Brad Henderson wrote:Elliot.
I appreciate your passionate defense however no DVD on cards tricks, tricks that are awesome in the hands of the creator but likely not so much in the hands of anyone else, is going to transform the world of magic no matter how well produced they are.
Now - production levels may hit a new standard, but that's confusing the media of instruction with the art if the content. Dan, Dave and Homer have each raised the bar in this regard. We HAVE seen transformations in the production value of magic videos, but in magic itself - not so much.
I do NOT believe dan and dave whom I consider friends are trying to rip anyone off. I am merely pointing out how hype, when it reaches as certain point, ends up detracting from the perception of a product rather than adding to it.
I found it off putting and lazy. I commented on that. isn't that we we do on a forum?
Thanks for taking the time to define some words for us. I hope I was able to give you some context so those words now have meaning for you.
your extra credit homework, should you be interested in the growth and influence of marketing in the magic marketplace, would be to look at the number of ads that promise transformation or next level revolutions that never deliver. Then consider how by using those same promises one merely invites comparison to disappointing releases of the past. That's of course if you are interested in the real issue and not just defending people you like. having reviewed products for a major magic magazine for many years, perhaps I am overly sensitive to such issues or just more readily aware from my experience.
regardless, I'm sad for Guy that work constructed which so much thought and care is being advertised so thoughtlessly and carelessly.
Bred.
Just because you were confused, does not mean that the the information itself is inherently confusing (such is the nature of a misunderstanding).
Hype can certainly detract. Sure. But let's focus on the entire point of the packaging, "hype", presentation. Guy has a very unique, polished style. The entire idea is to match the Collection with his style. Cohesiveness in presentation does not necessarily make "hype". Because you and others are jaded and have been burned (you did, after all, review magic for a magazine) you are indeed a little more sensitive to the "buzzwords". However, that doesn't mean the intentions behind their use are devious, nor do they necessarily detract from a product/project/etc. As you point out, context is key, so why not put the words into context?
As has been pointed out, Guy's magic has been super influential, regardless of if it looks " awesome in the hands of the creator but likely not so much in the hands of anyone else". There's your context. Hype is only hype if the collection doesn't live up to the "promise," and unfortunately for you, you've fundamentally misunderstood the "promise". They never say, "this project will revolutionize magic and change everything for the better." They say, "...potential to transform..." Dan and Dave have facilitated an enormous change in how magic is presented, whether you like that or not. Who's to say that youngsters that are now possibly experiencing Guy's magic for the first time, won't have a similar impact. There's your "potential".
And I'm very familiar with advertising that doesn't deliver. I've done my homework (majored in Integrated Marketing Communications in college while simultaneously studying magic, so yeah I think I "get it"). But like Richard said, "If you want to bitch about the ad hype of a crap product that's one thing, but when it's a good product, who wants to listen?"
