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Rick Fisher Elite user Rick Fisher 471 Posts |
Dealers are finding it a very expensive proposition to display at conventions. By the time you take in consideration the hotel room,food,travel plus the dealer table and registration fees - you have to sell quite a bit just to break even. Granted getting your name and products in front of the customer is a top priority but from a financial stand point it can be difficult. I think that is why you don't see some of the dealers at certain conventions - logistics and finances. Unfortunately politics also play into some conventions and that is unfortunate. It simply isn't worth the money or headaches to play 'politics'. The money spent on convention dealing can be used for direct mail or magazine ads and appeal to a larger amount of prospects. Some dealers do very well at magic conventions but most do not and with all of the regional and major gatherings it makes it difficult to choose which one is more profitable and as dealers we have to look at the numbers conventions pull in and see whether or not it is worthwhile to bring a display. It is a tough call in most cases.
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Michael Dustman Inner circle Columbus, Ohio 1220 Posts |
I have to agree with Big Daddy on a couple of his points and disagree on a couple.
Michael Finney's lecture was probably one of the big highlights for me. The inside of the business is more meaningful to me than learning new tricks. (He did 90 minutes without teaching a single trick). I thought the same last year when Rich Bloch did 45 minutes on how to take the stage and approach a microphone, and then a few people started getting testy because they wanted to learn tricks. (Especially the naieve who thought Rich would tip his card on forehead prediction). Idiots. Farah Segal was also a delight to watch. I was standing 5 feet from her as we teched the headliner show during her rehearsal. As Kline was working on a light cue, she started zinging yo-yo's past my head, to the point I didn't move an inch. She has amazing control. However, like Big Daddy, I don't do many conventions. Magi-Fest and a couple of IBM's. But I disagree that the IBM in Reno was a bad dealer room. It may have been one of the best in my opinion. Same for 2004 in Cleveland. These are the dealers people want to see, and usually order from because they not only have new stuff, but they can also demo it like noone's business. (Even the annoying ones like Yigal Mesika and his buddy). I understand what Rick is saying that the costs associated with dealing may drive some away, but I don't think that is the problem with Magi-Fest. If you took an honest look at 75% of the dealers there, they bring the same stuff each year, same exact stuff that was on their table a year ago that noone bought, and they don't demo it. So even though they don't sell a lot, those ones keep coming back. John said he found something in Hank's Clearance box. That may be the first thing sold out of that box in 5 years. The reason why Mark Mason is usually the darling of the dealers room is because he has new stuff every year and is tireless in demonstrating. As I said before, I miss the days when Collectors and Al Cohen shared a room at Magi-Fest. By God, those guys knew how to deal and demo. At Reno and Cleveland IBM, John Rogers made good money because he demonstrated his cigar routine. Add the fact that Carney was lecturing on Cigars to purse, and John Rogers made great money that weekend selling wooden cigars. Dean Dill had non-stop traffic at his booth. Not only were people clamoring to buy his coin routines, but also bought the coins as well from Jamie Schoolcraft. Chance Wolf has to make a huge run of his products because he knows he will sell out at the convention. There is no way the old guard dealers that bring the same stuff every year are breaking even at Magi-Fest. In fact, I have to be convinced they put all the stuff in a box marked Magi-Fest and take it back home and the next year, bring that same box with no new stuff added to it. |
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jkesler Loyal user 246 Posts |
As good as MagiFest may have been...I can't wait till Aug when I head up to Colon...what a great time!!! Lots of great events going on in town...I heard that there were lots of people attending Magifest that did register...This is not a problem in Colon head over to FAB and attend one of their many lectures(Free..cant get any better)...
Best Wishes, James |
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magicelam Veteran user Tennessee 368 Posts |
While I wasn't there, I did want to make a few comments...
I've corresponded with both Aldo and Jamy in e-mail about random stuff (granted this has been a year or two ago) but neither was ever a jerk to me. Maybe you can't pass that stuff along in e-mail, but I've also met Aldo, and he was very nice... he actually introduced me and a friend to Ayala or however you spell it. Also, I don't really think BDC is like Oscar Munoz. Don't get my wrong, I like Oscar, but BDC does his own thing, and he does it well. Just my thoughts.
Mike
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ragtop86 New user 1 Post |
Looked at this site a few times in the past and decided to register. I was at the magi-fest in 1980 and then a few weeks ago. Hay, every 27 years! Hope I last another 27 years! I thought that Ed Ellis was a personable guy. I didn't go to his lecture though. Did anyone buy his DVD? How was it? I want to spend my money on the right stuff. I did some selling (non magic) at convention type events and always made some pretty good money at it. Printed ads, radio and TV cost a lot more than a convention (as long as people are buying).
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