“I’d like to live as a poor man with lots of money.”
— Pablo Picasso
Dear Friends:
One of the rather crass questions magicians are asked most often is:
“If you were a real magician, couldn’t you just pull money from the air?” or, “Can you make a million dollars appear for me?”
Actually money does not always “work like magic,” and solve all of life’s problems. In fact, money can actually cause the problems! Have you read the stories of lottery winners that have had their lives totally ruined by getting “all the money they ever dreamed of?”
http://coed.com/2012/11/30/5-sad-winning-lottery-stories-to-make-powerball-losers-feel-better/
Joshua Levin is one of the most talented artists I know. Â He is a PhD in Anthropology teaching here at The College of Southern Nevada. He is a master musician, painter, poet and a family man. Here is one of his recent paintings, exploring his relationship to the world of money. Here Joshua explores the difference between spiritual gold and that mundane matter that we kill and die for.
Take a few moments to look deeply into the symbolism of this painting.
Joshua’s art will astonish you! http://art.joshualevin.org
It is my pleasure to introduce many of you to Joshua’s work… for more of his art go here:
https://sites.google.com/site/mythfitsart/
Joshua has an amazing ability to “spark” other people’s creativity. He empowers them to find the art inside of them and to coax it out into the world. I love that about him! He is a modern master of art and expression.
If you desire, you can take the course Art In-Cross Cultural Perspective with Joshua online!
https://sites.google.com/site/mythfitsart/home/anth204
“Right livelihood” is the concept of doing what you love to do, in a way that does not harm others. Sometimes it takes courage and persistence to get the “right livelihood” part of the the financial equation right. Read these amazing stories, they will inspire you to be patient and to follow your bliss.
http://money.cnn.com/gallery/luxury/2014/06/01/self-made-billionaires/index.html
When I see a Lamborghini I don’t think,”Wow! How much money does that person have?” I think, “Wow! how much money does he owe?”
Freedom from financial worry is what I’m after.
Instead of asking “How can I make more money from my art?” Try asking, “How can I make more art with my money?”
Here is a photo of Joshua’s sculptural-painting Arum. This is an inspirational art piece I commissioned from him to adorn our movement theater wing of the Magic & Mystery School.
You can visit our museum and art gallery when you attend our classes. For a detailed look of Joshua’s art go here https://sites.google.com/site/mythfitsart/home/sculpture/aurum
House calls? Yes! The Show Doctor is making house calls! Each week magicians from all over world tune into our online school. This month our shows are about Wisdom from Wizards.
Get your free trial here:
http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/members/signup
Or… Have you ever had the desire to just “get away” from the “real world?” Ever consider leaving your present life and starting new again? Some people get stuck in the same old patterns, while others break out of the pack, spread their wings and FLY! Now you can start a new life… just step out onto the street and begin again!
Live the drea m- Perform the magic you love, and make a great living doing it! Become a street magician and see the world! We can show you how…
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events#467
We even help our students by offering scholarships! What more can we do to help — drive to your home and pick you up?! http://www.magicalwisdom.com/scholarships
It has been 5 years since Chris Randall has appeared at the Wonderground. Chris is one of the original Wonderground Players… and now he comes home. Chris Randall returns with his full evening show Scandal — The Only Adult Magic Show in Las Vegas.
The 10:00 PM show features world class manipulation, edgy comedy, and sizzling hot illusions. Scandal features an amazing cast starring Melanie Kramer, Bizzarro and Award Winning Magician Mondre. Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime show at this month’s Wonderground.
Also appearing: Gypsy music by Jon D’Ark
8PM Early Stage:
Your Host, the elegant Tim Wise
Scott Steelfyre – A Fantasy in Flames
Smoothini- The Ghetto Houdini! – Direct from America’s Got Talent!
9PM Diamond Parlor Room:
Your host- the charming Kurt Freitag
Joe Atmore – Master of Mentalism & Mystery
Art by Areeya and Suzanne, Tarot readings and Psychic Sideshow with Alan Scott, Video by Scott Steelfyre, Photography by Sheryl Garrett ,DJ David Rosario, The New World Rythmatism Dancers and more!
Yes, I’m packing again, this time for a tour of Spain. I’m taking BEYOND DECEPTION Volume 2, as reading material. Tobias did a fantastic job on this book. “BD2” is packed with a lifetime of wisdom and magical inspiration. I suggest you read a sample and then get your copy here:
http://www.beyonddeception.com/volume-2.html
I love to perform for Spanish audiences. And the Spanish magicians — especially the close-up artists — are some of the best in the world. If you are in Spain join me here: http://magiacaceres2014.es
So as they say on Star Trek, “Live long and prosper!”
Sincerely,
Jeff McBride
jeff@mcbridemagic.com
I would like to begin by congratulating my friend, Michael Carbonaro, for his new show, “The Carbonaro Effect,†which airs on Thursday evenings at 10.00 pm (Pacific time) on TRU TV. Be sure to check it out!
I first met Michael when he attended a Mystery School in 1999. He was a bright and attentive student who was clearly present. This was the first time that Michael performed what has become one of his signature pieces, Shaving Dream. Even this early version, which didn’t have a name, was very impressive. Michael’s performance had great impact on the audience. Everyone was talking about it afterward. And Michael was still a teenager!
Michael and I stayed in contact over the years and our friendship grew. A few years ago, when Jeff decided to bring the Mystery School faculty and students to the Magic Castle in Hollywood to perform for a week, I opted to perform in the Peller Theater. To make things easy, I wanted someone to perform with me. Michael Carbonaro was my first choice. Together, we created a show, “Dark Stories,†which we have now performed several years at the Magic Castle and in other places as well (such as Erika Larsen’s quite fabulous “Beyond Brookledge†event last year).
This coming July, Michael and I will present an extended version of “Dark Stories†at the James Randi TAM (The Amazing Meeting) event in Las Vegas.
Photo credit: Roger Fojas
Need I say that Michael is a delight to work with? He is. He is creative and funny and still serious and open to ideas and also ready with many amazing ideas of his own. I love to work with him. And I was thrilled when he used my effect, Shotglass Surprise, on the pilot episode of “The Carbonaro Effect.†You can see Michael’s very clever and entertaining presentation at:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y8447kS90dk
It is exciting when a friend gets a television show of their own. One feels so happy for them. Having a show of our own is a dream that is shared by so many magicians. Do you have a dream of your own TV show? If you do, I think you might ask yourself one very important question: Are you really ready for your own TV show? If the offer came unexpectedly to you, would you be up for the challenge? Yes, it’s a tough question!
And this brings us to the subject of my essay. It is time. It is the ability to perform for the specific  time that has been allotted to us. Not to go over. Not to do more time than expected.
Over the years, I have been surprised on many, many occasions as I watched professional magicians fail to meet the time restrictions given to them. Although they sometimes go under their time, most often they go well over the time they were allotted. If scheduled to perform for ten minutes, they might perform for fifteen or twenty. If asked to perform for thirty minutes, they might instead perform for forty-five. I see this at magic conventions and at local magic shows. I see it in many, many countries. At home, I see it at Magic Chicago, the monthly magic show soon in its tenth year. It appears that a large number of magicians, both amateur and professional, have very little sense of performance time. Evidently, it doesn’t seem too important to them. It probably isn’t as important as the magic tricks that dance in their thoughts.
But it is important! It is important if you want to be — or be seen as — a professional magician. As I have explained many times, my own first international television appearance was on the Paul Daniels Show in England. I had two spots: the first was four-and-a-half minutes, the second was three-and-a-half minutes. This was a live television show. It was not a taped show. My job was to come in on time. If I went over, I would be taking time away from the star of the show. If I went under time, Paul would have to make up my time.
I think that I was successful for two reasons. First, there was a large clock with a second hand next to the camera so I could watch the movement of time. Second, I work with scripts for each of my magical pieces and so, when there were 30 seconds left, I could begin to speed up or slow down — and then finish precisely on the second. I approached it both as a challenge and a game. On the set, I received many compliments. And I was asked to return for Paul’s live show the next year. But the secret was having a real script — and also understanding how to deliver it.
And so when magicians perform for me — either in Chicago or in classes with Jeff in Las Vegas — I listen to what is being said. I want to help these magicians improve what they are saying.
Do you work with a real script?
Do you have the ability to bring your performances in on time?
Time is a great challenge. Yet, if you do get your own television show one day, these are the skills that you might need for your success. If you have them, I suspect that you will be very happy and thankful.