The following happened today.
I'm currently in New Orleans on my winter break, catching up with friends, etc. One of my closest friends who goes to Reed College and I went out to get some shrimp po-boys at this hole-in-the-wall place and while waiting, I did my version of Out of this World.
I've known this trick for a while. It's a classic of magic and is considered by many to be the greatest card trick ever invented. I do my own version of the trick with my own presentation and my own little twist that I add on to the end to make it all the more impossible, and it makes for a much cleaner ending. All of the classic elements are still there.
When I was done, he was thoroughly impressed. As part of the presentation, I say the name of the trick and discuss its origins and the power it has, through a historical anecdote. When the trick was done, he told me--and mind you, this is one of my best friends, not just some dick--"Well, I'll look it up on youtube."
I smiled and laughed and said, "go ahead." Because it doesn't matter to me. I've work-shopped the trick enough to a point that even if he found step-by-step mechanics online, it wouldn't really compromise the power of the trick. The extra pieces I have added over my time performing this trick make it a nearly different procedure. Additionally, my presentation is one that I've worked on literally for hours straight.
What's my point? As a magician, when I learn a trick, I do more than learn the mechanics and sleights. I try to integrate it into my manner of presentation. When someone sees me perform "Out of this World," they see a different trick than they would see if Joe the Plumber performed "Out of this World." I try to do this with every trick I learn--that is, streamline it to a point at which it fits the way I like to perform and do my moves, etc. It's not just a style thing, but a personal preference thing.
Perhaps I'll take a trick that's more commonly performed, like Card to Pocket. I've spent a lot of time learning variations on this plot, seeing great performances, and more importantly, bad performances of this trick, but I now use a version that is unique to me. If someone decides to look up "Card to Pocket tutorial" on youtube, they won't find the version I just fried them with.
As a performer, it's not just my job to execute sleights, but to create magic.
So, I won't buy Totally out of Control when it comes out--I'm saving my money for True Astonishment--but I may get it in the future. It's probably true that there will be a lot of carbon copies of the tricks on the internet, but those won't be the tricks that I perform.