Joe Lyons wrote:You're correct Brad, objectivism doesn't explain it perfectly, but it's close.
I'm just agreeing with you.
I appreciate that. Just splitting some hairs. Having produced a couple of small printed works and finishing a much larger one, I have a new appreciation of how expensive and how much time this all takes. When you factor in that most books will never sell as well as other magic products - even of similar price - you find yourself in a tough position. I really think what I have to offer can benefit other magicians (or I wouldnt be trying to share it) and I really do want to do anything I can to help other magicians become better magicians - but I also have to compensate myself for the thousands of hours the process takes AND cover all the specific costs of production.
The cost of printing alone is gone up considerably since the first edition of The Dance, for example. So - do I charge a price that reflects my real investment, or not reprint at all?
At least in the former case some people will have the opportunity to avail themselves of the material. But when people complain about prices , they don’t create an environment which makes it easier to be successful and that only leads to higher prices later.
So, sadly, the next book will not be cheap. Not crazy expensive - but not cheap. It can’t be. Not if I can only expect to sell a thousand or so. And if I want to do it in a nice binding on quality stock.
If we want great magicians to put out great material (and just FYI, I’m not putting myself into that category, though I do think the book will prove useful to magicians looking to learn how to create their own unique magical experiences) then we need to support the ones who do.
If we care about the ‘community’ as PapaG claims, then we need to be responsible and thoughtful as the community.
That’s all.