Stick Them HIGH!
Ray Haddad
How many of us have worked at a magic shop at any time in our lives?
I worked for Chuck Martinez Magicians' World in San Diego at their
Escondido shop (which I managed) in 1974-75 and was paid at whatever
the prevailing minimum wage was at the time.
I also had a perk of having one of each item sold in the shop given to
me as part of becoming adept at demonstrating. This amounted to many,
many items over the time I worked there. I was a student at a US Navy
school in San Diego at the time. Since the shop was closed on Friday
and Saturday nights and all day Sunday, it didn't interfere with my
performing schedule. My Navy classes started at 05:30 and ended at
11:30 so I was able to open the shop at 12:00 daily. I sure wish I had
that kind of energy today, mind you.
Why did I work for minimum wage? Because I liked Chuck and Mary
Martinez (Chuck's mom) a whole lot and loved magic. When Chuck asked,
I responded and have never regretted that action. Chuck became far
more financially successful after opening a string of costume shops
and now produces TV commercials in Hollywood. Most of Magicians' World
later became part of another shop and has a trail that leads to Brad
Burt's Magic Shop in San Diego.
Mary's gone now and I miss that grand lady of magic.
Best,
Ray
Paul Alberstat
>Let's do a bit of a fun survey here.
>How many of us have worked at a magic shop at any time in our lives?
>
I have worked in three shops over the years as well as worked numerous
conventions working behind the counters. Loved every minute of it and
would do it again in a second.
PSIncerely Yours,
Paul Alberstat
http://www.stores.ebay.ca/abstagecraft
Jerry Cargile
I owned and operated a magic and costume shop in the 80s. I really miss
it, especially being able to see the new items when they came out. Of
course, I had to eat a lot of them, because most new items turned out to
be duds. My favorite time in the store was at Halloween.
Jerry
..
Lee Darrow
> Let's do a bit of a fun survey here.
>
> How many of us have worked at a magic shop at any time in our lives?
>
Baer's Treasure Chest in the early 70's (where Ed Marlo and Okito had
worked before I came on the scene) - pay - a little above minimum
wage, employee discount of 25% off retail. No commission.
Max Ettinger's Magic Shop, Southfield, MI - an okay wage and employee
purchase program that let me buy at store cost. No commission.
Marshall Brodien's Magic Shop, Old Chicago Mall, Bollingbrook, IL.
Decent wage, employee discount (cost). No commission.
All were great experience. At Baer's I got lessons behind the counter
from many of the pros who walked in - Jose De La Torre, Melbourne
Christopher, Terry Veckey, Arnold Furst and others, who, out of the
goodness of their hearts, helped "the kid behind the counter" with
"some of the good stuff."
At Max's, I was introduced to Karrell Fox, Milt Kort, Denny Loomis and
others who also shared openly. Great guys, all.
At Marshall Brodien's I had the opportunity to work behind the counter
with Billy Bishop and a very young Glenn Bishop (and watched Glenn
develop into a VERY strong close-up guy!) and worked with the likes of
Ken Mate. I got to party with Jay Marshall, Marshall Brodien and a
host of other Chicago magicians at a VERY memorable Christmas Party,
indeed. It was at that party that Jay Marshall gave me one of the
strongest and most useful pieces of advice I have ever been given in
magic - something that I will take with me all the days of my life.
Working at a shop is an EDUCATION as well as a JOB. It's often long
hours on your feet, busier than a one-armed paper-hanger one minute,
deadly dull the next. You will know the thrill of victory over a new
trick and the agony of the feet.
But, you WILL learn.
Those were the days...
Reminiscently,
Lee Darrow, C.Ht.
Magicman0323
3 months, really gave me the magic bug there.
sanscan
sanscan
any pointers?
You know, the one where the nickel dissappears... The man said it would make
me a great macician, and I could get a lot of chicks at paries! Should I
also invest in a trick where you put a piece of paper in and turn it into a
dorrar bill.. Would it work with hundreds?
Tim Carlson
> >
> > >Let's do a bit of a fun survey here.
> > >How many of us have worked at a magic shop at any time in our lives?
> > >
news:3D798069...@4dcomm.com...
> I just bought a coin slide made in China for $19.95... Can someone give me
> any pointers?
> You know, the one where the nickel dissappears... The man said it would
make
> me a great macician, and I could get a lot of chicks at paries! Should I
> also invest in a trick where you put a piece of paper in and turn it into
a
> dorrar bill.. Would it work with hundreds?
That's funny! And it always makes me smile when a little kid (and even some
adults) comes into the magic shop and asks questions like that.
I've worked on and off at magic shops for 20 years. Mostly those "tourist"
type shops as that's pretty much all we have here. Some of them have been
very well stocked though. A LONG time ago there was a "Magic Mansion" magic
shop at Circus Circus that always had tons of new and old stuff for us to
play with. It was that "complete line" of Emerson and West packet tricks
that helped me to perfect all of my "Counts, Cuts, Moves, and Subtlety".
That was back when there was only one magic shop in Vegas. (Can you imagine
that?)
I also worked in a shop at the Flamingo in the mid 80's, The Wizards Den.
Great name, terrible location for tourist traffic. The shop was stocked
fairly well and even hosted a magicians club. But local magicians (as many
as there are here) have never supported the local magic shop, it closed
after only a few years.
I put in time at the Lance Burton Magic Shop when he was at the Hacienda,
also the shops at the Riviera and Harrah's. All 3 had the same owner and
stock was very limited. But hey, I needed the money at the time.
Then there was one BAD experience...
And now I'm working part-time at the shop at the Stratosphere. It is,
arguably, the best stocked shop in town. We're always getting in new stuff,
we don't even have room to display it all. And Perry is great to work for.
The Perks: Most (actually all but one) of the shops gave me stuff I wanted
at cost, reason enough to take at least a part-time job at a magic shop. For
a young magician, I would have to say working in a magic shop can be a great
learning experience (in the right shop). Now, as a not so young magician, I
see it as a way of giving back a little to the art. When I see someone who
is sincerely interested, I enjoy taking the time to help steer them in the
right direction. And the best part, I'M STILL LEARNING. (And I need the
money.)
Lord knows, I COULD have to work for a living,
--
Tim Carlson
"...guaranteed to raise a smile..."
sanscan
shop and found it a bad place to work? Not me!
Ray Haddad
and sanscan <scan...@4dcomm.com> instead replied:
>Just an extension question... Have any of us ever actually worked in a magic
>shop and found it a bad place to work? Not me!
Slim,
I considered it an honor that Chuck asked me to work for him and
manage the Escondido shop. The fact that he paid me at all was a
bonus. I guess us older folk think a bit different than today's
magicians.
Best,
Ray
jeff
My, what a boring life you've led !
--
I'll repeat that.
Mitch Leary
I've never worked at a magic shop unless you count the one in my
basement.
I have however been thrown out of the magic shop here in town for not
taking a shower seriously. Its happened more than once. Jack
Sutherland used to pass out clothespins when I'd visit his shop back
in the 80's. But he was real nice about it and even offered me one.
-Leary-
Art Begun
with the owner who had to leave for several minutes. Never met him
before but he asked me to watch the shop for a bit. Does that count?
Lee Darrow
that I worked with and had great magicians coming in all the time.
The bad was Martha. She was ostensibly the manager. A retired
stripper from Peoria, IL with a face like Divine and a mouth on her
like a longshoreman.
Many were the days that she would get in a bad mood and offer, quite
seriously, to kick me in the privates. She was nasty, ugly and
treated everyone the same - with total contempt and nasty language.
She seemed to love trying to start fights, her payoff being that
everyone would back down. It being the mid-70's hitting a woman was
simply NOT done (and in my book still isn't!).
I honestly never understood why Mr. Baer kept her on the payroll.
But the offsetting balance was the horde of wonderful magicians that
came to see me.
Lee Darrow, C.Ht.
EdwardK908
> Should I
>also invest in a trick where you put a piece of paper in and turn it into a
>dorrar bill.. Would it work with hundreds?
>sanscan
Yes, you should invest in that trick. There are two that come to my mind that
do the same thing. One is a cheep plastic thing that resembles a cigarette
roller. You could get one for a few bucks at a toy store, gag shop or even if
desparate a magic shop. The other is called " Budda Money Mystery" by Royal
Magic, also innexpensive, you could switch other papers other than money if you
wish.
Both of these tricks are very good. If you go into a magic shop let the
salesman know your level of skill and I'm sure he/she can demonstrate a trick
or two more for you to buy.
Ed
sanscan
Jeez...
EdwardK908
>Will it help me get girls?I don't want to do any tricks that I have to learn!
Yes!! Chicks love magic tricks. If you've ever seen the beggining ofthe movie
"Saving Silverman" you would see an example of how cool very attractive women
thing magicians are. I would have suggested some very long and involved card
tricks with a involved convoluted and somewhat contrived story line. But you
don't want any "tricks that I have to learn."
Purchase the trick with the little rollers. load it with a $20, Scam some babe
at the bar, offer to pay for a drink or something. Then, and with a lot of
self depracating humor pull out a $1 or blank paper the size of currency. Get
real seriouse looking and crank out the big bucks. Dont let her in on the
secret! Put the prop away and go on about the bussiness of chatting as if that
was the way you payed for everything.
If that doesn't get the attention of at least a few supermodels, then you need
to work on your conversation and hygeine.
Ed
sanscan
stuff on my macician web site when I get to be 14. My Mom won't let me do it yet.
Please tell me all the tricks?
Ray Haddad
and sanscan <scan...@4dcomm.com> instead replied:
>Thanks! I am a newbie, but I plan to open a school for macicians, and sell magic
>stuff on my macician web site when I get to be 14. My Mom won't let me do it yet.
>Please tell me all the tricks?
Slim...
Please stop it. I'm laughing so hard that I can't see the screen to
type this...
Best,
Ray
EdwardK908
I am a newbie, but I plan to open a school for macicians, and sell magic
Ed replies:
For your magic shop I would recomend you stock the cheapest flimsiest junk
possible. Replace the labels with some you make up yourself, Don't worry about
what claims you make for the tricks. Just make the claim spectacular and
wonderful. It isn't really false advertisement, because you overcharge so much
for the item! The best part is the customer can't return and ask for a refund.
Here's a list of potential products.
1) Fake Dog Doo or Cat Scat. Save yourself some money and don't buy the plastic
stuff. Just a few ziplock bags, that close very tight. You could label the bags
as super realistic in looks and smell.
2)Invisible writing pen. Just collect dried out pens from the wast basket.
3)Pen Through Tissue. This trick an ordinary looking pen can penetrate tissue
paper
4)Nasal Discharge Through tissue paper. Similar to #2 above
5) and I'm seriouse about this one "realistic Fake Snot" I use the sticky goo
that seems to hold folded up instructions on a variety of consumer goods. Looks
better than real.
I hope this list helps get you going
Ed
sanscan
did a show for my Mom) Do you think $5000 is a good price for my show? I know it
seems like a lot, but if I can do two shows a week, I can get more stuff! I wanna
get those sticks that when you pull one the other one comes up. Tell me all th
secrets, I want to know.
EdwardK908
Hey ....I like those sticks.
$5000 for a show is not too high. It will depend on how many people attend.
Ed