Let's do some more math.

0 performances at 0 dollars per performance = 0 dollars.

The price of experience and authority - 0 dollars.

By the way, I heard the book is going to go for $1000.00. Apparently not enough books are selling and Richard and Neal both have yacht payments due. So, consider this fair warning. Start saving so you can pony up the cash when this finally gets released. Better yet, buy multiple copies. Neal gave me an open invitation for a visit on his yacht next summer and I'm hoping he can afford a private chef by then.

Dan, I will be happy to be the private chef on Neal's yacht. Iain is pretty handy in the kitchen too.... (Just don't ask him to put a fried egg on a steak salad!)

Davit, your calculations are way off.... and given that you didn't respond to any of the questions I put to you, outside of the 'earnings/cost' aspect, I am starting to think that this isn't a simple case of "Fighting the good fight".

It seems as though you serve only to bring down Scryer... as, since being 'back', 19 of your 24 posts are here. I can think of 5 or 6 different products/threads that 'could' be accused of hype... yet, your name is no where to be found on those. So, why Scryer?

For the record... I still enjoy reading your posts, and yes, every market place needs 'enquiring minds' that are willing to go in and get a bit dirty for the greater good... but, seriously man, why do you seem so hell bent?
This is not a loaded question, mate. I honestly would like to know.... as, when it comes to getting on LuLu to do the calculations of who is earning what, from which book, you are starting to look a bit obsessive... targeted, and calculated.... which overshadows the true nature of what you supposedly stand for.

And who cares about maths ?

Did anyone bash Corinda,Banachek,Max Maven,etc... for his publications and how much he gain ?
If anyone is thinking that any author (especially in Mentalism) will become rich, it´s far way off.

I am very happy to wait this book and for that reason I open the thread, to share the enthusiasm.
Hopefully we can start to get back on topic.



Best

Wow, stumbled on this thread and am reminded why I don't bother coming to the Café much anymore, especially the Mentalism forum. Major Dickness going on here as well as dicks in sock puppets. Hey I call em like I see em. And anyone who thinks 5 or 10 grand is big money is obviously inexperienced at life and has no substance in the art.

I'm not bashing anyone for getting rich. I'm just contesting the ridiculous claim that these books barely cover costs. Pablo - your own actions on this forum are testament to the fact that monetary compensation is a significant factor in some individuals decision to publish.

Lostpoet, I don't really understand your post. Where are you getting the $40 figure from? Anyway, you seem to be trying to deduct all sorts of things from the total that I don't believe are relevant. I think the cost of "layout" is minimal -> nil, same for cover design - people proofread and do cover designs for free on here all the time. Richard is a professional as you say - I'm sure his years of publishing experience make it easy for him to set-up suitable text styles and some left/right page gutters for printing. It not rocket science. I doubt Doug is taking much in distribution costs. Bearing this in mind, it still seems like a good 80% of the cover price is money in the bank. I of course don't have the sales figures in front of me. But many mentalism products sell over 100 copies. Many of Jerome's more specialist and more expensive ebooks have sold well - so well that he's decided to sell more copies much to the discontent of owners of the limited edition. Numbers wise, I'm just going on what has been hinted here specifically about previous Scryer publications and my the performance of other sales figures I'm privy to. Plenty of less prominent books have sold well over 100 copies. Someone going to stand up and tell me White book didn't sell more than 250 copies?? I'd be really amazed.

None of this matters though - its not a dig as Scryer or Webster. Its just when a Scryer fan makes them out this book will only break-even - I can't let it slide. If you don't want this sort of dissenting voice, don't say silly things and we can get back to talking about the contents of the book (when it is released that is.)

80% of cover price is not money in the bank. For starters you have to deduct 50% of cover price just to the wholesaler (in this case Steven's Magic). Then there are contributors copies (with shipping), Richard's cut, and Neal's cut. When you actually get some experience in the publishing world you will find there are many little dings that add up in a hurry...some have been listed here. There are many more.

You clearly have no idea how small the magic market is. The mentalism market, a subset of the magic market, is even smaller. This book on readings has an even smaller market, a subset of the mentalism group.

Some of your points are quite valid for ebooks, however. The right combination of price, product, and presentation can produce money like you talk about. Physical books have a lot of costs that ebooks just do not have. Still, most ebooks only sell a few copies. That is another thread.

Content...I would be lying if I didn't say I am excited about what I have heard. It appears many here know far more than I, but I do like what I have heard. I don't ask Neal what is in the book, though he mentions things. I just lose track of what information has been released and what hasn't so I can't go in to too many details.

Among other things, though, I am quite interested to see how the tattoo readings play out. In my pitching days I played a lot of joints where tattoos were plentiful. Some of these groups were of the intellectually curious type...perfect for this kind of reading.

We will learn more as the book starts to come together. The ingredients are there. Now it is mix and bake.

There you are wrong - my figures are in-line by those quoted by Maxwell Murphy who knows more about the magic industry than most. Since the time of writing, the popularity of mentalism has only grown. I would be willing to bet for instance that Doug Dyment has sold more than 100 copies of his own books listed on his website. As for costs - a physical book differs from an ebook in that it needs to be printed and posted. Those are the only significant differences.

I think we'll have to agree to differ.

The ability to give a reading sets you apart from the herd. If you just wrapped up a 30 min kid show with all kinds of bright silly props and end up giving the mom a palm reading on the way out...that wipes away the kid show magician tag and turns you into something real...a psychic.

Last year at the haunt we worked at, we started doing quick readings on some nights for the stragglers that showed up in between shows. Once we did one person, they came back with others. Some even came back the following week with more in tow. ("Hi, are you the one that does palm readings?")

This year, people from last year still sought us out for new readings. I usually do palm readings. Colleen does palm and pig readings.

Readings are a good way to secure gigs too. Tell a client or a booker something about themselves and as long as it hits a nerve with them and doesn't sound like total BS, you are deemed the real deal. Those that do readings know that a quick reading for someone can be the key that gets you the gig. Others know that whether times are good or bad....you won't starve if you can do a long reading.

Everyone wants to hear about themselves.

This book seems like it will give you a number of different oracles/methods for readings. If you don't do readings now and get one that you can do out of this, it's money well spent.

If you already do readings and this helps pad your knowledge base, then it's also money well spent as well.

If you already do readings, feel you don't really need to know any more than you do now because what you know is enough to put food on the table, save your money and go see a movie. Just don't waste your money on Silent Hill 2. It was good visually but the plot line was weak.

Well if Scryer's book will be the same price as a movie ticket I would tell you to get two!

What the others are saying about readings is totally correct. They represent the direction in which the art is going It does pay to be into readings nowadays. I suspect this book will be helpful to novice and experienced readers alike. For the most part, the hype is already preaching to the choir. We will likely buy it to glean whatever we can that will behelpful going forward. Some of it will be helpful, some won't. There will be varying degrees of satisfaction among aspiring readers and those deeming themselves as already aspired. So let's wait, enjoy and hopefully expand our horizons with this compendium of reading styles, the first of its kind I believe. And again, as others before me have said, if you are not interested in reading, don't buy it and don't commrnt on it either. This book is not for mentalists, as much as I love them and am one myself. It is for those who are now readers and those who aspire to be readers going forward, In that context, I believe it will be an important and successful publication.

On the "Contents Only" Scryer thread, Seadog93 posted a question about the price of the Band of Readers book. I thought it more appropriate to respond here, since, strictly speaking, the question didn't deal with the substance of the book. Neal tells me that, because of several very good, last-minute submissions, they've held up printing for about two more weeks; as a result, the price has not yet been determined, but will indeed be announced before publication. I hope this helps.

Thanks

Although I am not a member of either (at least not yet), I understand that there is a private Scryer room on both the Magic Pub and the MP. Can anyone confirm?

Yes, Scryer does have a private room at the Pub, has shared some good advice too.

Thanks, lostpoet. I appreciate your reply.

Last I knew the Pub has been closed. Very sad if it is closed for good.

The pub still open and Scryer goes there sometimes.

Hey guys just got this from Stevens.

Scryer's Band of Readers will be a hard back book with 400 plus pages.
And the price is set at an unbelieveable $199.00.

I hope this helps for anyone curious about the price.

I have a feeling that this is his Final Book and priced as a Thank You and Farewell.

With Respect
DM

Am very much looking forward to the finished product. Somehow, Darrell, I don't think this will be Neal's final book. The guy is a literally a goldmine of ideas which keep flowing through him like a roiling river. It's as though the Universal Creative Mind uses him as a conduit to express itself. Those of you who know Neal recognize what I'm saying.

Sam you may be right. And your definitely right about him being a conduit to the Universe. If it is his final farewell book. He will greatly be missed.