“WHAT DO YOU WANT YOUR MAGIC TO BE?”
When my Master Teacher asked me this question for the very first time, it made me think about my future and the magician I wanted to become in five or ten years. I knew I needed to change, take some risks, and try some new things. It was time for me to take off the mask, find my voice, and tell my own stories. Finding my voice in magic was something I had been struggling with for many years, but having a teacher like Eugene Burger helped me break through my resistance.
Eugene used to ask this very important question at the beginning of every one of our Master Classes. He would take a deep breath, pause, and then look at the students and say:
“What do you want your magic to be?”
What Would Your Answer Be?
I think the answers are pretty clear; if you are reading this, you want something more meaningful. That’s why our school was created! So I ask you this:
“Is this your year to take the next step on your path to mastery?”
Is 2025 the year you decide to let go of old patterns and to take the leap to become the best magician you can be – and to live your best life? At our recent StoryMaster class, David Copperfield shared a very important idea with all of our students. David said:
“Focus on telling stories that are very important to you. That is the key to successful magic!”
Set Your Audience’s Minds on Fire!
Are you seeking to learn how to tell your stories with your magic? If so, here is a unique invitation to an in-depth program to give you the skills to become the very best with The StoryMagic MasterMind group – https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/the-storymagic-mastermind-group
Spring Training 2025
Learn the fundamentals of your art from top professionals – get live in-person training with classes for card magic, stand-up, and parlor, and the classics of magic. Get specific feedback on your techniques and advice on how to improve your skills. Learn new magic and the correct practice disciplines that lead to professional presentations.
You will learn both basic and advanced techniques, suited to your skill level, and how to make your magic entertaining and play BIG in large venues. Attend the class of your choice, or get a discount when you sign up for all three. Register for Spring Training here –
https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/magic-mystery-school-spring-training-all-six-days
Do You Have These Qualities?
Here are a few important qualities that successful students posses:
Each student is different, and your interests matter. I meet each student where they are at and focus on their interests, their stories, and their passions. Then I help them develop a show that expresses their personal story and style. Here at the Mystery School we create a safe space for students like you to discover who you really are.
In April, we are hosting our Seven-Day Master Class. This is open to magicians at all levels of experience. If you are a beginner and want to learn the best ways to study and practice and perform magic, this is for you. If you are an experienced pro we have training for you that will take your magic to the next level.
We only hold this class once a year and there are only a few remaining spots open, so the time is now. Register here:
https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/7-day-master-class-live-in-las-vegas-2025-04-21
See you online or in Las Vegas!
Jeff & Abigail McBride
Dear Friends:
While the weather is cold, this love story can warm your heart. Our guest contributors this month are the husband-and-wife team Yan and Rin Ozzi, also known as “Married by Magic.” Together, they focus on the age-old story of love as we get ready to celebrate Saint Valentine’s Day.
Love and magic are two concepts that enchant and captivate the human spirit, often intertwining in ways that elevate our experiences, and deepen our connections. In our act, Rin exclaims that “I love love! Love is magic!” At first glance, love may appear to be just an emotion, and we think of magic existing in the realm of illusion. However, both share a profound ability to transform, spark joy, and create unforgettable, magical moments. Together, with the right story, they create an enchanting tale that mesmerizes and inspires.
What Does Love Mean to You?
For us, love is passion, commitment, trust, surprise, excitement, wonder, kindness, and intimacy. It helps shape our identities, influences our decisions, and provides a sense of awe and purpose. Whether it’s the flutter of butterflies or the comforting warmth of your long-time love, these feelings have a way of making the mundane feel extraordinary. It encourages vulnerability, allowing us to connect with others on a profound level, sharing our dreams and fears and joys and sorrows. Is this love or magic? We say both!
When love and magic intersect, they create a powerful synergy that can enhance connections with you, as well as between your audience members. One of the most enchanting ways to celebrate love through magic is by incorporating themes of romance and connection into your magic effects and stories. We can customize our magic performances to reflect the unique nuances of a couple’s relationship, turning an ordinary evening into an unforgettable experience.
For instance, design a routine that symbolizes the journey of love from one of the classic story archetypes–star-crossed lovers, soulmates, a princess and frog, opposites, and twin flames. The story arc starts with initial attraction and weaves in elements that reflect the challenges and triumphs of a relationship. Moreover, you can personalize your magic to commemorate significant milestones in a couple’s journey, first date, wedding day, or anniversary.
A classic example is the linking rings, which can symbolize the connection between two people, representing how their lives are intertwined. We use linking hearts in our Speed Wedding Routine and profess that, if it is true love, the rings are inseparable. You can see a performance of that routine here – https://youtu.be/40iQ7qO3GdM.
Create Your Own Magic
Following are some go-to effects and recommendations to transform everyday magic into love stories.
Ultimately, love and magic are about connection, transformation, wonder, and shared experiences. They invite us to explore the depths of our emotions, while reminding us that life is meant to be fun and full of surprises. When we embrace the magic of love, we open ourselves to a world where anything is possible.
The month of February in general, and Valentine’s Day in particular, are reminders for us to love all year long. We are fortunate to believe Love is Magic and Magic is Love. This is inspired by how we think of and deliver our magic, driven by the philosophy of “The love you give away is the only love you keep.” Love is Magic because Magic is Love!
Cheers!
Yan and Rin Ozzi – “Married by Magic”
Yan and Rin Ozzi launched their act “Married by Magic” at the McBride Magic & Mystery School’s Master Class in 2024. They have since gone on to win the Gold Medal at the Pacific Coast Association of Magicians (PCAM) convention, performed Recipe for Love at the Magic & Meaning Conference, and have been performing shows across North America. They are not only magicians but also licensed marriage officiants and ordained ministers, focusing their unique comedy and magical style on the power of love. Go to https://marriedbymagic.com/ to find out more.
Dear Friends:
Lisa Krol performed her first paid magic show at the age of 12, but life led her down other paths. After dabbling in magic during university, she returned to the art as a pandemic project, and attended her first Magic & Mystery School Masterclass in April 2023. Her classmates discovered she could sew, and now she creates custom fabric magic props, including her version of the McBride Egg Bag. You can explore her work at www.magicbylisa.ca (password: Vernon).
Feedback that Builds, Not Breaks
Those of you who attended the Magic and Meaning Conference in October may recall my PEP talk on feedback. I shared tips on structuring feedback for fellow magicians presenting an effect or routine. While most of our peers have the best intentions, feedback often falls short, and ends up making the performer feel deflated or embarrassed. In the worst cases, the performer may abandon magic altogether. The purpose of the talk was to provide some guidelines to help keep sharing sessions constructive, and to create a more supportive magic community.
For the reviewer, I suggested starting with a positive thought to recognize the effort that went into preparing the demonstration, and acknowledging the presenter’s willingness to share. I also talked about restricting commentary to the context requested by the performer, giving clear concrete ideas, and resisting the temptation to showcase one’s own skills. For the performer, I advised preparing for negative comments, which are necessary for improvement, even if they are hard to hear, establishing a context for feedback, receiving ideas with gratitude, and reflecting on what may be useful to further improve the performance, accepting that not everything said will be applicable.
The Power of a Single Voice
After my presentation, I received numerous positive comments. However, the one negative comment caught my attention. Despite the overwhelming positive feedback, I fixated on that single negative comment which also happened to be from a complete stranger. I have no idea if this person was a professional, hobbyist, enthusiast, or collector. Perhaps they had expertise worth listening to, but maybe not. Why was this bothering me so much, especially when respected colleagues had been overwhelmingly complimentary?
Not long after the conference, during a virtual jamming session, a fellow magician shared his experience from a recent walk-around event. Although he received stellar reviews, and a generous tip from the booker, he kept coming back to the story of the one table where a spectator was unimpressed and tipped him to leave, even though the others at the table seemed to be enjoying his work. He was devastated, and like me, he could not let it go, despite all the other positives. Does any of this sound the least bit familiar? Do you find yourself fixating on negatives even when they are outnumbered by positives? If so, why do we do this to ourselves?
Understanding Confirmation Bias
The answer may lie in the concept of ‘confirmation bias.’ This psychological phenomenon occurs when we focus on information that confirms our pre-existing beliefs, and ignore information that contradicts them. For instance, if you expect a dentist visit to be painful, you will notice the discomfort of others and overlook those leaving happily with their free toothbrushes. Essentially, you pay attention to the ideas and information that agree with what you already think to be true, while you disregard anything else.
Could confirmation bias explain my fixation on the negative? Did I believe my presentation was weak? Did that negative comment confirm my worst fears? Perhaps. Although I have been performing magic for decades, I had taken a long break from performing publicly, and I felt less experienced than many. Who was I to speak at a conference and share anything useful? Similarly, did my friend doubt his abilities? Did the negative feedback confirm his insecurities? In your own personal experience, did you, consciously or otherwise, think you deserved the negativity?
From Fixation to Growth
Many of us need to learn to compartmentalize the negatives and look at the bigger picture. If there are specific suggestions in the negatives, by all means, take that seriously and see how it can be incorporated into your practice routine or next performance. In my case, the negative comment was along the lines of “I don’t like this”. Unfortunately, there is nothing to take away from that. Had the comment been more constructive like, “You have windows in the left hand,” I would have had something to work on. Without something concrete, the comment is better forgotten. While difficult, the key is not to fixate on the negative as a commentary on the whole package, and allow it to cast a shadow on our passion for performing and sharing magic. Instead, we need to recast our stories.
Confirmation bias is ingrained in our thinking and cannot be easily turned off. But we can challenge it. We just need to change our narratives. Before your next performance, whether for a friend over coffee or for a sold-out theatre, tell yourself a positive story. Reflect on your progress from where you started with a particular effect or routine. Consider the time and effort you have invested to bring your presentation to this moment. Identify the one or two parts that you are most excited to share. By doing so, you can use confirmation bias to create a more positive and self-affirming experience, and balance any negative feedback. Focus on the positive thoughts, and allow the positive comments to resonate more strongly. The true magic may just be in learning to believe in yourself!
Lisa Krol
HOT NEWS FLASH!
I could not believe it! But it’s true!
Newsflash! Cover Story!
Yes, friends, I was certainly amazed when I saw the front cover of the Las Vegas Weekly. If you only read one story today, let it be this one. This is a great story about the history and mystery of the Las Vegas magic community. See it here – https://lasvegasweekly.com/news/2024/dec/12/vegas-magicians-pass-wand-to-next-gen-wonderground/
If Las Vegas is the center of the world for magic, then WONDERGROUND is the center of the Magic Universe. Will Bradshaw is doing a great job at Area 15, bringing magic, variety and community every month. For more information go here – https://wondergroundlv.com
The Evolution of Storytelling Magic – From Shaman to Showman!
From the earliest times, people gathered around the tribal fire. Thousands of years ago, when the sun would set, people would come to where the light was to make magic and share stories. The same thing happens in Las Vegas each night. When the sun goes down. People come to where the light is, and whether they know it or not, they’re re-enacting this very ancient, timeless ritual of sharing stories. Because where there’s light, there’s magic, and Las Vegas has more light per square inch than anywhere else in the world. Please sit down and join us at the fire.
Learn the Secrets of the Master Storytellers
You can become part of our amazing lineage of storytelling magicians. These masters will share their stories and magic at each and every class. ALL CLASSES ARE RECORDED, SO WATCH ANYTIME.
The Storymaster welcomes our special guests
30+ Years in the Making
Over 30 years ago, I began my quest to learn from the greatest storytellers in the world, and now I’m putting together a class to share what I have learned. I’ve been working on this class for a long, long time and I’m ready to share the secrets I’ve learned from the world’s greatest storytellers with you. You are invited to learn the Secrets of the Master Storytellers. Register now – https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/the-story-master-series-2025-01-11
Storytime
Each Christmas Eve, my Dad would gather our entire family by the fireplace and read his hilarious version of The Night Before Christmas.
“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be…golfing!”
“No, Dad!,” all the kids screamed.
“Santa soon would be THERE! Not golfing!”
Dad would misstate the last word of every line and all the kids would shout and correct him! This was our family tradition, and I still carry on this storytelling tradition on Christmas eve with Abigail, our friends and GOLFERS, (um…I meant to say Family!)
This is the time for stories. This is a time for sitting by the fire with friends and family. Everyone here at The Magic & Mystery School sends you warm tidings for a wonderful, healthy, productive, and prosperous New Year.
See you online or in Las Vegas!
Jeff and Abigail and The Magic & Mystery School family
