Saturday, May 23, 2009

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Magicians Code

To be a good magician, one should never forget this :
  1. Practice every trick before you show it to anyone - even your parents! There’s an old saying, “A good magician never tells his secrets, and a bad magician doesn’t have to.” Practice, practice, practice.
  2. Never tell your secrets! Once people know how to do a trick all the mystery is gone. Plus, if they can do the trick too, your talent and skill is no longer special to them.
  3. Never repeat a trick for the same person. If they ask you to do it again, and they will, they are really looking for an opportunity to catch you the next time.
  4. Be a good audience member. Now you possess some of magic’s coolest secrets, if you see someone performing you MUST treat that person the same way you want to be treated. In other words, don’t let them or the audience knows that you know how the tricks are done.
  5. Most importantly, you should perform magic to entertain and mystify, not to show you are better than others. Remember, always strive to entertain your audience and treat them with respect. Without an audience, there is no magic.

The magicians code of ethics :
All members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians agree to:
  1. Oppose the willful exposure to the public of any principles of the Art of Magic, or the methods employed in any magic effect or illusion.
  2. Display ethical behavior in the presentation of magic to the public and in our conduct as magicians, including not interfering with or jeopardizing the performance of another magician either through personal intervention or the unauthorized use of another's creation.
  3. Recognize and respect for rights of the creators, inventors, authors, and owners of magic concepts, presentations, effects and literature, and their rights to have exclusive use of, or to grant permission for the use by others of such creations.
  4. Discourage false or misleading statements in the advertising of effects, and literature, merchandise or actions pertaining to the magical arts.
  5. Discourage advertisement in magic publications for any magical apparatus, effect, literature or other materials for which the advertiser does not have commercial rights.
  6. Promote the humane treatment and care of livestock used in magical performances.