“There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.â€
— Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking
SHHH! JEFF IS ABOUT TO BEGIN TAPING A NEW SERIES WITH VH1. IT’S ALL VERY HUSH HUSH – BUT WE’LL FILL YOU IN ON THE DETAILS JUST AS SOON AS WE CAN!
Greetings Friends,
I wish I could tell you all about it – but for the moment suffice it to say I’m very excited to be working with the folks at VH1 on what promises to be a very exciting project.
BACK FROM THE EDGE
It’s strange to think that I’ve been performing for Donald Trump for almost twenty years. I started at “the Donald’s†birthday party bash in 1988. I was the opening act with co-stars Liza Minnelli and Billy Crystal. Now, almost twenty years later, I am the headliner and Liza is appearing next door at Trump Plaza…. Feels like we’ve made it to the top!
All of us here at McBride Magic have continued our
magical relationship with the Trump organization and it was a pleasure to be the featured headliner this summer. Here is a photo of our magic company, including Abbi and Jordan Wright, in front of our gigantic billboard, on the way into town.
What I learned on my summer vacation; give your audience more than they expect! The biggest improvement in our show this season was adding one extra hour of pre-show street magic and improvisation before the show. Our audiences, made up of old and new friends, were able to share more magical time with our cast, not only before the show, but after the show as well. Abbi, Jordan, and I were blessed to have many of our Magic and Mystery School students join in the pre-show festivities. Hats off to: Chad Juros, RJ Lewis, Michael Carbonaro, Michael Trixx, Mike Hankins, Russ Clark, Benjamin Corey, and many others, for helping to make the show wonderful!
Magic at the Edge also hosted a post-show friends and fans
party in the lobby outside the theater after each show. Not only did this give us an opportunity to meet and greet and spend more time with our friends, we also utilized the pre- and post-show parties to work in new material that will be featured in next season’s shows.
Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, delight the heart. And they both take practice.
— Nora Roberts
BACK TO SCHOOL
I learned a lot of new lessons about interactive street magic and walk around mentalism this summer… knowledge and wisdom that I will share with you at our next class! You can learn a lot about your potential audience participants by just meeting and greeting them before the show, seeing if they make and hold eye contact, and how energetically or softly they shake your hand. With younger audience members, seven to teen, I ask them “Are you a big magic fan?†If their eyes light up, and they energetically shake their head yes, they are more likely to find their way on stage. I also, in casino environments, pay very close attention to the kind of beverages that are in front of people who I am considering for selection. I never select audience participants or “volunteers†without meeting them and engaging them in conversation before the show. I suggest, if you are doing a stage show, to take the time, pre-show, to meet and greet your audience participants. I feel that this is one of the most important lessons I can share with you.
Abbi and I will be working out of our home base here at the Magic and Mystery School for September and October. If you’re going to be in town, check the www.magicalwisdom.com site and book your private session, or scheduled Master Class. We’ll look forward to seeing you soon!
Your friends in magic,
Jeff & Abbi
QUICK NOTE FROM TOBIAS:
As luck would have it, we still have 2 slots left for the September Master class. This is the last non-themed class of the year. It’s the perfect time to tune up your act for the holidays, and to spend some time thinking and learning about the best ways to promote those holiday season shows. Be there!
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com