The Chicago Doubleheader!
What could be more exciting than enjoying a doubleheader on a beautiful day in May in the Windy City? How about enjoying a five-day doubleheader?!
Five Days of Magic
That is just what McBride’s Magic & Mystery School has in store for you! There are two great learning opportunities for you at the beautiful Rhapsody Theater in Chicago beginning on May 29. You are invited to join us for the first ever SOLO SHOW BOOT CAMP and the second annual FESTIVAL OF MAGIC.
Solo Show Boot Camp
During the three-day intensive SOLO SHOW BOOT CAMP class, you will learn how to make a powerful solo show from three maestros of the stage: Jeff McBride, Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz, and Dr. Larry Hass. During this first-time ever offering, you will learn how to fuse artistry and showmanship into an unforgettable full-evening show.
The trio of experts, Jeff, Ricardo, and Larry, will guide you through every step of the journey for creating a solo show that stands out, captivates, and takes your audience on a ride they will always remember. This is your invitation to train with the top magic teachers and directors in the world.
Who is the SOLO SHOW BOOT CAMP for?
Find more information about the SOLO SHOW BOOT CAMP go to the following link: https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/solo-show-boot-camp
All New for 2024
During Jeff McBride’s FESTIVAL OF MAGIC you will experience – close-up and personal – magic performances, lectures, workshops and teaching sessions, along with parties and magic jams with the Senior Faculty of the School. During three immersive sessions, Friday night through Sunday afternoon, you will experience two major shows, and participate in workshops, lectures, and private parties at the magnificent Rhapsody Theater in Chicago. Above all, you will spend quality time in small groups learning from the world’s finest magic teachers.
The 2024 FESTIVAL OF MAGIC full-ride pass includes:
**TWO PREMIUM show tickets
**ALL POST-SHOW special events
**FOUR FULL magic lectures
**SMALL GROUP trick teaching sessions with the Faculty
**AND THE EXCLUSIVE VIP EUGENE BURGER BIRTHDAY PARTY & MAGIC JAM
Can’t make the whole weekend? No problem! Saturday-only and Sunday-only passes are also available.
Double the Magic
Double the magic and mystery! Register for both the SOLO SHOW BOOT CAMP and the 2024 FESTIVAL OF MAGIC and you will be treated to an exclusive private performance of the Rhapsody Theater’s SECRET SEANCE on Thursday night, May 30. Seating is limited, so register now for a full weekend of illusion, mind reading, and fun! https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/festival-of-magic-full-ride
And this is only a portion of the magical education classes awaiting you at McBride’s Magic & Mystery School, which the BBC calls “the most prestigious magic school in the world!” See what’s available for you in the list below and check out all our offerings here – https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/events.
Until next time, keep the magic alive!
Sincerely,
Daryl Rogers
daryl@mcbridemagic.com
Greetings friends,
Fifteen years ago, I had a vision of a community-driven Las Vegas magic and variety show. It is an enduring vision that has taken on a new life of its own – it is a vision that will not die. Long live WONDERGROUND!
Did you hear the news? WONDERGROUND is coming back!
“What is WONDERGROUND?”
It’s like The Magic Castle meets Burning Man in Las Vegas!
To purchase tickets, CLICK HERE, or click the image below.
Yes, the news is out, and WONDERGROUND will be hosted at Area 15 at a venue called “The Wall.” Area 15 is the coolest venue in Vegas! Only 80 seats will be listed, so get tickets now.
Appreciation and Gratitude
Hundreds of performers have helped our success with WONDERGROUND over the years – too many to name. However, a special shout out goes to friends Tim Wise, Scott Steelfyre, Leo Diaz, Will Bradshaw, The NWR Dancers, The Olive crew, Reem, Jay and Cory Rubino.
Passing the Torch
Last September, after a great fifteen year run, it was time for me to step down as organizer of this amazing event. Will and his Area 15 team are producing the experience in Vegas. Tim is talking about the possibility of creating a similar venue in California, and who knows where the future will lead. It is an exciting journey filled with limitless possibilities, but for now there is one more WONDERGROUND, so see you April 9th!
Join Us in Chicago for Two Great Events
In the SOLO SHOW BOOT CAMP, you will learn how to fuse artistry and showmanship into a powerful full-evening show. This is your invitation to train with the top magic teachers and directors in the world.
Who is the SOLO SHOW BOOT CAMP for?
Find more information about the SOLO SHOW BOOT CAMP here – https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/solo-show-boot-camp
All New for 2024
Jeff McBride’s FESTIVAL OF MAGIC takes place in Chicago at The Rhapsody Theater, May 31 through June 2. During three immersive sessions, Friday night through Sunday afternoon, you will experience two major shows, and participate in workshops, lectures, and private parties at the magnificent Rhapsody Theater in Chicago. Above all, you will spend quality time in small groups learning from the world’s finest magic teachers.
During Jeff McBride’s FESTIVAL OF MAGIC you will experience – close-up and personal – magic performances, lectures, workshops and teaching sessions, along with parties and magic jams with the Senior Faculty of the School.
Along the way, you will see these two full-evening shows:
Seating is limited, so register now for a full weekend of illusion, mind reading and fun! https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/event/festival-of-magic-full-ride
Vegas – It’s a Trip!
If you plan a trip to Vegas, please contact us to set up your own private class. Call Abigail at 702-450-0031 or send her an email at abbimcb@gmail.com.
We so enjoy passing on the torch of magic to light the way for the magicians of the future!
Jeff & Abigail
Our Museletter contributor this month is long-time Magic & Mystery School member Byron Gray. Byron addresses a subject at the very heart of magical performances – mystery – and shares how we can reclaim this powerful concept and bring it into the lives of those we entertain.
For this month’s Museletter I’m going to tie some loose threads together from my previous Museletter entry, and my recent appearance on Mystery School Monday. And then, I have a question and an idea for you.
After appearing with Franklin Williams on episode 675 of Mystery School Monday, I received a question about my fictitious insurance company “Newling & Grey” that insures against “loss of mystery.” What’s that all about?
In 2006, U.K. artist John Newling created the “Preston Market Mystery Project.” Newling set up a stall in an outdoor market in Preston, Lancashire. In three days, he collected 280 mysteries from curious market-goers. Their personal mysteries touched upon strange coincidences, paranormal encounters, lost items etc. In exchange for their mystery, they received a jar of coins, and a certificate insuring the recipient against “loss of mystery.”
This was only one phase of a three-phase project, and the details leading up to this project in itself would make for a great read and inspiration. But “why?” In the book The Preston Market Mystery Project, Newling states:
“In each (mystery), the human instinct to give reasons and to try to rationalize the event is evident. It is a primary instance of survival to be able to detect causality…in a society that has profoundly moved towards the audit of our activities. The market place seems a fine context to sell insurance against loss of mystery.” (Newling)
Please keep in mind that this was published in 2008 before the social media boom and “the big blue machine” that is Facebook and Meta! “The audit of our activities.” Eek!
Fast forward almost a decade. I was practicing giving answers for a classic Q&A act, and I was just not happy with my feelings about it. (I’m also in Wyoming, and trying to sell this act to local markets was not panning out.) When I heard about this project, the idea of being a trustee of my audience’s mysteries appealed to me, and so I thought that revealing mysteries as a Q&A act would be a compromise.
Being the ethical person I am, I felt I needed to get Mr. Newling’s blessing to elaborate on his initial premise. Much to my surprise, he gave me an emphatic “Yes” (and a few other arrangements to make sure he wasn’t forgotten.) And so, “Newling & Grey” was born!
To date, a handful have “collected on their policies” in their time of need. Their personal mystery is a reminder that in the darkest of times, a light can be found in the form of something inexplicable that happened to them.
The Preston Market Mystery Project was one of the books mentioned in my previous Museletter entry regarding favorite books, albeit very vaguely, so now you have the complete story! So, with all that preamble, I’d like to touch upon two ideas concerning “mystery.”
1. Ask yourself “What does ‘mystery’ mean to me?”
Sometimes asking Google and ChatGPT this question might leave you cold. Great! When that happens, you must dare to look inwards and find the answer yourself. We’re all magicians and it should come as no surprise that we are in the “mystery business.” We are the ambassadors of mystery. We’re supposed to be that most welcome wrench in the cogs of the mundane machine. Asking yourself this question can help inform your role and your approach to magic.
2. Become a Trustee of Mystery!
You certainly don’t need to go to the lengths that I have to be a “trustee of mystery.” A fun exercise for creating new presentations (and in turn giving your viewer a slice of mystery) is writing down all the wonderful mysteries that have happened to you. Now, ask yourself if you can replicate that mystery live through a similar magical effect.
Three of these mysteries are in my show and I consider them to be “forever pieces.” It’s in these performances that I hope my audiences will be consciously aware of wonder and mystery in their lives (instead of looking down at their phones all the time). As you can see, mystery means a LOT to me!
Until next time, may your lives stay filled with mystery.
– Byron Grey
Reference:
Newling, John. The Preston Market Mystery Project, Harris Museum & Art Gallery, 2008, p. 15.
“In order to give your audience a magical experience, you must first have a magical experience, for you cannot give a gift you do not possess” – Jeff McBride, The Magic & Mystery School
Ask Yourself These Three Questions
1. How can I make my life more meaningful and magical?
2. How can I take my life and my magic to the next level?
3. Where do I go to learn the real secrets of magic from the masters?
I remember listening to Eugene Burger at one of our Master Classes. He lowered his voice and whispered to me, “The real secrets of magic are not in books or DVDs. The real secrets are handed down from the master to the student…in whispers.”
Eugene and I toured the world many times, and we so loved sharing our magic with students. Every time we traveled, we opened ourselves to meeting new friends, having new experiences, and expanding our magical knowledge. Now, we continue that tradition of creating magical experiences, and you are invited.
Choose Your Own Adventure
We have created many new magical experiences with you in mind. Take a look at the following experiences! How many of the four will you choose?
1. The 7-Day Master Class – a journey that will change your magic forever.
2. Secrets of Award Winning Magic – an online Zoom class.
3. Is there really a Solo Show Boot Camp training week for magic?
4. The all-new McBride Festival of Magic experience!
Find out the details of your next magical adventure here: https://shop.magicalwisdom.com/events
Live In-Person – Classes at the Magic & Mystery School
When you attend our classes you will learn the real secrets of Masters Magicians, see great shows, enjoy lectures, and receive hands-on training, all while experiencing the greatest magic city in the world – Las Vegas!
Many of our students say that a day visiting the Magic & Mystery School is like attending a “Magic Spa.” We create a safe space for magical exploration, and do our best to nurture your personal magic and inspire you with our magical training sessions.
“Through the art of magic, we become alchemists of perception, transforming the mundane into the extraordinary.” – Alan Moore
Fire Magic 2024! Learn the Secrets of the Fire Shaman
Now you can join us for two amazing days of fire, magic, and special effects, where you will learn the secrets of the shamans and fire sorcerers! Learn how to mix the special powders and potions, and how to manipulate fire in your performances.
Join us May 4–5 in Las Vegas for an incredible two-day training in the art and practice of fire magic. You will learn new skills, exciting techniques, and unique performance dynamics that you can apply to your own magic in a variety of ways. Gain the wisdom of powders and potions, sparkles and flashes, candles and combustibles, and much more. This event will feature significant hands-on experience with these techniques, and proper fire safety will be fully covered as well.
Lead instructor Fire Arts expert Kevin Axtell, and special guest teacher Master Magician Jeff McBride, invite you to join them on an exciting journey into the world of modern pyromancy. Elevate and ignite your magic to new heights at Fire Magic 2024!
Regular Ticket Link (currently $450)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fire-magic-2024-tickets-715150202507
The Mystery School Discount code link ($350)
www.eventbrite.com/e/715150202507/?discount=friendsofmysteryschool
Become a Member of Our Online School
Become a member at https://www.magicalwisdom.com and join us on Zoom every Monday night for a live magic class.
Tune into the live webcast each Monday night on McBrideMagic.tv, and enjoy the special guests, celebrity interviews, prize giveaways, product reviews, and magic wisdom from the world’s leading magicians.
See you online or in person as we host your next magical adventures here in Las Vegas!
Jeff and Abigail McBride
News Flash! Jeff McBride’s Star Student Rachel Ling Gordon on Fool Us!
Rachel Ling Gordon has achieved remarkable feats, including a lead role on a Broadway National Tour, and an upcoming historic appearance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us Season 10. Tune in to the CW Network at 8:00 pm ET on February 2 to witness Rachel’s enchanting performance, making her the youngest magician in the show’s ten-season history.
Healing Magic
At the age of eleven Rachel has already achieved what some can only dream of – overcoming childhood anxiety and transforming her life through unwavering dedication to her craft. From being mute as a child to touring the country on the Broadway National Tour of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” playing the lead role of Cindy Lou Who, Rachel has proven that magic can truly happen in the face of adversity. A true inspiration, Rachel serves as an Ambassador for the Selective Mutism Association and SMart Center, sharing her transformative journey from silence to a stage filled with music and magic.
Magic Mentoring on Zoom
Jeff and Rachel have been meeting every month on Zoom for magic lessons. Now you can see the results, and her mesmerizing performance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, celebrating her incredible journey from selective mutism to enchanting audiences worldwide. For more details on Rachel’s inspiring story visit Selective Mutism Association and SMart Center at selectivemutismcenter.org. Explore Rachel’s world at www.rachelingordon.com and follow her on Instagram @rachelingordon.
Renowned magician and illusionist David Copperfield expressed his excitement to watch Rachel shine. “Rachel Ling Gordon is a rising star who inspires us all with her magic and extraordinary talents,” Copperfield praised. Las Vegas headliner and holder of several World Guinness Records, Jeff McBride echoed the sentiment, stating, “Only one magician has ever performed in Las Vegas at the age of eleven years old, and her name is Rachel Ling Gordon. She is an exceptional talent.”
Meet Jay Fortune
Our Museletter contributor this month is Jay Fortune. Jay is a successful magician, artist and author. In this article, Jay shares his secret four-step process for manifesting dreams into reality.
Manifesting Dreams
Friends, forgive me, but I need to start with a bit of trumpet blowing. There is a reason, I assure you. When I was a kid, I dreamed of becoming a professional magician. However, no one around me had a clue how to do that or, indeed, if it were even possible. Could someone make a living from simply doing magic tricks? All I knew was that there were people doing it (Jeff, of course, being one, as I first watched him on TV when I was about eight or nine. Little did I know we’d go on to become good friends, and tour and perform together many times.) I innocently thought if they can do it, so can I.
Skip forward three decades, the latter two of which I spent as a professional magician making a good living. (Just a bit more trumpet blowing, and I’ll get to the reason for doing so. Please bear with me.) Next, I dreamed of becoming a pro artist. Again, another apparently “impossible” hobby to turn into a living. Within twelve months, I had my work in over sixty high-end galleries. and a growing number of collectors worldwide.
Last bit of trumpeting. (I promise.) I wanted to add another string to my bow and dreamed of becoming a pro writer. A year later I had a publisher, my first paperback out in bookshops, and my first screenplay commission (oh, and a ton of rejection letters). That’s three hobbies that I turned into a well-paid living. OK, that’s the trumpet blowing done. Now to the point of all this. (thanks for sticking with me.)
In that time, many friends and colleagues reached out to me asking how I’d made the jump from hobby to profession. It got me thinking about the process I use. After toying with various ways to bring that knowledge to a wider audience, I created “The Dream-Maker’s Manifesto.”
The Dream-Maker’s Manifesto
The Dream-Makers Manifesto is my long-form blog on Substack, and is free to join. (See the note at the bottom of this for a special offer for our community.) In the blog, I distill the process I have created over the last twenty years on turning a dream into an income stream. In each post, I share the knowledge and formula on how I get paid doing what I love, whether it’s in magic, art, or writing.
Here’s my basic four-step process which you can use to manifest your own dreams, from a single project through to a full-blown business, whether creating a magic trick for the market, or to becoming a full-time performer.
Dream It, Scheme It, Do It, Prove It
First, we have to Dream It. Seems obvious, right? Sure, but creating the space, the mindset, and the habit of constant dream creation requires discipline, courage, and focus.
Next, we have to Scheme It. The dream has got our creative energy fired up, but do the numbers stack up? Scheming what you have in mind is the next vital step to prevent wasted time, energy, and cash. (Trust me, these lessons are hard-won and I speak from experience.)
After the scheming, we have to Do It. Action beyond thinking and plotting is the next step to making our dreams a reality. But the action should be focused and dedicated.
Then the final step. We must Prove It. Yes, we need to get that first client, customer, friend, or foe to part with cash, and pay us for what we have dreamed up.
The Dream-Maker’s Manifesto Blog
In The Dream-Maker’s Manifesto blog, I tease out many examples from my own journey, and other strategies within each of these four main steps that you can use to manifest your dreams. I discuss how I cultivate a creative mindset, how I balance creative work with wellbeing, (and again, I speak from hard-won experience, having had a breakdown in my mid-30s when I didn’t take care of myself and was endlessly pursuing the dream.) And, how I lead a life full of creativity turning dreams into a livelihood.
The blog was begun in September 2023, and is gradually building in content and subscribers. I’d love for creatives in our community to join me in the ride. If you wish to find out more, you can subscribe for FREE at https://jayfortune.substack.com/about, and if you choose to support my writing and sign up for a year, I’ll gift you the following year completely free – all to help make your dreams become a reality. (Unless, as I say in my introduction to the blog, you have plans for World Domination as an Evil Genius, in which case, you’re on your own.)
Sure, my way isn’t the only way, but I have proven the concept time and again for making a creative idea turn into an income. Either way, remember to make your dreams a reality, first Dream It (and cultivate a life where you can create good dreams and ideas consistently.) Scheme It (make sure you plan as much as you can before spending the first cent in investing in your future or building anything.) Do It (put those plans into action and start making the dream a reality.) And, finally, Prove It (get that first paying customer.)
Sweet Dreams!
Jay Fortune