Jeff McBlog

(Photo by Lara Puglisi)

“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
— Maya Angelou

Greetings from China!

Wow, what a bizarre job I have! Let me explain…

I got this email a few weeks ago: “Can you fly to Beijing and make a skyscraper vanish on national television?”

Click to Watch
How do you make a huge skyscraper vanish on TV? Yeah, that is what I was asking too! I needed EXPERT help! I am blessed to have good friends like Franz Harary who can help me make the impossible possible. He sure did! Franz and I were judges on the VH1 show CELEBRACADABRA (you can see a clip here).

It is wonderful to have friends who can mentor me through these challenging situations. Over the years I have cultivated friendships with my magic mentors. I am very blessed to be able to share their wisdom with my students.

Mystery School Mondays

“A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” 

Speaking of mentors: We had a couple of great episodes of Mystery School Mondays recently. First, was a wonderful look into the world of Magical Mentors, still available here: http://tinyurl.com/mcbmentor.

Our most recent episode on Music and Magic featured special guest Jay Atwood, and is still on line here: http://tinyurl.com/mcbmusic.

Remember: you can see great magic and learn the art of wonder 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on: McBrideMagic.tv.

A few of my favorite magic mentors: Eugene Burger, Larry Hass and the very funny Mac King at a recent Master Class.

“We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill 

WONDERGROUND

We were recently called “The coolest show in Las Vegas” by journalist Richard Abowitz. In an effort to keep that title, we have an impressive line-up of talent this month. Check it out here: http://www.vegaswonderground.com/

Jeff performs a new mask theater piece at WONDERGROUND
Photo Credit: Brian “Flash” Adams

IMX and a special one-day Super Session at The Mystery School!

I will be performing at THE ORLEANS HOTEL in Las Vegas May 20-24^th as part of this year’s IMX convention, and hosting a rare one day session at the McBride House of Mystery just after the convention on May 24^th.  For the first time in Las Vegas, I’m offering my four hour “Super Session” of hands-on magic, accompanied by a tour of our “House of Mystery,” where we hold most of our Master Classes. Those attending will also have time to browse my extensive library.

Thursday, May 24 from 12:30pm-5:30pm (wokshop 1-5)

THE ILLUSIONISTS

It is now official! I will be touring with this show in July and August throughout Mexico. http://tinyurl.com/mcbillusion

I love helping and mentoring others with my magic, so let me know how and when I can help you. Every week we have the class online at www.mcbridemgic.tv   I can also help you on Skype and here at the Magic and Mystery School at our classes and private sessions.

See you soon in Vegas or on the road!

Yours in the art,

Jeff McBride

From Bryce:

Just a quick note that I finally have Jeff’s “Manipulation Without Tears” booklet available at the Virtual School as a PDF download.

From Tobias:

As the month turns from May to June, many of our magical friends from the East Coast will be sponsoring our McBride Magic Experience. This is a two-day event featuring one of the world’s best full evening magic shows, followed by Jeff’s latest lecture “For Magicians Only,” and then, on the next day, a special 4-hour “Super Session” in which he teaches some of his most closely held secrets in the hands-on atmosphere only available in these workshops. If you’re anywhere near one of these locations, I hope you’ll bring a few friends to the show, attend the lecture and/or sign up to take the workshop. And by all means, be sure and stop to say hello to Jeff after the event.

May 26-27: Rumford, Maine

May 29-30: Denny & Lee – Baltimore, MD

June 1-3: Chattanooga, TN

June 5-6: Asheville, NC

June 8-10: Akron, OH

For all the Tour News, visit Jeff’s Calendar.

Best wishes for a magical Spring!

Tobias Beckwith

tobias@yourmagic.com

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance.
— Alan Watts

From the Associate Dean, Dr. Larry Hass:

Greetings Everyone,

In recent weeks and months the Magic & Mystery School has made several important announcements that relate to our offerings and programs. It has been a busy 2012!  In this Museletter, we wanted to pull these together for your information and enjoyment:

1. BRAND NEW:  CME CREDIT FOR MAGIC AND MEDICINE
We have just received word that our Magic and Medicine Class (November 8-12, 2012) has been approved to carry CME credit for health-care professionals through Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.  Visit the website for more information and to sign up for this exceptional experience.

2. SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTED
Last week the second platform of our new Scholarship Program was put in place:  we are now accepting applications from students for scholarships to our educational experiences in Las Vegas.  For complete information about our scholarships program, to download an application, and to make a gift to the Scholarship Fund to support the magic education for someone who might not otherwise be able to afford it, please go to:  http://www.magicalwisdom.com/scholarships.
3. MAGIC AND MEANING CONFERENCE, CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS AND PERFORMANCES
We are now accepting proposals for 20-minute presentations for the Magic and Meaning Conference (October 17-20, 2012) and proposals to perform a piece in one of the shows at the Conference.  For instructions about how to make and submit your proposals, please go to: http://www.magicalwisdom.com/infopages/view/CFP2012.
4. SIGN UP FOR A LOCKED ROOM
Since launching the Locked Room online learning experiences in January 2012, we have been selling them out regularly.  These Lectures and Training Sessions offer an extraordinary opportunity to have a magic educational experience with one or more of our faculty in the privacy of your own home.  So far, we have had classes on Levitation for Parlor and Stage (Jeff), Card Magic for Parlor and Stage (Jeff), Marketing for Entertainers (Tobias & Bryce), Building a Successful Show (Larry), and Trade Show Magic (George).  Our current plan is to offer at least two of these a month.  I invite you to see what we have scheduled for next month and sign up to discover why our past attendees have been raving about their experiences: http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/locked_rooms.
5. SIGN UP FOR A LIVE CLASS IN LAS VEGAS
As exciting as are the School’s online education programs, there is absolutely no substitute for having a live, immersive educational experience in Las Vegas with Jeff, Eugene, and the rest of the faculty.  Come spend some live time with us and reconnect with the heart of magic. For the list of classes this fall, please go to:  http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events.

Because of you and your involvement, the Magic & Mystery School is on the move!  Thank you for being part of our magical learning community.

Larry Hass
Associate Dean

From Tobias:

As I write, Jeff has just returned from Italy at the Masters of Magic Convention in beautiful Saint Vincent, in Italy. Later this month, he will be at the IMX in Las Vegas (with a special Super Session at the House of Mystery immediately following! Click here to register!)

After that, he will be leaving on a whirlwind tour of the East Coast, presenting his McBride Magic Experience in Maine, Tennessee, N. Carolina and Ohio. Some of these dates don’t have full details worked out yet, to please check in on his calendar in a few days to get further information on the events nearest you. We’ll post direct links from the calendar as soon as we have them.

Wishing you a magical two weeks until we come to you again!

Sincerely,

Tobias Beckwith

tobias@yourmagic.com

“It’s impossible,” said pride.
“It’s risky,” said experience.
“It’s pointless,” said reason.
“Give it a try,” whispered the heart.

Greetings friends,

Hey, it’s Jeff McBride here in Las Vegas, writing you from the House of Mystery. I love quotes that bring me inspiration and motivate me to take on new challenges. When I look back on some of the recent projects that we’ve been creating here at the Magic and Mystery School, I realize how much incredible help I have, and how grateful I am for the team. You can meet many of them on our new web-shows. You can even interact with us online now. You’ll quickly see why I feel so blessed, to have these people in my life. Each month, we take turns writing you, sharing our experiences and our magic. Here’s a bit of what’s going on for me these days.

World Tour News
The League of Extraordinary Magicians

What an amazing day I had yesterday at the photo shoot for the new world tour THE ILLUSIONISTS! This summer I will be touring Mexico, and perhaps South America! Take a look at the current line-up and just imagine me in the show. They’re cutting a new commercial with me in it; I play the part of “The Shaman!”

You can see the last version of the commercial here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-rhvUIY5fY

Masters of Magic in Italy

I’m really excited to return to Italy and join so many friends at the Masters of Magic Convention! It’s really an all-star line-up: Uri Geller, René Lavand, Juan Tamariz, The Great Tomsoni, Franz Harary, Topas, Danny Cole, Dani DaOrtiz, Double Fantasy, Dean Gunnarson, Jabba, Eric Jones, Xavier Mortimer, Fielding West, Asi Wind…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0rPaNfavJo

Locked Room Project

We’ve been trying out a new way of getting the Magic & Mystery School offerings to you. If you’ve not taken a peek into our new project called THE LOCKED ROOM, you will want to see what we’re offering you now! Here’s the place:

http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/locked_rooms

New Secret Art Journal Essay: “Scriptwriting for Magicians”

We are actors playing the part of a great magician and we need great scripts to keep us focused and theatrically potent.

Read more: http://www.secretartjournal.com/

On the set of the film shoot for The Show Doctor

How Prepared Are You?

The more you perform for people the better your magic will become. I am always ready to perform my show, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Learn some of my tips and tricks to be ready to make magic anytime and anywhere:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM0IPeTrgNE

“Magic is the shadow cast by the fire of the soul.”
– Michael Fraughton

MAYFIRE: Five days of Peace, Love, Magick & Fire

A desert vision quest or an initiation into the magic of alchemy & fire? May 2nd-6th

www.vegasvortex.com

A Diamond Found at Wonderground!

When you visit the WONDERGROUND, you will meet one of the sparkling characters of Las Vegas: Christian Diamond. He is easy to spot; he is, by far, the best-dressed person in the room… always!   Diamond is known as “the Gem of Sin City,” and has been one of the Wonderground players since the very beginning. He helps many performers in Las Vegas to create their dream shows. I’ve found Mr. Diamond’s advice and expertise to be a great addition to our productions. You can learn more about the mysterious Mr. Diamond here: http://www.christiandiamond.com/

NEWS FLASH!

Take a look at our new video “The McBride Stage Magic Trilogies”

Do you like Stage Magic?

Here is a “must see” episode recently aired on MondayNightMysterySchool, with magician inventor Kevin James.

Remember, Monday is a School Night!

I’ll see you on: McBrideMagic.tv

Magic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Magically yours,

Jeff McBride

Forgive, O Lord, my little jokes on Thee,
And I’ll forgive Thy great big one on me.
~Robert Frost, “Cluster of Faith,” 1962

While there are several stories of how April Fool’s Day came into being, I like to think it is a successor to the medieval “Feast of Fools,” which, in its turn was successor to the Romany Saturnalia fests. At the Feast of Fools, the social order was inverted, for a single day. A “Lord of Misrule” or “Pope of Fools” – often a beggar — replaced the reigning bishop for the day, and the traditional rulers of both church and secular society were widely ridiculed. Society was, for a single day, turned topsy-turvy, with those normally at the top of the social network now at the bottom, and those normally at the bottom – beggars, thieves and cripples – suddenly at the top. Originally celebrated around the first of January, the Feast of Fools apparently traded place with “New Years,” with the advent of the Gregorian Calendar, which shifted the “First of the Year” from March 25 to January 1 in the year 1582.

Today, we celebrate April Fools by playing pranks…tricks and practical jokes that serve to puncture our complacency about the “reality” of our world. And so the trickster magician has long adopted April Fool’s Day as his or her own. For the Trickster, every day is a “fool’s” day, meant for doing and playing tricks that will cause the rest of society to think twice about the “reality” they accept so easily….but April Fool’s Day celebrates the acts of the trickster!

I don’t know about anyone else…but I’m not particularly fond of tricksters. They make me uncomfortable. You never know when they’re serious about something, or when you should be expecting the unexpected. I suspect the real Tricksters among us are quite comfortable with that. Causing discomfort is their job. Leaving people off-balance and questioning the status quo is their prime function.

No one I know does this better than our friend Bob Neale. Bob creates and writes up magic pieces that don’t have a nice, neatly tied up ending. He dares to puncture our smug bubbles of comfortable belief, and to question things we think of as unquestionable. He dares to be dark – not in the blood and gore theatrical or the “romantic spooky” ways of so many bizarre magicians – but by being unafraid   to deal with the social and psychological issues that make us all a bit uncomfortable. Issues like making the decision of who gets to live, and who will die. Issues like what happens when we make bad decisions and must live with the consequences. Issues like, what if there is no happy ending at the end of my story?

We like to think of the Trickster as a “merry prankster,” happily oblivious to the reality of what goes on in the world, or the consequences of their indiscretions. I suppose that, on one level, that is the role of a certain kind of fool…the innocent who treads, blissfully unaware, through life. I have to say, I find Bob Neale’s kind of Trickster to be far more potent – and, to tell the truth – fun, than those blissful innocents. Bob’s trickery often does make you laugh – but it never lets you off the hook to forget about the subjects it mocks. Instead of distancing us from our troubles, this kind of tricksterism helps us experience life directly and honestly. He’s really my favorite kind of Fool!

And so, on this April Fool’s Day, I salute Bob Neale…and urge those of you who don’t know his works already to do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of any of Bob’s books. At first, you may find yourself distraught by the magic he presents there. If you do…well, dig a little deeper. Try performing some of the pieces and watch what happens. Pay attention to the intensity of the experience for your audiences and the discussions you find yourself having afterwards. If you have the courage to really engage with Bob’s magic, I think you will find it to be a truly life enriching, deepening experience.

Bob is truly “my kind of Fool,” and I’ll bet he’ll be yours, too.

So: Happy April Fool’s Day, Bob!

And on to business:

April and May will find Jeff McBride on the road…possibly to a venue near you. We are particularly excited that he will be featured at this year’s Saint-Vincent Magic Convention from April 19th to April 22th. In addition to Jeff, this year’s convention will Juan Tamariz,  René Lavand, The Great Tomsoni, Xavier Mortimer, Dean Gunnarson, Fielding West, Eric Jones, Danny Cole, Andrew Mayne, Mark Mason, Dani Da Ortiz and more. And, if you’ll be there, you can attend one of the Jeff McBride Super Sessions (find here more information: http://www.mastersofmagic.it/2011/12/jeff-mc-bride-super-session-2011/).

Wishing you all a delightful and trick-filled April!

Tobias Beckwith

tobias@yourmagic.com

PS: You can buy several of Bob Neale’s books at our http://shop.yourmagic.com.

“The goal of the teacher is to create students who will transcend their teacher.”
— Eugene Burger

Greetings Friends,

All is well in Las Vegas. My intention in these monthly letters is to share with you some of the adventures I have had, and insights I’ve gained during my travels around the world.

Some say life is the people you meet and the books you read. Well, today, you would have to add “and the DVDs you watch” to this list. Everywhere I travel, I meet magicians of all ages, many who started their training in magic with my Stage Magic DVDs. I am honored and flattered that they consider me “their teacher.”

Recently, we took the time to gather the best collection of my DVDs together. Here is a new look at my own favorites.

McBride’s Stage Magic – A Trilogy of Trilogies

We have just begun to bundle this set together – and so you can be one of the first to see the clip that Jordan Wright just finished in order to promote the new bundle!

http://youtu.be/JEmsRT7525E

The chain of magic holds strong, as the students honor their teachers. Eugene Burger is my magic teacher. Look what he wrote about me!

Some Random Thoughts and Questions about Jeff McBride …by Eugene Burger.

Raves for Squeak Technique

For many years, I have studied the classics of magic. I’ve taken the very best of what I know about the classic Bowl and Ball routine, and put it all in my new project. Word is starting to get out and the reviews are sensational!

http://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=48695

Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.
— Anonymous

The fact that we had no idea about what we were doing didn’t stop us from doing it! Over a year ago, we started our weekly show on the internet. Now, Mystery School Mondays has grown into a vibrant magic community, where, anytime of the day or night, you can find magicians around the world in our online classroom, sharing magic ideas and watching great magic.

Magic 24-7

Yes, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we are streaming magical wisdom direct to you!

You can always watch the streaming videos or catch up with back episodes online.

http://www.mcbridemagic.tv

Wonderground

This March 15th will be a very special show. The entire faculty of the Magic and Mystery School will host this month’s festivities. Show up early to get a good seat, or tune in to mcbridemagic.tv and watch it for free online, starting at 8pm PST.

http://www.vegaswonderground.com

My Wife Abbi, dancing with the New World Rhythmatism Dance Ensemble at WONDERGROUND. She is soooo lovely!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nqv3oporuHs

The Magic and Mystery of Fire

I am the Fire and the union of opposites, I am the mystery, I am calling you in your dreams, I am bringing you home to me.
—Spinner & Magnus

Some of you know that Abbi and I fell in love at the fire. Every year, we host a gathering for kindred spirits, who love to play music, make magic and camp in the desert.

MAYFIRE 2012, May 1-6, Valley of Fire State Park (near Las Vegas, Nevada)

Registration is now Open!

http://www.vegasvortex.com/details.php?id=26&page=mayfire12

See you on tour, or in the desert!

Jeff

“Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore

Dear Friends:

We are fortunate today to have a few words from our friend and Dean of the Magic & Mystery School, Eugene Burger. Enjoy!

TURNING OUR EXCITEMENT INTO A DEMON

Eugene Burger

During the course of a year I do a great deal of traveling which, happily, I still greatly enjoy. Recently I was in Jacksonville, Florida, where I gave a lecture and conducted a small seminar. Secretly, my reason for the trip was to spend time with my friend Simone Marron who not only set up my appearances in Jacksonville but also arranged for me to give additional talks in Miami for her friend, Maria Ibanez. Maria, in turn, engaged me to perform at their annual SAM Banquet and, to my deep gratitude, also arranged a visit to a place I have always wanted to see: the most mysterious Coral Castle. It did not disappoint.

After my time in Florida, I came home for a few days and then left again — this time for Tulsa, Oklahoma, with my friends magician Robert Charles and Mike Burke, where I gave two talks for my friend, Steve Lancaster who owns Top Hat Magic. During the course of the small seminars I ask the participants to write down questions or topics they would like to discuss. Not surprisingly, questions are often repeated in the different cities because magicians, if they think about it, have some basic questions that need attention. And sometimes the very way in which the question or topic is expressed tells us a great deal about our presuppositions which often diminish our success.

As I read through the topics submitted at the Tulsa seminar, one instantly made me stop. It said simply, “Conquering nerves before a performance.”

Short and direct. It is an issue that both Jeff and I are asked about repeatedly — in country after country. Put as a question: How shall we conquer our nerves before our performances?

Stated as a question, of course, this is not unique to magicians. It is a question that many, many individuals who must present anything before a group of people would like to have answered. “Nerves” before a performance, as the writer expressed it, are not unique to magicians.

Seeing the universality of this subject for anyone who must speak or sing or dance in front of others, I repeat: How shall we “conquer our nerves before a performance?” Here, in this brief space, I will offer not so much an answer to this question as suggest some questions that may help us deal with this situation.

To answer this question, most crucially, do you see that the very way the question is raised (“How can I conquer my fears before a performance?”) colors — and perhaps even determines — how we might respond to it? The form of the question itself limits and influences my response.

Allow me to make three brief points here.

First, let’s talk about “nerves” or whatever it is that we want to conquer. It is called by many names. Some have called it “stage fright.” One magician I spoke with referred to his “terror of performing” and another spoke of his “fear of being in front of an audience.” There are many terms that can be used to refer to this “nervousness” before a performance. My point is simply that what I call it will in large measure determine the kind of “battle” I will need to wage. Calling it “my terror of performing,” for example, creates a rather impressive demon against which I must then wage this psychological war.

Personally, I choose to call this state “inner excitement” and I think it is a good thing and not something over which to wage a war. I experience this inner excitement because I want to do a good job. I want to give an excellent performance, and because of this, there is an inner excitement that keeps me alert and awake and ready to go.

If I didn’t have this inner excitement before a show, I think I would be a poorer performer. And I think you would be a poorer performer without it as well. A good part of our inner excitement, then, is related to our desire to be really good magicians.

Second, let’s step back a bit and ask ourselves why our aim is to “conquer” this feeling of inner excitement? In general, we all seem so intent on conquering things — and often they are things over which we have very little control. Think of some of the things we typically speak of “conquering.” We want to conquer space, nature, unbelief, anxiety, depression and, in large measure, each other. The opposite attitude to this desire to conquer things is have a relationship with them based upon respect and perhaps even friendship.

Before a performance, can I make friends with my sense of inner excitement?

Let me summarize the two points I have been making:

First, are my words — the way with which I describe this state — transforming my inner excitement into a demon that terrorizes me? “Inner excitement” seems to me to be manageable state. On the other hand, using words like “fear,” “terror” or “stage fright” seem far less manageable and even threatening. These words can become virtual demons to torment me.

Second, why do I think I need to conquer everything or wage some kind of inner war or battle with my feelings?

I think these are two questions that anyone who gives presentations in front of others would do well to contemplate.

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not add a third point. If I am supposed to give any type of presentation — and if I am not prepared — perhaps I should be nervous. And nervous in the worst demonic sense of that word! If I am not adequately prepared and rehearsed, if I did not do my homework, fear and terror might indeed be the most realistic and honest responses I can have.

Thanks, Eugene! I find I always learn something from Eugene’s talks, and that I’m really looking forward to spending a week with him in Las Vegas this month. As luck would have it – it is not too late for you to decide to join us. We still have two slots left before that class is filled, and if you go to www.magicalwisdom.com right now, you could get one of them. It promises to be a great week, with Jeff, Eugene, Bryce Kuhlman, Larry Hass & myself, and visits to Mac King, Paul Vigil and The Wonderground…and that’s just the “highlight reel.”

A bit further down the road, but also timely, is our course for Career Enhancement, scheduled for September 17-25 — a serious 9 days of work in learning to build a strong business and career in magic. Not for everyone…but if it is for you, we can pretty much guarantee that the week will change your life for the better. Building systems, creating strong, consistent marketing, making sure your act is up to snuff, and much more. Much more than a transmission of information, the class is designed as a complete experience that will change the way you think and behave in order to become the full-time successful professional you want to be. We will only do the class if we have 10 people registered by the end of March, though, and at present, there are only 5. So…If you’re ready to make a serious investment in your future as a professional magician – now is the time to act.

http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events/view/446

That’s it for now. We look forward to seeing you on McBridemagic.tv, in our Locked Room sessions, and “Live in Las Vegas,” soon!

Best to all,

Tobias Beckwith

tobias@yourmagic.com

Hola! Jeff here in Bogota, Colombia!

I have been touring and doing my shows in South America in theaters and on the streets! One of the joys of travel is meeting other interesting magicians and getting them to be guests on our web-TV show.

The recent topic: Street magic around the world

See this new episode, featuring some street magic direct from Bogota.

“Art is magic delivered from the lie of being truth.”
— Theodor Adorno

What is artistry? What makes an artist?

A few thoughts by Henry Miller:

But there is a class of hardy men, old-fashioned enough to have remained rugged individuals, openly contemptuous of the trend, passionately devoted to their work, impossible to bribe or seduce, working long hours, often without reward or fame, who are motivated by a common impulse – the joy of doing as they please. At some point along the way, they separated from the others.

The men I speak of can be detected at a glance: their countenance registers something far more vital, far more effective, than the lust for power. They do not seek to dominate, but to realize themselves. They operate from a center which is at rest. They evolve, they grow, they give nourishment just by being what they are, To live beyond the pale, to work for the pleasure of working, to grow old gracefully while retaining one’s faculties, one’s enthusiasm, one’s self-respect, one has to establish other values than those endorsed by the mob. It takes an artist to make a breach in the wall.

An artist is primarily one who has faith in himself. He does not respond to the normal stimuli: he is neither a drudge nor a parasite. He lives to express himself and in so doing enriches the world. (H.M.)

What is “artistry?” and what is it that makes the difference between an “entertainer” and an “artist?”

We will explore this next Monday on the show. I have been collecting interviews from illuminated magicians on my travels. You can experience the reflections of master magicians on the upcoming show and listen to their words of wisdom and experience. Join Tobias Beckwith, George Parker, Bryce Kuhlman and the faculty and friends of our Mystery School for an evening of Artistry and Wisdom.

Remember, “Monday is a school night!” – Monday, Feb 13 at 7PM PST.

“Art is magic… But how is it magic? In its metaphysical development? Or does some final transformation culminate in a magic reality? In truth, the latter is impossible without the former. If creation is not magic, the outcome cannot be magic.”
— Hans Hofmann

Wonderground – February 16

Tim Wise hosts the 8pm comedy magic show.

Christian Diamond will host the 9pm close-up gala show

DJ Shinobi spins the deep chill out grooves

Abbi will host the 10 pm “stage extravaganza!”

DJ Shinobi (aka Leo Diaz)

Tim Wise

For details, directions and the full line up of amazing talent, go to: www.vegaswonderground.com

This month Scott Steelfyre will help Tim and Christian stream the show live on

www.mcbridemagic.tv. We will go live at 9pm Pacific/Vegas time.

“The art of art, the glory of expression, and the sunshine of the light of letters, is simplicity.”
— WALT WHITMAN, Preface to Leaves of Grass

From Tobias:

Jeff is still in South America as I write this, but will soon be back in the US. For those of you in the Chicago area, be sure to catch him when he is there for a special McBride Magic Experience, hosted by the Aces Magic Club. Our good friend Bill Cook is president there, and we’re looking forward to a fantastic weekend put on by Bill and the great team working with him. Learn more at http://tinyurl.com/mcbride-chi. Be sure and sign up early for show, lecture and workshop.

Then, April will be another “convention month,” as he returns to Hank Lee’s Cape Cod Conclave. One of the highlights of that weekend will be the special 4-hour workshop Jeff conducts on the last day. Learn more at

Finally, Jeff will be traveling to Italy for the 11th Saint-Vincent Magic Convention, taking place from April 19 to April 22 2012. He will be joined there by an allstar line-up including Juan Tamariz, René Lavand, The Great Tomsoni, Xavier Mortimer, Dean Gunnarson, Fielding West, Eric Jones, Danny Cole, Andrew Mayne, Mark Mason, Dani Da Ortiz and more. The program is packed full: 11 lectures, 5 Gala Shows, 2 International Contests, 5 Workshops, the escape day, street-magic shows, parties and after-nights. Again, Jeff is offering his special Super Session workshop. Learn more here.

For more information contact: news@mastersofmagic.it or +39348001125.

I’ve just checked, and it turns out we do still have one or two slots left for our Extended Master Class in March…but only a couple. This is the first extended class of 2012, and I’m sure it will be filled. If you’re serious about your magic, I urge you to grab one of the remaining spots now at www.magicalwisdom.com.

Until next time, then.

Magically yours,
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com

Dear friends,

Our writer this month is our friend and faculty member at the Magic & Mystery School, the corporate alchemist, George Parker. If you’ve been watching Mystery School Mondays, you know we’re in for a treat. Here’s George:

Excellence

By this time, we’re all familiar with the 10,000 hours concept that was popularized by Malcolm Gladwell in his book Outliers. Gladwell is great at making interesting ideas and concepts accessible.

But he wasn’t the first one to focus on excellence and expertise. K. Anders Ericsson published his Toward a General Theory of Expertise in 1992 and came to similar conclusions. He looked at experts in different fields like medicine, performance arts, music, sports, etc. and suggested that having a talent is great and a genetic predisposition for something may be very helpful, but a lot of training and aiming to be excellent is key to become an expert.

And way, way before him, Aristotle wrote that “we are what we repeatedly do.”

I know salespeople who should be excellent communicators/listeners but they spend 80% of their time in a car. They are probably excellent drivers, but I doubt their ability to really connect with their clients.

I think we all struggle with this from time to time. We desire excellence but there are a thousand other things that distract us from practicing it. Sometimes that’s because we don’t love what we’re doing or we lack the will to be excellent. But most of the time there’s another reason: we don’t have the time.

In order to help you create time, I’m including a list of things you may want to stop doing this year.

• Stop acting like a rat. For rats there’s nothing between stimulus and response. So they will instantly answer an email when they hear the sound of their inbox. They will answer a call when their phone rings. They don’t have any planning skills at all.
• Stop mindless traditions. I’ve been to lots of family parties, weddings, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, etc. in the past. A lot of the time I was asking myself: what am I doing here? I wouldn’t hang out with these people when I met them in a bar. So why am I now? Think about it: where do you really want to be? Or where do you really need to be in order not to be rude?
• Stop reading annoying and/or trivial things. Are you really, wholeheartedly interested in how Tyra Banks washes her clothes or how George Clooney’s housekeeper likes him so much? Allow 15 minutes (or less) a day to read this kind of stuff.
• Stop doing work that’s not worth doing. Some procedures, meetings and other habits don’t help to achieve your goals. Do them differently (like Skyping instead of doing a live meeting) or stop doing them altogether.
• Stop sweating the small stuff. When something is bothering you, don’t act on it, write it down, wait 48 hours and see if still bothers you. I bet 75% of those things will have lost their urgency.

My guess is that you will create at least 400 free hours this year, but probably more. That’s a great step towards your 10,000 hours!

George Parker

Thanks, George! One of the best ways you can fill in those hours you gain back using George’s methods is certainly to fill them with practice and rehearsal. But another is to use them to come to a Master Class. We have our first extended class of the year running from March 11-17, and it is not too late to make plans to attend. There are a few slots still available, and March is a fantastic time to visit Vegas. It’s already warm, but not the super-hot that comes with summer. We’ll be seeing some great shows, and you’ll get lots of one on one attention from the full faculty. There’s no other experience in magic that comes close – so treat yourself to the one experience guaranteed to help you raise the level of your magic right now! Go to www.magicalwisdom.com and sign up for either the March class, or one of the classes later in the year.

Jeff McBride will be in South America in February, first at the Mundial de Magia, in Bogota, Colombia from February 2-12, and then at CADI – Congreso Argentino de Ilusionismo, in Buenos Aires, Argentina from February 15-19.

Just to follow up a bit of what George was writing about: I’ve traveled on many long trips with Jeff, and I can tell you he puts his airline time to good use. He always has a deck of cards and several tricks he is working on, and it is not unusual at all to see him practicing his sleight of hand skills while waiting to check in or at his seat. And if he isn’t practicing, he’s likely to be reading a book on magic.

So…thanks, George, for the excellent advice for all of us. We hope to see all of you soon – either on Mystery School Mondays (Live at 7pm PST every Monday at www.mcbridemagic.tv, or available in archived form for a full week after each web-cast in the same location), at one of our upcoming “Locked Room” sessions, or live in Las Vegas!

Best wishes for a magical February!

Tobias Beckwith

tobias@yourmagic.com

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”
— Benjamin Franklin

Greetings friends,

You are invited to our celebration, as McBrideMagic.tv celebrates the beginning of our second year of online broadcasting. If you’ve not seen McBride’s Mystery School Monday, and what we’re doing online, you can watch, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! All episodes are available on demand, at your convenience. We’re having a party to mark the occasion, and all of you are invited!

It’s a party at the Mystery School, which is broadcast on the internet! Each week, I invite all of the friends and faculty of the Mystery School for a celebration of imagination, creativity, magical performance and philosophy. Consider this your invitation to a most magical time with us. Be sure to tune in every Monday at 7pm pacific time to mcbridemagic.tv

FANTASMA Magic

Over the years, I have met many creative and passionate magicians. Perhaps the most enthusiastic Houdini fan and collector I’ve ever met is Roger Dreyer. Roger has created a magical oasis in the center of NYC. It is the home of one of the greatest magic shops in the world, and also the home of an awesome Houdini magic collection that is on display for you to see when you visit the shop!

Roger is always donating his time and energy to create extraordinary events for our magic community, both in New York and here in Las Vegas. Now, Roger is helping us bring our gifts of magic to you, all around the world, so you can watch our shows and educational magic training programs from the comfort of your own home.

We would like to welcome our friend and magical creator Roger to our team!

He is our newest sponsor on McBrideMagic.tv

Go visit the virtual shop or, even better, drop into the REAL shop when you are in New York City! Take a peek: Fantasma Magic!

“In the long run, men hit only what they aim at”
— Thoreau

As a magic teacher, it often feels like I am helping my students perfect their aim, so they can hit the bull’s eye of their target.

Target = intention

Aim = Energy + focus + regular practice. These are just some of the “pointers” to manifesting your goals… hitting your target.

What goals or targets are you setting up for yourself in 2012 my friends?

One of the maxims I live by is, “People support what they help create,” whether that is an organization, a political movement, or even a vision of a better way to perform magic. This year, consider those around you who can empower your vision of excellence, and work with you to help you achieve your goals.

New P.E.P. talks online!

Our favorite filmmaker, Jordan Wright, has posted the newest outstanding presentations from last year’s Magic and Meaning Conference. If you have watched the TED talks, you will notice that these are similar, but they deal with themes related to magic, performance, and psychology.

Magic & Meaning P.E.P. Talks

I’ve always wondered…

Why one of the simplest little magic effects in my repertoire receives the most comments and fan mail…

Ritual of Liberation!

Richard Shadwell wrote me to say:

“Your Ritual of Liberation is one of the simplest yet most powerful effects that I perform. I have done it for friends and strangers alike. One person who I did this piece for (over 2 weeks ago) saw me at one of my regular haunts, and told me that after I gave him the little bracelet, he felt like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders and was able to work out his problem in time. Of all the effects I do, this is my number one because it goes deeper then ‘just a trick’ …this truly is a ritual. Thank you for this beautiful ritual that I know will touch many, many more lives than I can ever hope to meet.”

Do YOU perform this effect? If you do, what are your thoughts about it? If you don’t perform it, why not? Let us know at mcbridemagic.tv in the chat room… We want to know!

“I came home from Master Class infused with a wisdom and a truth that is priceless and lasting.”
—Kevin McPherson

In January, we have the only three day Master Class of 2012. Go online to see if there are still any seats available, and get yours! http://www.magicalwisdom.com

February brings me to Bogota, Colombia, and Buenos Aires, Argentina. All the info is here:

Jeff McBride’s Calendar

I will have a couple of free days while I’m there, so heads up, students in South America, if you want to have a private session with me while I’m in your city, email me directly, Jeff@mcbridemagic.com and we’ll get you scheduled!

I hope you stick to all of your New Year’s resolutions, and make this year the year that you visit us here at the Magic and Mystery School!

Your friend in magic,

Jeff

Dear Friends:

This is Tobias, writing to wish you all a very happy New Year, and bring some interesting news. But first:

This month’s Museletter is from Larry Hass, Associate Dean:

Photo credit: Arto Airaksinen

“Its Always the Beginning of the World”

Dear Friends in Magic and Mystery,

Happy New Year! This edition of the Museletter should arrive in your mailbox on the first day of 2012. This is a big deal and a beautiful thing: turning the page, a fresh start, the beginning of a new year.

If you are like me, the past few weeks have been extremely busy with a slate of holiday parties, shopping and planning, then perhaps traveling, or hosting friends and family. All of this is a pleasure, but over the years I have come to find an even deeper pleasure in making some good time during New Year’s week to think about renewal.

You see, I have never been one for New Year’s “resolutions.” That practice always seems tinged by regret, self-scolding, and stern promises that can be hard to maintain—which thus leads to further regret and scolding. Instead, I prefer to use these days to carefully meditate on my forward path in life and in magic. What would I like to experience on this journey? How can I reconnect with things that really matter to me? How can I transform a goal or a dream into something real?

In the spirit of my meditation, I would like to share some of my own practices for renewal in life and magic. I hope you find them helpful as you start 2012.

1. “What do I really need right now?” Over the years, I have found the “What do I really need” question to be very healing and helpful. It is easy to get lost in others and their needs, in duties and responsibilities. It can be restorative to ask what you really need, and what your exploration of magic really needs. Perhaps it is more time to practice, perhaps it is a script for one of your new pieces, perhaps it is time with a director or a teacher. . . . The beautiful thing about asking yourself this question, and listening to the answer, is that it usually becomes obvious how to get what you need.

2. Re-arrange and restore. I always take time around New Years to put away all the props from my December shows, to go through the piles of papers and magazines that have built up, to weed through my bookshelves and trick drawers, to put books and DVDs back on the shelves, to throw things out or give them away. For me, this just feels good. I am making room for new things and liberating myself from old ones. For me, this isn’t a “chore” or a labor. It is an opportunity to make way for my fresh start.

3. Read a great magic book; study a great DVD. Nothing is more inspirational than reading a great magic book or sinking into a worthwhile DVD set. Perhaps there are one or two you have been meaning to explore, but haven’t yet had the time to do so. Well, now is a good time! For me, I always make it a classic work—something that will be good for my soul and also good for my knowledge base.

4. How am I going to learn and grow? Education, and the growth that comes from learning, is one of the great goods in human life. Like health, learning is both “good in itself” and “good for all the consequences it brings.” (That makes it one of the highest goods according to Plato.) I have discovered that it is important to make a concrete plan for my own growth and learning in the year ahead, either through experiences, classes, or working with teachers and directors. What will you do to learn and grow in 2012?

I hope you already feel how different this renewal approach is from stern resolutions and failed promises. It is about touching base with yourself and taking stock. It is about making the time to engage in reflections and practices that will feel good and help you get what you need. It brings peace and pleasure, and it is a great thing to share and discuss with your loved ones.

One of the most dispiriting things in magic (and in modern life) is the incessant grind of information overload, the battery of our psyches at the hands of constant selling and advertising, and all the messages you are failing and lacking because you don’t own, can’t perform, or haven’t achieved this or that. This New Year season can be a special time to reconnect with yourself and your gifts, to remember, in the spirit of Gautauma, that “you are already a magic Buddha.” And to remember the deep truth articulated by Rob Brezsny (in his book Pronoia) that “it is always the beginning of the world.”

As always, Larry brings us interesting and useful thought on improving our magic. If you haven’t yet had a chance to attend one of our master classes when he is in residence, you’re certainly in for a treat!

And, speaking of classes: We have one coming up mid-January that is still has slots available. It will be the rare class taught by Jeff McBride alone, with the rest of us coming in for Q&A via Skype. But, since there ARE a few slots left, this is a great opportunity for a few students to get more intense, one-on-one attention from Jeff personally, in the context of a master class. I really can’t think of a better way to quickly “up your game” for the new year.

We’ve recently seen a spurt of growth in viewership and participation in our “Mystery School Monday” streamed broadcasts (also available 24/7 as archived material at mcbridemagic.tv). Watch this space in the coming weeks as we prepare something brand new for that fast developing branch of the Magic & Mystery School.

Finally: We’re looking for a few strong magic organizations with leaders not afraid to take on sponsorship of the “McBride Magic Experience.” As a result of Jeff’s working with George Parker recently in Amsterdam, we are currently re-thinking this event in order to make it easier for our sponsors to present, and to get students maximum exposure to Jeff’s work – as performer, lecturer and teacher. The “McBride Experience” has become one of our favorite ways to get Jeff’s work seen, and it usually takes less risk, with a far larger potential for gain, than having in a lecturer alone. Visit our page at http://tinyurl.com/mcbexperience to learn more.

That’s all for now: All of us at the McBride Magic & Mystery School send you best wishes for a very happy and successful 2012!

Tobias

tobias@yourmagic.com