim and ride horses!' I bought a packet and found that even so I could do none of the things claimed and yet given the right conditions (i.e female and in need of the product) - it would probably be true.

Of course the distributors are going to tell you it's a mind ripping product which takes no skill, tell them it's a great trick and takes time to learn and they'll buy a 'mind ripping - no skill product' from a rival!

There are many great tricks out there and they all (no matter what) take time to master - that's life, after all nothing is easy! (This can mean that everything has a price or can reflect that nothing (i.e. no effort or skill) is easy). Sorry if I have offended but I maintain that this is a reality and anything else is merely an (unattainable, expensive and ultimately depressing) illusion. I say this because I know a number of people who have believed the blurb, got depressed and left before they had a chance to be a part of the magical world.

Thanks for coming back to me on this though - I do understand your comments Gochos, but can only feel that one shouldn't believe everything one reads - people say what they need to sell products! I know that's how I got started (see comments elsewhere about my entry to this fixation called magic as a result of a friend buying and then discarding mind-ripping, out of the packet, no skill needed, trick! :-0 ).

Thanks again,

Vic

Personally when a product is sold as easy, I expect it to be technically easy. So for example the disapearing card case is easy. Of course to really entertain with it will require more than just the effect of the card and case disappearing, it needs presentational skills.

Of course there are many examples of misrepresentation and I don't accept fully the argument that the dealers can't help it cos that's what the sales blurb says from Murphy's. Maybe it's excusable when it's a new product before the dealer has a chance to access it, but it should then be changed to reflect the "truth"

It's funny, but I have come to the conclusion that the majority of the tricks performed are easy, that's one of the reasons that revealing how it is done is so damaging! The response is nearly always "there's nothing difficult," is commonplace when people have been shown a trick, it's the patter, the concept and the performance that make the trick 'mind ripping'.

I think this is one of the weaknesses in magic today. People learn the moves but that's not where the magic is, for it lies in misdirection, in storytelling and weaving scenarios that draw the hearers in, ready for the climax (and effect)! Those who put together tricks should be credited (and rewarded, where applicable) with the trick, so many magicians copy, perform and pass off the work of others as their own (even selling copies) and whilst I don't agree that tricks should be copyright, the copying of trick and patter (back to books Vs. DVD if not careful) and direct imitation of acts seen should be discouraged in favour of adoption, adaption and added creativity (reflecting personality of person doing it).

All of the problems stem from confusing the thought that no skill means easy to do and forgetting that professional and pleasing is a skill in itself that should be taken into consideration.

Surely this is the difference between practical joke (instant, little set-up) and magic (skill, performance and art!).

Thanks for comments MT, made me think more about mine, which has to be good.

Vic