talkmagic.co.uk

Greetings all,

I do hope that this isn't against any rule, if it is then you have my appologies.

I would just like to establish wether there would be any interest in an idea I've been considering. Over the years I've put together many routines and build many props of a neo-victorian nature. Speaking recently with a fellow conjurer it was suggested to me that there may be interest in my work from the wider magic and mentalism community. So my question to you good people is this, would you be interested in and purchase from a store selling steam punk\ neo-victorian mentalism?

Yes!

Check out Lebanon Circle

Cheers

Dr Todd

Indeed!

Indeed. Subversive Circuits does some of this stuff.

There are many suppliers now days, offering material close to this theme if not theme (era) specific. I've found that ALL OF IT is little more than a starter kit and you will need to make adjustments and tailor the items to meet your own needs, especially if you are going with a true Steampunk look (where's the Curator when you need him?)

The better but lesser known custom builders are in the U.S. and bare in mind that you want experience magic prop makers NOT artists making your effects. While I certain appreciate some of the items artists produce esthetically, magically speaking, at least when it comes to proper deception, much of this material tends to come up short. The Steampunk scene being rather picky when it comes to the quality and functionality of things, especially gadgets, which make up a big aspect around that sub-culture. So be picky! Shop around! Understand that you may have to toss a significant amount of cash at a piece before it fits your vision . . . a year or so back I purchased a Spirit Bell piece that ended up looking anything other than convincing. It took me another $150.00 and several months time working with local artists & crafts people, to correct the facade of the piece and make the gimmick far more difficult to detect. I have associates that do this with most everything they buy commercially whether it's from OUTLAW, Lebanon Circle, Rob Stanley, or Doug Higley for that matter (and Doug is one of the best!) .

Freddie Valentine can probably point you to others I'm not thinking of at the moment but one resource you may want to get your hands on is THE ARCANA OF BIZARRE MAGICK by Jim Magus (http://www.lulu.com/shop/jim-magus/arcana-of-bizarre-magick/paperback/product-4379157.html)in that it not only lists sources but gives methods for aging props, etc. The Larry Baukin Anthology (http://mevproshop.com/baukin-anthology.html) is likewise a great resource for routine ideas, especially if you are taking the NAZI style of Steampunk persona. Finally, there are resources (including makers) to be found at http://www.dragonskull.co.uk/main_map.htm which is probably the best on-line resource on Bizarre Magick.

where's the Curator when you need him?

No. There's not interest in "steampunk". None at all. Kill it all with fire.

Considering the theme of the Paralympics closing ceremony, expect a lot of interest in steampunk!

Ugh.

Thanks to all for your responses, there does indeed seem to be an interest in this genre. Craig, thanks to you for your thought provoking post. Much of what I'm considering producing would be made by myself and would be items that I've personally been using for some time and are tried and tested in the field. Quility of materials would need to be considered but that would be an issue I'd tackle when developing a sale ready item.

Dr Todd, I'm a huge fan of Lebanon Circle but my thoughts are to take the bizare down a slightly different road. There are many people producing some excellent but very dark products. I like to move away from the minions of the underworld and into a world of strange machines, weird science and automatons.

Mandrake wrote:Considering the theme of the Paralympics closing ceremony, expect a lot of interest in steampunk!

There's also a good programme on Her Britannic Majesty's fourth wireless channel about Steampunk by Mr Philip Jupitus Esquire: http://brassgoggles.co.uk/forum/index.p ... 243.0.html

(Partly to wind Lee up!)