talkmagic.co.uk

So I downloaded some instant downloads from Jay Sankey's website ( sankeymagic.com ) more as a kind of experiment than anything. Picked a few effects I might like to use and paid up to see what you get for your five bucks.

It was...interesting. You can read my reviews here:
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic43570.php
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic43571.php
http://www.talkmagic.co.uk/ftopic43572.php
Oh hows about that they're in numerical order...

Anyway the reviews mention the curious factor that they expect you to know how to do most of the moves involved, even if you don't know what they are.

Case in point, one of them explains DLs. By explains I mean it explains what a DL is, spelling it out very clearly as you would to a lay person, but doesn't give any instruction as to how to replicate this action naturally. A similar thing is done with a vanish in another of the effects and it dawned on me.

So imagine someone shows you a short magic trick in the office cafeteria at work and you ask how it's done and instead of saying no, the office magician says "it'll cost you a fiver." Having coughed up, the magician will explain as much as the lay person cares about to 'solve' the puzzle.

"Oh it was two cards. I get it."

That's all the layperson cares about. They can't do the trick themselves, not convincingly at least, but they know enough to chuckle with superiority next time they see the same effect.

That's the feeling I get from these videos. "Here's a magic trick, how I did it will bug you all week if you don't give me five dollars."

-Stacy

Anything that I have bought as an instant download I have been dissapointed with. I gave up with Sankey stuff, he releases something new everyday and he is a pretty good salesman so it's hard to tell whether your getting a gem or fluff. Having said that he is a brilliant creator.

I think that instant downloads havn't added anything in terms of 'exposure' of moves as I have done tricks to people an the day after they have came back to me with the method by simply googling what they seen. Theres a video on youtube for nearly everything.

I read your reviews after reading this thread. When an effect is advertised as "advanced" it has nothing to do with the depth of teaching in the instructions. It is there to let the buyer know what skill level is required to perform the trick effectively. The label is not limited to sleight of hand skill and the effect could be virtually sleight free, but may require an advanced understanding of misdirection, spectator management or the like.

An "advanced" effect will assume the reader to be at a certain level, and already have a working knowledge of most sleights - especially the basics. In fact, as the label suggests, it may even assume an advanced ability.

I have many books which are advertised as advanced, and none of them explain the rudimentary sleights. The only exeption is when the author has something to add to the move, or a new or different way of doing I, or perhaps uses anothers technique and is teaching it. Otherwise it is assumed the reader is familiar with the basic move. In something which is sold as advanced I think this is perfectly acceptible.


Jim

jim ferguson wrote: I have many books which are advertised as advanced, and none of them explain the rudimentary sleights. The only exeption is when the author has something to add to the move, or a new or different way of doing I, or perhaps uses anothers technique and is teaching it. Otherwise it is assumed the reader is familiar with the basic move. In something which is sold as advanced I think this is perfectly acceptible.

Jim

I agree on that, and initially thats what I thought too, but that doesn't explain why it goes into so much detail about what a DL actually IS.

-Stacy

but that doesn't explain why it goes into so much detail about what a DL actually IS.

padding so you feel you have got your moneys worth.

most tricks are simple moves disguised as something else ie the larger action covers the smaller one, when down in print or on a dvd they can seem quite thin, sankeys magus capsual is a good example its essentialy a single cups and balls with three moves, thats why sankey adds nearly an hour of bonus material to give you value for money, granted he tends to go over the top but he's always been a bit paronoid that way.

most downloads assume that you already know the moves, have the kit already or can make it easily and just explain how to do it leaving you to provide all the showmanship and or research the skills required, many coin downloads are essentily heres my take on a classic vanish with added scotch tape, there goes your money, most are done deliberatly that way to get the money out of you and to preserve the real secrets the performance.

in short most downloads are set squarely at those who want to know how its done and for profit, not to teach you how to perform the trick, thats the hook to get you to buy there dvd, think of instant downloads as the free chockolate bars you get from magazines, there just there to entise you to buy more chocolate......... ,mmmmm cadburys...... see its working alrady.

maybey i missed the point..... I do that quite often.