Dear Friends:
This month’s Museletter is a powerful and personal reflection from our friend and Mystery School student Derek Selinger. It’s a story of near-miraculous beginnings, lost dreams, rediscovered purpose, and the enduring magic of grace, mentorship, and community. Derek invites us to consider where our dreams begin, how they grow, and what it means to dream again. His journey reminds us that no matter where we are, it’s never too late to ask, “What if?”
Seeds
From a young age, I had a sense that there would be something I would be good at. I began to dream all kinds of dreams…of what I could do or who I could be. I think my awareness of this as a young kid stemmed from a near death experience – my mother was electrocuted (shocked) when she was pregnant with me. I should not have survived. I’m grateful I did, and that the repercussions of this trauma have been limited. But I can clearly recall my mom telling me about this when I was eight years old, and this knowledge created within me the desire to find “my path.”
Through high school I tried many things. From athletics to academics, I was trying to find the thing that sang to me – the area where I could invest my life and energy. Many of these early dreams died. But as I found out, dreams are like seeds, and some don’t sprout and grow until they die. I worked and sought for my path until one day…I met Jeff McBride.
Luck
They say that luck is where opportunity and preparation intersect. And I think that is mostly true. But I think there is a third element, which I will touch on in a moment.
I met Jeff McBride at a teaching session the day following his performance in Edmonton, Alberta. I believe the session cost one hundred dollars. At the time that was a lot of money for me, so I was determined to get the most out of it. I arrived at the room early and discovered a long boardroom table where we would all sit. I put the most comfortable chair at the head of the table and sat next to it. Whenever anyone tried to sit in that spot, I told them it was Jeff’s chair. And sure enough, Jeff came in and sat in my reserved spot for him.
Jeff was early as well. He turned to me and began to ask me about myself. When I told him I did some close-up, he said “show me something.” With shaking hands, I performed Triumph. Jeff, ever gracious, gave me some pointers and suggested I bring it to life with a story. Something clicked in my head, and in that moment I began to see the art differently. At the end of the session, Jeff invited me to a Master Class in Las Vegas. I was dumbfounded. Me? I…I mean…me?
And this leads me to the third part of luck. You see, the next day I told a friend of this invitation, and how honored I was to receive it. I confided that I would turn it down because I wasn’t good enough yet. “Maybe next year, after I practice,” I said. And my friend called me…an idiot. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and if you don’t take it, you will regret it the rest of your life!” they said. So I went.
You see, the other part of luck is grace. It’s community. It’s belief. That word from my friend gave me the courage to go to Las Vegas, and that is where the dream came alive.
Nurture
That first Master Class was a blur. Eugene Burger, Lance Burton, Mac King, and of course, Jeff McBride himself. I learned so much. But the biggest gift I received was that I saw the possibility. I remember sitting by Tobias and journaling after a session, and it hit me. “I can do this! This is it!” And I didn’t look back.
I developed an act to compete with. I won some nice awards at CAM, SAM, and the People’s Choice at I.B.M. This led to performances in Vegas and Europe. I was on Le Grande Cabaret in France and on cruise liners. Eventually I mounted my own show tours with “Beyond,” “Selinger’s Wonder” and “The Gift.”
An amazing moment was performing on Penn and Teller: Fool Us. What a thrill to present my unique take to a classic plot with an underlying message of the power of decisions. It was a break I was waiting for. Everything was starting to happen. We were having conversations with producers in America. Another couple of TV shows came calling, and it looked like everything was about to blow wide open. Then the world stopped.
Dream…Again
The great shutdown killed a tour and lost me a lot of money. All these new contacts and opportunities were put on hold. And I wondered, now what? I began to reinvent myself as a trusted advisor on storytelling with various entrepreneurs and brands. Jeff and I continued to meet monthly to work on magic and direction. And one day a new dream began to form.
I wrote a show that was designed for only a dozen people. It was magic and storytelling and human connection. We began to put it into the world, and it is now pretty much all I do as a performer. This exclusive experience was born out of pain and trial and persistence and belief. I got lucky again.
You see, I was able to dream this new dream in large part because of who I surrounded myself with. My wife Cora is incredible. And I had the great blessing of having Jeff and a few others speak into my life so I could outlast the dark period and dream again.
Steal Back Your Dreams
The culmination of these experiences along with many others compelled me to pursue the TEDx stage. I wanted to talk about dreaming and dreaming big. This was in part because I know that so much meaning comes from intentional dreaming, but I also believe that the more people that dream… the better the world becomes.
I was selected and closed the TEDx event in Cape May, New Jersey with a talk on how to dream. The talk included a lottery prediction which was super fun and drove a point home. The TEDx talk began a domino effect where I was being seen as an expert on what it means to dream. Many podcasts and other opportunities later I wrote a book, The Dream Thief.
The book is a culmination of my lived experience, observations and research into an allegorical story and process that anyone can implement to dream again. There is even an Ultimate Flashback opportunity in it, for those who perform that trick. Even if you don’t get the book, I want to spend a paragraph encouraging you. Your dreams matter. You matter. Your magic matters.
I think that one of the things that can really harm us is when we compare our dreams with what others dream. If I looked at the path of David Copperfield, I would be ever-disappointed with my journey. But my dreams are different from his. And your dreams are different from mine. The way you create, the way you perform, and the way that you want to express yourself in this art is different. And isn’t that wonderful?
Like learning a double lift or a retention vanish, dreaming is a skill. It follows a technique. This methodology can be learned and practiced and perfected. It is not for the few. It is for us all. It is for you. So, if nothing else, please take away the encouragement to ask a meaningful question that you will find the answer to. Ask “What if?” and see it where it takes you. And remember the third part of “luck”? It is opportunity and preparation, yes, but it is also grace and community.
I wouldn’t be here without those that believed in me. I would not be the magician and communicator and dreamer without my good friend and coach and mentor Jeff McBride.
And for that…I am just…grateful.
Derek Selinger
derekselinger.com
Dear Friends:
This month, George Parker takes us on a thought-provoking journey – from a magic shop in Cape Town to canceled shows and earnest fan mail – in search of what “real magic” truly means. Along the way, he challenges us to reflect not only on the nature of magic, but on the very human forces that shape our lives and our art: imagination, intention, transformation, and connection.
Real Magic?
“I want the real vanish box!”
I was giving a lecture at the College of Magic in Cape Town, South Africa. I was in their magic shop, when a man walked in and said he wanted to buy a vanishing box. He had seen one in Johannesburg and had traveled all the way to Cape Town to buy it. The staff demonstrated the well-known vanishing and production box with the double drawer.
“Yes, that’s the one!” he exclaimed.
After paying, he was shown how the trick worked. His reaction?
“This is a trick! I want the real vanish box. I want my money back!”
A Canceled Performance
The desire for—and belief in—real magic, as in supernatural and occult powers, is something I’ve encountered often. And there’s nothing wrong with that…until you start taking it too literally. That’s when you step onto thin ice.
I have experienced the consequences of people believing that illusionists have supernatural power a few times. I paid a price, quite literally. For example, early this year I had a great online meeting with a spirited organizing committee who were excited about hiring me and looked forward to the event. A week later I got a call. “Sorry, we have to cancel your keynote/show. My boss is a devout Christian and doesn’t want anything to do with magicians. He believes they channel dangerous occult powers.”
Where Does David Copperfield Get His Supernatural Powers?
Another example of this was an email I received a few years back. Someone asked me to reveal how David Copperfield had developed his “magical supernatural powers.” I explained that what you see Copperfield do on stage are illusions.
He wrote: “George, you said ‘he’s an illusionist,’ but not for me. Illusionists use tricks. A true Magician assures human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature. D.C. has some presentations where it’s impossible to believe it’s a trick. That’s where he’s using real magic powers.”
Even if Copperfield would personally teach this person how it’s done, he still wouldn’t believe they were “just tricks.” The power of mental models: a blessing and a curse. A blessing because we feel secure and stable in our mental models. It’s also a curse because being stuck in our own perspective leads to polarization and all of its ugly sides.
The Real Magic of Creation
Let’s talk about magic as an occult art. Occult means “hidden,” “invisible.” The phrase “occult powers” evoke images of mystery and magic. Films and illusionists love to lean into this romantic notion: Yoda lifting an X-Wing with invisible force…Neo bending reality with his mind…Harry Potter casting spells with a wand…David Copperfield walking through the Great Wall…Ger Copper doing his black art magic.
I believe there are two kinds of ‘hidden’ when we see those images. The first one is that the magician, filmmaker, the black art artist, indeed use methods that are hidden for the audience to conjure up these images.
The second one is that these, symbolic, images resonate with powers that are innately human but are most of the time hidden. They are the invisible forces of imagination, love, energy, will, and thought, that indeed shape the reality around us. Everything we see around us started with these hidden, or occult, forces. On stage and in films we can remove the factors of time and effort between an idea and its realization. The production, vanish, and transformations seem to happen instantaneously.
We Are Born Magicians—Just Not Literal Like in the Movies
That image of instantaneous change with a mere hand gesture is very exciting. It can work wonders as a metaphor much like the action-metaphor of a placebo. It can instill faith, belief in a better world, hope, and a strong motivation to get to work to make things happen.
Personally, I’m glad I don’t have those ‘real’ magical powers. For example, when I make the mistake of taking in too much negative news I get cranky and sometimes my mind ends up in a Hulk-like state. I wouldn’t want my thoughts to turn into reality with a flick of my fingers as you can imagine (but don’t, it might destroy your mood).
The other, more profound, reason why I wouldn’t want to have such magical powers, is the fact that I highly value living through the embodied experience of transformation. It’s not always fun to alternate excitement and frustration, smiles and tears, triumphs and failures. But they are a huge part of the alchemical process of real growth that goes far beyond the production box.
On top of that, the joy of experiencing these ups and downs with family, friends and our tribe can’t be replicated by just a flick of the finger. Ever.
George Parker is faculty at large. He’s a bestselling author of books on the creative process as well as Index-terity and Performing Magic with Impact for magicians. He’s performed in over 5,500 custom keynotes/shows and theater shows in over 35 countries.
The Only Living Magician Honored by Copperfield…is Jeff McBride
Legacy is sealed. Discover why this moment changes magic history.
“Jeff McBride’s expert skill, and wide spanning knowledge, have made him one of the greatest teachers in the history of magic.”
-David Copperfield
A Monumental Moment in Magic
This May, something deeply meaningful happened. At the Magic Collectors Expo in Las Vegas, I received one of the greatest honors of my career: a permanent installation at the David Copperfield Museum. I am now the only living magician, besides David himself, to be featured there.
The Copperfield Museum is more than a collection – it’s a sanctuary for our art. It holds the legacy of our greatest magicians, and now includes the story we’ve written together through decades of teaching, performing, and creating. I am proud to be a part of that history!
To see the installation in person, you must register for Bill Smith’s Magic Collector Expo at https://magiccollectorexpo.com. That’s the only way in – no private tours, no exceptions. But if you do attend, you’re in for something you will always remember.
The Rise of Mat Franco: From Student to Star
You never know who’s walking through the door.
Years ago, a 12-year-old named Mat Franco came to our school. Just a kid with a love for magic. What set him apart wasn’t just talent – it was relentless dedication. He wasn’t just learning tricks; he was performing nonstop, in every type of venue, for every kind of audience.
Before America’s Got Talent, before the fame, Mat was crisscrossing the country doing college shows, learning the craft through the grind. He didn’t wait for the spotlight – he earned it. And now he’s been awarded the highest honor in the world of magic!
MAT FRANCO: THE MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR!
Mat has become one of the finest magicians in the world. To say I’m proud is an understatement. To see a student rise that far – that’s the true reward of teaching. In 1993, I won this award and it was my honor to present the award on stage at the Linq hotel in Las Vegas. Take a look at the video.
Building the Future: Lance Burton’s Free Teen Seminar
If you’ve ever asked me what the greatest joy in my career is, it’s this: mentoring the next generation of great magicians. That’s why I’m honored to support my dear friend Lance Burton in his Teen Magic Seminar this summer. It’s a free program for young magicians and it changes lives.
Over the years, this seminar has helped launch the careers of magicians like Shin Lim, Trigg Watson, Bill Cook, and Gabriella Lester – and she is now stepping up to lead the program into the future.
If you, or a young magician you know, are looking for a place to grow, this is the one.
Learn more and register here – https://ibmconvention.com/lance-burton-teen-seminar/. Get your application in today, as time is running out. Free registration for the convention is also still available for I.B.M. Members under 18 years old for a limited time.
Study Privately with Jeff McBride
If this newsletter resonates with you – if you’re feeling the call to go deeper in your art, to push your magic further, and to learn in a focused and personal way – I invite you to study with me directly.
I offer private, one-on-one magic lessons, tailored to your style, goals, and skill level. Whether you’re just starting out or preparing for the stage, this is your opportunity to study with a mentor who’s helped magicians reach the highest levels of the craft.
Click here to learn about private lessons – https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/private-magic-lessons-with-jeff-mcbride
A Final Thought
Legacy isn’t a moment. It’s a journey – one we walk together, one student at a time. This month reminded me of that. From receiving a place in the Copperfield Museum, to watching Mat Franco take the world stage, to helping new stars emerge through Lance Burton’s seminar, I’m grateful to still be part of the magic.
Thank you for being part of it with me.
With wonder,
Jeff McBride
Dear Friends:
In this Museletter, Eric Henning pulls back the curtain on one of the most powerful illusions in our art: the illusion of improvisation. From the quiet precision of Eugene Burger’s impromptu set to the razor-sharp recall of Robin Williams, Eric shows how the appearance of spontaneity is built on a foundation of intense preparation, thoughtful study, and lived experience.
Have you ever watched an artist just create amazing, beautiful art, music, comedy or anything out of thin air on the spur of the moment? Many of those we consider great improvisationalists – jazz players like Miles Davis, comedians like Robin Williams, even great speakers like Winston Churchill – have all impressed the public with their ability to seemingly pull great works out of thin air.
Let me tell you a secret. It’s an illusion.
Let’s begin with a story. At the 1998 World Magic Summit in Washington, DC, I had the privilege of sitting beside the great Eugene Burger as he performed impromptu close up magic after his lecture. He smiled at me, and as he sat down, I noticed that he did several secret things, calmly and unhurriedly, and then he winked at me. He knew he was sharing an important secret.
The secret things he had done had put him so far ahead of the audience that for the next twenty minutes it looked like he was improvising his entire act. But he wasn’t. His act had been carefully crafted to look completely impromptu. This was the greatest illusion he performed that night. How did he achieve this? The same way that all great masters do it – preparation. The good news is that this mastery is available to all of us, but it requires three things: knowledge, skill, and discipline.
Eugene Berger could apparently do “jazz magic” because he had spent years studying and mastering technique, and had performed for real people in the real world for a really long time. He knew what situations could come up, and he had thought deeply about every possibility that could emerge during his performances. Then, with great discipline, he prepared for every single one of those possibilities. This is the work, the invisible work, that makes improvisation appear effortless.
Miles Davis didn’t create his amazing riffs because he flouted the rules, but because he had mastered the rules, and had tried, and failed, so many times, that he had learned what worked on a deep, subconscious, muscle memory level. The things that you hear on his albums were developed through trial and error, endless rehearsals and actual gigs in front of the public before they were ever committed to vinyl.
Likewise, Robin Williams, who created this wonderful persona of an improvisational stream of consciousness comedian, was doing anything but improvisation. He had brilliant writing talent, of course, and was a great performer, but what made him able to create the illusion of improvisation, was his ability to catalog and recall thousands of snippets of comedy gold.
Williams’s comedy bits had been honed and polished to perfection in countless comedy clubs, and later, in his concerts and talk show appearances, it looked like he was simply pulling comedy out of thin air. In reality he had hundreds, if not thousands of bits committed to memory, and an incredibly quick mind that could pull those bits together and connect the dots faster than most of us can. His talent was not improvisation so much as synthesis. I’m not diminishing his talent at all–I’m astonished by it.
Sir Winston Churchill is widely considered one of the greatest speakers of all time, but many people don’t realize he had a tremendous problem speaking at all. From childhood, Churchill had a horrible stutter. Because his mother was American, Churchill knew that he wouldn’t inherit his British father’s title or property, and would probably have to pursue a political career. That meant having to speak in public, so he spent years studying the great speakers of history, learned what they had in common, figured out how to do it, and practiced relentlessly until he could do it himself.
He created a signature slow, deliberate, speaking style that accommodated his stutter while giving him the gravitas he needed to convince his listeners, and his writing was so good that his notes read like poetry, not prose. It’s not a coincidence that Churchill won the Nobel Prize – in Literature. His great talent was not his speaking, it was his writing, and that’s what enabled him to create this illusion of pulling things out of thin air.
You and I each have this potential for greatness.
I believe that every person has the ability to do something that is so good that the world has to sit up and take notice. But in order to develop that talent fully, it requires study, it requires diligent, disciplined practice and rehearsal, until we know our craft so well that it becomes art, and we know our art so well that we can break the rules and still create beauty.
I know someone who is such a great cook that they can walk into somebody’s house, and with whatever it is at hand, create a feast. That didn’t happen by accident. It took many, many years of study. It took being around masters and learning from them. It took applying those lessons every day.
This is the paradox of improvisation: what looks impromptu is the tip of an iceberg of preparation.
You and I can do the same thing in whatever our chosen field is. I urge you to find where your chance of excellence lies. Find your talent and commit to it. Put in the work to study your craft, become a master of the content and technique of your art, and develop your own voice. Then you too, will be able to improvise, or at least create the illusion of improvisation by doing art that flows out of you organically.
I can’t wait to experience what you’ll create.
Eric Henning is an Ambassador for the McBride Magic & Mystery School, and has been performing magic professionally for 53 years. His website is EricHenningMagic.com