On Jan 12, 2026, stanjarin wrote:
Johannes, you haven't addressed the questions I raised in my (way-overlong) post of a week or so ago, which were not addressing the quality of the trick, which I imagine is exceptional, but the marketing strategy behind it.
1) You cannot show a complete performance because the method can be deduced by magicians
2) It is a download, apparently with only a bit of cheap and easy DIY required
3) The secret is expensive and you are using FOMO techniques with a "cheaper" pre-sale offer, because of points 1) and 2)
I speculated that because of points 1) and 2) your main opportunity of getting a profitable return is from pre-sale, because if point 1) is true, as you have said, then the instant it gets released any competent magician can figure it out. Point 2) Download only makes it available to anyone who wants it for almost free within days for reasons which everyone knows.
With respect (and admiration for the works you've done) I would be very interested to hear your observations regarding these thoughts. All the best!

On Jan 12, 2026, stanjarin wrote:
Johannes, you haven't addressed the questions I raised in my (way-overlong) post of a week or so ago, which were not addressing the quality of the trick, which I imagine is exceptional, but the marketing strategy behind it.
1) You cannot show a complete performance because the method can be deduced by magicians
2) It is a download, apparently with only a bit of cheap and easy DIY required
3) The secret is expensive and you are using FOMO techniques with a "cheaper" pre-sale offer, because of points 1) and 2)
I speculated that because of points 1) and 2) your main opportunity of getting a profitable return is from pre-sale, because if point 1) is true, as you have said, then the instant it gets released any competent magician can figure it out. Point 2) Download only makes it available to anyone who wants it for almost free within days for reasons which everyone knows.
With respect (and admiration for the works you've done) I would be very interested to hear your observations regarding these thoughts. All the best!

On Jan 12, 2026, Nick Kerpan wrote:
I think that Johannes' responsiveness and willingness to engage even with bad-faith interactions (and call out behaviors when they crop up) is actually super refreshing, and a great revelation of his character! Funnily enough, led me to support the prerelease. I do think that some of the criticisms about the marketing is valid, but I think that's more to do with the state of modern marketing practices (and viral content creation) than it is his use of it. Certainly something I was able to look past with more datapoints (namely: how he presents and responds to things here). A couple questions:

1. You say that the gimmicks are going to be easy to make--will there be an option to purchase them for people with zero arts and crafts skills?
2. If the website is also the host of the learning library/school, would it be possible to make an obvious "log in/access school here" button on the main page? It was tricky to renavigate to where the tutorial will be when it drops.

On Jan 12, 2026, Johannes Mengel wrote:
...*snip*
Now to your questions:

...*snip*

2. There's a dedicated platform where people can access a modular masterclass together with a community for TBS owners, where they can learn and practise together. Plus there's an opportunity to book 1-on-1 session with me, which is included in the price. Access will be sent via email, so don't worry! But I'll look into your suggestion and see is there a way to create what you asked for. Maybe I can make it happen, but probably closer to the actual release!

On Jan 12, 2026, scott0819 wrote:
The price is the price. Johannes can charge a premium for his 15+ years of experimentation with this effect; that is his choice. The high price may create more negative reviews, we will see when it releases.

On Jan 12, 2026, 252life wrote:
Johannes responses are refreshing to read and this looks like a fantastic release. Thanks Johannes for the transparency and class

On Jan 12, 2026, martydoesmagic wrote:
I agree with the praise for Johannes. So many creators/producers post their new product on here, then completely disappear, never to return to answer questions. You certainly can't accuse Johannes of doing this!

Marty

On Jan 12, 2026, CardGuyMike wrote:
I was one of the early skeptics, but I have purchased this. I like the effect and Johannes' consistent engagement, positive attitude, and obvious passion and enthusiasm make me want to support him. For those who think the price is high, consider this:

Scott Alexander's Color of Mystery lists for $175 (although it's out of stock). I have seen it. The gimmicks are worth about $30 -- $40 if I'm being generous. And you could source them yourself if you really wanted to. So people were paying $130+ for Scott's teaching of a well-known effect -- an effect you could purchase elsewhere for far less. Scott had an exceptional take on it.

Here we have something that, by many accounts, is unique. You can purchase other versions cheaper, but for now it's your choice whether to trust Johannes, Greg Wilson, Craig Petty et. al. that this is better.

We have an interesting relationship with magic. We pay way too much for effects that turn out to be garbage and shove them in our bottom drawer. We will overpay for shiny gimmicks or the latest books, but we tend to discount the value of a good video teaching an ingenious effect.

I was one of the people put off by the FOMO marketing simply because we have learned to equate this kind of marketing with cheap, shoddy products or ripoffs. Johannes has heard this feedback and can choose to change the marketing or not. I think (at least for me) it would have been better marketed as

"The price will be 125 Euros but I am offering a pre-order discount through January"

rather than

"ORDER NOW BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP, UP, UP!!!!!. HURRY!!! ONLY 3 LEFT!!!"

On Jan 12, 2026, CardGuyMike wrote:
I was one of the early skeptics, but I have purchased this. I like the effect and Johannes' consistent engagement, positive attitude, and obvious passion and enthusiasm make me want to support him. For those who think the price is high, consider this:

Scott Alexander's Color of Mystery lists for $175 (although it's out of stock). I have seen it. The gimmicks are worth about $30 -- $40 if I'm being generous. And you could source them yourself if you really wanted to. So people were paying $130+ for Scott's teaching of a well-known effect -- an effect you could purchase elsewhere for far less. Scott had an exceptional take on it.

Here we have something that, by many accounts, is unique. You can purchase other versions cheaper, but for now it's your choice whether to trust Johannes, Greg Wilson, Craig Petty et. al. that this is better.

We have an interesting relationship with magic. We pay way too much for effects that turn out to be garbage and shove them in our bottom drawer. We will overpay for shiny gimmicks or the latest books, but we tend to discount the value of a good video teaching an ingenious effect.

I was one of the people put off by the FOMO marketing simply because we have learned to equate this kind of marketing with cheap, shoddy products or ripoffs. Johannes has heard this feedback and can choose to change the marketing or not. I think (at least for me) it would have been better marketed as

"The price will be 125 Euros but I am offering a pre-order discount through January"

rather than

"ORDER NOW BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP, UP, UP!!!!!. HURRY!!! ONLY 3 LEFT!!!"

On Jan 13, 2026, martydoesmagic wrote:

Quote:

On Jan 12, 2026, CardGuyMike wrote:
I was one of the early skeptics, but I have purchased this. I like the effect and Johannes' consistent engagement, positive attitude, and obvious passion and enthusiasm make me want to support him. For those who think the price is high, consider this:

Scott Alexander's Color of Mystery lists for $175 (although it's out of stock). I have seen it. The gimmicks are worth about $30 -- $40 if I'm being generous. And you could source them yourself if you really wanted to. So people were paying $130+ for Scott's teaching of a well-known effect -- an effect you could purchase elsewhere for far less. Scott had an exceptional take on it.

Here we have something that, by many accounts, is unique. You can purchase other versions cheaper, but for now it's your choice whether to trust Johannes, Greg Wilson, Craig Petty et. al. that this is better.

We have an interesting relationship with magic. We pay way too much for effects that turn out to be garbage and shove them in our bottom drawer. We will overpay for shiny gimmicks or the latest books, but we tend to discount the value of a good video teaching an ingenious effect.

I was one of the people put off by the FOMO marketing simply because we have learned to equate this kind of marketing with cheap, shoddy products or ripoffs. Johannes has heard this feedback and can choose to change the marketing or not. I think (at least for me) it would have been better marketed as

"The price will be 125 Euros but I am offering a pre-order discount through January"

rather than

"ORDER NOW BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP, UP, UP!!!!!. HURRY!!! ONLY 3 LEFT!!!"

In general, I agree with the sentiment here. However, when I'm paying a premium for a teaching resource alone, I expect excellent instruction and better-than-average production values. Too often, even for some expensive tricks, the tutorials are hot garbage. They're either poorly constructed (too long or too short) or lack any notion of scaffolding or how to support someone learning the material as a beginner. Or the footage is poorly lit or shot, and, worst of all, the sound is terrible. There are also a lot of tricks being released that would be easier to learn if they came with written instructions as well as (or even instead of) the now-standard instructional video. In short, if you want to teach magic, spend some time learning how to teach effectively!

Marty

On Jan 13, 2026, martydoesmagic wrote:

Quote:

On Jan 12, 2026, CardGuyMike wrote:
I was one of the early skeptics, but I have purchased this. I like the effect and Johannes' consistent engagement, positive attitude, and obvious passion and enthusiasm make me want to support him. For those who think the price is high, consider this:

Scott Alexander's Color of Mystery lists for $175 (although it's out of stock). I have seen it. The gimmicks are worth about $30 -- $40 if I'm being generous. And you could source them yourself if you really wanted to. So people were paying $130+ for Scott's teaching of a well-known effect -- an effect you could purchase elsewhere for far less. Scott had an exceptional take on it.

Here we have something that, by many accounts, is unique. You can purchase other versions cheaper, but for now it's your choice whether to trust Johannes, Greg Wilson, Craig Petty et. al. that this is better.

We have an interesting relationship with magic. We pay way too much for effects that turn out to be garbage and shove them in our bottom drawer. We will overpay for shiny gimmicks or the latest books, but we tend to discount the value of a good video teaching an ingenious effect.

I was one of the people put off by the FOMO marketing simply because we have learned to equate this kind of marketing with cheap, shoddy products or ripoffs. Johannes has heard this feedback and can choose to change the marketing or not. I think (at least for me) it would have been better marketed as

"The price will be 125 Euros but I am offering a pre-order discount through January"

rather than

"ORDER NOW BEFORE THE PRICE GOES UP, UP, UP!!!!!. HURRY!!! ONLY 3 LEFT!!!"

In general, I agree with the sentiment here. However, when I'm paying a premium for a teaching resource alone, I expect excellent instruction and better-than-average production values. Too often, even for some expensive tricks, the tutorials are hot garbage. They're either poorly constructed (too long or too short) or lack any notion of scaffolding or how to support someone learning the material as a beginner. Or the

100% agree. TEACHING is a whole new different skill from creating magic. That’s why I script my tutorials and refine them just like I would refine a performance.

For example I shot the whole masterclass for TBS, but obviously it can’t be the best with the first try, so I watch it through, analyse it like I would a magic performance and I see the things that could be better, so I will restructure the whole masterclass now and film it again from scratch!

I am known for my teaching and very thorough tutorials and that’s the work that goes into it.

On Jan 13, 2026, jb13 wrote:
Since the instructional videos haven’t been shot yet, I would like to respectfully suggest that you consider employing an experienced editor. Not to be harsh, but I had a difficult time getting through the original Breakthrough video. I really don’t want to watch a 2 hour video (which included a lot of what I would consider self-indulgent home video footage) to learn a single trick. I don’t need the filler, I don’t need to be entertained, and I don’t need the exhaustive back story of the trick. If that stuff is included, at least make it easy to navigate away from to get to the meat and potatoes instruction.

I don’t know if creators think that run time equals value, but I don’t appreciate my time being wasted. I get nervous when I hear that there are dozens of variations, because if the instructional isn’t well executed and edited, I know I’ll loose interest or get frustrated. Please take this into consideration when putting together the final product.