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When i first joined a 'magic club' i had to take an oath. This was called The Magician's Oath. I've noticed that a lot of 'magician' have no idea what it is.

"As a magician I promise never to reveal the secret of any illusion to a non-magician, unless that one swears to uphold the Magician's Oath in turn. I promise never to perform any illusion for any non-magician without first practicing the effect until I can perform it well enough to maintain the illusion of magic".

Once sworn to The Oath, one is considered a magician, and is expected to live up to this promise. A magician who reveals a secret, either purposely or through insufficient practice, may typically find oneself without any magicians willing to teach one any more secrets.

Anyone else taken an oath like this?

I am sure there are plenty of topics on this.

But one has to take a magicians oath, when joining IBM or SAM.

But many of the newer younger magicians. Dont care about it, heck many dont even truely respect the art at all. They just start to either- get known, impress people, ego, make them self seem better than others, to make money, because they saw Criss or David on TV.

I follow the oath set by IBM very strictly. I have very 'strong' ethics.

David The Cryptic wrote:I am sure there are plenty of topics on this.

But one has to take a magicians oath, when joining IBM or SAM.

But many of the newer younger magicians. Dont care about it, heck many dont even truely respect the art at all. They just start to either- get known, impress people, ego, make them self seem better than others, to make money, because they saw Criss or David on TV.

I follow the oath set by IBM very strictly. I have very 'strong' ethics.

Don't kid yourself, many of the older guys seem just as crass at times. In my opinion, even sharing secrets with others, who call themselves "Magicians" ain't too wise either.

Pretty sure I had to take one when I joined my magic club

Me too...

I've never taken one, nor do I think they're necessary. If someone is going to disrespect the art, there's no reason to expect them to respect a short collection of words with the inherently silly gesture of raising a hand.

Those who will respect the art will do so with or without an oath.

Then again, the nearest magic club to me is several hundred miles away; Magic isn't really big in the southern "Bible Belt" U.S.

Rob

Craig Browning wrote:

David The Cryptic wrote:I am sure there are plenty of topics on this.

But one has to take a magicians oath, when joining IBM or SAM.

But many of the newer younger magicians. Dont care about it, heck many dont even truely respect the art at all. They just start to either- get known, impress people, ego, make them self seem better than others, to make money, because they saw Criss or David on TV.

I follow the oath set by IBM very strictly. I have very 'strong' ethics.

Don't kid yourself, many of the older guys seem just as crass at times. In my opinion, even sharing secrets with others, who call themselves "Magicians" ain't too wise either.

Too true. I have delt with old and young alike on the subject. Many come on aim, msn, email, asking for secrets. I just block them from every asking again. Some I try to show the ethical way, but usually they are too... [fill in blank]

ITs a shame.

I've never taken one, nor do I think they're necessary. If someone is going to disrespect the art, there's no reason to expect them to respect a short collection of words with the inherently silly gesture of raising a hand.

Those who will respect the art will do so with or without an oath.

True...
I hadnt taken one officially, until I joined IBM. Even before that, I had great respect for the art and the performers- still do.
So your point is true.

Tradition, I believe, is one reason why the oath is kept.

Like the golden rule. ITs taught in school, but rarely followed by the people learning it.

Always keep the oath. Love the art.

The Magic Masters store takes The Oath pretty seriously. When I bought a trick from one of their stores in Chicago, the salesman (and fellow magician, obviously) took me into this weird little room that was behind a fake bookshelf, I kid you not.

I'd prefer to say that I took a pledge rather than an Oath and I think that David The Cryptic hit the nail when he said that much of this is based on tradition.

I think of a pledge as a bond between like minded individuals to respect one anothers art whereas a an Oath is something that you take in court or church.

I also very much agree with Craigs comment