Jeff McBride – Burned Alive!

Burned Alive!

This could have gone terribly wrong. We only had one shot to get it right. It was 1997 and this was the biggest fire stunt ever attempted on television, and it was my turn to face the fire!

Why did I do it?

Fire has always fascinated me. It is one of the oldest symbols in magic, transformation, and human consciousness. Around every campfire, stories were shared, mysteries were revealed, and knowledge was passed from one generation to the next. The shaman’s fire became the magician’s fire. It became the spark that turned wonder into ritual, ritual into performance, and performance into art. My fascination was never purely symbolic.

Fire is a demanding teacher. Putting myself through the fire taught me discipline, respect, endurance, and trust under pressure. Those lessons stayed with me long after the flames were extinguished. They shaped the way I approach challenges, the way I train, and the way I guide my students through their own transformations.

It all started back in 1996. I had a shot at being the headliner of a major ABC television special called Champions of Magic. This was in the era right after The World’s Greatest Magic. This TV show was one of the highest rated broadcast shows in the history of magic.

Performers were pitching the networks with impossible stunts and illusions. My idea won!

We worked secretly with Chris Teague for six months on this fire stunt. Chris was the co-writer of my Star Trek DS9 episode: Equilibrium. His writing skill helped me make this happen.

Danger! Danger!

This was the most incredibly dangerous thing I’ve ever done. I had to train with fire safety experts, a movie special effects team called Hutch-FX, and the Las Vegas Fire Department.

Our pyro team had to do a complete run through of the entire illusion for the fire department here in Las Vegas to be able to troubleshoot it. Then we had to have the props flown all the way to Monte Carlo, where we had one day to set it up on the beach and shoot the entire thing, including the giant explosion at the end.

We only had one shot to get it right. The announcer said: “This camera will not cut away. You are seeing it exactly at home the way we are seeing it right now!” That is called “The Magic Shot” and it is a shot created by Kent Weed, the director of the show. Kent knew how to keep the integrity of magic and not to use camera tricks. This was the real deal!

And the moment of truth! Take a look at the video.

Performing on these TV shows all around the world helped me gain international notoriety, which still propels me around the globe thirty years later. I am very fortunate to have many friends and fans all over the world that keep bringing me to their countries to perform and teach magic.
 
Back from Brazil
 
So you see, even though it’s hot in Las Vegas right now, I’ve been through the heat. I know how to handle it.
 
I was surprised that my journey to Brazil had more pleasant weather than I had expected.

Magic is truly an international language with no cultural boundaries.

What a joy it is to travel the world sharing my magic with people from other countries.

Here is an action shot of your favorite action hero magician.

I was the headliner at the International Magic Festival. This is what it’s like to be on the road with me. Let me know what you think of the video.

What’s Hot in Vegas? 
 
The spring weather is still with us for a few more days and then we’ll be getting ready for a big summer here at the Magic & Mystery School. What are you going to do with your summer vacation? We invite you to join us online or LIVE here in Vegas. Look what’s happening. We have created some extraordinary experiences you can participate in from the comfort of your own home on Zoom, or live classes here at Mystery School. Here is an amazing collection of experiences that are waiting for you!
 
CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO VISIT THE CLASS PAGE:
https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/events
 
A Final Thought from our friend Stan Sieler, who uses his magic and technology to create unique experiences. Stan is a longtime student of our school and offers this final thought.

We LOVE to create transformational experiences.

Let’s make some great magical memories soon.

See you in our  Zoom classroom or here LIVE in Las Vegas.

Jeff & Abigail McBride and all your friends at Mystery School

Enviromagic

Dear Friends in Magic,

This month we’re delighted to hand our Museletter over to our contributor CJ IMay, whose work proves that magic can do more than astonish. It can inspire real change! CJ challenges us to develop our own “enviromagic” or adapt our existing routines to prepare for Earth Day 2027!

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Earth Day is over. Get ready for Earth Day!

Now that the pixie dust has settled from Earth Day 2026, it is time to start preparations for Earth Day 2027. Your Earth Day.

I hereby issue my 2026 Enviromagic Challenge and offer. I challenge at least three members of the Magic & Mystery School to develop an enviromagic effect, routine or show in preparation for April 2027. This is not an “unfunded mandate.” I will be happy to work with you and up to two other members of our School to gear up as much or as little as you wish.

And we will make sure to match it to your persona, style and likely venues. No costs, consulting fees or requirements for eye of newt or wing of bat. So, what are we talkin’ about, here? Below are some options.

Effects and Routines

These are effects that lend themselves to scripting with an enviromagic theme. I have used these.  But you may have many other effects which you love and which can be given an enviromagic twist. For example, there are many effects with paper and bottles that can be scripted to create wonder, inspiration and empowerment regarding recycling.

• Newspaper Restoration – this can be modernized to restore something other than a newspaper. George Parker restores a map of the world – huge environmental potential.
• Foiled – Tom Yurasits foil-to-can.
• Bottom’s Up – Tom Burgoon’s Okito Doll effect with a plastic water bottle.
• Linking Rings – endless usages for showing environmental connections.
• Money Effects – flash paper, spring bills, instant paper to money, and many other money-related effects can showcase the costs of waste, the savings from recycling and the economic development potential in a circular economy.
• Hot Rod – starting with six stones of blue changes the traditional multi-stone force to single color problem. It also allows a brief lesson in how our waters are home to many (change to multiple colors).  Likewise, forests (of all green) are home to many.
• Sands of the Desert – this is a near perfect set up for a demonstration of what a mess we make of water with pollution and what a change we can bring about when we clean up our waters.

Shows and Sets

These are shows and sets which work for me. Let us adjust them to work for you and your audiences.

• Recycling is Magic – a storytelling show in which a wizard saves a town from ogres only to be tasked with cleaning up the mess.
• Wizard of Basura – a show in intentionally broken Spanish (no experience necessary) which teaches the basics of recycling through effects and games.
• Earth Hero Magic – the magician shares the secrets that everyone can use to be heroes for our planet by recycling, using clean energy, and protecting our waters.
• The Gross & Disgusting Magic Show – making shameless use of juvenile stunts and pranks, such as eating a sandwich made with gummy works and parmesan cheese. The magician teaches a lesson on how gross stuff we litter in our neighborhoods can reach the ocean.
• The Wizard of Aquilon – although this fairytale storytelling show is too tied to Cyril the Sorcerer, it can serve as a model for your own personal story.
• Little Fairies, Big Magic – created for fairy festivals, a growing sector in the US, this show combines story and a number of magician-in-trouble tricks to showcase how the fairies display their anger before villagers learn to protect the forest.

Beyond Magic

Here are a few add-ons to performances that strengthen the experiences:

• Tik Tok Trash – this gameshow-style activity can run 5-10 minutes. Challenging one or more participants to sort photos of recycling and trash while a clock ticks loudly promotes learning about recyclables, a key problem in all recycling programs. Children can be so tied-in to the challenge they all want to play. It can be a great hook for potential clients that might be skeptical about the educational value of a magic show.
• Certificates – instead of signing autographs on photos I sign certificates documenting that young attendees have learned how they can help the planet with enviromagic. This creates a memento and may remain a key element in their path towards more environmental awareness and action.
• Gigs and Clients – having worked and performed in the environmental field for decades, I can offer some suggestions on how you can expand your client base to include Earth Day events, schools, libraries, and other venues by offering enviromagic shows.
• Baseline Learning – you do not need to be an environmental professional to do environmental magic shows.  But getting some very basic information on a topic, by reading and by checking with professionals, is key to creating a show that is grounded in accurate information. I am very happy to provide decades of recycling experience and some other guidance on water, climate etc.
• Juggling – If you get juggling balls in blue you have an instant means of discussing the importance of “not dropping the ball.” I perform my own version of “The World’s Most Dangerous Juggling Act” with globe-like juggling balls.
• Guilt and Power – it is important to neither villainize “bad actors” during a show nor lay guilt on the audience for any problems they may have contributed to, e.g., not recycling properly. Instead, showcase the power we all have to do important things. People do not like to be guilted or burdened. They do like to feel powerful and heroic.

The challenge is hereby issued! I look forward to working with you to inspire our audiences to save the world.

Cyril John “CJ” May
cyril.may@aya.yale.edu
www.cyrilthesorcerer.com
www.betterworldmagic.com

Cyril John “CJ” May is both faculty and on-going student at Jeff McBride’s Magic & Mystery School. He received his Master’s in Environmental Management from the Yale School of the Environment and remained on campus for more than 20 years serving as Yale’s first recycling coordinator. He now works for the City of Waterbury where his primary focus is public outreach on recycling and related issues. A key component to his outreach efforts in Waterbury is the provision of enviromagic shows to schools and events. He has received an Award of Excellence from the Linking Ring for his “Green Magic” column and was named “Recycler of the Year” by the National Recycling Coalition for his innovative use of magic for recycling education. He insists that you do not need to wear a pointy hat to perform enviromagic.

Jeff McBride is the “Story Master”

Story Master Series 2026 now available for purchase!

Starting in May 2026 – all lessons are recorded so you can watch anytime. This is a “learn at your own pace” three-class module. You can start anytime, and take the class at your own pace.

Discover the Secret Power 

Discover the secret power of your personal stories, and add a touch of Magic. Jeff McBride is a master magician and storyteller, and he invites you to the most comprehensive magic storytelling course he has ever taught.

In these three extraordinary classes, you will explore personal stories, master the use of magic as a visual metaphor, and discover how to connect deeply with your audience. Rare archival footage, live demonstrations, and Bardic Circle insights make this a once-in-a-lifetime learning experience.

Why This Series is Unmissable

Jeff McBride has helped many magicians just like you to learn the art of storytelling. Learn from Jeff McBride, world-renowned magician and performance innovator. Explore your personal stories and learn the secrets of how to turn them into compelling performances, which integrate magic as a metaphor to empower narrative and create emotional impact.

Study legendary routines, historical sources, and innovative performance methods. Gain practical techniques for small and large audiences, from close-up to stage. 

Now you can learn how to add the power of storytelling to your magic!
https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/story-master-series

The Uphill Battle of Pick a Card, Any Card

Dear Friends in Magic,

There are a few phrases in magic so familiar, that the moment they’re spoken, the mystery begins to disappear. We’ve all used them. We’ve all heard them. And if we’re honest, we’ve all felt that subtle shift when an audience leans back instead of leaning in. In this Museletter, Mystery School Instructor Frank Zazanis invites us to take a hard look at one of the most common.

The Uphill Battle Of Pick A Card, Any Card

“Oh, I’ve seen this trick before,” the well-dressed person at your corporate strolling gig says, and with righteous indignation you think to yourself, ‘No you haven’t, I just came up with this variation on the ambitious card to pepper mill yesterday.’ You are frustrated with them for assuming they knew what was going to happen, but can we blame them if the first words out of our mouth were the familiar “Pick a card, any card?”

Let’s try a little experiment: What comes to your mind when you see the following phrases:

A long time ago in a galaxy…
It was the best of times…
Space, the final frontier…
A spool of yellow cotton thread…

The way you most likely finished some, if not all, of those sentences (if not, as Max Maven said, you need to get out less) is exactly the same way people finish what they think is coming next after “Pick a card, any card.” They think it is the same trick their friend from school, their uncle, or—hopefully not, but possibly—someone less practiced in the art of magic showed them, and they liked it, tolerated it, or hated it. Regardless, we are fighting an uphill battle every time we use that line.

I think we owe it to our participants, the art as a whole, and ourselves to give it just a bit more effort. If we really want to give them a magical experience, perhaps we should start with something magical. I can hear you now asking me, “But Frank, I like doing this card trick. You’re not going to ask me to stop doing it, right?” Right, I am not going to ask you to stop doing the routine. I would never dream of asking a fellow magician to stop doing card tricks—that would be the impossible dream indeed.

I am simply going to invite you to change how it starts. If we spend just a few minutes brainstorming the possibilities that can be used instead of asking people to pick a card, any card, like a sideshow flim-flam artist (unless you, in fact, are a sideshow flim-flam artist, and in that case, please keep using the line), we will change not only our magic but, dare I hope, the world’s perception of magic as an art. A lofty goal, but one that can be achieved if we all respect ourselves and our art just a little bit more. It will eventually change.

Here are some examples of ways to have a card selected that don’t sound like someone’s uncle who knows one trick:

“When you look at what I have in my hands, you may see a simple deck of cards, and it may be exactly that, but what I see is 52 unique possibilities that will lead us down a brief magical adventure. Would you take just one of these possibilities to begin this adventure?”

“You know, people say that card tricks are boring, especially the way my Uncle Todd used to do them. I don’t do card tricks; I create moments of magic with these portable pasteboards of power. I’d like to create a moment like that for us. In order to do that, we need one of you to be the star of this moment, and I need you to choose one of these to represent you.”

“I’m going to show you something amazing using a stack of bowling balls. Oh, I guess I forgot to pack those. Well, I can do the same thing with these, and my insurance won’t go through the roof. Please take one of these flat, rectangular bowling balls so we can get on with it.”

“Look at all of these options you have to start a minor miracle with. Point to whichever of these seems the most miraculous to you.”

Now, I know these particular lines may not suit you and who you are on stage or when strolling about your corporate gig, but hopefully they are a starting point for you to create your own.
 
Each introduction we do to every effect we perform is absolutely critical to the experience we create. How would you want your magic to be remembered? That all begins with the first thing you utter at the moment you approach a group or walk on, but it is heightened by the introduction to the effect and the action you wish the participant to take.
 
I look forward to seeing what you come up with to replace “Pick a card, any card.” Now please go write a line, any line, and go forth and change the world, one piece of magic at a time.
 
Frank Zazanis (Franklin Williams)