Recently Helder Guimarães entered the expanding space of subscription services. The idea of a subscription service wasn’t new to me as I was a supporter of Ben Earl’s The Family during its first year. I really enjoyed it however I found I was just watching the videos and not studying and learning the offerings. It became too much like mindlessly watching television.
I have Helder’s last book, Secret Language Volume One, and it’s one that I have studied since it came out in 2019. It’s a massive collection – over 500 pages of tricks, sleights, and essays. I believe it’s out of print now. I also have his Red Mirror video collection that teaches a set he performed the Magic Castle. His Twisting Jokers is a regular item in my EDC wallet.
When I heard about his subscription service, needless to say I was intrigued. The price is in line with other offerings. It’s in Euros but current exchange rate brings it in at $110 a year. It consists of a weekly video, an essay section and an online discussion forum. The latter uses What’s App.
What’s bothersome is that the video and essay are only available until the next set is released. It’s not a library like the Family. In his last email, Helder wrote:
Each weekly piece is only available for a limited time
When a new video or article is released, the previous one disappears.
Not to create urgency – but to protect presence. If you’ve been meaning to watch, this is your moment.
I would argue that it does create urgency and most likely some unhappy subscribers. Unless one uses a download tool, one has to access it quickly. This isn’t studying and learning. It’s a forced march. Subscribers will develop some awareness but true learning and skill takes time. This doesn’t allow for that.
I wish Helder well in this endeavor. It’s not for me and may not be for many others.
