The Definitive Magic Community for Magicians, by Magicians, about Magicians!

Copying vs. Creating Original Magic Patter/Routines/Jokes

Please view the following clip of my show as it will help understand my comments below...

This Change Bag and Silks routine is one I've been performing in my act for 15 years! It's truly great for both children and adults.

Couple important comments I'd like to make on this routine... Some of the patter and jokes - for example with the broken wand and fan, "Are you nervous? No, then why are you shaking? - are jokes that are commonly performed by many magicians and in the public domain!

There are also a couple other jokes that are original to my routine. At the beginning of the clip you'll see me do a great joke with a prop I created while browsing an office supply store looking for ideas (yes, an office supply store)! I use the desk/hotel bell as a cue to bring a volunteer from the crowd to the stage. Anytime the volunteer hears the bell, they are to join me on stage! Very simple and a ton of fun. I use this bit as a running gag through-out the show. In other words, at different points during my performance I'll ring the bell and have the volunteer help me out.

The second joke I created.. which is very simple, is performed during the change bag routine. I ask the volunteer to "take this finger" and circle it over the bag and say abracadabra. Well, 9 out of 10 times the volunteer will take his/her finger. I repeat myself "take this finger" until they actually take MY FINGER! This also gets a great laugh! I've been performing these two jokes in my show for 15 years! If you'd like to use in your act... Please feel free, but first let me know! I'd love to hear your stories of success with them; perhaps even see a video clip of you performing it!

It's often difficult for magicians to share their original routines and jokes with other magicians with the fear that they will be copied. I share in their feelings, but also believe the expression that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! With that said, if you ever see a joke or routine in another magicians act that you would like to make your own, PLEASE ask the magician for permission and for more information on the source of the material.

Of course, I always recommend you create your own material that is unique to your style of performance!

Tags: desk bell joke, original jokes, take this finger joke

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Peng on July 18, 2008 at 8:21pm: Here's my two Aussie cents...

The real acid test on whether to copy or create is dependant on your own character that you want to display as a magician. There may be lines or gags that other people have created that fits our own style like a silk glove. Other times, you would have to create your own patter/gags/routines.

I guess most of the time, particularly for the great 'classics' of magic, you've only been given the bare basics - merely the naked structure, the skeleton if you will, in which you, as the individual and unique magician, will flesh out.

As for sharing your jokes and what not - I would have no problem in sharing my own patterlines/jokes/routines/etc...because I know that these creations only fits me and those people who has a similar presentational style as me. It is really only those people who benefit. Yes, other people might take it and use it and it might count as 'plagarism' or 'stealing'. But eventually, those people would find out that those patterlines/jokes/routines doesn't add anything to their magic. It would only add confusion and hindrance. The wise magician would cut it out and seek another's creations or develop your own.

And yes, I agree with Ryan - if you want to use someone else's creations, then you will have to get their permission and give credit when it is appropriate (e.g. not during a performance!). However, contacting a magician may not always be possible - that magician may have already past away, or is hard to reach, since I assume that all professional magicians are busy all the time. So, I guess the best proxy for this is to purchase their products that contains those patterlines/jokes/gags that you want to use in your own magic.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nick Roberts on September 13, 2008 at 1:12am: I agree with all of the above, except for the part that professional magicians are busy all of the time...MOST "professional magicians", myself included, have a regular job.

Which brings up another discussion, don't put all of your proverbial "eggs in one basket". Unless you're able to land a regular gig, like Lance Burton, etc., you shouldn't try to make it on magic alone.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nick Roberts on September 13, 2008 at 1:25am: Amen,

We should get ideas from others...but we should customize our patter & routines to compliment our own personalities.

I LOVE Michael Finney's jokes, but for me to use them in my show would result in disaster !

I LOVE Slydini's moves, but it would be totally out of place for me to try to immitate his style.

Lots of would-be dove-workers tried, unsuccessfully, to immitate the inimmitable Channing pollock, years ago. It did not work for them, because his style was simply to ellegant for the average magician to try to take on.

It's like being a karaoke singer, and taking on the challenge of a Whitney Houston song. You'd better be THAT GOOD, or else leave it out of your repertoire, ya know ?

Does anyone disagree ?

Nick; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by marujie ken on July 21, 2008 at 4:40am: i think its better to create your own tricks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Robert Ace on July 21, 2008 at 4:49pm: I've heard that being a magician is that you're playing the role of a magician. Thus I'm at work at creating the image for my "character".
So I try to think up routines suiting to that character. That might be a good starting point. Go after what sort of character you are as a magician.

That's my tip. I might be a newbie at magic, but I have experience making characters...I'm an amature comic artist (did my first real comic when I was 8).; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jordan on July 23, 2008 at 9:15pm: I agree with what you said character is really what matters to become a good magician. Very well said.; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jordan on July 23, 2008 at 9:18pm: Hi Ryan I found this interesting article by the President of the Inner Magic Club of the Philippines. It talks about originality and practicality of a trick. I hope this would help you gain more insight on the matter.
Here is the link http://innermagicclub.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/on-originality/; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Jesse Davis on August 16, 2008 at 8:51pm: I think I might try the bell if its OK with you, I will just use a different kind.

Also, when they come up, I will say (I will chose a boy) "you will be my beautiful assistant today"

but first, we must make you LOOK like a beautiful asistant!
I will give him a wig, some huge high heel shoes and a dress

I imagine this will get a great laugh

Is it OK if I use the bell idea?; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nick Roberts on September 13, 2008 at 1:14am: This would be funny, but be careful NOT to embarass any of your helpers. It's better, in my opinion, to make yourself the "butt of the joke", and to make your volunteer the "hero".

Nick; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by zed fuentes on September 10, 2008 at 8:48am: Being a copy cat magicians is not always working out for the copier because when the time you perform it and someone see's that trick you can be embarrase; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Paul Romhany on September 12, 2008 at 8:13pm: Rudy Coby summed it all up in his lecture. He talks about how to be a successful magician. All you have to do is take these two points and look at EVERY successful magician in the world. These apply to them ALL.

1) Have a strong character
2) Have original magic; ▶ Reply to This

Permalink Reply by Nick Roberts on September 13, 2008 at 1:16am: Cute, very cute. I like it. ( the bell joke and"take my finger") :)

Nick; ▶ Reply to This