What you can do is put up a small sign that says that recording of the show is not allowed. Then list some silly reasons for this... Like
1. It will still your soul and you need it for the next show.

2. If show is recorded, you are not responsible for the broken lens that your face has caused

Well you get the idea
and so will people who record the show.

Chad

I'm not afraid to be video taped by spectators because I can still fool the viewers watching the tapes. At the end of my show I always walk up to the camcorder and say," Thank you for watching tv viewers. You can reach me at __________. I do all kinds of parties." It's worth the free advertisement.

The only time I am annoyed is when it is another magician trying to copy my act.

Stealing patter...stealing the act...blah blah blah.

Just do the show.

Flirt with the camera. Isn't the point to entertain the lay people?

You can be known as a great entertainer or the magician who had a stick up his rear and was adamant about no taping.

Have fun with it.

Robert Bloor

If I'm doing a street performance, there's not much I can do if their recording. I'm not going to break the flow of the set just to tell them to stop recording.

But if I'm doing a Ren show or evening show, then I tell them they can record a little bit but not the whole show. This way, I'm not too mean, but they don't get my whole show. Yes, piracy is a big issue with me, being a victim of it myself. So I try to let people save a moment, but not the entire show.

---Malak

I'm new to magic, but have been performing music for years... I'm aways excited to be taped.

I guess in magic, just make sure you adjust your angles for the camera. ;->

Good luck,
Gambit242

It doesn't sould like your venue but...
If you do private parties (such as kids birthdays) it's a double edged sword. The parents feel it's THEIR home and videotaping the Birthday honored child is mandatory now days. After many years and thousands of birthdays there is quite a collection of horrible versions of my show immortalized in video. If A&E ever came out with a Biography (fat chance) it would make my show a mockery. We all have bad days and on video those are now forever!
The way I deal with it now is in the preagreement I state that "Videotaping may be done from the audience point of view only (straight on) with no side angles. A copy of the tape must be provided (sent) to me which I may use for promotional purposes. The tape may not be used for any commercial purposes without written permission by Magician Walter Glod" (I don't want it on americas funniest videos!
This accomplishes 3 things:
*Discourages the use of the camera somewhat(I have noted an actual decrease)
*Provides me with a tape when they do it as a personal record of how dreadful I was!
*Allows me to review the tape prior to a return booking with that customer so I can alter the effects slightly rather than repeat.

I consider this more of a personal preference-- if you're confident in your work and don't mind it, let 'em tape. Who knows-- they might show that tape to someone who knows someone who knows someone who happens to be...Bill Gates. You never know-- but I would definitely think twice before stopping a performance due to a tape-- you don't want to lose the attention and flow of the entire crowd due to the actions of an individual, right?

I do a lot of wedding reception work and in the last part of my show I bring up the bride & groom and finish my show with them. I then direct the applause to them, say goodnight, and leave the floor which is the DJ's cue to start the first dance for the couple. I am videotaped all the time. It is great promo material! I am on their wedding video and have had many couples tell me it is the best part of the tape; I have even gotten refferals from this. I do magic for the video man beforehand and I tell him what I would like him to shoot. They all seem more than willing to help make the show (and the tape) the best it can be. I know this is different than performing on the street, but I wanted just to put in my two cents.

Another point to consider. If you are doing ANY audience participation, especially with someone's kid, how dare you tell the proud parents they can't tape the possibly once-in-a-lifetime moment.

The only issue I have is if the would-be Fellini is disturbing other viewers of the show by moving all over the room and standing in front of people to "get the shot!"

True True, David.
On occasion, well meaning dads come up next or behind me to get a shot of the kids reaction. If it is in a non critical moment I can stop and wait and "stink eye" a bit. If it is in the middle of a moving routine (dove productions, etc where I can't stop) I am often forced into a strange angle to prevent exposure.
There are times at public festivals with so many cameras present that it has an affect on my position and angle to the point where I am almost forced into a corner. That is where I do get angry, when the audience and my show suffers because the cameras dictate my blocking.

I play to the camara or camaras when they're pulled out. I've found that they just film a little bit and quit. If they try to tape the whole thing, they're either magic lovers or magicians. In that case, after playing to the camara, I'll start moving, and make it hard for them to get any really good shots.

I have a pre-recorded voice over the music 5 minutes before my hired stage shows: ".... Please be courteous to your neighbors and turn off all weapons of mass destruction, videocameras, pagers, cell phones, and vibrators..."

Of course, I have an edited version of that for family events.

Last year while doing one of my "Just Say No shows," a local TV station came out to film for the news. The cameraman kept sneaking up on me, getting closer and closer. I didn't pay a lot of attention to him since I didn't want to disrupt the flow of my show, so he managed to get right up on stage with me.

I had two kids on stage with me, one on each side, and I turned to the kid on my right when I bumped into the camera guy who was kneeling, shooting up at me. I took the nest of wands I was holding, and smacked him across the lens with it. "Git!" I scolded. The kids and teachers laughed and laughed.

I don't think that shot made the news. I was out of town so I didn't get to see the finished product.

-Jon

Hello all...

Here is something many people never think about. I have performed an illusion act in our family circus for several seasons, first off the other acts usually have it in their contracts that video taping by the crowds is not allowed, so that announcement is made a few times before the show. But more important is this...if for some reason something should happen during the show i.e. an accident...someone falling on the bleachers, knocking a lightstand over on someone, etc..you don't want that on tape for insurance reasons..I carry two million dollars in public liability insurance and both companies I have dealt with told me this..I had never thought of it before.

200 People in a hall watching you!!

Let them video you-Think of it as a compliment to your performing ability -providing they are not front stage annoying other spectators!

Dont stop your show-very unprofessional!

Play to the cameras-have fun, wink,nod,smile etc

Make sure you have your name well positioned on your table or stage poster etc-Free Publicity!!

-Brent

Some people are paranoid that the camera is in fact a monster which will steal business away from them!

Come on folks...relax and have a good time with the camera...this is going into the family archives, and you want to be remembered as someone who was a great entertainer, not a camera nazi.

They are paying you to perform at their children's bday/or wherever, and they want to always remember it!

Good for business.

We STRICTLY enforce no video recording.
Ushers and house management are instructed to watch for cameras coming into the theatre so it is never an issue during performance. If there IS an issue, it is handled by the house management...not by the performer!
It is VERY VERY VERY unprofessional to stop the show and handle those issues from the stage.

-Reza

The only time you should be worried about this is if you specifically ask for "no video at any time." Then and only then is there reason to get upset; because they've disregarded your request, and that's just plain rude.

Otherwise, get over yourself and let people enjoy your performance the way they want to.

-E

In a street venue, I don't think it is legally possible to stop someone from recording you - the street belongs to the public and they have as much right to use it as a street performer does.

I work on private property at a tourist trap, and I don't think it's my place to tell vacationers they have to turn their camera off ... I tend to ask people after my show if they can mail me a copy, which some people have actually done. Been valuable tool for improving my act.