Like how do you know that you are a magician and not just someone who can show tricks?
What is your criteria? At what point do you consider someone a good magician and not just a person with tricks?
One criteria is that they should amaze you...
I know that the guys who knows a few tricks may know some SUPER amazing stuff...he might get good reactions, but his spectators won't really be amazed. Think about it, has it really NEVER happened with you that you go ahead and say, eat some kind of food, and it tastes SO AMAZING that you:-
1) Don't wanna stop eating it even to give compliments.
2) Feel as if saying "Delicious" or any other adjective, no matter how superlative, would be insulting the food?
When this same thing happens with magic, you know you saw a magician, regardless of whether the person is professional or not. The moment people become so speechless that all they can muster is some loud sounds, to show their amazement, you know you are a magician. When all they can do is laugh at something albeit the fact that the effect was COMPLETELY UNFUNNY, you know you are a magician.
The biggest criteria for ME would be a brand. By brand I don't mean you need to have merchandise on shops with your name on them (that sure helps tho
)...but I mean, your performance style should become your brand. If anyone even SPEAKS like that, people should remember you. Your performance should have something NO ONE else has, that is essentially how you develop a brand. Developing a brand is both, easy and difficult. It is difficult for most. But if you develop time to your magic, it is easy. So a 'brand' becomes a very obvious indication that the guy does not just know a few tricks, ladies and gentlemen...
He is a magician.
(Or she, no sexual discrimination at work here
)