Some things to think about:
1) Given the time allotted and the resources available to the student, are they empowered after your tutorial to make real use of that information.
I have been teaching magic for over 20 years, and this to me is the first question I ask: Will they be able to truly learn this information after I have spent time with them. If not, then they have no reason to care. We have just thrown that information away.
For example, none of my students have access to a professional stage with lighting, and none of them own the equipment to saw someone in half. For me to explain that trick would be exposure - there is no way they can master, or make real use, of that information. They have no reason to protect it, and they have no reason to know it. Now, if one of them DID buy the stuff and came to me for help, that would be different.
Likewise, when I teach a card trick, I make sure that the students will be able to understand the concepts fully and achieve a degree of understanding required for real use. I would never teach the classic force to beginners or even intermediates, because that technique requires a degree of understanding and commitment that they have not developed. Further, given the length of my classes, I know there is no way I can get them to a level of competence in the time we have. It is my responsibility to make sure the material I release is going to be respected.
Heck, I don't even teach the KEY card because even though the technique is easy to master, it can be such a powerful tool and I do not want to expose that tool to those who truly are not ready to appreciate the depth of use this technique can be employed for.
I CAN teach the French Drop in the amount of time I have, cover the theoretical essentials in a manner that will be understood, and get everyone to a level of competence. I can make sure that when they leave, they have a sense of ownership of that idea.
So, if the trick requires something they will not have - a prop, a venue, an understanding, or a skill, then to teach it to them is exposure.
2) What investment has the student made? If there is no investment, then it is probably exposure.
Now, I'm not suggesting investment means they "paid money." Buying a book, spending time researching in a library, being a roadie for a mentor, even just proving their seriousness would all establish that the person is genuinely interested. Simply doing a search on google hardly qualifies as a serious investment of one's time. If you had a way to establish that the people viewing were serious in their pursuit of magic - for example, you made this DVD for people who you met with every week for a mini magic session - then that would be one step to establishing the difference between teaching and exposure.
I have had people express an interest in learning a certain trick, for example. I would give them some task - something that would be a skill needed in order to achieve mastery of that trick. If they took to time to develop that skill, then I know they may be serious in their interest. I will offer another step, and another. Then, I will help them put them together. But by then, I know they are serious, and I know they will respect and protect the information shared. They earned it. Didn't cost them a dime, but they earned it.
3) Is the trick currently being marketed?
If the trick is being sold in any proprietary way?
If a trick is being sold as a dealer's item, on someone's DVD, or in someone's book, it is wrong to teach that trick without first receiving their permission. Of course, there is a grey area here. For example, if you wanted to teach a truly classic trick that might be on someone's beginner DVD, as long as you own the original source and truly found that trick in the original source on your own, then it would be ok to teach that trick.
4) Is the trick associated with a professional performer?
I don't care if it's David Blaine, Derren Brown, or the magician you saw at the local restaurant last week - it's wrong to fish for material from someone else's act. If you see something you like in someone's act, ask THEM! Don't go behind their back and ask for someone to expose their secret for you, and don't do behind their back and expose their secret to someone else.
Even if it's a trick in print, they found it, they polished it, they made it something special - everyone else overlooked it. To teach that trick is to take something away from them.
Imagine is the shoe were on the other foot.
This is not everything you need to consider, but its a good start. Finally, I leave with this question(s):
Why should any of us offer free tutorials on magic in a public forum? Does that help our cause? Afterall, if someone were interested, wouldn't they find a magic book in a library, a magic shop in their state, a magician in their town? Does making things easier make things better? Can we ensure that the people who are looking at these tutorials use this information in a positive, respectful manner? Is it worth taking the risk if we can't?
