Call me old fashioned, but the way I was raised, respect came with two things: reputation or age.
You respect your elders, you respect those of authority or accomplishment.
Anyone close to your age or less is just that -- another person.
Sure, you still extend common courtesy and are nice to people, but respect is another emotion altogether.
re⋅spect
/rɪˈspɛkt/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [ri-spekt]
–noun
3. esteem for or a sense of the worth or excellence of a person, a personal quality or ability, or something considered as a manifestation of a personal quality or ability: I have great respect for her judgment.
5. the condition of being esteemed or honored: to be held in respect.
6. respects, a formal expression or gesture of greeting, esteem, or friendship: Give my respects to your parents.
7. favor or partiality.
I took out the ones that aren't relevant to this post.
Taken from dictionary.reference.com
Respect is a position you hold someone in, almost exhalted or praised.
Respect is something earned.
Know the difference between courtesy and respect.
As Lovell put it, "Why should everyone think your special? Your a magician, who gives a shit?"
You, as an entertainer, have to give the audience a REASON to respect you. On the same token, many people will not speak when being introduced, some will not shake hands, some will not even acknowledge another person's presence. Why? They have no reason yet to respect that person.
That's not something to take offense to, it's something that should make you strive to want to earn that person's respect.
Remember: You shake someone's hand because YOU respect them. Not because they respect you.
