Description

How do you make the most with your ideas? Go inside the magic industry, with a true insider.

Learn how to take an idea, form and shape it into a successful product in the magic marketplace. Includes resource lists and important contact information, as well as two wonderful guest contributions by Hank Schwaeble on contracts and corporations. (Particularly the article on contracts is some of the best and most useful information you will find short of consulting with a lawyer.)

Download the first chapter of the ebook here.

For 10 years, Maxwell Murphy led Penguin Magic, the largest magic retailer on the Internet. He sold millions of dollars of magic, produced dozens of best-selling products, worked with many of the top inventors in magic, and even lived on top of a magic factory in India. There are few who know more about marketing magic than Maxwell Murphy.

Historically, magic inventors haven’t fared well. Dealers and distributors have had an information advantage, and often times, they’ve used it. Countless inventors have settled for 1/10th of what they could have earned. This ebook levels the playing field. Maxwell opens his playbook and his Rolodex, so you can succeed as a magic inventor and help take the industry to the next level.

“This is the book I wish I had 10 years ago.” – Uday Jadugar

“A highly recommended read and study. If every inventor, artist, and producer read this it would help them be more successful while raising the bar in magic.” – Tim Trono

“I’m in awe of your candor and mastery of the inner-workings of the magic industry. I think this book will improve the quality of marketed magic and maximize an individual’s ability to profit from it. Bravo!” – Joshua Jay

“Essential reading if you’re interested in selling a magic trick you’ve invented.” – Acar Altinsel

“The magic industry is different than any industry on earth. It took me 10 years to figure it out. This little book contains everything I wish I’d have known from the start. There’s a ton of information and strategic advice in the book. If by the end I haven’t answered all your questions, the book comes with unlimited email support.” – Maxwell Murphy

You’ll find answers to many questions including: How big is the magic market? How many units can I expect to sell? How does pricing work? Wholesale? Retail? What kinds of deals are out there for magic inventors? Should I self-produce? What product format should I choose? How can I bring my idea to life? Who should I work with? Plus: The Six Different Magic Customers What the Big Name Magic Inventors Did How to Maximize the Size of Your Deal The Most Important Terms in Any Contract Three Questions to Ask During Production Why the Smallest Ad is Often the Best Deal Strategy for Maximizing Sales of a New Item What’s the Magic Market Going to Look Like in 100 Years? Profiles of Key Players in the Magic Industry

1st edition 2012, 150 pages.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Magic is Different

Getting Started Falling in Love with Magic The Magic Community What the Community Cares About Originality How to develop magic “the right way” When is Your Variation Not Just a Me Too Should you Market Your Magic Invention? There are Easier Ways to Make Money The Value of Respect Permission to Use Someone Else’s Idea Proper Crediting What’s a Classic Item? Knock-offs It’s Mostly Gray Area More than Money Michael’s Idea

Chapter 2: The Magic Market

Market Size Market Growth Percentage of Magic Sold Online Top Magic Buying Countries Velocity Expectations Magic Industry Price Structure Quantity Expectations The Six Different Magic Customers

Chapter 3: The Deals Available to Creators

Self Producing Should you self-produce? Royalty Deals Lump Sum Deals What type of Deal Should I Choose? What the Big Name Magic Inventors Did How to Maximize the Size of Your Deal

Chapter 4: Key Decisions

Choosing a Product Format Multi-trick Vs. Single Trick Setting The Retail Price Teaming Up With a Big Name Contracts by Hank Schwaeble Should I Incorporate? by Hank Schwaeble Should I get a Patent? Piracy

Chapter 5: Manufacturing Physical Items

Making a Prototype Can You Manufacture the Item Yourself? Sourcing Fabrication How to Have a Part Manufactured Tooling Costs and Per Unit Costs Packaging What to Include in the Package Artwork UPCs/Barcodes Printing Translations

Chapter 6: Video Production

Filming Magic The Paradox of Production Values Should We Use Multiple Cameras? Camera Angles Hiring a Video Production Company Permission to Film at a Venue Spectator / Model Release Forms How To Make a DVD Advice on Buying Video Equipment Borrowing or Renting Video Equipment Do I Need to Shoot in HD?

Chapter 7: Marketing

Naming Your Product Writing Marketing Copy Making a Demo Video A Crazy Offer, Just Because Three Questions to Ask During Production Testimonials How to Get Five Star Reviews Take Your Product Seriously

Chapter 8: Advertising

The Examples Around Us The Temptations of Advertising How to Spread the Word My Experience w/Ads in Magic Magazines Before you Advertise Why Advertising is Overpriced The Elephant and the Ant Only Fools Break Even (in small markets) Why the Smallest Ad is Often the Best Deal

Chapter 9: Sales

Strategy: Maximizing Sales of a New Item Selling Direct to Magicians Exclusives Building a Fan Base Selling at Lecture Selling at Conventions Specific Convention Recommendations

Chapter 10: Manufacturers

MagicSmith John Kennedy Magic Mesika Magic Magic Makers Chazpro Magic Magic by Gosh D’Lite Products Bob Kohler Magic Fantasma Magic Sankey Magic JB Magic Andrew Mayne {magic}

Chapter 11: Magic Factories

Uday’s Magic World Eddy’s Magic

Chapter 12: Specialty Magic Factories

US Playing Card Company Roy Kueppers Tango Magic Todd Lassen Jamie Schoolcraft

Chapter 13: Production Companies

Paper Crane Vanishing Inc. Theory11 L&L Publishing Dan and Dave

Chapter 14: Distributors

Murphy’s Magic Fun Inc. Magic City D. Robbins Loftus, Inc. Vincenzo Di Fatta, SRL

Chapter 15: Retailers

The World’s Largest Magic Retailers Penguin Magic Hocus Pocus Ellusionist Alakazam Magic Co. The Magic Warehouse Magic Geek MJM Magic Tannen’s Magic Lybrary.com

Chapter 16: Magazines

Magic Magazine Genii Magazine MagicSeen The Linking Ring iTricks LinkingPage / MagicNewswire.com

Chapter 17: Discussion Forums

There Will Be Criticism The Magic Cafe Genii Forum Penguin Forum Theory11 Forum Ellusionist Forum Closing Resources Sample Video Contract Sample Spectator Release About the Author
word count: 60416 which is equivalent to 241 standard pages of text