Cardza wrote:People don't say it because it affects them directly they say it because ethically it is the right thing to do. You should respect the creator who is giving you this material to perform. Without them where would you be?
I agree. A lot of magic stores do not accept returns because you are paying for the secret. If you split the cost of the DVD then you are paying 50% of the price of the secret but you are learning 100% of the secret. You may not see the problem with that now but try to imagine that you have created an effect and produced a DVD that teaches that effect. Would you want multiple people to learn from one DVD and use your effect in their performances, making money from their performances while you have not made the money due you from each person who laerned from your DVD?
I understand not wanting to spend more money than you feel you have to, but I believe that you have to look at it from the effect creator's viewpoint, and if you cannot then try to place youefelf in that person's position and think if you would want someone to cheat you out of your deserved income. I have some books that I lend to people (usually people just starting out in magic), but I purchase extra copies of the books for lending and, if the person stays in magic I have them purchase a copy for themselves. You work hard to earn your money, and so do the magicians who sell their effects. Both deserve to be compensated for their work. Also keep in mind, if a magician does not make enough money from selling their effects due to people copying DVDs, photocopying books and/or sharing them that magician may just stop selling their effects. In that case, the person copying and/or sharing may have saved some money but has harmed, both directly and indirectly, a number of other magicians.
I will get off my soapbox now....