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iugefu Veteran user 387 Posts |
Colour Vision and Number Vision are 2 effects I have been pitching at our local flea market. I have a Board, which states " Test your psychic abilities"( Entertainment only)
I then ask onlookers whether they have a greater affinity for colours or numbers. They select one, I divine the colour or number and a sale usually follows. Has anyone else pitched these items? |
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DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
NO !
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
Can't say that I have, I never went for the mentalism stuff; I pitch Svengali Decks, Magic Worms and Money Paddles.
But the price is certainly right for a pitch item, and you have an interesting angle to attract business. BTW, somewhere on the Café' there was a suggestion which eliminates the need to reset the Color Vision box prior to revealing the "divined" color. It's a bold but effective move using a slight flip of the wrist, almost like an Okito Box reveal. PM me if you need more info. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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iugefu Veteran user 387 Posts |
There is basically a single worthwhile fleamarket in our area, and there is a bloke doing a( albeit poor)svengali pitch. But as he was there before me, Ive decided to respect that, and have been forced as it were to look at other items.
May I recommend Empire Magic( no 6 in the range)?..............contains 4 tricks which I like and can be demoed in a flash..........includes said Colour Vision, professors nightmare, drawer box, and Wonder Rope. Best pricing it would appear from Loftus at $2,50. Professional packaging with good instructions. |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
PM'd you on the Color Vision move.
You might also want to take a look at a Money Paddle or the Magic Worms (Squirmles/Fuzzles). In my experience, both tricks are good pitch items. And consider looking beyond flea markets for street festivals, municipal fairs, holiday bazaars, even craft shows. These are all excellent places to pitch magic tricks, and ordinarily you will have zero competition. The table fees are often a little higher, but there's usually a lot more traffic, the people are in a spending mood, and they don't haggle over the prices like they might at a flea. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Colour Vision, professors nightmare, drawer box, and Wonder Rope look and are boring to layman,let alone that professors nightmare is way too hard for them to learn.
You can sell 100 magic items at a flea market if you like.You can Demo them all.If you go this route you aren't a pitchman.You'll a magic shop owner in a flea market. I promise pitching only the Svengali deck you would make way more money than having a magic shop in a flea market.You can have a package deal with maybe 3 items and still be a pitchman.But why pitch magic that won't bring in the money the Svengali deck and worm bring in ? If you have a guilty feeling that someone else was there before you(that dosen't know what hes doing no less)pitching the Svengali deck that's another sign you aren't a pitchman.I would go pitch the deck,blow the other guy ouy of business and sleep good at night.Thats one reason I'm a pitchman. If some dealer is selling T-Shirts do all the other T-shirt dealers not set up? What about sun glasses. etc.etc.etc. Anyway It wasn't meant to be as "unfriendly" I'm sorry you took it that way. All the best, Don |
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iugefu Veteran user 387 Posts |
Thanks Don, and I acknowledge you as King of the Pitch.
As for blowing the other guy away.........Ive given it thought but the bloke is well meaning , so Ive taken to try and help him. THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT, BY MARK LEWIS is now in his possession. Apart from that I would describe him as a Historically Disadvanted Individual who defenitely did not have the opportunities in life which I have enjoyed. So I sleep better this way. Success my friends is all relative.......how can I complain when I go to the market on a Saturday morning, have fun and net at least $200 for 4 hours work ( its not work, its fun actually) |
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DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-11-24 22:51, iugefu wrote: That's is a different story all together.Good for you! I keep forgeting most guys aren't out there to pay the rent and live on pitching money.I'm guessing you have other income. If you're having fun,making some money every weekend and helping someone else that that's all one can ask for...have at it my friend.I stand corrected. Later,Don P.S. "The long and Short of It" by Mark Lewis is a great book on a Svengali routine.(It has nothing to do with the Svengali pitch and Mark will be the first to tell you). Don |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
It's also possible (but unlikely) that the other Svengali pitchman has an exclusive for that flea market.
But as I said before, there are other places to pitch that will probably make you more money anyway. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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iugefu Veteran user 387 Posts |
Don, I wish to comment on your statement that" Colour Vision, professors nightmare, drswerbox and Wonder Rope look and are boring to laymen, let alone that professors nightmare is way too difficult for them to learn". With respect I disagree. In fact Id make the following statement:
If Daryl, the magicians magician, ( just as an example) performed these 4 effects, Id put money on the fact that he would be more ENTERTAINING than the majority of performers who could hypothetically select any material. "Its not what you do it's the way that you do it" I would also imagine that 95% of Svengalis sold end up at the bottom of a drawer, and that the owners thereof can't even do the effect (badly.) |
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Cholly, by golly! Loyal user 251 Posts |
Not to speak out of turn but I think you're missing the point.
There's a big difference between being a magic pitchman and opening a magic shop. 1. Pitchmen sell exclusively to laymen. 2. Pitchmen aren't concerned with nurturing young magicians. 3. A pitchman isn't interested in building a long-term relationship with any of his customers. 4. While a pitchman may be entertaining, his ONLY objective is to GTFM. 5. Pitchmen only sell a few select items. Less items = more focus = a more effective pitch. 6. Pitch items have to follow a certain criteria. Items should be small, inexpensive, look miraculous, and appear to be easy to do. It's all about triggering the impulse buy. A pitchman doesn't sell an item, he sells the fantasy of what the item will do for the customer. 7. Pitchmen WANT pitch items to wind up in the bottom of sock drawers. This will mean more sales down the road... possibly even to the same person. Pitching requires a certain mindset. Pragmatism is the name of the game... cynicism is often the end result. This is the one thing you can't learn from a book or video. You just have to get out there and do it. Now... GTFM! |
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DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Cholly, by golly!
VERY WELL SAID ! I see you GET IT ! Most don't get it.(and never will get it)Whats so hard to understand about...GTFM. iugefu What you're doing is great for you,keep at it.It has NOTHING to do with pitching or being a pitchman. Don |
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iugefu Veteran user 387 Posts |
Well sorry chaps but I disagree.
Yes, I sell exclusively to laymen. To say that makes us uninterested in nurturing young magicians........hogwash, exact oppsite is true. I am defenitely interested in building long term relationships....... they come back for more as change effects quite regularly. As pitchman I'm of course interested in a sale.......at the same time Im satisfied that none of these items could be described as fantasy crap....with the requisite bit of practise they are entertaining little tricks. Its true that it helps ( the margins)if the items are small and inexpensive, but that doesn't mean the magic is rubbish or doesn't work as demonstrated. And performing these little items well is no more of a fantasy than doing effects with expensive apparatus well. What I object to is the rubbish that is found in most magic sets. BUT OF COURSE I CONCEDE THAT I AM NOT A PITCHMAN BUT RATHER A WEEKLY LITTLE MAGIC SHOP OWNER AT THE FLEA MARKET.............. and happy with that. |
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DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Iugefu,
Cholly, by golly NEVER said magic shop owners (and that's what you said at the bottom of your post,you said quote:"I concede that I'm not a pitchman but a weekly little magic shop owner")makes you uninterested in nurturing young magicians. Cholly, by golly,said: "Pitchmen aren't concerned with nurturing young magicians"PITCHMAN...read that again Pitchmen!So since you agree you aren't a pitchman than Cholly, by golly wasn't talking about you.Now was he ? Than I said what you're doing is great but it dosen't make you a pitchman. Do you understand it now ? Don |
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iugefu Veteran user 387 Posts |
Here is a question
What percentage of Svengali deck purchasers do you think end up doing what may be called a reasonable rendition of the effect? |
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DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-11-28 22:11, iugefu wrote: I would guess that out of 100 decks I sell 99 wind up in the landfill in less than a month.But like I said that's just a guess. Than on the other side of the scale Mike Rogers and Channing Pollock both started their magic careers from buying a Svengali deck from a fast talking pitchman.I'm sure lots of hobbiest in magic started by buying a Svengali deck at the fair one summer day.(maybe even from me) Don |
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Cholly, by golly! Loyal user 251 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-11-28 22:11, iugefu wrote: How many people can actually show the cards as all the same? Probably around 30%. That's good news if you're a pitchman. Not so good if you're trying to build up repeat business for your magic shop. |
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Jon-O the Great Elite user 493 Posts |
If they follow Don's DVD, 100% show them all the same but confuse the people as to WHY they are. After I show them, MOST people still ask, "How'd you make 'em.....?" I never tell 'em.
Some people say, "Lemme see those cards." and reach for 'em. "Sorry..buy 'em THEN look at 'em." If they buy 'em and come back later, wanting instructions..."$10 for the cards, $20 for instructions..." ONLY if I'm not busy will I take the time to straighten out their cards. I NEVER show the DL. "Just read the instructions...you'll get it...." I think that showing them all the same not only dazzles 'em but MAKES the people WANT to buy 'em. And "revealing" the "secret" (according to Don's method) only confuses them more. Jon |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
Quote:
On 2008-11-28 06:18, Cholly, by golly! wrote: There's a big difference between being a magic pitchman and opening a magic shop . . . . By and large I agree with Cholly, but wanted to throw out these additional thoughts: I do work some of the same shows and spots every year, and I do have kids that come back and either buy the same thing again because they broke it or lost it, or buy a diffferent trick. Also, I deal with many of the same show operators from year to year, and they need to know that I don't generate complaints or cause problems. For all of these reasons, I do try to keep any beefs to a minimum, and to resolve them ASAP. For the $5 I might make, it is not worth the bad word of mouth or complaint to the sponsor. And in fact, I have had VERY few complaints over the three years I've been pitching -- maybe half a dozen in total. But I HAVE received plenty of compliments from buyers and show organizers about how unusual the booth was, how neat the tricks were, and what a good draw and an asset the booth was to the show. I have also been invited back to the same shows numerous times, and approached to be at other shows, too. So in my mind it pays to mind your manners and deliver on your promises. As far as stuff ending up in the sock drawer, that's not my problem or my responsibility. The Svengali Deck is a time-honored gaffed deck, capable of doing some very neat things, and in fact, it's often used by professional magicians to force a card (Card Ducks, anyone?). If a buyer isn't willing to spend the minimal time needed to master the deck, that's hardly my fault! And as others on the Café know, there are plenty of magicians (me included) with plenty of magical crap in a sock drawer, so it's not an uncommon thing!! SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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iugefu Veteran user 387 Posts |
This is NOT a debate of the merits of pitching Svengalis versus other magic items.
As Ive explained, there is only a single ( smallish) suitable craft/flea market in our area, and there is/was a bloke pitching Svengali's.( before me) Talk of building a crowd with colourful items, wearing a mic etc just doesn't apply here...they come dribbling past. The next suitable market is a 100 mile round trip away. That is why I started looking at other items, and that is just the way it is. But Im happy to defend the items that I do sell. The weather can be a great leveller however as a solid downpour this morning send all the traders scattering for cover........ |
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