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MagicbyCarlo Inner circle has squandered his time making 1062 Posts |
Wow, Devin, this forum can be a tough and critical place! I do however enjoy reading the detractor's reviews simply because I have purchased things that were touted as great and been disappointed. I think that the desire to drive sales, often gives buyers an unrealistic view of the product, and when you have an unrealistic view of a product you are bound to be disappointed. This isn't only true in magic but is also true of non-magic goods.
I freely admit the I often have a compulsion to buy the new and improved effects and then find myself, with a few exceptions, generally returning to my old standards at the end of the day. A magic effect is only as good as the entertainer that uses it. Anyone who simply relies on the trick to do the work and make the reputation is headed for disappointment. I am certain that your effect is a wonderful piece of magic in the right hands but, unfortunately, you really can't pick your customers.
Carlo DeBlasio
<BR>Entertainment specialist <BR>and all around fun guy! |
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slydini62 Special user 939 Posts |
Devin
Thanks for your response and detailed explanation...It does make sense when you explain it like you did! I appreciate the logical answers and your reasoning is very logical and proper in nature! Thanks again! Sly |
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rowdymagi5 Inner circle Virginia 3616 Posts |
Im a very mechanical person myself, and I have several Trouble Lights in my Garage. I went out this morning and looked and I actually have two that look identical to the picture of Light-Tration in the Hocus-Pocus ad! The others were yellow in color.
Also it does make a lot of sense to use a lower wattage bulb (in reasoning to the audience). First the higher wattage bulbs are very sensitive to shock and any mechanic knows they don't last long. Also, under extensive use, they get hot and can melt the housing. Of course you can buy the much higher priced "heavy duty" bulbs, but most mechanics I know go with 60 watt bulbs. It would be so easy to explain away why a low wattage (20 watt??) bulb is being used. Longevity and so no-one gets burned by accidently coming in contact with the bulb. I don't have this item, but it does look promising! |
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Devin Knight V.I.P. 2493 Posts |
Rowdy, those are excellent points. I believe that is why most of the lamps today are made of plastic. The bulb will give off heat and I recall in experimenting that the metal trouble light really got hot.
But as mentioned before you don't have to explain away these things because the audience doesn't ask anyhow. I appreciate you verifying the point I made earlier that plastic is the norm for these lights nowadays. The fact you have several in your garage proves that. I don't think anyone in the audience is going to think you have a cheap prop or a cheesy looking lamp. Instead what they see you using is exactly what they probably have in their garage. I think this will HELP SELL THE TRICK to the public. Your using the exact same thing they have in their garage, NOT A MAGIC PROP. IN fact the more I think about it a metal trouble light MIGHT LOOK more like a magic prop than the plain plastic one. People don't question the familar and when they see the orange or yellow trouble light...well it's the same thing they bought in Walmart, so how in the world did he make that go thru his body??? It's the same reason why everyone is trying to make trick cards out of Bicycle cards. Everyone basically has these cards in their home and can relate to them. The same with the plastic trouble light...it IS THE SAME light they have in their garage or basement so NO suspicion is cast upon it. It looks the same, heck why do they even need to examine it...like I said before what we are familar with will cast no suspicion. You are also CORRECT about mechanics using the lower watt bulbs. I forgot to mention that one myself. I guess that is why nobody ever questions the brightness of the bulb...because they know most people don't put a real bright light in them. Good points and thanks for your comments. |
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Devin Knight V.I.P. 2493 Posts |
FACTS I didn't know till today.
After reading Rowdy's post I decided to go to local garages and see what they were using. I found most ALL OF THEM were using the plastic trouble lights. I also wanted to find out the normal wattage of the bulbs they used. Here is what I found out from professional mechanics. 1-Metal Trouble lights have almost been discontinued. The ones you see in stores are older models. (although they still make a few of them, that is why I had a hard time finding lots of metal ones) REASON: Safety factor. Metal trouble lights can cause shocks and even possibly death. The reason being that metal if it gets wet carrys the electrical current and can cause shocks. If the metal lamp falls into a puddle of water or even anti-freeze it can cause a shock (and has done so in the past) For this reason and to avoid lawsuits companies started making them out of plastic and this is the norm nowadays. 2-Metal Trouble lights wouldn't absorb shock. If you drop the light (even though it was metal) the light bulb would probably shatter. This also applies on stage if using a metal light and the person were to drop it on stage, odds are the metal which doesn't bounce or absorb shock would probably cause the light bulb to break. If you drop the plastic ones, they absorb the shock and even have some bounce so the bulb doesn't break. Another major reason the companies went to plastic. 3-Metal lights absorbed the heat from the light bulbs and got VERY HOT at times and could cause burns if you bumped into them. 4-They are done in bright yellow and orange plastics so they show up on the floor when the light isn't on to prevent tripping over them. So bottom line, there are no cheap cheesy Trouble Lights, they are being made this one because they are designed for safety and this is what everyone is used to seeing. Nobody in your audience is likely to think, my what a cheap looking trouble light because this is the way they are basically all being made today. THE ISSUE OF BRIGHTNESS: I talked with several car mechanics and they showed me the lights they were using and they all had 40 Watt bulbs. The reasons they gave. Unit wasn't designed for over a 60 watt bulb, but they didn't use them anyhow as it gave off too much heat, and if on long enough could melt/fuse the plastic. Also heat factor, working under a car with the light throws off heat. They want something low wattage so the heat of the light doesn't make them uncomfortable. FINALLY GLARE--too bright a light creates a glare and makes it hard to work or see by. Therefore mechanics use low wattage bulbs. So what has this got to do with everything? WEll I said nobody has every questioned the trouble light nor how bright the bulb is. Now you know the reasons why. What they see on stage is what they expect to see. If it were any different it might look suspicious. Bottom Line: Plastic Trouble Light and Low Wattage bulbs. That is what the professional car mechanics use and by golly that is what my trick uses. I only mention this to hopefully put to an end any future comments about "I wish the light were brighter" or why did you make this out of plastic? Well know you know; and you know the audiences will accept it for what it is. |
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Devin Knight V.I.P. 2493 Posts |
I had a few people PM and ask about the special custom metal lights. Well Hocus-Pocus will have them in a LIMITED quanity as it's hard to find a lot metal lamps since they are being generally discontinued.
Hocus Pocus will have available the DELUXE METAL LIGHT-TRATION. The differences are the deluxe model has a 15FT electrical cord while the regular version has an 8ft cord. If you are waiting to make a show piece of this, the 15 ft cord will make for a bigger display and put the spectators further away from you to give you more room to do the WORK if you know what I mean. The trouble light itself is a nice metal one. Although as previously mentioned, plastic is the norm. However some magician's feel they want a nice metal one so it looks classier on stage. So be it. One slight advantage the metal has over the plastic model is that due to the reflective quality of metal the light does appear a bit brighter than the plastic models (although as previously discussed brightness isn't an issue.) Murphy's will not be distributing the Metal version due to limited availability of parts. |
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Devin Knight V.I.P. 2493 Posts |
Hocus-Pocus now has the new deluxe on their web site. Look at how bright the light appears now with the chrome finish.
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Curtis Kam V.I.P. same as you, plus 3 and enough to make 3498 Posts |
Devin,
I know we don't need to hear anything more about the brightness factor, but I thought I should mention that if you're lucky enough to be working on a theater stage when you pull this out, the implication will be that this is one of those stage lights they use off in the wings. These are always low voltage, and usually covered with a dark gel, so that they can be turned on during the performance. It's not often we get to do "impromptu" stage magic. Great idea!
Is THAT a PALMS OF STEEL 5 Banner I see? YARRRRGH! Please visit The Magic Bakery
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Devin Knight V.I.P. 2493 Posts |
I LOVE IT, great way to introduce this. Might even have a real stage hand apparently bring out one of their work lights. Thanks for mentioning this. I appreciate everyone's support of this effect. The trick has become one of the best sellers in magic and I can barely keep up with the demand. It has almost become an instant classic. Thanks again guys I really appreciate your support on this. Special thanks to Paul Gross at HP for helping keep this in the public's eye.
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magicinsight Inner circle 4293 Posts |
I recently received this (the regular, plastic version) and it is a terrific effect. It is extremely lightweight, practical, relatively easy to do and very well made. the illusion of the penetration is perfect. The performer should use two funkenrings to add to the illusion. I highly recommend it.
Best regards, Michael
“Belief matters more than truth. Every moment, belief in imaginary things alters lives while truth sits unnoticed and waits.”
—Hakim, Loreweaver |
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magic559 New user 72 Posts |
Devin, do you have any thoughts on performing this and then using it as the same light in a shadow box/girl from light type illusion? Would it hold up?
Just brainstorming using this to flow from a talking piece smoothly into a music piece. |
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Devin Knight V.I.P. 2493 Posts |
I'm not sure if the light would be bright enough even with the chrome version to cast the proper shadow. Since I don't have a shadow box on hand to experiment with I can't give an accurate answer.
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Devin Knight V.I.P. 2493 Posts |
Else where on this forum a NEW USER has said that John Moyer the person we bought the rights from to manufacuture this trick was not credited. Such is not the case and this is a copy of my post elsewhere showing that John has been giving full credit:
Paul Gross or anyone can attest full credit has been given. ON the front page of every page of directions we give John Credit. Anyone with the directions can read on the front page: Credit for the original idea goes to professional magician John Moyer. We obtained rights; and commissioned builder Devin Knight to design and manufacture them. ON THE LABEL OF THE boxes we put John's name, those who have the boxes have seen this. John's original name for the trick was Walking thru a Light Cord. After we obtained the rights to the trick, we redesigned it and directions. I came up with new handlings and routine along with patter ideas and the trick was given a better name LIGHT-TRATION ON the hocus pocus web site it says in the first paragraph that John Moyer and Devin Knight have teamed up. I told Paul Gross on Day 1, JOHN had to be included in the ad and share in the credit. Hence again John is included. He came up with the idea and I added my design and improvements. Full credit has been given to John. Also you notice in almost every ad you see on a dealer site it mentions JOHN MOYER S Name, and the fact he has used this in show. We have given JOHN full credit everywhere possible and he has sold us the rights. Mr Copperfiled need to verify his facts before he comes into a public forum saying John Moyer hasn't been credit. Such just isn't the case. I am referring to above post I am not going to REVIEW something I manufacture, since Mr. Copperfield has publicily posted John sold rights to Douglas Tilford (which everyone on the Café know's I'm part of the Tilford Company)After manufacturing an intial run for Tilford I then purchased the Mfg rights from Tilford. Tilford himself posted on the Café that he sold me the MANUFACTURING Rights which I now legally own. Again my thanks to John Moyer for the original idea which he has so graceously allowed us to manufacture and to improve up on. No more need be said as in the advertising and labels we have included John's name. Plus the directions give him full credit for the original idea. We have only expanded on his idea which we legally obtained rights for. Devin Knight |
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