Show & Tell - 10-18-09

So after the show last night, I'm shaking hands, kissing babies, signing autographs, posing for photos... and a young Snoop Dog look-a-like that's also a magician... who attends my show rather frequently, came up and said to me, "Hey, I wanted to tell you that I'm doing your ÔShow & Tell' story and jokes with your card routine, except that I'm using a different name for the guy in the story, and it's working great."

He then started to go through the whole routine, and I stopped him and said, "No, dude, you can't do that. That's my routine. I wrote that. It's my bit." He stared at me like his world was rocked. I explained to him that he can't do other people's material without permission, and this was part of my show. Sadly this happens all too often.

It is like someone coming up to you and saying, "Hey, I stole your car." It's bad enough to steal it, but then really stupid to admit it to the owner. Except I don't think the kid was stupid, he is just young and didn't know any better. At least I hope that's the case. He understood when I put it in terms he could relate to, in part, I said "...when hip hoppers sample music on their albums they have to first get permission and then pay the original artists for their work."

I use with permission copyrighted music in my shows and pay ASCAP handsomely for the privilege. In a more perfect world, those who use my routines in their shows would ask for permission, and if and when granted, would pay for my work.

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