ARTICLES
RIPPED OFF
As long as I have been in the magic business, which goes back to 1966 ripping off tricks has been part of our industry. Question: Who does it? Answer: Just about everybody. Question: Do I do it? Answer: Under certain conditions. Question: Is it done to me? Answer: Of course
Many of the effects that we manufacture here at Daytona Magic are effects that are over one hundred years old. They have been updated and are made of better materials. What are the criteria that I will rip off someone else's effect? That, is a very easy question to answer, they have ripped me off.
You will never see me reproduce a John Kennedy, Viking or John Cornelius effect, to name a few. These are brilliant guys who never rip me off. They truly invent things, produce them and offer them for sale. On the other hand I make change bags. A few years ago a dealer called me up and asked why I ripped off his change bag. I knew how old he was and faxed him a catalog page printed at least 25-years before he was born, that had similar change bags.
Many items, like change bags have become public domain. What magic shop doesn't produce a few rope tricks or card tricks in the back room. What makes me laugh is the guys who are the biggest "rip off policemen" also rip off tricks. One of them, who I improve his effects, rips off many of my tricks. This manufacture puts out items that are produced the same way they were 50 years ago. The paint easily chips off. The material is not modern. The cost is too high for the low quality. I have been known to take an item of his and upgrade it into a modern magical effect. This is known as progress.
Did Dave Cresey invent the mouth coil? No, he makes a better one. Did Sasco or Johnson invent the Scotch and Soda? Of course not. They produce quality coin tricks for a growing market. These great companies are just making a buck in a very difficult industry. I used to get mad when someone copied something that I manufactured or resurrected, but I really don't have time for that nonsense anymore. What makes this entire argument mute is the fact that no matter who puts out a new effect, it will soon be made in India at less than half the price.
Many years ago I made the same effect for two different magic companies. I laughed as I read ads about buying the "original" off of their respected companies. They both claimed the effect to be theirs. It was straight out of an old book from the 1930's.
