Hiya Gang!
Every now and then I roll through Google to see what's what- and I just stumbled across these forums. Holy Smokes- you guys know your playing cards! It's absolutely awesome to see a group that is so passionate about their art and that also has the knowledge to go with it. Sheer epicness.
So, if you have a second, I'd love to introduce myself: My name is Jamie D. Grant and I make those
impossible bottles that some of you may have seen on David Blaine's, Theory's, De'Vo's, Elussionist's, or my site. Basically, it's like a ship in a bottle, but with a deck of playing cards. I sell them on my site and I also leave them on the street for people to find, via my
Send Wonder Campaign (it's hard to believe I've left almost a thousand out there). And for those of you that have seen one before, I know that the topic of price has probably come up. So, if I can, I'd love to touch base on that...
I know that a hundred buck is a lot of moohlah- I totally get that. And I also know that it's hard to understand the time and dedication that it takes into making one as, for the most part, not many people know all that it entails other than myself. So let me say that it's not a production line kind of thing. From driving to the dairy to all the moments until the end are done by no one except me. But even all of that is pretty much worthless...
Because it's not the act of putting a deck into a bottle that has value but the hope of putting the impossible into a visual form. And that's exactly what all of you do. Whether it's flourishing, magic, or even displaying, you're putting yourself out there to bring people a sense of inspiration, joy, and wonder. So how much is that worth? For me, it's worth everything. And I hope it is for you, as well. Because from the moment you pick up a deck of playing cards to the time that someone looks at you with admiration
is a lifetime of effort. It's not the cut they're seeing but the work it took to get there. It's not the flourish that's the art but, rather, you. You are the joy. You are the inspiration.You are the wonder. Don't ever sell yourself short because, whether you tell them or not, people can sense what you're worth. And you're worth everything. That's how I've always felt about it, anyways.
Okay, too much rambling on my part, lol. Thanks for taking the time and I totally look forward to learning from all of you!
My best,
jamie
www.SendWonder.com