Latest Real Secrets

[Richard Kaufman]

I can't be the only person who's received the latest Real Secrets--the business card and other "thing"?
I have no idea what either one is!
Anyone else receive these?

[JimW]

Richard,

According to the latest email from Real Secrets, it's RS #15 plus a bonus item. Printed instructions for these items, as well as RS #14 and it's related bonuses, are on the way.

[JR Russell]

Both items are sitting by my computer...I look at them and try to guess what they may be and...well...I got nothin'...although I like the 'thing' and have something in mind for it!

[Pete McCabe]

Actually I kind of like the idea of receiving the prop first, with the instructions to follow. It's a good creative exercise.

[Edward Pungot]

That Thing

[Jonathan Townsend]

Did you get that thing they sent you?

It does read as an extended homage to Harvey Birdman.
IIRC that thing figures significantly in the last episode.

[AJM]

Hi all

Thought I'd post this here.

I'll soon be launching a new concept in Magic called Genuine Mysteries.

It's a subscription service and will cost $150 in the US per year ($17,000 International).

Each month, direct to your doormat, I will send you some random stuff and the rest.... is up to you!

What better way to stimulate those grey cells by creating something magical from something that I've retrieved from the cupboard under the stairs.

In order to ensure each 'mystery' is 'genuine' each subscriber will receive something unique each month (one may receive an old slipper, another a squash racquet) - this approach will ensure that subscribers will have no need to discuss what they receive on any given month as they will be too busy working up their own individual magical presentations.

I know what you're asking 'How do I join?'

You want me to tell you?
It's a Genuine Mystery for goodness sake, that would defeat the whole purpose.

The Genuine Mystery Team

[Richard Kaufman]

Since we'll all be receiving printed instructions for the ones they skipped, and going forward, I no longer think it will be a mystery!

[Gordon Meyer]

It's the size of The Thing that has my wheels turning. If it were bigger, its purpose is easier to imagine.

[stereo]

I think I have guess what to do with that black thing. But yes, the size made me think long and hard. If the reference about Ben David is correct so by deduction can anyway find some probable paths. Wait and see !

[Jonathan Townsend]

It's the size of The Thing that has my wheels turning. If it were bigger, its purpose is easier to imagine.

The Thing(s) magicians say...

gotta love this innuendo competition.

[PickaCard]

I think receiving the instructions after we receive the prop is a lot of fun. There is no way these 2 items can be magical. However, once the instructions arrive, I am sure that I will be pleasantly surprised.

I love Real Secrets.

[Richard Kaufman]

That would be a funny business model if RS ALWAYS sent the instructions a month after the props. It's like every item is a bonus item and you don't know what it is for 30 days.

[Pete McCabe]

How about 1st of the month you get the thing, instructions on the 15th.

[Matthew Field]

How about they send everything out on the first of the month (saving half the postage of the McCabe plan) and Pete doesn't open the instructions until the 15th or whenever the hell he wants to.

Matt Field

[Edward Pungot]

What are we talking about here?
Parcel, postage, pregnacy, or censored?

[Richard Kaufman]

Edward, I think we can safely say that pregnancy and penises are not involved.

[J-Mac]

I didn't even realize that I had a "bonus" item here. I received that black "thing" and a couple business cards.

Sooo... Which is #15 and which is the bonus item?

Jim

[Richard Kaufman]

Hold your tongue, Jim, lest you get the boot!

As to which is which, you'll just have to wait to find out. I assume this is only an issue this month because these envelopes were sealed before they decided to go back to printed instructions.

[J-Mac]

Hold your tongue, Jim, lest you get the boot!

As to which is which, you'll just have to wait to find out. I assume this is only an issue this month because these envelopes were sealed before they decided to go back to printed instructions.

Well, the black thing was mentioned prior to my post so I figured that train had already left the station! The other? C'mon, if that's revealing a secret then I'll quit before I'm fired!!



Jim

[J-Mac]

Finally received my instructions for Real Secrets #15 yesterday - for both the regularly scheduled item and the bonus. The mailing also included the instructions for Real Secrets #14 - again. Also a letter explaining what we knew - the switch to Revizzit and back.

I don’t understand why they sent the Real Secrets #14 instructions again - the one for the "cloth" prop. That part was the only downloadable portion of the Revizzit documents. The bonus items that were NOT downloadable from Revizzit weren't included. Kinda ass-backwards IMO. Since subscribers were able to download RS #14 from Revizzit I think it would have been more appropriate to send out the bonus items that most folks were not able to download. Either way I have all of it downloaded so all I was waiting for was RS #15 instructions.

Jim

[Ian Kendall]

Some people who got #14 might not have been a member for the earlier items, which means the bonus instructions would not be pertinent for them.

[stereo]

I think you don't understand J-mac. I think The goal of Revizzit was to offer bonus, notes, or forum directly to concerned members ( depending when they subscribes), something they can't easily do with paper instructions or with regular RS website. Now members chose to go back (I am surprised that the majority really sent a message asking for the stop of revizitt, I did not personally), so that means there will be no bonus anymore like that, and maybe no forum too, but just the same kind of things as before (printed instructions of main item and ... printed instruction of main item.)
You can't have both for $ 15 per month, must be pragmatic. You get what you asked... they listen... but you are still not happy...

[Richard Kaufman]

The old system worked fine.
Regular items had printed instructions.
Bonus items had instructions on their websites as pdfs that we could download.
I don't think they're bailing completely on Revizzit: bonus items (from what I can tell) will still be up there, as will the coming Forum).

[J-Mac]

stereo, the fact that you are surprised tells me that perhaps you didn't understand.

Apparently a lot of subscribers felt differently than you, as evidenced by this latest change. When the minority cries out that it is everyone else who doesn’t understand....

Jim

[stereo]

So why do you keep complaining?
I know you love to complain but ...

Yes I'm surprised that members did not have the patience to wait a few weeks before complaining about the new interface, At least wait for the forum. The people behind RS have proven their capabilities in the world of magic and for me the least we can do was to trust them even if at first the changes seem frustrating, even for me. The slightest of respect was to let a chance to their idea because there was work behind, a desire to do well, and force them to change everything after not even 2 weeks looks a little exaggerated...
All that for a printed instruction ?!? ... I hope you're going to frame it.
I imagine the degree of disappointment of the RS team.
And I do not care to be a minority, because be part of the majority is not necessarily a guarantee of intelligence.
And it's always the same, three who talk loudly on a forum worth 50 who remain silent, even if they do not agree.

[Gordon Meyer]

It had nothing to do with patience nor was it just the user interface. But there's no point in rehashing it all. Just as you apparently don't understand the objections, I don't understand how anyone could like it. Tolerate it, yes, but not like it.

But now I'm hoping that RS will clarify what the plan is going forward. Is Revizzit still being used, and for what? Last time I tried to access Revizzit I got an error that refused to let me see even the stuff from a few weeks ago.

[Richard Kaufman]

RS is still up on Revizzit--checked it last night.

[Edward Pungot]

meow...
Excuse me while I go outside and play.

[Evan Shuster]

Received RS #16 in yesterday's mail, along with a cool bonus item that makes use of that "special something" we received with last month's issue.

[JR Russell]

There must be a learning curve on having Real Secrets on Revizzit. No updates, no messages, no store info on getting refills. Hopefully the bugs will get worked out.

[stereo]

I think it's not a bug, Revizzit, forum, online updates... has been abandoned.

Members want and chose printed instructions.

They listened. Enjoy !