Jeff McBlog

Dear Friends:

Today we hear first from our Associate Dean and favorite book publisher, Dr. Larry Hass, with big news:

The Show Doctor is IN!

It is my deep pleasure to announce that Jeff’s book The Show Doctor has just been released.  This new book includes:  11 previously unpublished routines, revised versions of Jeff’s celebrated advice column from MAGIC Magazine (2007-2010), and over 45,000 new, additional words beyond the original columns, including many interviews and additional writings.

The Show Doctor is the first ever magic book to be simultaneously released in two formats:  a print version published by my Theory and Art of Magic Press and a digital version designed for the iPad published in partnership with Stan Allen and MAGIC Magazine.  For complete information about both versions and how to purchase either a print copy, a digital copy, (or both!), please go to www.TheoryandArtofMagic.com and click on The Show Doctor banner.  One last note:  Purchasers of the print book will have full access to all the embedded materials created for the digital version, including over 30 minutes of new video content and pop-up materials and essays.

Video Secrets

Our guest columnist today is Jordan Wright, a jack-of-many-trades and favorite videographer (who created the videos included as part of The Show Doctor package. This is an article from Jordan’s Red Spade Productions blog, with tips on ways to use your phone or portable video cam more effectively:

Stabilizing
Recently, I talked about a bit about using a Smartphone camera to shoot quality video. If you missed it, you can read it HERE. It can certainly be beneficial to those looking to shoot something on the fly without the need for a lot of expensive equipment. In this month’s newsletter, I would like to add to that and share a few options for stabilizing your camera and preventing your footage from appearing too “handheld”.

With your Smartphone, Flip camera, or Vado camera it is so convenient to carry it in your pocket and hold it in your hand once you are ready to shoot. However, shooting video completely handheld will cause it to lack that professional look, not to mention make the video difficult to watch. With that said, for around $20 you can get a tripod adapter case that will hold your iPhone and allow it to be mounted on a 1/4″ screw base.  Once you have this there are many lightweight stabilizers that the phone can be mounted to. For travel, I always carry a Joby GorillaPod in my bag. It is small, lightweight, and its legs can either be stood up like a normal tripod or wrapped around a pole, which make it very versatile – especially if you want to film yourself talking.

If I am going to be filming someone or something, I prefer to have more control with being able to give a little movement to the shot. For this, I use a Fig Rig. This device, which resembles a steering wheel, really helps stabilize the shot when standing still (preventing the shakiness of my hands from shaking the camera). By turning it like a wheel, you can also get angles, giving the video a more dynamic look. The Fig Rig also allows for some movement – mostly panning and tilting the camera (side to side and up and down). It is not as desirable if you are going to be moving the camera around a lot as it will not absorb any bounce when walking.

[Read the rest of this article on The Secret Art Journal]

Before we go, we have one more bit of news from Larry Hass:

2012 Magic and Meaning Conference Update

We are rapidly approaching the July 15 deadline for submitting proposals for both presentations and performances for the Conference (October 17-20, 2012).  For full information about how to make and submit a proposal, please see “Call for Presentations and Performances.”  Further:  the Conference itself is rapidly approaching sold-out status and once that happens there will not be additional seats available.  So please don’t delay in registering; now is the time!  Visit the website to register.

That’s about it for today’s Museletter.

Jeff will be leaving to tour with “The Illusionists” in Mexico on July 8, with performances in Mexico City from July 12-22, in Monterrey from July 26-29 and in Guadalajara from August 2-5. If you will be near any of those cities, this is a magic show you don’t want to miss!

Wishing you all a magical July, this is:

Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com

PS: You can get The Show Doctor now at:
www.TheoryandArtofMagic.com
shop.yourmagic.com
and the iPad version at:
http://www.magicmagazine.com/digital-books/
Dealers contact Murphy’s Magic Supplies, Inc.

“Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”
– Anais Nin

Greetings Friends,

It seems that I am touring more now than I have in years. And that means there’s a good chance that I’ll get to see you somewhere on my travels. I am fortunate that producers see magic as a potent and viable entertainment form that continues to draw audiences and big box office. Hats off to all the brave and bold producers who are creating magical events to entertain and enlighten the world!

World Tour News

Over the coming months, I will be co-starring in The Illusionists. Some are saying that this may be the biggest tour in the world of magic. The tour continues in Mexico and South America, with rumors of Europe, Broadway and Las Vegas in the future… I will have updates each week of my tour in future Muse Letters and on the show each Monday evening on www.mcbridemagic.tv.

Take a look at the news here: http://tinyurl.com/itrickillusioniists

MCBRIDEMAGIC.TV

The popularity of our “Mystery School Mondays” continues to grow: Over 5,000 people a week, from 78 countries are watching our show! If you have not seen our new episodes on Houdini, Magic and Medicine, and Magic with a Message, you can catch a few of the back episodes here: http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/tv/episodes

“’Why not?’ is a slogan for an interesting life.”
–Mason Cooley

Wonderground News

What do Siegfried, Lance Burton, Criss Angel, Mac King, Johnny Thompson, Kevin James, Murray, Luna Shimada, and Amazing Jonathan all have in common? They are all frequent guests at what is being called “The Coolest Show in Las Vegas!” It is a mega-magic party extravaganza, and it happens only once a month. Be part of the fun; attend in person! Details at http://www.vegaswonderground.com or watch live online at http://www.mcbridemagic.tv 10pm, Thursday June 21st.

“Fortune favors the brave.”
–Virgil

The Show Doctor

The big inside news is that my new book will be available around July 1st. You can get information at www.theoryandartofmagic.com.

Mystery School – Final Master Class of 2012

Due to my intense touring schedule, we will only have one summer Master Class this year. There are currently five spots left for this year’s extended class in August. For more information: http://www.magicalwisdom.com/

Note: Our other classes for the year – Focus on Street Magic, Magic & Mentalism, Magic & Medicine and Magic & Meaning are still on…and filling fast!

Wishing you all a magical summer!
Sincerely,

Jeff McBride

“We are limited, not by our abilities, but by our vision.”
Jonathan Swift

Greetings magical friends,

Abbi here, writing from the House of Mystery while Jeff is touring the East Coast. I was reflecting recently on the magic of one voice. It has been said that real magic is the “art of transforming reality according to the will.” On-stage, we set our compass to amaze, astound, delight, and perhaps educate our audiences. Through our will, we focus our practice, sharpen our scripts, set up our performances, and change the reality of those we perform for, whether it’s in the supermarket, the bar, or the theater.

As a trained and licensed massage therapist, I occasionally utilize magic to make a point to my clients; for instance, I’ll use the Arm Twister illusion when demonstrating a shoulder stretch, or Spinner’s Magic Bubbles when discussing the power of positive visualization in the healing process. Part of how I take care of my body is to get regular massages for myself.

“Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will. “
George Bernard Shaw

Recently, while at my local massage place, I noticed that all their linen sets were individually wrapped in plastic. Ewww. As a person who is concerned about the well-being of the planet we live on, I have a problem with gratuitous plastic over-use. So, I talked to the front desk clerk on my way out, who told me “Oh, that’s just the way we do things.” I asked to speak to the owner, and had a productive conversation with her, and using a version of Samina’s Trash to Treasure routine, got her enrolled in the idea of making a magical change in the “way we do things.” Within a week, the policy was changed, and now the clean linens have little paper bands wrapped around them, to show that they are freshly laundered and ready to use, and no plastic, hooray!

One person, with awareness, courage, creativity and a little magic, can make a positive change in the world. If I can do it, you can too. How do you use your magic to improve the world around you? If you’re not, what’s preventing you, and how can we here at the Magic and Mystery School help? Classes are listed for the rest of the year, and there are a few spots open for the August Master Class…. Perhaps we’ll see you here soon!

Your friend in magic,

Abigail McB.

From Tobias:

Wow…what a great piece of writing from Abbi! If some of you were unaware, Abbi is busy changing the world in many ways, and one is through her music…and more recently through the creation of the audio book version of Anne Key’s book “Desert Priestess – A Memoir.” Want to hear and learn more? http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/AbbiSpinnerMcBride

As we go to send this, Jeff has completed the first couple of legs of his spring tour on the East Coast. In Maine, he generated a great story for the local paper by visiting the gravesite of Dr. James William Elliott, the original “King of Cards.” If you missed it, check it out here: http://tinyurl.com/mcbk-of-c

If you are near Asheville, NC, or Akron, OH in the next week or so, be sure and come out for Jeff’s show, lecture, workshop…or all three! I understand there are still a few tickets available, but they are going fast:

Asheville: http://www.vanishingwheelchair.org/?p=29

Akron: http://mcbridemagic.eventbrite.com/%3Cbr%20/%3E

Later this month, we get to take our latest version of “Magic at the Edge” to the island of Trinidad. I get to go along with Jeff, Abbi & Jordan on this one to oversee the tech. Can’t wait! I’ll make sure we bring home some great photos for the July 1 Museletter.

Best to all!

Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com

Dear Friends:

I hope you’ll forgive us for sending this “extra” Museletter – but we really wanted to make sure all of you on the East Coast had full information about Jeff’s upcoming tour of his “McBride Magic Experience.”

The “Experience” consists of three events: Show, lecture and special “Super Session” workshop.

The 90-minute show is Jeff’s “Many Faces of Magic,” and is open to everyone and anyone…please send your friends and family! All his greatest pieces with masks, cards, coins, water bowls, Kabuki magic and more…in a single package, right there in your community. Few will have a chance to see a magic show on this level anywhere outside Las Vegas today – so if you are a magic fan, this your opportunity to turn others on to the wonders of our art!

The lecture is “for magicians only.” Jeff continually updates and improves his lecture, so even if you’ve seen it before, don’t miss the latest version! At the lecture, he also offers special deals on some of his latest effects – deals not available anywhere else.

Finally: The “Super Session.” This is a “mini” version of what many pay many times the same amount for at our McBride Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas – but at a vastly discounted price, and without the necessity of paying for travel and hotel on top of it. A warning, though: many students who first encounter Jeff’s teaching in this workshop have gone on to attend classes in Las Vegas…and subsequent awards at top competitions and careers in magic. What I’m saying is…this is a great experience, but it can be habit forming.

Here’s where he’ll be:

Rumford, Maine – May 26^th & 27th

The 49 Franklin Reception Hall and Mystic Theater is a recently renovated turn of the century wood framed (former) church. It is located in Rumford, in the Western mountains of Maine. Proprietors Scot and Cindy Grassette welcome you to their 7-year renovation project, and hope you enjoy the intimate setting in the 130 seat Mystic Theater. On May 26th, doors open at 6:00 pm for seating, pub food and drinks. Show starts at 7:00 pm with Jeff’s lecture following at 9:00 pm. Sunday’s Super Session Master Class will be held at 1:00 p.m. followed by an optional dinner of Homemade Baked Stuffed Shells, Garden Salad, Dessert, Fresh Baked Bread, Coffee, Tea, Soda/Milk tax and gratuity included for $17.00 please call 207-369-0129 (reservations only). Tickets for show, lecture and Super Session available at www.49franklin.com.

Baltimore – Denny & Lee’s Magic Studio on May 29 & 30

Denny and Lee Magic Studio in Baltimore is proud to sponsor the Jeff McBride Experience on May 29 and 30.

What better way is there to experience Jeff McBride than on a stage in our 100 seat theater?  Great lighting, great sound, and spacious seating makes this the perfect atmosphere to see Jeff McBride perform.

For those spending the night, the Country Inn and Suites is only 1000 feet from the studio.  Perfect!

The shop will also be open all day long for you to browse one of the best stocked shops in magic.

Denny & Lee Magic Studio
9004-H Yellow Brick Road
Rosedale,Md. 21237 USA
www.dennymagic.com
410-686-3914

Chattanooga, Tennessee – June 1 & 2

The Chattanooga Tour Stop: This leg of Jeff’s East Coast Tour will be held June 1 and 2 at Burk’s United Methodist Church located at 6433 Hixson Pike. Jeff’s stop here is being presented by The Chattanooga Magic Club, I.B.M. Ring 112. The Chattanooga Magic Club founded in 1919, is one of the oldest continuous magic clubs in America.

If you have ever wanted to see Jeff live and/or study with him, this is a great place to come do so. Why, you may ask. Because Chattanooga is a great place to bring the whole family. While you are doing what you love (seeing, talking and studying magic), the spouse and kids can visit the Tennessee Aquarium, the largest fresh water aquarium in the world. Located just a few miles from downtown Chattanooga is the world famous Rock City. These are just a couple of the family fun venues in and around Chattanooga, so come here to see Jeff and have a great family vacation at the same time.

For more information visit http://ring112.org/McBride.html.

Asheville, North Carolina – June 5 & 6

The McBride Experience will take place at New Harvest Church, 142 Elk Mountain Road in Asheville, North Carolina. McBride’s magic will help raise funds for The Vanishing Wheelchair, Inc. to train people with disabilities in skills in the visual arts.

The Vanishing Wheelchair, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity founded by T. J. Shimeld and Ricky D. Boone on November 24, 2010.

Inspired by the mystifying misdirection of Ricky D. Boone who uses magic and comedy to make his disability a great ability, The Vanishing Wheelchair, Inc. was founded to teach the art of misdirection to encourage the world to focus on another’s ability rather than one’s disability; to guide youth in the discovery of their own talents; and to give youth a path to reach their full potential.  Its purpose is also to provide entertainment, education, and inspiration to children of all ages in the hope that each will attain his or her God-given potential.  And to print and publish inspirational books and literature.

Tickets are available at a special advance price at www.VanishingWheelchair.org.

Akron, Ohio – June 9 & 10

The AMAS (Akron Magical Arts Society) will present Jeff McBride on JUN 9TH, 2012 at 7PM at Hudson High School Auditorium in Hudson, OH. A special lecture will be held immediately after the show. Tickets are $30 for the show; $30 for the lecture; and $50 if you attend both the show and lecture.

New for 2012 is McBride’s four-hour SuperSession of Hands On Magical Training at noon on JUN 10th at Hudson Clarion Inn and Conference Center in Hudson, OH. This special session is a unique teaching format that allows all students of magic, regardless of age or skill level. Tickets for the four-hour Super

Session is $125.

Don’t miss this one-time only event. Purchase tickets online at: McBrideMagic.EventBrite.com.

So: If you’re close by any of these stops, by all means tell your friends and make your reservations now. The McBride Magic Experience is a great way to introduce others to the world of magic, and an opportunity for the magicians among you to attend this one-of-a-kind “mini-convention” experience presented by one of the great performers and teachers of our time.

See you at the show. (Or Lecutre. Or Workshop. Or all three!)

Best wishes.

Sincerely,

Tobias Beckwith

PS: More on Rumford, Maine, and the history of magic:

Not too many people know Rumford is the birth place of one of magic’s little know luminaries, Dr. James William Elliott. Elliott innovated many card moves including the front & back card palm which he taught to T.Nelson Downs and Howard Thurston. Harry Houdini agreed to edit Elliott’s book “Elliott’s Last Legacy,” which is a highly sought after collectable and includes card moves and many other close-up and stage effects with a variety of objects. The Boston magicians presented Elliott with a gold watch fob and named him “The King of All Kard Kings” Elliott posted a challenge in Mahatma Magazine challenging anyone to his title and offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could beat him in card skills. No one ever took him up on it. Jeff McBride is our modern day King of Kards and he will visit Elliott’s final resting place in Abbott’s Mills Cemetery located just outside of the town of rumford on Friday May 25th. Interested magicians are welcomed to attend the graveside visit and can meet at 49 Franklin at 6:00 pm.

(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