“You should never hesitate to trade your cow for a handful of magic beans.â€
— Tom Robbins
Greetings friends,
I do not consider my life normal…thank heavens for that!
As you may know I’m on tour and traveling half the year, and, as you may not know, CHAOS is a major part of that aspect of my life. I can’t avoid it… so I’ve learned to dance in the chaos, until it becomes my new normal!
The art of magic is often a dance of opposites; appearing and vanishing, something from nothing, life and death. Death and danger seem to be recurring themes in magic shows…in fact many shows feature dark themes and dangerous stunts.
Our good friend Eugene Burger has inspired many to explore darker themes…witness now performance artist Christian Cagigal, as he performs Eugene Burgers famous piece “THE INQUISITION.” (Christian will be headlining WONDERGROUND in September!)
“The TED Talks of Magic…â€
That is how people describe our Magic & Meaning Conference. Bob Neale will be joining Eugene Burger and our very special featured guest, Max Maven, at this year’s Magic & Meaning, coming up in October, here in Las Vegas.
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events#476
Bob Neale has written an inspired Book entitled Life, Death & Other Card Tricks… it is filled with magic routines that dance the razor’s edge. He has the ability to really make us think about our lives…using the medium of card magic.
Speaking of Life, Death & Other Card Tricks…
Our friend, Ferdinando Buscema reminds us of the “game of life.” Life is a game that ends with death. Ferdinando has a very artistic outlook on life and death. I think you would like to read his fascinating essay. It’s on the contemplation of death through the use of playing cards!
http://boingboing.net/2015/05/22/use-playing-cards-to-remind-yo.html
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“Music is the strongest form of magic.â€
–Â Marilyn Manson
Lou Reed Sings about “Magic & Lossâ€
The late Lou Reed’s lyrics are echoing in my head these days. I’ve been thinking and feeling deeply about life, death and magic. Listen to Lou sing this haunting song…it is one of my favorites.
Magic & Loss
When you pass through the fire, you pass through humble
You pass through a maze of self-doubt
When you pass through humble, the lights can blind you
Some people never figure that out
You pass through arrogance, you pass through hurt
You pass through an ever present past
And it’s best not to wait for luck to save you
Pass through the fire to the light
Pass through the fire to the light
Pass through the fire to the light
-Lou Reed
The Symbolism of Magic is Rich, Indeed.
Even the effect BEKOS symbolizes That magic often has a “cost”…a loss that makes room for the magic.
Asia Gives Birth…to Magic Wonder Lands!
The great mystics and sages say “All new life emerges from death, and the cycle continues.” It’s astonishing to see the new life magic is having in the media and in major entertainment venues around the world. Our friend, Franz Harary, is making global headlines with his new House of Magic in Macau.
World’s First Multi-Venue, Interactive Magic Experience
‘The House of Magic’Â
MACAU, June 10, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)Â Â ”The House of Magic’ at Studio City is the first and only permanent magic extravaganza in Macau.
Designed, curated and hosted by world-acclaimed illusionist Franz Harary, ‘The House of Magic’ is the world’s first multi-theater, immersive visitor magic experience, designed for magicians by a master magician, and featuring live magicians, and set in a mystical three-theater showcase complex of amazing, mind-bending magic. It represents just one of the stunning world-class entertainment centerpieces at the US$3.2 billion Studio City…
Read the full story here:Â http://tinyurl.com/nkhvaxp
WONDERGROUND NEWS… one night only!
Thursday June 18th at 8 pm–You are invited to the “Biggest Magic Party in Vegasâ€!!
8PM:Â Tim Wise, Emcee
Jeff McBride – New Magical Creations
Dixie Dooley – King of Escapes
The Shocker – The Ambassador of Kick- your Ass-ador!
Bizzaro – Innovative illusion that always surprises!
9PM:Â Christian Diamond, Emcee
Murray Hatfield -Â Canada’s top illusionist!
Jordi Magomero – Sensational Close-up Artistry
Jeff McBride
10PM: Murray Hatfield
Jeff McBride – The Masks of Mystery
Chris Randall – The Las Vegas Kid
Bizzaro!
Plus: The New World Rhythmatism Dancers, Bar Magic with Zack Pattee and Scott Steelfyre, Iam Creed, and Randilyn
Psychic Sideshow with Alan Scott, live art with Areeya and many more surprises and special celebrity guests!!
Abbi and I hope to see you in Las Vegas very soon…hey, life is short! What are you waiting for?
Jeff
From the desk of Bryce Kuhlman:
Some of you may know that I’ve been Lance Burton’s webmaster for the past decade or so. While I don’t spend that much time around magicians, whenever I do show up at a convention people always ask me what he’s been up to.
My answer is always the same: Lance is retired.
While that’s technically true, he hasn’t been resting on his laurels. In case you haven’t heard, he’s been working on a movie. With an official release planned for later this year, Lance and I recently reconnected to start working on a new website for the movie.
So instead of me spouting more of my own philosophies, as I always seem to do when asked to write a Museletter, I figured it would be more interesting to let Lance take the stage and tell you what’s been going on:
Lance, you spent two decades as a real life Las Vegas headliner. Is this film an autobiography?
LANCE: No, absolutely not. Billy Topit is a fictional character, as are all the characters in the movie. The one thing Billy and I share in common is this, we both love magic, and we both love Las Vegas. I guess that is two things actually.
 Is this your first time as a feature film Director?
Yes.
Did you write the screenplay?
Yes, along with my writing partner Michael Goudeau. We also share Executive Producer credits, as well as both appearing on screen.
Can you tell us more about Michael Goudeau?
For 19 years Michael was the “Guest Star†in my live stage show doing a comedy juggling act. For many years he was the Head Writer and Executive Producer on Penn and Teller’s Showtime series. (He won an Emmy in that job.) He is also one of my best friends.
How did this film come to be?
When I was a kid I saw Bill Bixby in a TV series called “The Magician”. I loved that show. Through the years there have been many films and TV shows with magician characters, and some were quite good. I just felt that I could bring something to the table that was genuine. Something based in reality. I didn’t want to do the stereotypical mysterious magician character. That’s why Billy Topit is a struggling magician, even though he is very skilled.
So the character Billy Topit is not successful?
No, not as far as the world is concerned, or at least the world as defined by Las Vegas. He is stuck in that entry-level job of performing at children’s birthday parties. Which by the way, is where every magician starts. I started performing at birthday parties when I was 10 years old.
How do you think other Magicians will react to this film?
I hope they will be excited about it and love it. There are some things in the film that are just for them; inside jokes. Also there are other magicians who appear in the film in cameo roles; Criss Angel, Jeff McBride, Mac King, Fielding West, they all make appearances. Johnny Thompson and Rory Johnston are both well known magic friends of mine who have larger roles, and they are both terrific actors. I even talked my buddy Louie Anderson into making an appearance, and he is hilarious!
Who is your target audience?
In my stage show our audience was very diverse. Every night we had adults, children, grandparents, Americans, Asians, Europeans, etc. We had people from South America, Mexico, and loads of Japanese people. In the past few years I noticed lots of Chinese tourists, which we didn’t have 15 years ago. So what I am saying is, I think the target audience for this film is the same. It is a ‘family film’ that I hope will connect with people from all parts of the world.
What is the status of your live show?
I am retired.
No more live shows in your future?
I did 15,000 shows in my career. That’s enough!
We miss having you on stage for real every night!
Well, that makes one of us!
There you have it… right from the Master Magician, himself!
If you’d like to learn more about the movie, go to the website: http://www.billytopit.com
And be sure to sign up for his mailing list (at the bottom of the home page). People on the list will be among the first to know of new updates, photos, special appearances and movie trailers.