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Bencissimo New user 6 Posts |
Hi,
I'm relatively new to magic (4 years of practice), and recently I've been "educated" by a fellow magician (I'm not saying names) who has been doing magic for more than 30 years. He had a so called "seminar" during his latest magic convention, but it turned out to be a dealer show (where he explained the working mechanism of his own inventions, which can't be bought elsewhere, only at his shop). He also revealed the working mechanism of a magic prop of Kreis Magic (Micro Psychic), because he had a couple of them for sale. After the "seminar" I complained that it wasn't a seminar, but a commercial dealer show (including revelations), and it served only one purpose: to advertise (and sell) his products. So we had an argument, and he told me I'm new to the magic business, and that was indeed a seminar. I'm asking for Your opinion now: can we call an event a seminar, where a magician reveals the secrets of his own products, which cannot be manufactured at home, and can only be bought at his magic shop? Thanks for reading all these..... I hope I'll be wiser after some comments. |
Atom3339 Inner circle Spokane, WA 3242 Posts |
It's a VERY good question, B. I would have been disappointed too. Not MY definition of a seminar. Would have felt blind-sided.
I think it's one of those "next time" experiences in life; as in, "NEXT TIME I'm going to find out in advance what they mean by a 'seminar' and see if I really want to attend."
TH
Occupy Your Dream |
Bencissimo New user 6 Posts |
Fortunately it didn't cost me any money, I've payed for the whole day. And of course now I learned what he means by "seminar", so I won't have any expectations when I attend one.
On the other hand, I don't find it really fair to reveal the secret of OTHER manufacturer's product just to get people excited about it so they will buy it afterwards (from the lecturer). He told me the manufacturer would be happy if he knew about it (I don't think so). I think people are much more willing to buy a magic prop BEFORE they get to know the secret. But again, I'm new to the magic business... (Thanks for the reply!!!) |
MARS New user 5 Posts |
Forget magic altogether.
A seminar is where you are taught something. A dealer show is where products are displayed, advertised, and sold. Regardless of what the man says, this is how it is. Simply because someone has been involved in magic for a longer time than you does not give them the ability to ignore or change the guidelines for presentations. It is appropriate to subtly promote material at a seminar but if it crosses the line too much, it will cause confusion, as it did for you. The man should take responsibility for his show. It has nothing to do with the "magic industry." It has to do with priorities and delivering conferences with a goal in mind. If his priority causes confusion for you, it probably created an air of confusion with others as well. This is his issue, not yours. |
Bencissimo New user 6 Posts |
Thanks for the reply! I totally agree. I just wanted to hear someone's opinion who has more experience than I have.
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Brad Burt Inner circle 2675 Posts |
You get this in lecture's also. Although I have seen some great lectures that were in fact very detailed demos for the performers product line. It works that way with some and in fact it almost has to. If the lecturer was to rely ONLY on the fee paid you just couldn't do it. Most clubs, etc. couldn't afford to pay a top pro what he's worth and so.....you sell product.
Now, that said, if I went to a lecture/seminar and all I saw was OTHER FOLKS stuff....well, hey, we ALL call that a Dealer Demo! If that's what it is..it should be forthrightly put forward as such and no harm no foul. Best,
Brad Burt
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DWRackley Inner circle Chattanooga, TN 1909 Posts |
It’s unfortunate, but it seems to be the way things are going in every arena. If you frequent the business areas of the Café, you will find as many threads on “BOR” (Back Of Room) sales as there are on actually performing magic. I’ve never been to a lecture where a table (or two or three) wasn’t set up to peddle the speaker’s wares.
And it’s not just magicians. My wife is a doctor and is legally required to complete a certain number of Continuing Education credits each year. It’s a big business providing “seminars” for these doctors (who are quite literally trapped into attendance), and many of these are less about patient care and updated procedures than they are all day sales pitches for specialty products. It’s sad, but there it is. Your friend may have been “correct”, but he wasn’t “right”.
...what if I could read your mind?
Chattanooga's Premier Mentalist Donatelli and Company at ChattanoogaPerformers.com also on FaceBook |
Bob1Dog Inner circle Wife: It's me or this houseful of 1159 Posts |
I'm going to see the Buddy Holly Story at the Walnut Theater in Philly next week. And they'll be selling T-shirts, sweat shirts, hoodies, CDs, you name it. It's part of life today; everyone has something to sell at any venue. We just have to be smart buyers; that's the secret to attending these things. Don't get caught up in the hype that's designed to sell on hype.
I'll admit, I've been burned at magic seminars because of the hype. No more. Don't let ANYONE sell you something you're not sure about in your own mind; you'll end up selling it here later for a loss.
What if the Hokey Pokey really IS what it's all about?
My neighbor rang my doorbell at 2:30 a.m. this morning, can you believe that, 2:30 a.m.!? Lucky for him I was still up playing my drums. |
Pengnome New user 57 Posts |
It sound like this seminar was fair. You learned more about his tricks at least to the extent they were not for your style of magic.
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Bencissimo New user 6 Posts |
I think this is more of a moral question than a practical one. He called it a seminar because he wanted to attract more people (who will later might buy his products). If he'd promoted this as a dealer show, he would've lost half of his audience. His intention was not teaching, only selling. That's what is bothering me... I've participated in a lots of seminars so far, and none of them were about advertising ONLY.
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