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Mark Evans New user 5 Posts |
Hi all,
I am actually a magician but am interested in pitching part-time at fairs, flea markets, craft shows, etc.. I couldn't find the proper thread to be in but am needing tips and help getting started. 1. Where are the best places to buy "wholesale" magic? I only know of Robbins right now. 2. Do I just bring a small long table and some kind of drop to put behind me? 3. What are the best products to sell? 4. How much should I spend? Any help would be great! I am unemployed from the IT industry got out of Magic 15 years ago...never wanted to (long story)...and now I am just getting back into Magic. SO...that being said what I am attempting to do is do some birthday parties part time and some pitching part-time and perhaps more full-time during certain seasons. Again...would appreciate any help. thanks! Mark |
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DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Mark,
My DVD on pitching the Svengali deck will answer all your questions. http://www.lybrary.com/don-driver-m-78510.html I sold the rights to it several years back so its not like I'm trying to sell you to make any money.It just has good solid information on the pitch,where to buy stock,where to book the pitch,how to build a pitch stand (joint). All the best to you... Don |
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chefmagic Regular user 166 Posts |
Dons DVD is a great DVD, loaded with info. Trust me it will be money well spent.
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LeoH Elite user 437 Posts |
Don's dvd should be your first purchase. Do not do anything until you have studied the info he shares in the dvd. It will save you time and money.
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Jon-O the Great Elite user 493 Posts |
I'm a new comer--only 5 years with the cards. But I wouldn't (AND couldn't) have done it without Don's DVD!
Jon |
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sescarny New user 76 Posts |
Mark, you can't go wrong with Don's DVD. When it comes to pitching, his advice is solid. Hell, I drove from Boston to a fair in New York just to meet him, get his DVD and chat one on one. The information he gives can be used to help you create your own pitches for other items, as well. I'm so glad I met with him and I love his DVD.
Ses |
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thenineofhearts New user 5 Posts |
Hi,
1. Buy anywhere you can get the cards. 2. Yes although a drop behind you is not necessary but would be nice. A sign on the table saying magic tricks would be fine just not as effective. 3. Svens don't give them a choice. 4. Buy 100 packs if you sell out on your first day you are the king at pitching svens. Dons dvd is a MUST if you have no one teaching you. My advice Order the cards and get out there and do it. Don't pay high rent at first no more than 50 bucks a day that's about 20 packs for you to break even including stock travel tax etc assuming your selling them for 5 bucks. If you sell 1 pack on your first day then you'll be able to make it as you'll be nervous n **** scared. Good luck |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
If you are using an 8-foot square tent, you can buy a 3' x 6' vinyl banner and attach it to the rear of the tent frame with bungee cords. It makes a perfect backdrop, rolls up fast and travels easily, and explains your business in a flash. But it doesn't completely cover the rear of the tent, so that it permits airflow (very important on those hot days!).
For one possible source, try Googling "Half Price Banners" (they are in Florida I believe). They will print anything you want on the banner, in whatever colors you want. They can also include a good graphic like a spread of cards or a top hat, and will attach brass grommets to the corners for hanging it. They always did good work, used heavy quality vinyl, and had good prices. Besides, the banner will probably pay for itself the first couple times you use it, by attracting business to your joint. If you look at my photo, you can see one of their banners in the background. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
One more thought -- not sure I agree with a previous posting about selling the decks for $5.
At that price, you are paying everyone else (the wholesaler, the Federal and State tax collectors, the show promoter, your auto mechanic, insurance broker, etc.), but not yourself. There's no reason you can't get at least $7 or $8 for a deck, or even $10 (about the limit for an impulse purchase, in my experience). If you're going to be on your feet for 6 or 8 hours, you might as well make some money for yourself! It's also a curious thing -- if something is too cheap, people will think it's not worth it, and they won't buy it. Something can be a bargain without being cheap. Remember that you are not only selling the deck, but a secret as well, and that secret is also part of the price. Buy decent quality decks (but not Bikes!) that come with good instructions and a dozen or so tricks on them, and you should have no problem getting $8-10 for them. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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thenineofhearts New user 5 Posts |
I agree, get as much as you can for those cards. I sell them for £10 which is about $15. Keep putting the prices up over time and you will soon find your price point. It won't be long until I put mine up to £15 maybe in another year or so.
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Matthew W Inner circle New York 2456 Posts |
I sell the cards for $10. I get the ones from MM, since they come with online video instructions, which is a big selling point, you get to learn by watching.
I'm trying out a new product this week that is perfect for the night events, and will be the same price. I'll have a package that includes the new item, the cards, and a magic worm for $20.
-Matt
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Jon-O the Great Elite user 493 Posts |
I used MM cards until their price went up. L bulk decks cost me $133.20 for a gross including shipping. There are no fancy boxes but I use some from L I've had for a long time...I'd bought several gross over time, so I have tons of them. Including the TCM cards and printing of the package, I figure I still have less than $1 in the deal.
Granted the bulk decks have only 2 small cards of instructions and no website, but it doesn't seem to matter. When I used the MM cards, I copied a sheet that I stole from someone, with 25 tricks--plus the website. I stopped doing that with the bulk decks. As a great man has said innumerable times, "...they only have to work 'til they get to the parking lot..." Jon |
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thomasR Inner circle 1189 Posts |
I sell the Magic Makers Deck as well.. I feel like the online video instructions and the fancy package add a lot of value. It just looks more like a $10 item. If I was just going to flea markets.. I'd get the super cheap Loftus and sell for $5 (Deck only). It all depends on where you are selling, and how good you are. Don reccomends the Loftus with the packaging and I feel like that is the best for him.. he's an awesome pitchman and he works the big fairs where people are lining up to buy.. no need to have anything fancy.
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DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
Anybody pitching the Svengali decks must remember the customer (mark)is buying WHAT THE DECK DOES...NOT what they look like.The PITCH sells the deck not their looks.However that said...a good looking package on the deck doesn't hurt either.
Don |
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Jon-O the Great Elite user 493 Posts |
The bulk decks I get from L do not have the fancy wrapper, only the box that says something like "playing cards. Since I sell the deck I demo, recently I have giving the kids a choice of red or blue, then unwrapping the celophane from that color and opening the box. I think they really don't care what box it is.
When they take the 1st card and I identify it, without seeing it, most times they ask, "How'd you do that?" I look both ways, like I'm looking for the card police, then whisper "It's a trick deck!" Always get a laugh. Truly, as long as the deck boxes are not beat-up, they don't care. And as I've said several times, when I sold the "dirty" decks for $5, I SAID they were old and no one really cared. So Don is right (AS USUAL!) they only care what the cards DO, not really what the box looks like. Jon |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
I used to sell the Royal Magic decks (from FUN, Inc.). They came with a shiny red sleeve around the box that looked really snazzy. The decks were collated, had great in-box instructions and sold well, but unfortunately they became too expensive to use for pitching. I don't think the fancy sleeve made the sale, and it probably wasn't necessary.
While the FUN, Inc. bulk pitch decks are cheaper, sleeveless and OK, they aren't collated. If I was still pitching, I would probably go with the Loftus decks, which are even cheaper but still of good quality. As long as your joint looks neat, your shirt is clean and your teeth are brushed, nobody will care what the card box looks like. A good pitch will do the rest. 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 |
You can't believe some of the crap decks I have sold over the years because nothing else was available at the time.But they all sold as if nothing was wrong.
Amazing... Don |
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sethb Inner circle The Jersey Shore 2719 Posts |
I once ordered a case of the "1847" Svengali Decks, thinking I'd save a little money.
I did save a little money, but bought a lot of aggravation! These decks were cheap Chinese knockoffs, and the card stock was so thin, I really couldn't even demo the decks. It was like trying to do a DL with two pieces of newspaper. And the final all-key card kicker spread was always a big mess. These decks wouldn't even have made it from the pitch stand to the parking lot (the infamous "Don Driver test"!!) Too bad I didn't own a parakeet, at least I could have used the decks to line the bottom of the cage. As it was, they just went out with the recycling and I got to deduct the cost on my tax return. SETH
"Watch the Professor!!" -- Al Flosso (1895-1976)
"The better you are, the closer they watch" -- Darwin Ortiz, STRONG MAGIC |
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Dollarbill Inner circle Colorado 1005 Posts |
Quick question. Lybrary.com looks to have several different videos/dvds ? Were these all part of the original video? I'll probably be ordering this soon. I would love to learn some pitching ideas to help me sell more food on a food route that I run. Thanks. db
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DonDriver Inner circle 1790 Posts |
My DVD's won't help you sell food on a route.They are for "PITCHING" to a tip(group of people).If you do want to learn to "pitch" than all you need to buy is the Svengali pitch DVD.The Building a Tip and Jam Auction DVD's are good to know but not necessary.
Don |
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