Although I will not get into the topic at hand thoroughly (most likely, not even at all), however I would like to point out a mistake people too often make in topics such as this. This mistake has been made numerous times already in this topic.
What am I blabbing about?
The distinction of the youth of magic (aka young magicians) v.s. people NEW to magic.
I am 14 years old right now; does that mean I got my start with Criss Angel? No. I got my start in magic over a half decade before Criss Angel became a celebrity.
The thing too many magicians are ignorant (they know that the distinction is there, they just fail to see it until it is actually "said") of is the difference between these two categories of magicians. Young magicians could have been in magic for 2, 5, 10, 15 years, learning and perfecting their art. These same magicians have performed for the President (need I tell anyone about Chad Juros at the White House Easter Party?), and have amazed thousands of professionals (notice I categorize skill and not age) at the SAM Stars of Tomorrow Show. These young magicians vary in experience, and some of them are better than your middle-aged and elderly magicians (too often referred to as pros just because of their age).
Then there are your NEW MAGICIANS
These can be 5 year olds, 15 year olds, or 55, heck 85 year-olds. A new magician is one who has just recently gotten into magic; one that has not learned about Ellusionist and all the other crap out on the internet right now. A new magician is one that has not learned many effects and does not appreciate the effort creators put into their work. A new magician is one who believes an effect beats performance and believes that David Blaine is the best magician to ever live (celebrity performer, arguably, but magician, no). A new magician is just beginning to learn about the world of magic- it's organizations, conventions, people, effects, "rules", ethics, and so on. However a new magician is not necessarily a young magician. A new magician can be ANY AGE. Re-read that please.
"New Magician" is a skill level and not an age and the new magician skill level is the one that makes the most mistakes (the same is with every profession). Experience comes with time SPENT in the art. And an 18 year old with 3 years experience is more experienced than a 50 year-old with one year's experience.
I will however admit that until you reach a certain age, the entire world is not necessarily seen by you. At 8 you don't worry about image, appearance, speech, presence, and so on unless you are told to (and even then you don't know why). I will be the first to admit this because I can see that in the past year I have advanced more than I did the first 4-5 years of my magic career. However that is why I said 18 year old with 3 years experience in my example. This still fits into the "young magician v.s. old magician", however around this age you begin to finally see the light in this world and see that things aren't always the way they appear. Compliments aren't always compliments, truth might not always be truth, and "performing" might not actually be PERFORMING. And at this age you begin to correct all aspects of your magic, and because the handling is already there, all you really need to correct is presentation and your view of things.
However that's already getting even more off topic. Point is the following:
1. We need to begin to understand the distinction between a young magician and a new magician.
2. We need to help and nurture both of these groups. Young magicians need to be shown "the real world" and not be sheltered until their mid-teens and new magicians need to be shown different communities and different approaches to magic.
3.The majority of the current new magicians need to be taught ethics.
4. Young magicians need to stop "getting all of the heat" for "ruining the art" (this is very debatable, however we do get blamed for it) when it is in fact the new magicians that simply do not understand ethics and the reasons behind those ethics.
Anyway, thanks for letting me ramble, and just remember that this is 'something for ya'll to think 'bout,'
~David Rysin
Edit:
P.S. Just to make it completely clear, Brad, I'm only being nit-picky about the difference between young and new that you and a few others in here made. I am however in 100%+ agreement with your above statement. I have always respected my peers (heck I've probably even sucked-up to a few magicians nevermind respected...) and I have always been treated with respect in return and have been able to learn some things from some great people...Things I would have never learned had I walked up to any of them saying "Yo dude, I'm Dave. Wanna see my brand new street magic effect?" *proceeds to do an effect with a svengali deck*.
Which also brings up the difference between invent and come up with...but that'll be saved for a future rambling...
Generally speaking, respect is rewarded with respect (and in the magic community the respect that you earn also includes knowledge and its avaliability to you). So learn to speak with adults and enjoy their presence. I was lucky enough to be "born with" being able to communicate with my elders and I have (usually) enjoyed their presence over the presence of a peer (unless that peer was also able to communicate with adults...then I enjoyed their presence). If that's you, then you're one step ahead of the game. If it isn't learn to do the above, and you will be greatly rewarded.
Anyway, good topic. Just had to get my 2 cents out there.
