Eetu

I have just gotten back into magic after many years, mostly due to my grandson’s interest. What a change!

I find looking at magic on youtube to be an exceedingly painful experience, in general. Not that I haven’t seen some great magic- Penn and Teller, Dai Vernon, Shawn doing “shape of my heart”, your this ‘n that, williamson etc. But the large majority seems to be in a “tattling” vein, a rush to spill the beans first, for no good reason and with abominable “skills”.

I agree with you that the creators of new effects should be compensated. Franky, I think the creator should be compensated by the magicians that use their effect. Much like the music business, where I can release my “version” of anothers creation, but must pay them royalties for the priviledge.

The only thing I object to, is buying an effect, only to find it to be nothing more than a re-issue of an old trick long in the public domain. Since there is almost never a return policy, you are stuck with something you already have and feel like a fool for being hoodwinked. Thus, I would like to see it required that any effect being sold must clearly state any previous effect that it uses.

In conclusion, I definitely do not support the wholesale free distribution of magic secrets as it happening on youtube, although I have no good ideas as to how to stop it. Certainly it is fueled by the currentl status of magic - anyone can “learn” the secret as long as you have the money to buy it. Oddly, I do not hear many objections to that fact. Just some thoughts…

Thanks for asking!

Jim

i was surprised when i followed the link to here - i was truly expecting you to reveal how it was done, and i couldn’t stand the anticipation!

and then as i read your article, i was filled with shame. as i (and as probably countless others) followed the OTHER link to WTFmagic.com and upon realizing that you have to pay to learn the trick, promptly pressed the backspace bar.

i agree with you’re point of view and thank you taking the time to share it.

i loved your piece on youtube, and someday i may even buy that trick. . .

but for now, i’ll let the proffesionals do their bit, so they don’t wince at my attempt to “sodomize their pets”. *laughs* that was very nicely put.

again thank you, and i hope you have a nice day!

cheers! jai.

Your video is great, and inspires me as an amateur magician to practice my lifts and master the sequences necessary for this illusion. I have no desire for a “quick fix” spoiler of how it was accomplished.

I believe magicians work very hard at their art, and have every right to sell their effects to those who have enough dedication and interest to master them and continue the art. I can hardly copy an mp3 I have purchased legally to my backup computer without having to pay a second time, and magic should be as well protected.

Keep up the good work- seeing real magic well done helps me practice more!

Jim

There are different reasons for revealing magic but when you reveal it on the internet practically anyone on the planet with internet access can see the secret behind magic. I would have to say that revealing magic so it can be passed down generation through generation or from magician to magician is entirely different than just revealing to people who want to know and have no plans to perform such a trick or even the art of magic itself. This ‘n That however in my opinion is worth the low price you sell it for and if I didn’t already know the trick I would probably buy it. On the other hand some people who have financial problems that hold them back from learning magic. That’s why people on Youtube such as Cardshark88 post tutorials for flourishes so everyone who wants to learn has a chance to learn. But some magic should be kept secret because magic is also a way that people make a living so if people went around revealing secrets magicians would be out of a job. I guess what I’m trying to say here is some magic should be revealed and some magic should not, and that the magic that is revealed should only be revealed with the magician’s permission.
Keep up the good work!

Sincerely
Sam Gonzalez AKA Tacoman88