talkmagic.co.uk

Just thought it would be a good idea to try to clear up some bits of magical jargon.

One that's been bothering me greatly recently is when an effect is described as commercial

"Such and such effect is very commercial"
"It's a very commercial handling of..."
"This really is super-commercial"
"This is way too commercial"

This seems to be showing up more and more, and I assume it's meant to indicate that it's very clean and professional looking, and suitable for professional use (as opposed to amateur rubbish I guess )

Does it actually have any meaning, or is it just advertising buzzword. Maybe it means something in America...

Please also use this thread for any other magic slang that needs explaining, and can be explained without exposure. Note, for slang, not things like what is TT, IT etc.

com·mer·cial (k-mûrshl) adj.

1. Of, relating to, or being goods, often unrefined, produced and distributed in large quantities for use by industry.

2. Having profit as a chief aim: a commercial book, not a scholarly tome.

Hope this helps! =o)

It's just a buzzword. It means something that will sell like hot cakes. Just because an effect is commercial doesn't meant it's good.

To put it in a different context Katie Melua is commercial. She is good looking ,writes her own songs and can sing. To me it just means its an easy sell and everyone will soon be doing it.

...commercial in the magical sense to me means that the effect will be very popular and have a strong reaction amongst general audiences...mass appeal might be the phrase im after...

..but i suppose in a more cynical view - it could be used to sell an effect based on the wording, a kind of slogan if you will to attribute a certain sensation to a 'thing'...

...magic is in the third-eye of the beholder i suppose, i've seen stuff thats been classed as "very commercial" yet as left me cold and shuddering in the gutter...

Johndoe wrote:It's just a buzzword. It means something that will sell like hot cakes. Just because an effect is commercial doesn't meant it's good.

I've seen it used about so many effects that it doesn't seem to have any real meaning. It's either that it's suitable for professional/commercial use, or that it will sell well, or that they just hope it will sell well. The phrase just annoys me.

Johndoe wrote:To put it in a different context Katie Melua is commercial. She is good looking ,writes her own songs and can sing. To me it just means its an easy sell and everyone will soon be doing it.

Katie Melua's lawyers may soon be in touch with you if you're suggesting she's an easy sell, and everyone will soon be doing her

...Steverino drifts off for a moment into his own little world...

I probably should have read that back to myself before posting.

And I agree the phrase is just meaningless. The worst thing is I have caught myself using it a couple times.

If we're into annoying jargon then phrases like ' It's a killer effect' or 'This will blow your audience away' in respect of packet tricks or small close up stuff get right up my nose. Apart from the unnecessarily aggressive tone, there can't be many effects which are all that gobsmackingly wonderful - they might amuse, confound, entertain, delight or whatever but 'kill' or 'blow'? Nah - enough with the hyper hype, let's get back to plain language and be more level and honest about things please!

..i bought a packet trick once that said "this will FRY your audience..."

..imagine my dissapointment upon opening the package only to find a very large pan and a pack of butter...

...still, i had a nice dinner...

I agree about the 'killer effect' etc.

Another thing that I've noticed a lot and it's starting to get to me is "this effect alone is worth the price of the whole book/dvd/etc". Sure - that's true in a number of the books I've read, but it seems like it's very much over-used. (in fact more and more this statement is true because the 'book' is just one effect..)

What about "It's a real fooler".

Er... surely they're all supposed to be?

Any one of the above phrases can have "literally" stuck on the front of it to provide greater emphasis... or be postfixed by up to 5 exclamation marks - the sure sign of a deranged mind.

"A magicain fooler!!!!" So what? Magicians are easily fooled. It's my mate the engineer I want it to get past.