Compare - The Ethics of Magic

Welcome to the official website for the ethics of the art of magic. This site was put together by a team of magicians and researchers, with the help of different books, websites and message boards and with the input and approval from many magicians and even laymen in order to make whatever you find on here as correct, complete and up-to-date as possible, with as goal to inform magicians on how to be the most respected artists in the world.

Please respect our work and do not publish any of the text elsewhere. Link to this website instead. That is the only way to make sure that the ethics are and stay complete, correct and up-to-date.

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The Classic Ethics

The ethics of magic as they used to be back in the day.

The Worker Ethics

Ethics for magicians who practice the art in real life.

The Online Ethics

Ethics for magic in the media, like on TV or on the internet.

Do not openly expose magic

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Do not perform a trick more than once for the same people

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	If done correctly, you could get away with this. Also, with the modern media, performances could be watched over and over again anyways. In that case, it is the online magician's responsibility to keep secrets safe for spectators who would repeat a performance numerous times.

Do not steal material

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Give credits where credits are due

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		To video performances for magicians as well.

Make everything you do your own

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Put time and effort into anything you perform

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Popularity and money should not be priorities

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Quick ways to become popular and to make money with the art are usually attempted in the media and on the internet. If a working (offline) magician puts the art second, this is not a problem.

Use magic terms correctly

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Incorrect usage of magic terminology and its negative effects came with the commercialization of the art.

Do not lie outside of performances

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Magicians were allowed to lie to each other in order to throw each other off completely. This is no longer appreciated.

Do not perform for entirely fake audiences

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Performing for fake audiences only has a negative effect on the art when done on TV or on the internet. Working (offline) magicians are allowed to use fake audiences, for instance to attract real ones.

There is no pride in figuring out effects, only in performing them

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Do not be a know-it-all

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Treat products with respect

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Digital copies did not yet exist.