preview magic dvds service review

[bugaboo the clown]

After viewing an add banner that was on the Clown Forum’s website I was curious and clicked. After going to the website at Welcome to Preview Magic DVDs I found tons of great DVD’s. I just received my first DVD today and shipping was only 2 days. I had asked someone on the site if they had tried it…no takers so far. Anyways for $19.95 a month I can view one DVD at a time and as many as I want. You queue the ones you want…they ship them one at a time like Netflix/Blockbuster and as soon as you ship them back the next one queued DVD is mailed out. Postage is already on them. My first DVD was Bad to the Balloon and I loved it. Everyone knows how much a magic trick or Balloon DVD’s costs to buy….why not rent them…and return them. I just thought I would share my positive experience!

Bug A Boo

[Duckie]

Hey bugsy? Are you here, I need some info!!!!!

[bugaboo the clown]

I'll pop in the chat room...hope in and we can talk!

[Happy Chappy & Daisy]

I saw that banner too, and said, "Hey, Netflix for magic!" Didn't do it yet, though. Can't wait to find out how well you like it.

[bugaboo the clown]

I love it so far. You can look through the huge list of DVD's. Everything from Balloons to children's magic..My queue list is pretty big! They Ship from Philly I believe.. Sure beats buying them.

[Wowza]

Or, at very least, it lets you know which ones you want to buy before plunking down the hard earned coin. If it was a good enough DVD, I'd want to refer back to it.

[noname]

I wonder how legal this is and whether it is infringing on any creative licenses, since this is not renting a movie, but the secrets to patented and artist specific effects. For example, Daniel Garcia is an amazing magician and has many unique effects and handling which you get when you rent his video. But what happens if you don't buy it, some amazing secrets are revealed for a lot less than you would have paid.

I don't know, I think it would be good if they didn't have magic videos to rent.

[tim]

I'm not sure I'm following, but how would "renting" be any different than, say, renting a video at the store or on cable? Or are they essentially "giving it away?" Even if you don't buy, I think it is proven sales technique to offer something for free knowing that there are people who will want to own it and you'll sell more than if you just kept it something of a secret until after they purchase. I mean, even if you see the trick and its secrets presented, that doesn't mean you'll be able to accomplish the trick too. But magic demonstrations certainly sell tricks (and how-tos), nonetheless.

[noname]

Originally Posted by tim

I'm not sure I'm following, but how would "renting" be any different than, say, renting a video at the store or on cable? Or are they essentially "giving it away?" Even if you don't buy, I think it is proven sales technique to offer something for free knowing that there are people who will want to own it and you'll sell more than if you just kept it something of a secret until after they purchase. I mean, even if you see the trick and its secrets presented, that doesn't mean you'll be able to accomplish the trick too. But magic demonstrations certainly sell tricks (and how-tos), nonetheless.

Because you buy magic videos to get the secret and thereby support the magician who developed those secrets or a new type handing specific to that person. When you rent them, you get the exposure without the obligation of buying, granted, you need to learn the effect(s) taught, but still I see it as a bit unethical, from a magic perspective.

[tim]

I guess I can see where you are coming from. Perhaps the renter ought to have to pay a higher fee for offering the service or something.

But, then, I also see it a bit like music sharing and giveaways. Generally, it leads to greater sales in the long run as people ultimately want to own at a greater degree because of the initial exposure. So I think that it tends to help everyone all around.