Hello all.

This is not exactly a sale but I thought I'd pop it in here to get everyone's opinion.

The Little Magic Shop has kindly sponsored SMC a brand new set of Dream Multiplying Silicon Balls with DVD (retails $136) for us to raise some funds for the forum and our SMC activities. This was sponsored in conjunction to the official re-launch of the website (www.thelittlemagicshop.com) today.

As some of you are aware, there are inevitable running costs to maintain this growing site and its activities, especially as we are looking forward to bigger and better things to come.
It's been a very wonderful 2 years+ that SMC has been actively helping in building up the local magic community. I have further dreams and bigger plans for SMC but because I firmly believe in keeping SMC free for the users, we're are looking at some creative ways of raising the necessary moola.B)

Does anyone have any good suggestions about how we can use this item in a SMC "fund raising" way? I'm thinking of having an auction for the set, but does anyone have a more interesting idea?

Please share your thoughts B)

Aloy

Just my suggestion, hold a competition, with participation fee and entrance fee for the finals. 1st prize, the multiplying ball

If you auction it, only 1 person contributes.. Somemore this is not a cheap product.. Lol. What Lefty suggested is ideal, but sure is gonna take alot of pains to arrange one.. :P

Ya total hassle to arrange one, but should be quite fun since the last comp was ages ago. Venue is already 1 big problem, some of my friends was about the arrange a poly comp, a big gathering for all poly magicians and a mini competition, and we find that it will be a big headache.

You will never get the full retail price if you put it up for auction.

Competition is a good idea but we need a proper place.

How about having a lucky draw? Tickets can be sold at $2. Particpants can buy as many tickets as they want but subjected to a minimum no. of participants.

Competition is a good idea, but I think we cannot have a competition with only 1 prize right? :lol:
Unless more people become interested in sponsoring us. :g:

Lucky draw ticket is a good idea too. Magic Lottery. B)
But how many will buy the ticket?
Will you pay $2 to support SMC and a change to win the prize? ;)

$2 and a chance to win that set of multiplying balls is definitely attractive.. I'll probably buy myself a couple more chances. :lol:

Alternatively, maybe TLMS can sponser a couple smaller goodies? Or, you can put this set of multiplying balls up for sale, and use the money and buy like 5 smaller stuffs. I feel that this set of multiplying balls is too ex to be given out even as a 1st prize.. Something like Tommy Wonder's book or Darwin Ortiz's book will be good enough for a first prize already.. :rolleyes:

Actually thinking about it a little bit more, I question the legality of doing something like this. I like the idea of a Magic Lottery but I think to sell "lucky draw" tickets, we have to jump thru some legal hoops and it has to be for a registered charity.

So it's either auction or competition it seems. Or any more suggestions?

Not sure if this is possible:

Is IT world……so why not holding an online competition!!! No headache to plan and get a big venue…..

Every participant will prepare his BEST performance video. Rules and regulations, like if editing of the clip is allow or not, could be set before hand to avoid dispute. The most important thing is that the whole performance must be smooth and entertaining.

Whoever took part in the contest, will pay the participant fee, says $10 - $20. With just this $, you have a chance to win yourself a BIG prize. Maybe we can get sponsor for 2nd and 3rd prize if there are many participants.

There will be “Entrance Fee” as well :) For those members that are shy to perform but would like to watch how well our Singapore magicians are, just need to pay for the “unlimited” entry tickets to view the performance any time any where :)

There could be a voting too….. like Singapore Idol, but here we have Singapore Magician :) the first “online” magician in SMC goes to…..….. :)
Voting is by PM of course and is kept confidential. If necessary, voting could be chargeable as well, says 20cent? Or should it be free?

All the performance could be made into a DVD and sell to SMC member again to raise funds :!!:

I am not sure if this works and if there will be lot of IT work to be involved …. Any way, just try to contribute some idea in how we can raise the fund :) hope it helps and i thought it will be fun to have a breakthrough and try something new!

Is this the same as donation where it needs a license? :unsure:

Cheers!

Y not we try to busk or do street magic lol.. then the amount we collect goes to smc :)

I think that the purpose of having a actual venue is to not only look at the creativity of the whole act, but the stage presence, how they handle situation when thing goes wrong... i have also thought of the idea of having a E-competition...

And a proper venue will also help the admins to meet up with the new forumites like us, more like a interactive session than just a competition. :D

Yes, agree with you....

I just feel that competition using video performance will not only encourage stage magicians, those that are really good in close-up magic could join in too => more participants :)

Furthermore, i believe if the "entrance tickets" is reasonable, most of the SMC forumites will sure to support. It is any time and any where at our convenient to watch the performance.

If this is successful... Aloy may hold this competition annually to rasie fund for SMC :)

But sincerely I do not know if is legal to do it...

Cheers

I managed to conjole a deal out of Ning for a little additional support to go along with this item.
It will be something fun and interesting.;)

Planning it still...but look out for it. B)