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