Online teaching sessions?

Mark · 07-07-2011, 12:25 AM

What do you guys think, should I start doing online teaching sessions for rather cheap prices? I'm a little tired of seeing Aaron Fisher and Ellusionist doing and advertising those and in my opinion not helping as much as they could (especially because most of those magicians are true classic artists who seem to be a little stuck in the classic world of magic, if I'm very honest).

From experience I know that I can help people quite a lot. And I'm getting a little annoyed by the tons of people that expect me to have all time in the world to have a video chat with them and to help them out with whatever, whenever they want to.

So this is specifically on magic teaching, through Skype and private Tinychat sessions. So no hanging out sessions, which of course will be for free and only attempted whenever I got time for it and whenever I feel like it.

Let me know what you guys think.

la0o9 · 07-07-2011, 01:18 AM

Well, to be honest, i think the video chat thingy was partly our( your supporters and the people who believes in your magic) fault( i did remember a few people in the past saying something like "if you want to be proven wrong, you just have to ask Mark to show you it in a video chat session" or something of the sort).

And about the online sessions, as much as i like the idea, it might be a bit hard for a lot of people( you know, with the time zone and all), tho if you want this to be another DSZ style product( only available for a lucky few who found it on time), then it's a fine idea( tho selling a whole course with one online session every once in a while and then have those available for download for those who bought the course is also good)

TheMisdirectingHand · 07-07-2011, 02:39 AM

It's a great idea! As long as you don't charge overpriced amounts of money. So how is this going to work? Are you going to be teaching people extensively? Or just starting with the basics and whatnot?

... but on the other hand... NO MORE HANGING OUT SESSIONS? D:

Kieran Oloughlin · 07-07-2011, 06:55 AM

I think it is a very good idea! But for people who live in other coutries with very diffrent timezones may miss out (cough australia cough) if you do them, so maybe you should also record them and send them to people who are not avaliable if you do it that is.

Albert · 07-07-2011, 07:01 AM

Yeah, sounds great!! Do I get a discount?

Just out of curiosity, are you planning on a 1 to 2 hour session?

Mark · 07-07-2011, 12:34 PM

Don't worry about the time zones, I will be able to do those all day and night long. Also, I don't expect tons of people to attempt those.

Basically, I will have people ask what they want to learn or improve on. If I can help them, I will. The sessions will be for either 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hours or 2 hours per session. A short summary including the lessons will be shot and sent as a private video afterwards.

I was originally thinking to ask $0.50 per minute, but maybe this is too cheap? Cheapest you can get at Ellusionist is $49.95. Maybe I should ask $0.75 per minute, that way an hour is $45 which is still the cheapest then. Sounds reasonable?

David, don't worry about the hang-out sessions. Read the top post again. It's just that I will be doing less of those.

And Albert, you're one of us. You may as well be doing such sessions yourself.

la0o9 · 07-07-2011, 02:51 PM

i think that's a good idea, but i have no comment on the price.

Fin · 07-08-2011, 04:57 AM

It all sounds pretty good to me. I'd be very careful with the small print though and make sure you get it right. The last thing you want is someone asking for all their money back just because you had to pop to the toilet or go and cook some bacon. If anything, you should charge more for that sort of tutorial! Some people are so ungrateful.

Mark · 07-09-2011, 12:15 AM

Yay, I know. Thanks. Although, I would've never thought of cooking some bacon in between.. stop giving me bad ideas!

The name of the program will probably be eMprove. Improve, e = self-explanatory, M = magic. You guys like that?

la0o9 · 07-09-2011, 01:32 AM

Nice pun indeed, i like it( not that my opinion matters much...)

Kieran Oloughlin · 07-09-2011, 05:13 AM

So if you do this, what will you teach people? WIll you say what will be taught each lesson or not? Will people pay for private lessons and then say I wanna leanr confidental (or any other tricks) and you will go okay this is what you do.... or will it be based on improving things they already know?

Fin · 07-09-2011, 09:02 AM

eMprove is good.. improve, empower, empire-crushingly-good-sleight-of-hand, e-commerce (?) internet, M is for Magic and of course Mystery Mark, and of course.. bacon! It makes sense and sounds good as a title. But seriously, I think it sounds great. Such a good one in fact I wouldn't be surprised if someone has already nicked it?

Mark · 07-09-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kieran Oloughlin

So if you do this, what will you teach people? WIll you say what will be taught each lesson or not? Will people pay for private lessons and then say I wanna leanr confidental (or any other tricks) and you will go okay this is what you do.... or will it be based on improving things they already know?

Well, people can ask whatever they want but I have to agree with it first, before any appointment or payment is made. People could ask for help with their passes for instance, or with controls, or color changes, or presentations, all granted. But if they want an hour of me personally teaching them how to make 'The Flash', I won't agree with that.

It will be mainly on improving things they already know, to make the best out of those. If another, new technique is needed to improve, I will teach them that too. And of course I'll throw in a lot of my modern magic theories and subtleties.

Glad you guys like the name! eMprove it is!

Travmang · 07-09-2011, 12:47 PM

5,000 dollars for a 2 hour intense tutorial for 'Smooth!' Actually that is a ripoff... for you! 2 million dollars it is then!

la0o9 · 07-10-2011, 12:46 AM

so Mark... you're saying that if say, i, know how to do the smooth color change, but not very well, and then i show you that i actually know, you, may be, would agree to teaching me the Smooth so that i can perfect it if i pay you for one of these sessions?

Mark · 07-10-2011, 01:09 AM

Sure, but there is a risk you're taking then.. because you pay for the session before I see you do it. This means it may end up with me helping you perfecting the technique in question which may not be exactly like 'Smooth'. It's not that 'Smooth' is the answer to every color change or alike change.

la0o9 · 07-10-2011, 11:46 AM

true, but it IS the subject of interest of a lot of "matured" magicians like myself. But wait... i thought you saying:

Quote:

Well, people can ask whatever they want but I have to agree with it first, before any appointment or payment is made.

means that they can show you the things they want to improve on before the appointment and payment is made? or did i understand it wrong?

Mark · 07-10-2011, 11:58 AM

Well, yeah, basically they could show it in a video before any appointment or payment is made, but not on webcam because that is only after the appointment and payment. If they can make a video of it and it's close enough to 'Smooth', further help on 'Smooth' will be provided. If it's not close enough, it might end up being 'AToMS' or something alike.

Please realize that this is not about learning a specific effect. However, if you have problems with the 'Pass', it's likely that I will end up teaching you the 'Practical Pass' or some of its subtleties to have you improve on the 'Pass'. In case you're having trouble with an effect you purchased, you will definitely be helped too.

Kieran Oloughlin · 07-10-2011, 12:16 PM

You really wanna learn smooth dont you la0o9?

la0o9 · 07-11-2011, 05:54 PM

oh i see what you mean now Mark

@Kieran: yep, it's my current goal as a magician, with one mean or another, to know the secert behind it, and be able to perform it perfectly, tho i know it's NOT the answer to everything, it's one of the more impossible things that could happen in someone's hands without the need of aid, and that's what makes it alluring for me

07-07-2011, 12:25 AM	#1
Mark Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 935	Online teaching sessions? What do you guys think, should I start doing online teaching sessions for rather cheap prices? I'm a little tired of seeing Aaron Fisher and Ellusionist doing and advertising those and in my opinion not helping as much as they could (especially because most of those magicians are true classic artists who seem to be a little stuck in the classic world of magic, if I'm very honest). From experience I know that I can help people quite a lot. And I'm getting a little annoyed by the tons of people that expect me to have all time in the world to have a video chat with them and to help them out with whatever, whenever they want to. So this is specifically on magic teaching, through Skype and private Tinychat sessions. So no hanging out sessions, which of course will be for free and only attempted whenever I got time for it and whenever I feel like it. Let me know what you guys think.

07-07-2011, 01:18 AM	#2
la0o9 Move monkey atm Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Not where you'd want to go :P Posts: 747	Well, to be honest, i think the video chat thingy was partly our( your supporters and the people who believes in your magic) fault( i did remember a few people in the past saying something like "if you want to be proven wrong, you just have to ask Mark to show you it in a video chat session" or something of the sort). And about the online sessions, as much as i like the idea, it might be a bit hard for a lot of people( you know, with the time zone and all), tho if you want this to be another DSZ style product( only available for a lucky few who found it on time), then it's a fine idea( tho selling a whole course with one online session every once in a while and then have those available for download for those who bought the course is also good) __________________ "Doubt isn't the same as saying people are bad, it simply means you actually care, 100% trust is nothing more than ignorance"~ Akiyama Shinichi- Liar Game "It's not the destination but the road to it that is worth the trip" "Be careful what you wish for... it might just come true"~ old saying "It's a small world, but only relatively" "Reality is not the world, it is the way humankind depicts the world, thus when you alter a person's way of seeing the world, you alter reality itself"

07-07-2011, 02:39 AM	#3
TheMisdirectingHand David Nguyen Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Rosemead, California Posts: 406	It's a great idea! As long as you don't charge overpriced amounts of money. So how is this going to work? Are you going to be teaching people extensively? Or just starting with the basics and whatnot? ... but on the other hand... NO MORE HANGING OUT SESSIONS? D: __________________ "There are three types of people in this world; •People who talk and never do: The Lower Class •People who talk and do at the same time: The Middle Class •People who do before they ever talk: The Upper Class A real man does not need to talk. We are the upper class." -Joseph Lau

07-07-2011, 07:01 AM	#5
Albert DarkSleightZ Artist Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Canada Posts: 671 Donor Score: 110	Yeah, sounds great!! Do I get a discount? Just out of curiosity, are you planning on a 1 to 2 hour session? __________________ "Bluffing is an important act to all strategies." - Lelouch Lamperouge

07-07-2011, 02:51 PM	#7
la0o9 Move monkey atm Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Not where you'd want to go :P Posts: 747	i think that's a good idea, but i have no comment on the price. __________________ "Doubt isn't the same as saying people are bad, it simply means you actually care, 100% trust is nothing more than ignorance"~ Akiyama Shinichi- Liar Game "It's not the destination but the road to it that is worth the trip" "Be careful what you wish for... it might just come true"~ old saying "It's a small world, but only relatively" "Reality is not the world, it is the way humankind depicts the world, thus when you alter a person's way of seeing the world, you alter reality itself"

07-07-2011, 06:55 AM	#4
Kieran Oloughlin Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 414	I think it is a very good idea! But for people who live in other coutries with very diffrent timezones may miss out (cough australia cough) if you do them, so maybe you should also record them and send them to people who are not avaliable if you do it that is.

07-07-2011, 12:34 PM	#6
Mark Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 935	Don't worry about the time zones, I will be able to do those all day and night long. Also, I don't expect tons of people to attempt those. Basically, I will have people ask what they want to learn or improve on. If I can help them, I will. The sessions will be for either 30 minutes, 1 hour, 1.5 hours or 2 hours per session. A short summary including the lessons will be shot and sent as a private video afterwards. I was originally thinking to ask $0.50 per minute, but maybe this is too cheap? Cheapest you can get at Ellusionist is $49.95. Maybe I should ask $0.75 per minute, that way an hour is $45 which is still the cheapest then. Sounds reasonable? David, don't worry about the hang-out sessions. Read the top post again. It's just that I will be doing less of those. And Albert, you're one of us. You may as well be doing such sessions yourself.

07-08-2011, 04:57 AM	#8
Fin Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 530	It all sounds pretty good to me. I'd be very careful with the small print though and make sure you get it right. The last thing you want is someone asking for all their money back just because you had to pop to the toilet or go and cook some bacon. If anything, you should charge more for that sort of tutorial! Some people are so ungrateful.

07-09-2011, 12:15 AM	#9
Mark Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 935	Yay, I know. Thanks. Although, I would've never thought of cooking some bacon in between.. stop giving me bad ideas! The name of the program will probably be eMprove. Improve, e = self-explanatory, M = magic. You guys like that?

07-09-2011, 01:32 AM	#10
la0o9 Move monkey atm Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Not where you'd want to go :P Posts: 747	Nice pun indeed, i like it( not that my opinion matters much...) __________________ "Doubt isn't the same as saying people are bad, it simply means you actually care, 100% trust is nothing more than ignorance"~ Akiyama Shinichi- Liar Game "It's not the destination but the road to it that is worth the trip" "Be careful what you wish for... it might just come true"~ old saying "It's a small world, but only relatively" "Reality is not the world, it is the way humankind depicts the world, thus when you alter a person's way of seeing the world, you alter reality itself"

07-09-2011, 05:13 AM	#11
Kieran Oloughlin Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 414	So if you do this, what will you teach people? WIll you say what will be taught each lesson or not? Will people pay for private lessons and then say I wanna leanr confidental (or any other tricks) and you will go okay this is what you do.... or will it be based on improving things they already know?

07-09-2011, 09:02 AM	#12
Fin Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 530	eMprove is good.. improve, empower, empire-crushingly-good-sleight-of-hand, e-commerce (?) internet, M is for Magic and of course Mystery Mark, and of course.. bacon! It makes sense and sounds good as a title. But seriously, I think it sounds great. Such a good one in fact I wouldn't be surprised if someone has already nicked it?

07-09-2011, 12:47 PM	#14
Travmang Pharaoh of Magicianry Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Seattle, Washington Posts: 249 Donor Score: 50	5,000 dollars for a 2 hour intense tutorial for 'Smooth!' Actually that is a ripoff... for you! 2 million dollars it is then!

07-10-2011, 12:46 AM	#15
la0o9 Move monkey atm Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Not where you'd want to go :P Posts: 747	so Mark... you're saying that if say, i, know how to do the smooth color change, but not very well, and then i show you that i actually know, you, may be, would agree to teaching me the Smooth so that i can perfect it if i pay you for one of these sessions? __________________ "Doubt isn't the same as saying people are bad, it simply means you actually care, 100% trust is nothing more than ignorance"~ Akiyama Shinichi- Liar Game "It's not the destination but the road to it that is worth the trip" "Be careful what you wish for... it might just come true"~ old saying "It's a small world, but only relatively" "Reality is not the world, it is the way humankind depicts the world, thus when you alter a person's way of seeing the world, you alter reality itself"

07-10-2011, 01:09 AM	#16
Mark Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 935	Sure, but there is a risk you're taking then.. because you pay for the session before I see you do it. This means it may end up with me helping you perfecting the technique in question which may not be exactly like 'Smooth'. It's not that 'Smooth' is the answer to every color change or alike change.

07-10-2011, 11:58 AM	#18
Mark Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 935	Well, yeah, basically they could show it in a video before any appointment or payment is made, but not on webcam because that is only after the appointment and payment. If they can make a video of it and it's close enough to 'Smooth', further help on 'Smooth' will be provided. If it's not close enough, it might end up being 'AToMS' or something alike. Please realize that this is not about learning a specific effect. However, if you have problems with the 'Pass', it's likely that I will end up teaching you the 'Practical Pass' or some of its subtleties to have you improve on the 'Pass'. In case you're having trouble with an effect you purchased, you will definitely be helped too.

07-10-2011, 12:16 PM	#19
Kieran Oloughlin Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 414	You really wanna learn smooth dont you la0o9?

07-11-2011, 05:54 PM	#20
la0o9 Move monkey atm Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Not where you'd want to go :P Posts: 747	oh i see what you mean now Mark @Kieran: yep, it's my current goal as a magician, with one mean or another, to know the secert behind it, and be able to perform it perfectly, tho i know it's NOT the answer to everything, it's one of the more impossible things that could happen in someone's hands without the need of aid, and that's what makes it alluring for me __________________ "Doubt isn't the same as saying people are bad, it simply means you actually care, 100% trust is nothing more than ignorance"~ Akiyama Shinichi- Liar Game "It's not the destination but the road to it that is worth the trip" "Be careful what you wish for... it might just come true"~ old saying "It's a small world, but only relatively" "Reality is not the world, it is the way humankind depicts the world, thus when you alter a person's way of seeing the world, you alter reality itself"