On April 15, 2023, a chaotic and unexpected event took place at the State University of New York (SUNY) campus in the form of a mascot brawl. What was supposed to be a friendly and spirited display of school pride quickly escalated into a full-blown spectacle that caught both students and faculty off guard. The commotion began during a routine halftime performance of the university's basketball game. The mascots from various SUNY campuses, including alums representing previous years, were gathered on the court to entertain the audience. These lovable and iconic figures, representing different schools and their unique identities, are typically seen as symbols of unity and a source of enthusiasm during sporting events. However, things quickly spiraled out of control when one mascot decided to play a prank on another.
This is old news to those of us who frequent Disneyland (I've known it since at least early summer), but for some reason they wanted it kept quiet. I take it that they announced it during their annual "letter" video?
Josh and Andy are go-getters, and they obviously have a significant amount of business experience, but surely the business of operating a brick and mortar magic shop presents challenges that are different from an online business. The sort of people you want in other words skilled salespeople will want high numeration but the sort of people that magic shops often end up with are minimum wage types or starving magicians.
However, things quickly spiraled out of control when one mascot decided to play a prank on another. The initial prank, which involved a harmless pie to the face, was meant to elicit laughs and create a lighthearted atmosphere. Unfortunately, this innocent gesture set off a chain reaction among the mascots.
The Genii Forum
Josh and Andy just announced they purchased Houdini's Magic Pier39 shop (San Francisco) and the magic shop on Disneyland Main St.
erdnasephile Posts: 4720 Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pmRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by erdnasephile » December 30th, 2022, 5:38 pm
Thanks for posting! I'm glad the deal is confirmed.
Dustin Stinett Posts: 7159 Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm Favorite Magician: Sometimes Location: Southern California Contact:
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Dustin Stinett » December 30th, 2022, 5:38 pm
This is old news to those of us who frequent Disneyland (I've known it since at least early summer), but for some reason they wanted it kept quiet. I take it that they announced it during their annual "letter" video?
Richard Kaufman Posts: 26917 Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand Location: Washington DC Contact:
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Richard Kaufman » December 30th, 2022, 5:41 pm
Written in an email. Subscribe today to Genii MagazineDustin Stinett Posts: 7159 Joined: July 22nd, 2001, 12:00 pm Favorite Magician: Sometimes Location: Southern California Contact:
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Dustin Stinett » December 30th, 2022, 5:57 pm
Just in time for the 2022 recap . Tarotist Posts: 1255 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » December 30th, 2022, 7:12 pm
I wish them luck with it. Opening a magic shop nowadays is asking for trouble. They are closing down all over the place left, right and centre.
Of course this is a tourist location so they might be in with a chance. The secret is to get GREAT demonstrators. That is the entire key. And it is not easy to do. The other thing is to be very selective on the merchandise for sale. Catering for magicians will lead to disaster. And the other major problem is for the owners to be absentee landlords. If they are not there at least 70% of the time I predict failure. When the cat is away the mice will play.
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Mac Stone » December 30th, 2022, 7:42 pm
Tarotist wrote: I wish them luck with it. Opening a magic shop nowadays is asking for trouble. They are closing down all over the place left, right and centre.
Of course this is a tourist location so they might be in with a chance. The secret is to get GREAT demonstrators. That is the entire key. And it is not easy to do. The other thing is to be very selective on the merchandise for sale. Catering for magicians will lead to disaster. And the other major problem is for the owners to be absentee landlords. If they are not there at least 70% of the time I predict failure. When the cat is away the mice will play.
They haven't opened a magic shop, they acquired an existing one that has been operating successfully for decades. I predict you are wrong.
Tarotist Posts: 1255 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » December 30th, 2022, 9:16 pm
Mac Stone wrote:Tarotist wrote: I wish them luck with it. Opening a magic shop nowadays is asking for trouble. They are closing down all over the place left, right and centre.
Of course this is a tourist location so they might be in with a chance. The secret is to get GREAT demonstrators. That is the entire key. And it is not easy to do. The other thing is to be very selective on the merchandise for sale. Catering for magicians will lead to disaster. And the other major problem is for the owners to be absentee landlords. If they are not there at least 70% of the time I predict failure. When the cat is away the mice will play.
They haven't opened a magic shop, they acquired an existing one that has been operating successfully for decades. I predict you are wrong.
I predict that I am right. After all, I AM psychic you know.
Anyway, I will tell you what I will do. In one years time, providing I am still alive, I shall bring this post back and we will see if they are still in business. I have been selling magic all my life and not just as a pitchman. I know what I am doing. I think they are out of their area of expertise. Still, we shall see in one years time.
MagicbyAlfred Posts: 2387 Joined: June 7th, 2015, 12:48 pm Favorite Magician: Bill Malone Location: Myrtle Beach, SC
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by MagicbyAlfred » December 31st, 2022, 9:13 am
I wish them good luck and success. Succeeding in business is no easy feat. Especially the business of operating a magic shop -- and now more than ever in view of the prevalence of online vendors. Among other things, it takes very hard work, planning, resourcefulness, and skillful and reliable personnel. And yes, location, location, location. Josh and Andy are go-getters, and they obviously have a significant amount of business experience, but surely the business of operating a brick and mortar magic shop presents challenges that are different from an online business.
As to the personnel aspect, I agree with Mark. A great demonstrator(s) is key. What sells a trick is blowing the customer's mind. This, in turn, requires smooth, clean, skillful presentation of the trick. When a demonstrator accomplishes this, especially up close and in person (as opposed to an online video), it immediately instills in the customer a fervent desire to be able to astonish other people the way they just were. They believe that by buying the trick, they too will be able to accomplish the little miracle they've just witnessed. That's what makes them reach for their wallets. They will, of course, find out that there is far more involved than just learning the secret..
Diego Posts: 501 Joined: June 16th, 2008, 11:29 amRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Diego » December 31st, 2022, 10:51 am
True: with Josh & Andy investing their ability and experience, it won't fail for lack of trying. Pro-active demonstrators are the key. Those who worked for the prior owner were always demonstrating, engaging customers in and out of the store to get them inside, knowing they were being watched via video as well as in house mgt.
I have seen demonstrators at the Disneyland store who were good and sometimes the store had clueless staff that must have been brought over from another area of the park, that day, knowing nothing of the merchandise or their purpose for being there.
Wizardz in Universal City had a passive demonstrator and sometimes other non-demoing staff that acted only as store clerks, but when Ray Pierce took over for a time, he brought the excitement that brought passer-by into the store, excited that they too could do magic, and buy things because they were told what to ask and pay for.
Tarotist Posts: 1255 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » December 31st, 2022, 11:01 am
The problem with most demonstrators is that they like magic too much. Think about it.BarryAllen Posts: 185 Joined: November 15th, 2009, 6:33 am Favorite Magician: Joe Riding & Chan Cansta. Location: Nuneaton England
Re: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by BarryAllen » December 31st, 2022, 1:51 pm
I wish them every success in their quest to keep two bricks and mortar outlets in business.
However, as Mark correctly points out, the type of Magic tricks that the average (non-magician) punter buys is far removed from what a more experienced Magician would be interested in.
I'm sure that they've got the business acumen to look at the books and identify what sells.
I may have only been a schoolkid back in 1978-80, but I quickly learnt that I could sell Svengali packs, plastic Cups & Balls the Dutch Looper and Dynamic Coins all day long - to tourists.
After these tricks, there was some (albeit less) interest in the Professor's Nightmare, Stripper pack and Spot Paddles. When it came to the rest of the Paul Daniels Dubreq Magic range; and the few Tenyo items that we stocked (Sandwich Platter, Wandering Hole and Squeeze Play) - forget it. They more or less sat on the shelves gathering dust for most of the time.
As also alluded to above, the key element of any future success will be the demmers. These ideally need to be Salesmen, not Magicians - who will often use every opportunity to showboat their finger-flinging skills. In fact, if I opened a Magic Shop, I think I'd rather recruit experienced sales people - who knew diddly-squat about Magic from the outset.
Running a Magic Shop for Tourists is all about a quick dem (not overly complicated) then getting the MONEY whilst they're still a captive audience. As anyone will know who has sold (relatively) low cost items, it's about shifting the numbers to an interested crowd - BEFORE they have a chance to walk away and spend their money elsewhere. The mindset needs to be "you've got a wallet in your pocket - and I want some of the contents" - not "here's another Magic Show for free folks".
Just my experience anyway. Having sold countless very high-value holidays and cruises as a travel agent over many years, nothing compares to cutting my teeth demming jokes and Magic tricks as a teenager. Oh such happy, happy days!
Tarotist Posts: 1255 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » December 31st, 2022, 2:34 pm
There could also be a high turnover of demonstrators. Who the hell wants to work with videos watching them all the time? And there is a catch 22 situation regarding salaries. The sort of people you want (in other words skilled salespeople) will want high numeration but the sort of people that magic shops often end up with are minimum wage types or starving magicians. Easier on the overheads that way but the downside is that the sales go down. And they don't last long anyway.
The best chance of success would be for Josh to work one location and Andy to work the other but of course that ain't gonna happen for obvious reasons. Which means delegation to other people. And that is where the trouble starts.
Incidentally Barry has the right mentality where this kind of thing is concerned.
AJM Posts: 1491 Joined: January 17th, 2008, 12:00 pm Location: ScotlandRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by AJM » December 31st, 2022, 2:52 pm
All the very best to Andi and Joshua with their new acquisition. Tarotist Posts: 1255 Joined: July 29th, 2021, 7:16 am Favorite Magician: David NixonRe: Vanishing Inc buys Houdini's Magic Shop
Post by Tarotist » January 1st, 2023, 4:57 pm
I suppose I should mention another obstacle with regard to staff. I could easily not mention it of course but then I would be doing a disservice to the new owners. New staff suffer from a disease known as "mushroomitis" in the business. Of course none of you especially the new owners will know what "mushroomitis" is. You have to be in the grafting business to understand and experience it. It applies in the situation under discussion too. Still, if I just tell you all what it is it will be ignored and not filed away in the memory for future use. However, if you, especially the new owners, make the effort to find out what it is then of course it will stick in the mind far better.
I haven't looked it up on google yet but I will be surprised if it is there. It is part of our secret language. Still, seek and ye shall find.
Richard Kaufman Posts: 26917 Joined: July 18th, 2001, 12:00 pm Favorite Magician: Theodore DeLand Location: Washington DC Contact:
One by one, mascots began retaliating against each other, fueled by a combination of competitive spirit and the desire to entertain the crowd. What started as playful shenanigans soon turned into an all-out brawl, with mascots grappling, tumbling, and engaging in comical fights across the basketball court. Spectators initially thought it was part of a well-crafted performance with choreographed stunts, but as the intensity grew, it became clear that this was an unscripted and chaotic event. The audience was torn between laughter and concern as they witnessed the mascots engage in exaggerated displays of athleticism and staged battles. Some even attempted aerial maneuvers, leading to hilariously unexpected outcomes. Campus security and event staff swiftly intervened, attempting to restore order and separate the mascots involved in the fray. However, their efforts were met with resistance, as the mascots continued to evade capture, using their playful agility to outwit their pursuers. Eventually, the mascots were subdued, and the event continued, albeit with a slightly subdued atmosphere. Calls for investigations into the incident and stricter regulations surrounding mascot performances have since begun to emerge, with concerned parents and university officials alike questioning the oversight and accountability surrounding such displays. While the mascot brawl of 2023 will undoubtedly be remembered as an extraordinary event, it serves as a reminder of the need for oversight and responsibility when it comes to these seemingly innocent displays of school pride. The incident has sparked a conversation about the boundaries and expectations surrounding mascots in college sports, prompting universities across the nation to reevaluate their policies and procedures to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all involved..
Reviews for "Suny Mascot Brawl 2023: A Battle to Remember"
- Emily J. - 1 star - I was deeply disappointed by the Suny mascot brawl 2023. The entire event seemed like a chaotic mess with no clear direction or purpose. The mascots themselves were overhyped and underwhelming, not to mention the lack of organization in their performances. It felt more like a random collection of mascots colliding into each other rather than an entertaining spectacle. Overall, I do not recommend attending this event unless you have a specific fondness for mascot chaos.
- John T. - 2 stars - As a fan of mascots, I had high hopes for the Suny mascot brawl 2023, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The entire event lacked coherence and it seemed like the mascots were just randomly running around without any real purpose. Additionally, the costumes were poorly designed and lacked creativity. For an event that should celebrate the spirit and energy of mascots, it was quite a letdown. I would suggest the organizers focus on improving the organization and quality of the mascots' performances for future events.
- Sarah M. - 1 star - The Suny mascot brawl 2023 was a complete disaster. The whole event felt disorganized and lacked any sort of engaging entertainment. The mascots seemed to be more focused on causing chaos rather than delivering a fun and engaging experience for the audience. The lack of structure and direction made it difficult to understand what was going on, and overall, it was a waste of time and money. I do not recommend attending this event unless you enjoy witnessing a jumbled mess of mascots without any clear purpose.