Free Your Mind

Hi my friends,

This is getting serious!

One of the complaints I get most often from students: “I don’t have enough time to practice!” Or, “I’m addicted to Facebook!”

Many years ago I made a  healthy choice. I pulled the plug on TV watching.  It was in 1979 when I left home to move to NYC to study and perform. I could not even afford cable TV back then, so I could not have a TV even if I wanted one!  I really feel that one of the big secrets to my success has been how I have chosen to limit my time watching TV & social media.

SCARY FACT! “According to Nielsen, the average American watches about five hours of TV per day… perhaps that is what makes them average!”

“Kill your TV” was a slogan in my high school days…I took that action and it gave me more time to take classes, read books, and meet great people and performers, I went to shows, and I watched no TV! To this day, I do not own a TV with incoming reception. I do, however, have a computer, and these days I have to be more and more disciplined about how much time I spend at the computer!

Today we are all glued to our computers and devices. They are hand held miracles. Even as I type this I’m connected to all the knowledge I can google. But I’m just a click away from  immense distraction. Many of us waste our valuable creative, practice and rehearsal time, and we can get lost in the world of Facebook, Pinterest, Tweeting and YouTube clips.  In today’s “social networking world,” we need to set serious limits on the amount of time we spend online or we can watch our practice and rehearsal time vanish.

Are you a FACEBOOK  addict?

Catherine Paddock, Phd., writes a very interesting article that explores this topic. She reports that researchers in Norway have published a psychological scale to measure Facebook addiction; the first of its kind worldwide.

The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale

• You spend a lot of time thinking about Facebook or planning how to use it.
• You feel an urge to use Facebook more and more.
• You use Facebook in order to forget about personal problems.
• You have tried to cut down on the use of Facebook without success.
• You become restless or troubled if you are prohibited from using Facebook.
• You use Facebook so much that it has had a negative impact on your job/studies.

Scoring “often” or “very often” on at least four of the six items may suggest the respondent is addicted to Facebook.

CLICK HERE to read the full article.

CLICK HERE for some helpful tips on how you can limit your social media time and get back to real life!

HOW ABOUT SOME SOLUTIONS?

“Social media is one of the biggest ways to waste time and you can do it effortlessly. If you have a lot to do, the temptation to procrastinate on Twitter can ruin your best efforts. When self-discipline fails, there’s an app for that.”

– Alicia French

* To read about Alicia’s strategies, CLICK HERE.

* To learn how to TAKE BACK YOUR DAY, CLICK HERE.

READ SOME GREAT MAGIC INSTEAD OF TV OR FACEBOOK

THE SKILLED MAGICIAN- have you met “BUTZI?” He has been a regular contributor to THE SECRET ARTS JOURNAL, and also to our online school’s weekly show, MYSTERY SCHOOL MONDAY. He is a creator of magic effects and ideas. Take a look at his new essay “Have-A- Drink”

http://secretartjournal.com

Butzi is dangerously talented! He is a “skilled magician” and he can show you what skills you are missing and how to find them! Really! take a look and meet him

https://facebook.com/theskilledmagician/

Butzi also turned me onto a good book that teaches skills on how to effectively use social media instead of being consumed by it.

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17383989-jab-jab-jab-right-hook

When I watch Joel Grey and Liza Minelli in CABARET, I remember how much this movie influenced the creation of WONDERGROUND.  3:25 is my favorite part!

Every time we take our final bows..it feels like CABARET!

WONDERGROUND NEWS! 

“THE CENTER OF THE LAS VEGAS MAGIC COMMUNITY”

THURSDAY APRIL 21ST  is our next WONDERGROUND.

Doors will open at 7:30pm at The Olive, located at 3850 East Sunset Rd., Las Vegas, NV. There is a $20 admission. ONLY $10 for locals. The best deal in Vegas!

The Early Stage show begins at 8:00 pm. The Close Up show starts at 9:00 pm. The Late Stage show begins promptly at 10:00 pm. Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to ensure seating for the  shows. 

WWW.VEGASWONDERGROUND.COM

3 GREAT SHOWS!

7:30 PM Christian and Randilyn Hosts

Strolling magic with Miguel

Allen Scott and Mon Dre

8PM Will Bradshaw MC

NWR

Chuck Crespo – Comedy with  Magic

Taliesin – Celtic Conjuring

Tim Wise – A Magical Storyteller

Draven – A magic lesson

Jarol Martin – Master of Manipulation

9PM BAR MAGIC AND CLOSE UP:

Tim and Scott at the “WonderBar”

At the Diamond Close up table: special Guest-Mondre

10PM Tim Wise MC

NWR

Jarol Martin – Illuminations!

Will Bradshaw – Magic with Music

Rene Delgadillo – Salsa magic

Draven – A Dream of Magic

Stoil and Ekaterina – Quick Change Magic

PLUS: Bar Magic with Zack Pattee and Scott Steelfyre, Iam Creed, and Randilyn. Photography with Sheryl Garrett. The NWR-Tribal Belly Dance Troupe, Psychic Sideshow with Alan Scott, live art with Areeya and Suzanne and many more surprises and special celebrity guests!!

So shut off your Facebook, and come join us LIVE in Vegas at a class or WONDERGROUND event! Life is a Cabaret!

see you in the real world,

Jeff

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