Doug,

I agree with you with regard to the audience appeal of a trick, and using that as a launch point before moving on. I have created many an effect that got sidetracked as they didn't meet criteria one. But others actually made it to production. I was wondering who you workshop your newer effects for to work out the kinks.

Pete

I have a handful of very close friends in magic (who
many of you would know)that I will run ideas by,
however, after performing for over 20 years, I usually
have a pretty good gut instinct as to what an audience
will enjoy. If I truly believe something is worthy of performing, I will go ahead and produce it, then
rehearse it, and then try it out on an audience which
sometimes takes a few times to perfect. I then decide whether to keep it or get rid of it.