talkmagic.co.uk

"I've got a word here...any idea what it is?"
"No"
"That's right - the word is 'no'!"

"Think of a celebrity...who is it?"
"Here they were as a baby"

This is obviously an oft-performed joke. My question is - are there rules as to who can perform it? I've seen many people perform it. Is it really allowed to be performed by anyone?

I'm sure that probably depends upon your own morals, as a performer; if you're saying that you are aware that this clearly somebody elses' routine, and you then perform said routine, word for word (or even a significant chunk of it), does that make you guilty of plagiarism?

The only person who can objectively answer that would be you

Rob wrote:I'm sure that probably depends upon your own morals, as a performer; if you're saying that you are aware that this clearly somebody elses' routine, and you then perform said routine, word for word (or even a significant chunk of it), does that make you guilty of plagiarism?

The only person who can objectively answer that would be you

My instincts tell me that using those punchlines are taking other people's jokes, but it is the quantity of people performing the same jokes which makes me wonder whether 'plagiarism' is an applicable term.

I would say not as nobody repeats a joke verbatim. It's more a throwaway piece and several books I own mention using it, so I would make it my own and go for it.

95% of magic is plagerism if that is the way you view it.

I don't know how old the baby gag is, but the No gag is old enough to be in the public domain and can be used by anyone. Just don't slavishly follow someone elses exact presentation.

Ive been using both of those, and also the Bar code gag for the last 2 years in my standup set.

As Tony pointed out 95% of magic has been performed before but if you can put your own spin on it, patter /presentation then you can make it your own.

Incidently it does get plenty of laughs.

Deano

Personally I don't see why jokes and routines etc shouldn't be copied?

If you're at a gig and you're not allowed to use a joke then technically you will have to perform your own tricks in your own routine made by yourself using your own material! Then off course any music being played must be made by yourself etc etc.


The way I look at it is that the routines for tricks and/or gags are tried as tested, so why not perform it as it was written?

The only thing I would say is try not to mimic the style of the magician or magicians from whom the tricks originate.

It is a marketed effect/routine called "Mindreading 101":
http://www.magicshop.co.uk/p1529/Mindre ... _info.html" target="_blank

However, whether that means you should buy it before you can perform it, I'm not sure.

TDGinge wrote:Personally I don't see why jokes and routines etc shouldn't be copied?

If you're at a gig and you're not allowed to use a joke then technically you will have to perform your own tricks in your own routine made by yourself using your own material! Then off course any music being played must be made by yourself etc etc.


The way I look at it is that the routines for tricks and/or gags are tried as tested, so why not perform it as it was written?

The only thing I would say is try not to mimic the style of the magician or magicians from whom the tricks originate.

This is not the same as people performing music, people who perform music written by others and do it all above board have to have permission to perform it and have an agreement over cost. If they are using recorded music during a show they need to comply with copyright laws etc.

Basically any written material/performance can't be copied without permission and paying the necessary fees. This is why material shouldn't be copied. Performers, have families mortgages bills etc and they deserve to be paid for their work.

When people go about copying other peoples work they should ask how they would feel if someone stole a portion of their income each week,month or year.

Nick,
Unfortunately we are caught between immorality and illegality. A magic trick, like a recipe in a cookery book cannot be copywrighted.