I getting to the point where almost everything I do is mostly my own. I either created it myself, I do it significantly different than others, or very few magicians perform what I do. It's an exciting place to be but it opens up to point of stress. Other magicians want to learn and do my stuff!
I understand that it's a compliment but I don't really understand it. The way I got to this stage is by not copying others, why would a magician want to copy me, Chris Ramsay, David Blaine, Dynamo or others? Why not develop your own stuff?
Reaching a stage where most of your work is your own creation is a brilliant stage in one's magical journey.
Copying others is kinda wrong...no matter what...but only if they do so deliberately. It is a beginner's tendency to copy those whom they admire. When I was starting out, well, it was weird...after a few days of watching Brian Brushwood, I had become him...then after a few days of Dynamo, I had become Dynamo...and this kept happening for some time. Finally, came a time...when I thought, "Hmm...I think if I do it this way, it would suit me better."
And so, I developed my own style and became me! I wasn't copying anyone deliberately...it just happened.
But as far as copying tricks themselves go...I really can't think of any reason it would be wrong UNLESS IT IS A TRICK YOU HAVE CREATED AND ARE TRYING TO SELL.
Ethically, it is not fair to use someone's creation even if they are not selling it, but well, there's no proof of that mistake, because you haven't officially copyrighted your creation, others can very well come in and take ideas.
Anyways, what I'm trying to say is that it is morally wrong.
There is one aspect of copying however, which I feel, even morals and ethics can't declare as 'wrong'.
Learning yourself.
What if someone sees another's creation and figures out how it was done?
Is it still copying?
What if they figure it out through their own knowledge?
If the creation in question is not a complete new creation, but a new way to assemble well known sleights, then anyone else can ''copy'' it without being morally wrong. Look at it in this way...
A magician does a trick in an AGT audition. I love the effect. I figure out a way to do it...not the exact same of what he is doing (maybe where he uses a force, I plan to use a keycard...)...a bit different...my style.
But the general effect in question remains the same.
Can that be labelled as copying?
As for WHY people would do it...well, they may be,
1)Lazy:- Too lazy to come up with their own idea. So, they borrow others'.
2) Nervous and wanna be secure:- They may be thinking, "Why take risk when there is a tried and tested effect right in front of me?"
3) Lack of ideas and beginnerism:- No one should have a problem with this. A beginner who is just starting out...well, he is completely right to want to look for brilliant performances online not to copy them word for word, but to get effect ideas! I'd say, that's a better thing to do, looking at performances and getting ideas...than looking up reveals and copying them like a parrot.
4) They admire you:- Again, there should be no problem here. If someone copies someone they admire, they generally credit the original creator. Also, if the one whose style they admire TELL people officially they mustn't copy something, they won't. For example, if Xavior Spade had some brilliant fan out there who admires Spade's work a lot, that fan would prolly buy the Rise DVD himself and wouldn't torrent it or something. And if he does learn it, he would never go about saying he invented the effect.