Posted on May 23, 2011

Good News, Bad News

“The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with the qualifications for adaptation, the ability to accept the inevitable and conform to the unavoidable, to harmonize with existing or changing conditions.”

Jeff McBride: Master of the Elements
[Artwork by Matthew Wright, from a photo by Richard Faverty. Visit Matthew’s web site at www.chamberofsecrets.eu]

Greetings friends,

IS THIS THE END OF MAGIC AS WE KNOW IT?

I have good news and bad news. The bad news is from a recent Forbes article that says that variety entertainers, including magicians, are on the endangered list of viable careers.

THE GOOD NEWS

The good news is that the very best performers will still survive and thrive in these uncertain and challenging times. Whether you perform magic or not, here are some things you can do to ensure your survival. The best way to predict your future is to create it.
  • Study: Up your game! Take new courses and improve your skill set to get the edge on your competition. Is there room for improving your work? I bet there is….
  • Express gratitude: Be thankful for the good things you have, no matter how small.
  • Make time for play: This is one of the secrets to keeping eternally young.
  • Create: Use the time you have to generate new work and new ideas… here are a few of mine!
I’m so excited! Jordan and I have just finished my newest creation, EXPERT CARD FLOURISHES. Be one of the first to see it here: http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/lessons/view/28

BRAVO!

Here is a photo from Jordan Wright, of the next video project, due out in June. Can you guess what routine this is?
Jeff McBride working on a new video

THE MCBRIDE MAGIC CARPET WORLD TOUR

From Kalamazoo, to Canada. From Indianapolis to Russia… with love!
This week sees me heading out on the next leg of my world tour; for full details of how you can see my show or attend one of my seminars yourself, click here:

QUICK TRAVEL TIP

Always bring a few sets of earplugs and a sleep mask along on the flight. Train yourself to fall asleep when the earplugs go in and the mask goes on. Staying rested and hydrated is essential to healthy travel… and earplugs are the best way I’ve found to make a crying baby disappear, legally! And if you’re traveling, come visit Las Vegas and check out our classes this summer and fall.

MYSTERY SCHOOL MONDAY… Every Monday at 7pm PST.

Can you believe we have over seventeen episodes waiting for you? Each episode is packed with magical wisdom, astonishing video clips, sagely advice, interviews with celebrities, and great product reviews. To see the back episodes, just click the “videos” button below the screen at
Here is a photo from our friend Sue West of us in our library shooting a recent episode.
Filming Mystery School Mondays
I find myself working harder these days and am grateful to Tobias, Bryce, Eugene, Larry and Abbi and the rest of the Magic and Mystery School team for all their help and support. And thank YOU, our friends and readers. It is a pleasure to share my thoughts and magic with you.
Your friend,
Jeff
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Posted on May 1, 2011

The Best-Kept Secret in Magic

Thank you for choosing Magic Carpet for all your travel needs. Don’t exit until the rug has come to a complete stop.
— Genie as an airline attendant from the Disney movie Aladdin

Dear Magical Friends:

Jeff McBride at YaleAs I write this, Jeff is just back off his magic carpet from his whirlwind trip to the East Coast, performing with yet another group of magic stars from the Magic Castle in the show “It’s Magic” at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut. He followed it all up with an amazing visit to Yale, where he presented his Jeff McBride Experience show, lecture and workshop in a setting “as much like the real Hogwarts as you can imagine!”

Now he is home preparing for his trip to the magic festival in Lille France, and some surprise events in Paris. When he gets home from that, he launches right into Mayfire, which he and Abbi have been hosting (with a lot of help from their friends) for a number of years now at Valley of Fire, just outside Las Vegas.

We are delighted to have our Associate Dean of the Magic & Mystery School, Dr. Lawrence Hass as our guest author this week. I know you’ll enjoy his thoughts:

Larry HassThe Best-Kept Secret in Magic

From Larry Hass, Associate Dean

Imagine you are reading the trick section of one the magic magazines:

The Effect: You have a magic experience that is profoundly transformational. Afterward, the world looks different to you, filled with fresh possibilities. Whereas before, your forward path was cloudy and unclear, you now feel inspired by new ideas, great, new performance material, and new friends.

The Secret: [Read More. . . .]

Thank you, Larry!   I should note that we have two Extended Master Classes this summer, before Magic and Meaning…and they are both filling fast.   These classes fill fast, and they represent your best bet, in my opinion, for moving your magic a quantum leap forward. The August class is also almost immediately after the end of Magic Live!, my favorite magic convention. I double dare you to see if you can handle 10 days in a row with more magic than you ever imagined you could experience!

Jeff McBride Lecture NotesBryce just informed me that he’s turned Jeff’s lecture notes, Magician 24/7 and Pack Small, Play Big, into virtual lessons available for download.  These two booklets contain the details of Jeff’s most-requested lectures. You’ll learn some of the secrets of being a professional magician. These are lessons that can only come from a seasoned professional like Jeff. Learn how to tour the world with a full stage show and get everything on the plane with no extra fees (and sometimes an upgrade to First Class).

Until next time, then – we all wish all of you a most magical time!

Best wishes.

Tobias Beckwith

tobias@yourmagic.com
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