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So I created a great new trick and I want to ask for opinions from experienced people like yourselves for advice but...

I don't want to contravene the rules of the forum by posting any links or anything.

I find myself in a dilemma in that, I need advice and opinions, but I'm not sure how best to proceed? Is it OK to PM people if they ask ?

Post a general description of what's involved in the effect - cards, coins, hump backed camels whatever - and try to describe how the routine progresses and how it ends - without giving away your secret of course. Interested parties may respond in the thread or by PM depending on what they have to say to you.

Do you have a performance video on Youtube ?
We like links to videos as long they don't give away any secrets on the video and the comments are switched off so that others can't give away the secrets.

Mandrake wrote:Post a general description of what's involved in the effect - cards, coins, hump backed camels whatever - and try to describe how the routine progresses and how it ends - without giving away your secret of course. Interested parties may respond in the thread or by PM depending on what they have to say to you.

so I've bought these hump backed camels and....er actually, it's a magic trick that's kind of bringing card tricks into the new era of mobile devices like iPads and the like. I'm very fond of what I've created and there's a multitude of different ways to perform it. I bet it would be a lovely little trick for a magician to have at his disposal, but I need to know if anyone thinks it's any good ?

Discombobulator wrote:Do you have a performance video on Youtube ?
We like links to videos as long they don't give away any secrets on the video and the comments are switched off so that others can't give away the secrets.

No at the moment no, but I'll put one together at some point. It's a good idea.

You should also look up the sticky around here someplace, about "inventing a New Trick". . . I know I've posted on this here and at Visions eZine as has Kenton Knepper. Not to bust your bubble, but creating something "New" is quite difficult; several folks on this very forum have reinvented the wheel peddling it as something new and innovative even though the method and application has been around for decades if not longer.

Too, you will find the longer you spend in magic, that your notebooks and file cabinets will eventually overflow with ideas. It's an excellent sign that you aren't just out doing tricks but actually THINKING and too, the habit of creativity will help you reach your goals as a performer. Max Maven and several other notables challenge themselves to come up with a new routine/effect daily. You've got a good start, keep it up and give yourself a week to a month to perfect your concepts. Don't go chasing temporary fame by rushing out to publish it; share it with 6-12 people you trust so that it can be documented. I strongly encourage people to not worry about the cash and just contribute their routines to the legit (hard copy) publications of our industry like Linking Ring, M.U.M., MAGIC, etc. so as to build up name recognition. I can assure you, the more you do this the greater sense of "value" you build in your name and thus, when you do start marketing a book filled with your material, more people will be interested and willing to pay a bit more because of your reputation. It takes time however so don't con yourself into believing that two or three such posts is all that's needed.

Save your material and keep it "secret" so as to cultivate an air of mystique and thus, demand for what you have to offer.

Best of luck!

That's great advice. Thank you very much.

Yes, I suppose everyone thinks they've invented something new when in reality it's highly unlikely. I suppose I said its new as I personally haven't seen it done anywhere, but that's not to say someone somewhere has already done it! D'oh! Perhaps you're curious enough to check mine out ? I'm sure you're in an excellent position to tell me if it's new or not ?

Describe the effect of the trick on here, not the method.

For example

EFFECT
I push a hankie into my closed fist, blow on it, open my hand and the hankie's vanished.

METHOD
The hankie is treated with acid and completely dissolves after thirty seconds.

You will eventually need to share the method with someone, but it's best to do it to someone you know and trust.

If you shared with me for example and the method was bad or done before I would openly and blatantly mock you, possibly damaging your future rep. If it was a good new method, I'd steal it from you, sell it without your permission, sue you for libel if you complain and possibly attempt to kill you.

Craig Browning wrote:Save your material and keep it "secret" so as to cultivate an air of mystique and thus, demand for what you have to offer.

This is so, so true.

Jean Eugene Roberts wrote:Describe the effect of the trick on here, not the method.

For example

EFFECT
I push a hankie into my closed fist, blow on it, open my hand and the hankie's vanished.

METHOD
The hankie is treated with acid and completely dissolves after thirty seconds.

You will eventually need to share the method with someone, but it's best to do it to someone you know and trust.

If you shared with me for example and the method was bad or done before I would openly and blatantly mock you, possibly damaging your future rep. If it was a good new method, I'd steal it from you, sell it without your permission, sue you for libel if you complain and possibly attempt to kill you.