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KyleMacNeill Inner circle 2757 Posts |
Just wondering if anyone has used this before: http://magicshowbuilder.com/new/
Looks interesting... Best, Kyle |
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Bluesman Special user Florida 567 Posts |
First time I've seen this.
Thanks |
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Akal Singh New user 87 Posts |
I've never seen this. It looks ridiculous. Call me a romantic, but composing a show is an artistic endeavor, not an algorithm to be worked out in 1's and 0's.
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Ray Tupper. Special user NG16. 749 Posts |
However did the industry survive before this came along?
What do we want?
A cure for tourettes! When do we want it? C*nt! |
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motown Inner circle Atlanta by way of Detroit 6127 Posts |
I guess it depends how creative you want to be.
"If you ever write anything about me after I'm gone, I will come back and haunt you."
– Karl Germain |
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Ray Bertrand Inner circle Ottawa, Ontario 1452 Posts |
I've never seen this before. There is a saying: "Those that can... do! Those that can't... teach". I fully realize there are great teachers and mentors out there but they don't normally sell there wares as a 'one stop shopping for excellence' for $49.00.
Ray
Mentalism in Ontario.
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oliversmith Loyal user 257 Posts |
Hmmm, no idea who this person is so I wouldn't spend $47 on this course.
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Bobbert Regular user Alberta, Canada 152 Posts |
This (keeping track of your routines) can literally be done on excel using no functions whatsoever... I have been doing this for years.
Randomizing and creating routines can literally be done on excel using one or two functions depending on how fancy you want to be... who would want to do this is beyond me, it would definately not help with the flow of a routine |
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BarryFernelius Inner circle Still learning, even though I've made 2537 Posts |
In all fairness, I've never used this software before. I did take a look at the online video, and based on what I saw, I decided that the software would not add any value for me. I won't be purchasing it. (Also, the author of the software lost all credibility with me when he didn't seem to know who created Out of this World!)
In my opinion, a show is so much more than a list of tricks done in a certain order, designed to fill a set amount of time. (Or, perhaps to put it another way, if your show isn't much more than a sequence of tricks done in a certain order, you might want to rethink your show.) Max Maven says that when he watches a magician work, he asks himself three questions: 1. Who is this person? 2. What are they doing? 3. Why should I care? I don't see how this software will help you create an act that answers these questions in any meaningful way.
"To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time."
-Leonard Bernstein |
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Vlad_77 Inner circle The Netherlands 5829 Posts |
What does this software accomplish that even a basic understanding of theatrical stage craft and performance theory doesn't? For those of us who read books - and yes I know that sounds like a terribly "snob" statement - there are literally hundreds of essays that discuss concepts performers should be doing to better our acts. Pick up a book by Burger, Regal, Wonder, Nelms, Ortiz, Tarbell, Guastaferro, etc. etc. etc. and learn from the BEST in the business.
But I did not really answer my question. Here is what the software promises (directly copied for academic purposes from the website; the copied bits are bolded): Your tricks will get better: This is an outlandish claim. How the hell can "my" tricks get better? What exactly does that mean? A trick [I HATE the word trick BTW] gets "better" by a little thing called presentation. How many times have we discussed and how many essays and effect descriptions have we read that flatly state that any given effect may not play for the performer? Does this software purport to teach routining? Does it give detailed guidance on structuring an effect to achieve maximum impact? Perhaps the most obvious question is why do I need a piece of software that organizes effects to make each effect better? There really is no correlation between the two. Certainly the software might contain excerpts from authors reminding me for instance that when facing stage right and placing my downstage left leg in front of my right is bad blocking. Even if it did, shouldn't the performer have already STUDIED basic stage craft?! Look, I could write a dissertation on this first bullet point alone, but you folk are far more intelligent than I so why belabor this point? Your performances will become more entertaining: WOW!!!!!!!!!!! For 47.00 USD I can download this and voila! I can almost instantly become an ENTERTAINER. Look out Bill Malone! Hell, with THIS software I could parlay what it teaches me into my music and make McCartney look like a first of May. Okay, sarcasm mode off. Your shows will become more memorable: I will quote Akal Singh's eloquent words here: ... "composing a show is an artistic endeavor, not an algorithm to be worked out in 1's and 0's." Enough said. Your audiences will grow in size: I think what the snake oil sales... ermmm sorry, "author" is getting at here is that I can prominently display this piece of shoftware [hey, I coined a new phrase!!!] at my shows and my audiences will grow in size by word of mouth such that they will MARVEL at the fact that I cared enough to purchase this. The other option is that audiences will grow in size [ed. note: as opposed to growing in what other way????] because the collective metabolism of the audience slows to the point that the emergency number for Jenny Craig should be at hand as part of my contract rider. Nice!!! Look, let's just go to the bottom line and see what this is really about [again from the website]: Why make yourself go through all the frustrating confusion and growing pains that most magicians go through? When you could save yourself a lot of stress and worry … and hard work and headaches … by getting my Magic Show Builder software program today? The bottom line is .................................................. Be L A Z Y I would love to have Salvadore Calerone come to The Café and show me the error of my ways. Actually, I think I will contact him! This could be FUN!! Namaste, Vlad |
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Vincero Veteran user New Zealand 379 Posts |
Good post Vlad. This software is basically just for lazy people. Every magician should have a creative side... If you can perform a trick or two well, then routining (at least on a basic level) shouldn't be THAT much of a challenge. In any case, we all have to learn by making our own mistakes.
A computer program isn't tailored to suit our personae. Rather, we have to tailor our personae to suit the computer program. How dull and formulaic is that? The art of routining should be studied as thoroughly as Magic's other facets. This tacky looking software isn't going to aid anyone with that. Zac
"Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; And in the lowest deep a lower deep
Still threat'ning to devour me opens wide, To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav'n" -John Milton, (Paradise Lost) |
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Claudio Inner circle Europe 1927 Posts |
I have not purchased nor tried the software (it’s possible to try for free for 30 days) so I won’t comment on it but:
I find that some posters’ a priori negative attitude towards this software somehow ridiculous. Yes the claims laid in the ad are outlandish, but I can’t see anything fundamentally wrong in cataloguing your routines with patter etc… If you already do that on paper or on an Excel sheet great. Usually the advantage of computerising data is to structure it and make it easier to access and search, which, to me, seems a good thing. |
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Vincero Veteran user New Zealand 379 Posts |
The software's opening gambit: "If you know more tricks than you can remember..." Enough said.
Yes, of course cataloguing your routines with patter is a reasonable idea. The question though, is whether or not this is an advantageous system for doing so. Of course it's not... Especially not at $47 anyway. Plus, the "outlandish claims" should send everybody running for the hills, why? because it's BS pure and simple. In fact, I don't think anybody with a thimble of common sense would go for it. The buck stops at Ray Bertrand's post: Who the hell is this guy? I don't hold a grudge against software that claims to "catalogue routines with patter" for easy access/study... but this software isn't just claiming that now is it. Zac
"Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; And in the lowest deep a lower deep
Still threat'ning to devour me opens wide, To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav'n" -John Milton, (Paradise Lost) |
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BarryFernelius Inner circle Still learning, even though I've made 2537 Posts |
My issue with the software is simple: from my point of view, it solves the wrong problem. (If the software is a useful tool for solving your problems, you should get it right away.)
Instead, plop down $40 and get Pete McCabe's Scripting Magic, which you can order from here: http://saythemagicwords.com/scripting.html If you apply the lessons found in this book to your act, you'll become a better magician. Results are guaranteed--provided that you're willing to do the necessary work.
"To achieve great things, two things are needed: a plan and not quite enough time."
-Leonard Bernstein |
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Claudio Inner circle Europe 1927 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-07-06 12:05, BarryFernelius wrote: I have no issue with your opinion. In your previous post, you stated upfront that you had not purchased the software and you qualified your judgement. Furthermore, if one is naïve enough to believe that the software will make one a better magician, then I have no doubt that many will be disappointed. I have myself written a private tool to catalogue the effects I perform or “design” (I am a professional software developer, not a professional performer). It has many features that allow me to put routines together etc. Each effect contains a list of sleights, set-up, state of the deck after the effect etc… It does not help me to write any better scripts or being a better magician, but I believe that it has its place. The application runs on my tablet and I can always update a script or add an idea to a trick when it comes to me. Basically it replaces pen and paper and adds some computerised facilities. I agree that the claims made by the software developer are over the top, but the whole concept of such software (with realistic expectations) can have a place with modern magicians. |
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J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts |
I did purchase this when it was first released back in March 2010. Don’t bother! Not worth getting it if it were free IMO.
I found the program to be not very unusable. First big problem is that the program's window is so tiny. I was using a 24" monitor at 1920 x 1200 resolution at the time, but the program window is sized at 890 x 650 pixels and cannot be changed according to support. They told me to change my resolution to 800 x 600. Yeah - sure. Also I found I couldn't paste text into the database fields and a host of other issues. It is very poorly build, Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V doesn’t work for copy/paste; you have to go up to the main menu for the edit functions. A lot of little frustrating non-features like this made the program extremely annoying to try to use. Oh - and you also get a handful of "free" non-authorized PDF ebooks exposing a lot of other folks' magic. And you get "David Blaine Magic" which is supposed to be an ebook but comes down as an .exe file - and you get a surprise virus with it! (OK, actually a Trojan.ADH file included - at no extra cost!) Overall this was probably the worst piece of software I installed in many years. Fortunately I got it at an introductory low price, so the lesson wasn’t that expensive, other than the time and frustration trying to work with it. I didn't try for very long! Again, my recommendation is to bypass this one and don’t look back! Jim |
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Vlad_77 Inner circle The Netherlands 5829 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-07-06 06:15, Claudio wrote: Hi Claudio, It is precisely the outlandish nature of the ad copy that has drawn fire from others as well as I. I have no qualms about using a piece of software to catalog routines and organize effects. In this instance, a priori does not apply because it is quite clear that this - or ANY software - can make anybody a better performer nor improve one's performance of effects, routines, etc. Only the PERFORMER can do that. Namaste, Vlad |
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KyleMacNeill Inner circle 2757 Posts |
Quote:
It does not help me to write any better scripts or being a better magician, but I believe that it has its place. The application runs on my tablet and I can always update a script or add an idea to a trick when it comes to me. Basically it replaces pen and paper and adds some computerised facilities. That was the only reason I found it interesting - Something where I can catalog routines, tricks, sources e.t.c into one neat piece of software was appealing. However, it sounds pretty dodgy. Of course I do not believe in any of the better magician stuff, nor did I even see it. |
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J-Mac Inner circle Ridley Park, PA 5338 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-07-07 04:33, Vlad_77 wrote: Hi Vlad. Long time, no see! I wrote that post above yours describing what I thought of the Magic Show Builder software. I just want to clarify that when I purchased it there wasn’t much there about "becoming a better magician" or any of that garbage. It was mostly pushed as a cataloging program. Like most I'm sure, I have a lot of magic props, accessories, and supplies. Probably way too much considering what I do! I have also accumulated a heck of a lot of books, magazines, articles, DVDs, videos, and ebooks. Most routines that I have decided to use I had to customize to match my skills as well as my personality and audiences. I do like to script my magic routines but not necessarily by writing out all the patter; instead I find that I do pretty well with patter once I have established exactly how I will perform it and after analyzing the folks for whom I will be performing it. One particular hard spot is watching an effect or routine that is only on a video or DVD, with no written material. I hate trying to learn purely from a video! I mean, I'll be a third of the way through the motions the first time I try/practice it and I realize I'm not certain if I have the order of a few counts or something correct, so back to the DVD, try to FF through the magician talking a blue streak about why he like a particular brand of glue stick or other inane topic, till I find the part that needs clarifying. And 20 minutes later I'm usually back again, cursing like mad by then. (I really do love written material!) So I almost always take fairly detailed notes while watching a teaching video or DVD and then I re-write it, to make it legible, and I put it in outline format. Makes it easier for me to refer to it when learning and practicing it. By now I probably have a few hundred sets of notes, outlines, etc., and some are in OneNote, some in Word, many are still handwritten - on a multitude of slips of paper! With all that, plus my inventory of purchased props, supplies, etc., DVDs, ebooks... I have a lot of information! My inventory is in Excel 2010; my videos and ebooks are also in Excel - different spreadsheets; my books and DVDs are in programs designed for book and DVD collections: BookCAT and CATVids by FNProgrammware. (And used to be in two other collection DA programs that I've since dropped). Whew! If anyone is still with me here, my thinking in purchasing Magic Show Builder was that I could combine all of those various notes, lists, spreadsheets, and databases into this one database program that supposedly would keep it all together, and in a way where I could review it all and take "one from column A, and one from column B", etc. and basically build the framework for an upcoming act/show I was planning. Sounded nice! Just create a new "act", pull together all the various aspects and needed materials within the same database, and use it to plan out what I would do, how long it would take... Let's face it: when we're weary this kinda crap seems great! And it actually wouldn’t have been too bad if I could have imported all the various data I already had in spreadsheets and databases into the program instead of manually entering every single character - again. But the interface totally sucks; no import capabilities; not even copy/paste functionality except in the script pane. Everything else would have had to been entered manually. In a tiny little window less than 20% of my screen space! My intentions were never to be a better magician or be able to sell myself... just to organize my stuff better. Believe me, this thing won't do that for you! Thanks for "listening, if anyone's still with me here. Jim |
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KyleMacNeill Inner circle 2757 Posts |
Quote:
On 2012-07-07 15:20, J-Mac wrote: That is essentially why I was interested - to organize my stuff better. Ashame it doesn't do that very well. :/ Thanks for the info. Kyle |
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