Jeff McBlog

Dear Friends:

I know this is sooner than you’d normally expect another Museletter from us, but we’ve had so much news in the past 5 days, Jeff really wanted to make sure you all had it while it still IS news.  Here goes:

As of yesterday (and perhaps still today), the CNN story on Jeff’s workshop in Atlanta was on the front page of CNN.com, in the “Living Section.  The story is headlined as “Man Travels the World Teaching Magic.”  You can view it at:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/06/29/natpkg.magic.school.cnn?iref=allsearch

For Wonderground aficionados (and who isn’t?), don’t miss the feature article in the weekly “Seven” magazine:

http://weeklyseven.com/ae/2010/july/01/man-many-masks

You’ll learn more about Jeff’s thinking behind the creation of the Wonderground, and why it is rapidly becoming THE underground performance scene in Las Vegas.

In other late breaking news, the documentary on teen magicians “Make Believe” has been a huge hit at the LA Film Festival.  You can read about that now at these locations:

http://www.makebelievefilm.com/pdf/MBPressKit.pdf

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jun/23/entertainment/la-et-makebelieve-20100623

And, while I have your attention, be sure to check out the latest additions to The Virtual Magic & Mystery School at:

http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/

That’s all for now.  Jeff is off on a well-earned vacation at a festival, and will return just in time for the next Wonderground on July 15.

Best to all!
Sincerely,

Tobias Beckwith
President – Tobias Beckwith, Inc.
Management to Jeff McBride
tobias@yourmagic.com
(702) 697-7002 (Las Vegas & Everywhere)
(415) 889-9491 (Bay Area/ Silicon Valley)

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/living/2010/06/29/natpkg.magic.school.cnn?iref=allsearch

WONDERGROUND IN THE NEWS!

Bravo to all the WONDERGROUND Players for this great piece! http://weeklyseven.com/ae/2010/july/01/man-many-masks

Please plan to arrive early to get a seat this month… we will be sold out again for sure!

Our August class is SOLD OUT! Fall classes are filling fast. Be sure to register, so you are not disappointed!

Your friend in magic,

Jeff

From Larry Hass
Associate Dean, the Magic & Mystery School

In my recent Museletter titled “What is Education?” I promised to be back soon with some suggested summer reading. But first, I want to remind everyone about the Magic and Meaning Conference in Las Vegas, October 20-23, 2010.

Since my move to north Texas, many people have written me to ask when I will be holding another one of my Theory and Art of Magic Conferences. The fact is that I am already holding one because the Magic and Meaning Conference we create every year through the Magic & Mystery School is its equivalent.

For those of you who have not attended the Magic and Meaning Conference, let me tell you that its mission is to create a genuine learning community about magic. The conference includes first-rate magic performances and works-in-progress opportunities, but the heart of the event is three days of presentations on magic from conference attendees and special keynote speakers.

So this is your opportunity: if you would like to submit a proposal for a 20-minute presentation at this year’s conference, please click here to see the details (the deadline is August 1). Whether you submit a proposal or not, I encourage you to think seriously about joining us for the conference in late October. Come see why so many people return to this event year after year. (To register, visit http://magicalwisdom.com/events/view/416)

As I said above, I promised to suggest some good books for summer reading. I have already taken one shot at that exercise in one of my MAGIC columns (August 2008, p. 19), so what I want to do here is provide the names of some of my favorite books to re-read.

Let’s think about this for a moment. Popular culture moves at a breakneck speed. The news cycle is now instantaneous. Countless new magic products arrive every month. We try to keep up, but it is impossible to keep up. So we bounce from this to that, to some “new this” to the next “new that.”

I know this is just the pace of modern life, but I also know something else: that rarely does “pursuit of the new” bring the best and deepest experience of something. On the contrary, my very best experiences of a good film, piece of art, or novel come when I view or read it again. For it is only then, when I already have a baseline of understanding, that I am able to really appreciate the work’s deeper levels of significance or achievement.

So here is a partial list of some favorite magic books I didn’t mention in my previous column — books that I find myself being enriched by again and again. If you haven’t read them yet, then you have a real treat in store for you. If you already have read them, then I invite you to pick one of them up again on some lazy summer day so you can get reconnected with something good and deep. In no particular order:

1. Jim Steinmeyer, Conjuring. This book is a dazzling array of great material from one of the most creative people in magic.

2. Harry Lorayne, Close-Up Card Magic. The material remains fresh and stimulating thirty-five years after publication; the revised edition in The Classic Collection includes better credits and many fine touches and improvements.

3. Max Maven, The Lisp Series (Thequal, Doth, Amperthand, Fifth, Thavant, Thabbatical). The Color Books are more famous, but a lot of material in these books is every bit as good, and they are a blast to read.

4. Lewis Ganson, The Dai Vernon Book of Magic. This classic work remains an exemplary lesson in how to construct deeply magical routines with invisible sleight-of-hand. I re-read “The Vernon Touch” chapter on a regular basis.

5. Theodore Annemann, The Jinx 1-50, 51-100, 101-151 (three volumes). Read one issue a day for a month and notice at the end how many great new ideas you have.

6. Eugene Burger and Jeff McBride, Mystery School. I realize that including this may seem nepotistic, but the truth is I have read certain sections of this book at least seven times. There is a lot going on in here of extraordinary value and intelligence.

So happy re-reading this summer! And be sure to let me know your favorite books to re-read. I look forward to being with you at one of our Master Classes or at the Magic and Meaning Conference in October.

“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
— Goethe

Dear Friends:

We’ve heard that some people take summer vacations — but, frankly, we’re having too much fun doing and teaching magic to want to take a break. In the past week, Jeff has performed, lectured and conducted workshops in Raleigh, Cocoa Beach & Atlanta. While in Atlanta he taped a segment for CNN — perhaps some of you got to see it. And now he’s on the way home, and busy preparing for what promises to be a most amazing Wonderground on Thursday. More about that further down the page. First, we want to talk about —

Media Magic

We did it! We made it happen! Last week Bryce sent you the news — we opened the new online Virtual Magic School! The response has been great, and we have students coming online from all over the planet!

Bryce tells me we’ll have a myMoney! – Torn and Restored Billroutine online by the time you get this email.

Media is changing the way we watch and learn magic. Our VIRTUAL MAGIC SCHOOL is the newest way to learn, and a way for all of us here at the Magic and Mystery School to share our magic with you — and you don’t even have to leave your own homes. Visit the siteand see what’s already there for you — and come back often, because we’ll be growing the online school rapidly.

More Media Magic

In July, the first ever online magic conference ever will take place — on the internet! The Essential Magic Conference is sponsored by Marco Tempest, Luis da Matos and David Britland, and will feature 33 “live” speakers, all speaking directly to you over the web from Luis’ TV magic studio in Portugal. In addition, top magicians from around the world have recorded interviews for the conference, and Jeff’s is already online. You can view it (and a dozen other fascinating short talks from various stars of magic from around the world) at:
http://essentialmagicconference.com/videos/31

Master Class

Our Extended Master Class from August has been sold out for almost a month now… but the class scheduled from June 26 to July 4 still has two spots left. This is your last chance to be a part of an Extended Class this year. Sign up now for this, or one of the remaining shorter classes this year (they are filling up quickly, too), at: www.magicalwisdom.com.

News from the Wonderground

June 17, 2010 — shows start at 8pm and go ’till 11pm!

Our Amazing Line up Jeff McBride’s Wonderground This Week:

Featured Close-up Show (8:00)

Paul Vigil - A Pure Magic Experience

Close-Up and Strolling Magic (8-10 pm)

Jean Pierre Kraft - Hands of a God!
Circe Martinez - Close up Magic Delight
Eduardo Martinez - Cuba’s Master of Manipulation
Samina - The Sorceress

Parlour Show (8:30)

Jordan Wright - Your Host
Tim Wise - A New Beginning
Tawney Bubbles - Elastic Fantastic
Mat Black & Captain Jack - Very Dangerous!
Bizzaro - From America’s Got Talent
Bram Charles - Magic Comedy

Stage Show (10:00 – each act performs one 3-5 minute piece)

Jeff McBride - Kabuki Magic
Jordan Wright - Vintage Memories
Bizzaro - Cutting Edge Magic
Jean Pierre Kraft - Magic from Dusk till Dawn
Sean Critchfield - Grand Slam Poetry Champion
Mickeyo - New Vaudeville Eccentrics
Anthony Rais - Marionette Theater

PLUS!

DJ Master Diaz
The Mojo a Go-Go girls
The NWR dancers
Live Art, Body Painting and Psychic Side Show!

FOR COMPLETE DETAILS GO TOWWW.VEGASWONDERGROUND.COM

You can participate live on the internet starting at 9pm (PST) by logging on to www.streetofcards.tv

See you at the WONDERGROUND, at the Virtual Magic School…or live at a Master Class someday soon!

Magically yours,

Jeff and all the McBride Magic Family

From Bryce:

It all started about 10 years ago. Actually, it has started and re-started several times for various reasons, many of which were technology-related. We were trying to do something that the world wasn’t quite ready for… until now.

We love teaching classes in Las Vegas, but also realize that not everyone is able to spend a week hanging out at Jeff’s house working on their magic. Even those of you who have been to Vegas know that we have more information to pass on than we can even cover in just one week. Of course, both Jeff and Eugene have DVDs and books for sale. But then you’re paying for shipping, waiting for the product to arrive and then you are left on your own to work on the material unless/until you email or call one of them for some help (which can be daunting the first time and tricky because they both travel so often).

We wanted a more efficient way to pass on the collective wisdom of our teachers. The internet was the obvious choice as a mode of communication, but how would we make it work?

We now have the answer:

The Virtual Magic & Mystery School

The idea is simple. We’re putting pieces of our collective wisdom online. We’ve started by taking apart Jeff and Eugene’s existing DVDs and posting each segment online as an individual lesson. You no longer have to buy a 3-DVD set if all you want is one effect. Breaking out the material this way also allows us to provide the individual segments and much lower prices. Think iTunes versus a CD.

Got questions or feedback? Each lesson has its own discussion forum. Not only do you get the basic teaching from Jeff or Eugene — now you can brainstorm ideas and ask questions of other people that are working on the material. Jeff and Eugene will drop in now and then to answer questions and provide further insights.

Jeff is also offering private sessions online via Skype. The ones he’s done so far have been hugely successful. Whether you’re working on routining your show or just trying to perfect a move, having real-time video help from Jeff is the way to go.

Now that we have filmmaker Jordan Wright on our team, we’ll be able to get new material to you faster than ever. New content goes directly online once it’s edited; no need to wait for DVD production or shipping.

In addition to the material from the DVDs, our first new, never-before-seen footage should be up on the site by the time you get this email. It’s an interview I did with Eugene on the business of close-up magic, a topic which he’s never talked about before. Jordan even managed to make me seem almost natural on camera (the things terrify me).

The whole Virtual Magic & Mystery School is still a work in progress, so feel free to poke around and email me comments or questions. As with our Master Classes, we want to create the highest quality learning experience possible.

I should also mention that the Virtual Magic & Mystery School is only the first step. I’ll be finishing up work on two, even bigger ventures in the next week or two. The first is a digital store for magicians that uses the technology I created for the Virtual School. In addition to Jeff & Eugene’s materials, I’m working with other magic creators to get their content online. This is going to be a great new resource for magicians and students of magic.

I’m also forming alliances with people who have expertise in other areas (hypnotism, martial arts, marketing, basket weaving, etc.). The idea is to partner with experts who can serve as “Wisdom Filters”… people that can provide quality instruction based on true experience. The internet is full of charlatans. My goal is to get people connected with the true masters. If you are interested in contributing material, please drop me an email at bryce@mobiusmagic.com.

I look forward to seeing you online at The Virtual Magic & Mystery School!

Sincerely,
Bryce Kuhlman

“Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.”
— Diane Arbus

Greetings magical friends,

I learned years ago that sometimes I had to create the ILLUSION of confidence in order to generate it within myself. I had to develop sort of a “fake it till you make it” mindset. I can tell you this…it worked for me, and might for you!

Never let the competition see you sweat. By projecting an air of confidence you can often trick yourself into really feeling it!

Perhaps that is why I started working with masks years ago. Like many performers I had stage fright. I did not have a coach or magic teacher back then so came up with a “coping” device…the mask. Underneath the mask I was often shivering with fear, but I was also building courage… a confident persona that was projected on the surface of the mask.

It took me many years before I could take that mask off and “be me” on stage. The mask was like a cocoon for me. The masks protected me until I grew strong enough to shed them. When we begin a new venture we need help. Help often comes in the form of a teacher; someone who can help us on the road to achieving our dreams.

One of the most important guides on my path is Eugene Burger.

Eugene is often heard to say, “The goal of the teacher is to create students that transcend the teacher.”

And so today we are delighted to feature some of our students… two of the hottest rising stars in the world of magic. The Faculty at the Magic and Mystery School is proud to be a small part of their success.

Student Winners

Micke Askernas came to our Master Class, and then he attended the Master Class for Mentalists…twice!

Micke was facing a career challenge. He was switching over for “normal magic” to the world of mentalism. In two short years he achieved his dream…take a look at what Micke is creating in Sweden!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DSVVUo7JQk

Paul Brown came to our classes in the UK a few years back. He paid his dues by working at a magic shop for many years perfecting his skills…that hard work is paying off now. Watch Paul win the Magic Circle ORIGINALITY AWARD! (photo of Paul by Arto Airaksinen)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbWrciNO4gU

What does it take to be a winner?

Listen to what some of the hottest new acts in the business have to say about success and winning!

http://www.magicalwisdom.com/winners

Robert Schuller once said, “What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?”

One of my answers to this question was “to have my own show in Las Vegas.” I have had the good fortune to do that many times. Now I help many of our magic students get a “shot in Vegas.”

Take a look at some of our magical friends and magic students on stage this week. You can watch from the comfort of your own home! Just hop on your computer and watch:

Jeff McBride’s WONDERGROUND Live in Las Vegas!

We go live @ 9pm (PST) http://www.streetofcards.tv, this Thursday, direct from The Olive. You can even participate via live chat.

You can watch an ALL NEW show this Thursday at WONDERGROUND. Go towww.vegaswonderground.com to see this week’s line up of great talent. What other Las Vegas shows lets you have a complimentary front row seat? And if you’re in Vegas this week, be sure and drop by to The Olive to say hello and join in the fun!

See you in Las Vegas!

Jeff

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he’s always doing both.”
— James A. Michener

When I work on my magic, time disappears. I am totally immersed in the flow of what I love. I practice in front of my magic mirror. A doorway opens through it to another world. I enter a world of unlimited creativity. I step into the magic mirror for days at a time. When I return from my inner explorations, I bring back to my friends and students the treasures I have discovered deep within my imagination. It is the greatest pleasure to share the riches of my creative adventures with my students.

I am asked often about why I teach magic. I teach in order to make a positive, lasting impression on the world of magic. I feel that the way to do this is by improving the quality of magical artists. I have a passion for magic, and a desire to learn and spend my time in the creative process with dedicated students and the very best teachers in the world of magic. Out of this passion has grown McBride’s Magic and Mystery School.

We have designed a unique teaching format that allows all students of magic, regardless of age or skill level, to improve their abilities, develop their character, and learn the inside secrets of the business of magic.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF YOUR MAGIC?

My friend and manager Tobias Beckwith encourages our students to “define the purpose of our magic.” What good does YOUR magic bring to the world? What is YOUR mission? This is OUR mission:

Our intention at McBride’s Magic and Mystery School is to provide our students with the highest quality magic training in the world, and to create a safe space for serious play and discovery. This is a learning experience like nothing else in the world.

To realize this purpose we offer practical lessons and hands on training in all areas of the art of magic.

Q. What will you get from coming to the Magic and Mystery School? Recently, we asked our students what the most important thing was that they learned during their time with us.

A. Here are some of their answers:

Presentation * Character Development * Originality * Theater Arts * Marketing * Confidence * Showmanship * Encouragement * Music * Costuming * Personal Attention * Improvisation * Movement * Routining * Scriptwriting * Lighting Design * Creativity * Mentoring * Career Development * Motivation * Business * Artistry * Insight * Brainstorming * Advertising * Resources * Coaching * Acting * History * Close-Up Magic Vision * Evaluation * Street Magic * Publicity * Support * Innovation * Parlor Magic * Psychology * Mastery * Stage Magic * Transformation * Empowerment * Consulting * Philosophy * Performing Arts * Diction * Prop Construction * Card Magic * Networking * Comedy * Technique * Trade Shows * Audience Participation * Wisdom * Mentalism * Hands-On Learning * Coin Magic * Corporate Shows * Dramatic Arts * Storytelling * Manipulation * Stagecraft * Pantomime * Family Shows * Promotion * Public Relations * Inspiration

What area of magic are YOU most interested in? Please let us know and we will do all we can to fit it into the program you attend! Drop me an email and let me know….I will let you know what course would be perfect for you.

Students come to McBride’s Magic and Mystery School with a single common vision: to take their magic to the next level of excellence. This goal is always achieved.

FRIENDS AND FAMILY

We know that each student’s friends and family play an important part in the educational and creative process; we strive to include the support teams in many of the activities, shows and social events that are part of our classes.

Learning in a small group situation increases the amount of time the teachers can spend with each student. We have only 12 students per class. We have 6 spaces left for the final Master Class of 2010!

Will you be one of the few dedicated magicians that will join us and take your magic to the next level of excellence?

Let us be your hosts for a grand magical adventure! Las Vegas is the magic capital of the world; flights, meals and hotels are all affordable. Our school is the right choice for magic lovers of all ages and all skill levels.

Eugene, Tobias, Bryce, Jordan, Abbi and I will be here to host your magical adventure! I look forward to seeing you at the Magic and Mystery School!

Yours in better magic,
Jeff McBride Founder and President McBride’s Magic and Mystery School

See Jeff’s Newest Las Vegas Production:
The Wonderground – New showing May 20th
The Olive, on Sunset in Las Vegas
Learn more at: WWW.VEGASWONDERGROUND.COM

Greetings Magical Friends,
ON THE ROAD… A DAY ON TOUR WITH JEFF MCBRIDE
Jeff here, in Toronto, reporting from out 2010 Canada tour…  Jordan Wright is traveling with me, as my opening act, lighting designer and assistant.  It’s amazing to watch how Jordan can handle every situation that’s thrown at him, especially in some of the more challenging theater venues.  Each day, we get up early, hit the road, get to the theater around 2pm, set the props and lights at 3pm, do a run through with an all new tech crew at 4pm, take a break at 5pm, and get ready to do pre-show walk-around and meet and greet the audience at 7pm.  Showtime is at 8pm, and comes down around 9:30.  We pack up the entire show, visit the VIP after-party, go back to our hotel for a few hours of rest, then up early the next day and do it again, and again, oh, and again!

We have an amazing tour manager, Jeff Montgomery, who is multi-talented, and has an outstanding gift for communicating with people. On the most challenging day of travel, he was able to get a plane off the runway a half hour early, and later that day, convince another crew to hold a plane a half hour so our props and baggage could make the connection.  It’s a real pleasure to work with highly skilled pros like Jordan and Jeff.

Here is the tour schedule that Jeff Montgomery put together, and hey, every ticket is already sold out!

April 13 Perform in Fort Frances Ontario 500 people
April 14 Perform in Thunder Bay Ontario   1400 people
April 15 Perform in Brandon Manitoba 900 people
April 16 Perform in Manitou Manitoba 500 people
April 20 Perform in Regina Saskatchewan 2200 people
April 21 Perform in Lloydminster Saskatchewan 600 people
April 22 Perform in Saskatoon Saskatchewan 2200 people

STREET SMARTS
Here’s what I’ve learned so far, on this tour.

1) Never play “name that tune” with a professional radio disk jockey.  Our tour manager, Jeff, can instantly name any tune from the 1970’s on.  He always wins.

2) It’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice.  Tour manager Jeff’s philosophy on dealing with challenging people and situations on the road: he never loses his cool, but always manages to find a win-win situation for everyone.

3) Don’t look in the rearview mirror, keep moving straight ahead.  That’s another Montgomery-ism.  There’s no time for looking back with regret when there’s so much to do on the road ahead.

4) Eat more fruit, less potato chips…. ‘Nuff said.

WONDERGROUND, THURSDAY APRIL 15TH!!
If you’re going to be in Las Vegas this week, you are cordially invited to WONDERGROUND!  We have an amazing NEW line-up (yes, the show changes completely EVERY month).  You can see the list of performers here: http://www.vegaswonderground.com

Abbi will be the Mistress of Ceremonies this month, and I hear she’s gonna be doing her “McBondage Escape” which I guarantee you don’t want to miss….

VIRTUAL JEFF MCBRIDE
I will be beaming in via internet, live from Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. AJ Olsen and Jeremy Espinosa fromwww.streetofcards.tv have created a cyber-magic interface that will connect me, live-time, from Canada to all the folks at WONDERGROUND!   Even if you can’t make it to Las Vegas this week, you can see it all as it happens, or on demand, at streetofcards.tv.

As a college professor and magician, I have spent a long time thinking about this profound question.

One reason for my focused attention is fairly obvious: I am in the “education business” and an “educator” so it seems pretty important to get clear about what I should be doing. But another reason is that “education” seems to have become a problem in the subculture of magic.

Why do I say that? Well, for many years I have been bombarded by questions, calls, and e-mails from magicians — young and old, amateurs and pros — who are hungry for education in magic. They seem to sense that, despite all the instructional DVDs and so-called “lectures,” they are not really becoming “educated” in their art and craft. They are frustrated and want something more, but don’t know how and where to go.

I understand this frustration and try to offer my best support and advice. I think they are right that “education” in the best, full sense is lacking in the usual patterns of magic conventions, club meetings, and DVDs. So first, I want to say a few words about why that seems true and then point you in a couple directions to get more and better magical education.

Let’s start with the word itself: “Education” is rooted in the Latin word and concept “educare.” This concept was a central one in Roman life and civic culture. In short, it means to “bring up,” “bring out,” and “bring forth” a hidden potential in someone. To educate then, is to work carefully to bring out the very best that is inside a student; to be educated is to have undergone that process so your own best potentials are shining forth.

Pretty cool, isn’t it? Once we see this, I suspect that each of you will remember a teacher, professor, or classroom in which this discovery of your own potentials happened. To experience this is an amazing and literally transformational thing. And when we don’t get much of it, or we are fed substitutes that have other goals (like getting you to buy something or “buy in” to something), then we start to wilt a little bit, starved for sun, feeling stuck and stunted rather than on the path of growth and development.

So what can we magicians do to get educated? The very first step, I think, is simply to recognize, with great clarity, that a lot of things going on in the magical subculture have other goals than uncovering your best potentials. That doesn’t mean those things are “bad” things. Not at all; they just aren’t “educational.”

OK, then, what kinds of things are educational for us magicians? My first answer is as ancient as those Romans: reading and writing. Not just any old books (the Romans used scrolls), but excellent books that challenge our static patterns of thought and seek to help us find our potentials. My own view is that these kinds of writings are fairly uncommon in magic magazines and online. Most magic writing is descriptive (like news-reporting), reviews, or explanations of tricks. Again, these are fine and sometimes important, but not in themselves educational. However, educational magic books and essays do exist, and I am sure you can all think of some of them. (In a future “Museletter” I will share some of my favorites with you.)

But reading and writing is almost never sufficient for the best education. That’s because virtually everybody needs some person, some “teacher” to inspire, challenge, and encourage growth. The basic truth, long recognized among educators, is that you cannot really “educate yourself” because you are the one hiding your best potentials!

So we need teachers. We need guidance, advice, and insight, not from “screaming heads” on TV, critics, or from people trying to sell stuff, but rather from educators, directors, magic coaches. Where can we find them? Well, you probably already know some of them. They are those rare people in your Ring or Assembly who have that special way of helping you see something new in your work. Or they are those people you know with theatrical or directing experience who can help you develop those skills.

But there is another important resource to which I have always directed my magic students: Jeff’s Magic & Mystery School.

Many of you know that in recent years I have partnered with Jeff on several projects related to the School. For example, I have worked closely on the program for the Magic and Meaning Conference (which is deeply “educational” in its focus). And this past January, I co-taught a weeklong Master Class in Las Vegas.

2009 Magic & Meaning Participants

After these first-hand experiences, I want to tell you that Jeff’s School is genuinely and deeply educational. I have seen it time and again: magicians and magic enthusiasts who come to the School — to its programs and classes — have transformational experiences in which their own hidden potentials and best selves come to light.

I invite you to read that last sentence again. The programs and classes are not about “indoctrinating” people and they are not about turning people into “clones.” On the contrary: they provide content-rich experiences in which a person’s own inner hidden potentials are brought to light. Simply put: people go home from these experiences positively glowing.

As far as I know, there is no other organization or program in magic that is offering this kind of on-going, intensely educational experience for its participants. This is why I have committed my work and talents in the service of the School: because it really is a school. And it is why I am deeply pleased and honored to have been recently named “Associate Dean.”

I believe in education. I think it is one important part of feeling happy and fulfilled in life. We do not have to starve for it in our magical pursuits, and once we clearly see the goal, we can take conscious, strategic steps to experience more education in our magic.

The good news is that your magical education is the explicit mission of Jeff’s Magic & Mystery School. I sincerely hope you will join us some time in 2010 to experience that in yourself.

We all crave inspiration, and motivation to stoke our creativity.

Our Muse Letter this month is brought to you by Surrealist Illusionist Jordan Wright.

WHO IS YOUR MENTOR?
One of the first experiences I had with Jeff taught me just how a simple gift of magic can make a huge impact on a person. One night we were in the checkout line of a supermarket and Jeff asked the checkout guy if he likes magic. He replied that he had not really seen magic before. Without hesitation, Jeff began doing card manipulations for him and ended by giving him one of his cards. The guy was so shocked that his entire demeanor was transformed into a state of bliss. As we were walking out to the car I realized how a simple magic trick in an unexpected way will almost instantly bring people out of their mundane task. This was one of those unique moments that had I not witnessed, I never would have understood.

MASTERING THE ART OF MAGIC
I often get emails from people asking what advice I can give them on finding a mentor. One of the best pieces of advice I can offer to anyone is to seek out a magician in your area or local market whose work you admire and who is willing to “show you the ropes”. It is not about learning tricks. It is about watching others and learning from the way they work. Having a mentor will allow you to see what real world performing environments are like, to learn what goes into structuring a show, and to absorb all the wisdom that comes from their years of experience. Having someone to not only help guide you but also teach you the life lessons of being a performer is invaluable.

In today’s digital age with so much information on the internet we often feel uncertain of where to turn to for inspiration in our magic. Here’s one suggestion:

THE TED TALKS OF MAGIC
For many years now Jeff, Eugene, Larry Hass, and the other Mystery School faculty have been hosting an event in Las Vegas called The Magic and Meaning Conference. Inspired by the TED conference held in Northern California every year, the Magic & Meaning Conference is an event with some of the most brilliant minds in magic and other fields. Philosophers, writers, filmmakers, and other artists gather with some of magic’s greatest thinkers to share their wisdom and insight to inspire others in their work. We call the talks “PEP Talks” — PEP standing for Performance, Entertainment, Philosophy. We recently posted several of the talks from previous years on the Magical Wisdom website to give people a sense of what the conference is about. You can view them here:

http://www.magicalwisdom.com/infopages/view/mm_talks

I recommend viewing Larry Hass’ talk on Gifting Magic and Payne’s hilarious presentation on Why Must We Repeat Ourselves?

For a little more insight into this amazing conference here is a short video I created:

THE LAS VEGAS NEWS!
I recently got the chance to impart some wisdom on younger minds in magic at the World Magic Seminar. This 2 day workshop brought together 52 teens from all over the world to gain insight from Jeff and Eugene on ways to improve their magic. Many of the teen magicians have studied with Jeff and Eugene numerous times. In fact, the three winners of the Teen Stage Competition are all alumni of the Magic and Mystery School.

1st Place — Henry Vargas
2nd Place — Reuben Moreland
3rd Place — Eric Gilliam

What do these talented your magicians have in common? They all have have attended classes with Jeff. We are all very proud of these young rising stars of magic!

It is always amazing to see what an impact Jeff and Eugene have had on magicians, young and old.

This year’s SARMOTI award winner Nestor Hato was quoted as saying “Jeff McBride was the man who taught me magic.”

HOT NEWS FROM VEGAS: A VIRTUAL MAGIC NIGHTCLUB?
As I write this Jeff is just about to return from touring in the Midwest and we are making the final preparations for our March WONDERGROUND, which will take place this Thursday, March 18. If you are unable to attend we hope you will tune in to the live broadcast on www.streetofcards.tv.

Read more about the magic and film work of Jordan Wright in his new column on www.iTRiCKS.COM.