Posted on Mar 26, 2011

Otherworldly

As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.
—C.G. Jung

OTHERWORLDLY
I have a very strange feeling, being here in Japan during these challenging times. It is a mixed pleasure to be making magic for so many people living on the edge of grief and loss.  Today I write you from Nagasaki Japan.
I am making magic at a venue called “MOON SHOWER” a beautiful theater that seats 150 people. If you ever get a chance to perform for Japanese audiences you will feel the love that they express when they experience magic.
Also, the Japanese audience have a curious way of all chorusing the word “Whooooo!”  at the moment of astonishment,during a magic effect. I am truly blessed to be able to travel the world and share my magical gifts with people from many lands.
I will perform over 120 shows this month in Japan!  Astonishing! But the fact is that I grew up doing 6 shows a day for many years at the Orange County Fair in upstate NY… performing shows this often sharpens my performance edge and stimulates my creativity.
Lance Burton and Jeff McBride
JEFF & LANCE SHARE A SECRET:
Lance Burton was at a recent Master Class, and shared his performing philosophy with our students.

“The way to get great at magic is to do as many shows as you can for as many different audiences, in as many different settings as you can.”  So my advice to you, dear magi, is to get out in the world and start doing more shows; impromptu shows, informal shows and what I call “commando shows”  These are shows that can be done “anytime and anywhere”…the magician that does the most shows wins! Just ask Lance! He is now a multi-millionaire, living in a hill-top castle, and officially retired from magic at 51 years old!

JEFF MCBRIDE APPEARS IN A HOT NEW DVD: GENESIS V2
Here is the trailer to a new DVD Las Vegas film maker Andrei Jikh.
For the past few months, Andrei and I have been sharing ideas about pop culture, media and magic…take a look at his new offering

Jeff McBride
Photo Credit: Raul Olguin

WONDERGROUND: Exotic Mysteries from the East- April 21
I get back to Vegas just in time for the next WONDERGROUND. I will show you many of the new magic pieces that I have been developing in Japan.
“THE JEFF MCBRIDE EXPERIENCE” Spring Tour dates:
We have NEW dates set in Connecticut, Michigan, Illinois, New Mexico, Canada and France!..and more coming this week!
Will I be in YOUR town? Check the Tour Schedule for dates or book me in your area for a 2 day event by contacting Tobias.
Want to get ahead of the pack or sharpen your game?
Magic SUMMER SCHOOL… what are you waiting for? Study with your favorite magic teachers in a fun and relaxed setting. Let us help plan your Summer magic vacation.. Email Abbi McBride at Spinner@mcbridemagic.com.  She can help you get all the info you need or take a look at ALL the NEW classes.
Heads up!…only a few spaces remain for the summer Master Classes!
REMEMBER MONDAY IS A SCHOOL NIGHT!
McBride’s Mystery School Monday MONDAY AT 7 PM Pacific Time LIVE magic, reviews, celebrity interviews & reports from around the world with Jeff McBride and the Mystery School faculty.
See you in Vegas or on the internet!
Jeff

 

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Posted on Mar 9, 2011

World Championships

“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential … these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.”

— Baseball great, Eddie Robinson
Greetings friends,
Question: How many years does it take to become a world champion?
Answer: 14 years…That’s how long I have been working with Romany, Diva of Magic. When she first arrived at Mystery School, she had a big dream and plenty of enthusiasm. Now, fourteen years later, she has won many of the world’s top honors, including The Magic Circle Stage Magician of the Year, the International Brotherhood of Magicians “British Shield” and most recently, first place at the World Magic Seminar International Stage Competition. The world is watching Romany. She is one of the brightest shining stars in magic. Below is a picture of Abbi and Romany with me, taken backstage at the World Magic Seminar last week.
Abigail McBride, Romany and Jeff McBride
In addition, two of my students, Eric Gilliam and Reuben Moreland, won top honors in the teen competitions. It takes years of hard work and dedication. It is good to see our students succeed.
Asia Tour
I will be returning to Japan as part of a “Magic Castle All-Stars” show with many top performers from around the world, sponsored by Hollywood’s Magic Castle. I have been performing in Japan for thirty years and have a fascination with their magical culture that is reflected in my work.
Jeff McBride
McBride’s Mystery School Monday TV
Our new program is a hit and we are building a larger audience every week.  Don’t miss an episode!
Tune in for LIVE magic, reviews, celebrity interviews & news reports from around the world with Jeff McBride and the Mystery School faculty every Monday at 7pm Pacific Time:
You can go right now to see a re-broadcast of any of our previous shows:
(Click the ‘videos’ tab at the right for rebroadcasts and other free streaming videos from McBride Magic.)
Questions:
Have a question for Jeff or any of our other Mystery School faculty? Please videotape your question, post it on YouTube, and email the link to Jeff@mcbridemagic.com.
The questions must be under 30 seconds long.  Here are some samples:
Mystery Photo of the Month
How many of these celebrity magicians can you name? Hint: they all appeared on the WORLD’S GREATEST MAGIC series, produced by Gary Pudney. He’s the one holding the plaque in the center.
Mystery Magicians
East Coast News
I will be performing at the It’s Magic show at the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut, and then making an appearance at Yale University hosted by my friend Cyril May, between April 24 – 28. Then I’m off to Lille, France for a festival and teaching sessions. Check out the details from my calendar at www.mcbridemagic.com/calendar.php.
Let us help you plan your vacation
The remaining summer sessions are filling rapidly. You can reserve your spot for an upcoming Master Class by going to http://www.magicalwisdom.com
See you soon!
Jeff McBride
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Posted on Feb 14, 2011

Remember…. Monday is a School Night!

Genius is childhood recalled at will.
– Charles Baudelaire

Greetings All,
Bryce KuhlmanOur guest columnist this week is Bryce Kuhlman. Bryce is a longtime friend and magician who advises us on many matters and maintains our various web sites. He is also the creator of MyLovelyAssistant.com, the internet’s best resource for researching magic products. I know you will enjoy his insights below.
It’s the Same Every Time:
Master Class Observations
I have an interesting position at the Magic & Mystery School. I’m technically faculty, but I have asked not to be paid (other than a small travel stipend which I usually spend on dinners with the gang). In addition to all of the web and technical work, I donate about six weeks of my time every year to teach at the Extended Master Classes.
Why, you may ask, would I do this? Those of you with two or three weeks of vacation a year probably think I’m completely out of my mind!
I do it because I have never found a better source of support and inspiration. If you could spend this much time with Jeff and Eugene, the rest of the faculty, and all of the amazing students, wouldn’t you do it? As it turns out, the reason I can spend this much time is due, in large part, to these same people. They’re the ones that have constantly inspired, motivated and supported me over the two decades that I’ve known them.
(Note: The above is an excerpt from a longer piece now available in the Secret Art Journal [Read More])

Monday is a School Night!

The excitement continues around our latest creation, which we believe to be the first live global interactive Web TV show: McBride’s Mystery School Monday.

McBride's Mystery School Monday

Mystery School Monday airs every Monday at 7pm Pacific Time, live from Las Vegas and around the world. Live magic, reviews, celebrity interviews & news reports from around the world, and now we’ve added special guest reporters from around the world.
Now you can participate in our show.   Just think of a question for Jeff or one of our other regulars, record yourself on video asking the question, post it on YouTube, and e-mail the link to jeff@mcbridemagic.com. The questions must be under 30 seconds long.
Here is sample question: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h76aKRURcoQ
Each week we will choose several of these to show and answer live on the air.
In other news regarding the Mystery School Mondays, please note you can see previously archived episodes at www.mcbridemagic.tv
Wonderground News
This Thursday night is the February Wonderground. Hard to believe we’ve been at it for over a year now! Did you know you can learn the latest news about The Wonderground, including who will be appearing this week, just by going to www.vegaswonderground.com and clicking the latest news link at the right of the page? Check it out.
Magically yours,
Jeff McBride
From Tobias:
Before the next Museletter comes out, Jeff and Eugene will already have completed this year’s version of Lance Burton’s Teen Weekend as a precursor to The World Magic Seminar. We’ve heard that both Juan Tamariz and Criss Angel will be doing special things at the convention, which promises to break new ground on a number of fronts. If you go, be sure and drop into Jeff’s room, say hello, and jam some magic!
I should also point out that there are still some spaces available both at Jeff’s Focus on Masks and Magic and the Extended “Alternative Spring Break” Master Class in Las Vegas. Classes later in the year tend to fill early – so if you really want to take the next step towards lifting your magic to the next level, one of these two classes may be your best bet for this year.
Wishing you all a magical month.
Tobias Beckwith
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Posted on Feb 3, 2011

Late Winter Inspiration

“A professional is a person who can do his best at a time when he doesn’t particularly feel like it.” —Alistair Cooke

Greetings friends,
Alistair Cooke conveys a deep part of my philosophy about being a magician 24/7.  A real magician is ready and able to perform magic at any time, with absolutely no preparation.  At our upcoming Master Classes, I will teach you the three effects you need to know to do magic anytime, anywhere. For a bit more of the “Magician 24/7” philosophy, you can get a taste of it here:
See You in Texas
Eugene Burger, Larry Hass and I have a week of events for you to choose from at this year’s “Theory and Art of Magic Conference” in Sherman, TX.
Masks and Magic
It is my pleasure to share some of my inner secrets to a select few who join us in March to study “The Way of the Mask.”  We have a special guest teacher, Enrico Pezzoli, who is coming from Italy, and is a master of commedia dell’arte.  This workshop will be limited to ten participants.
Jeff McBride
Lightning Transformations: The Secret Art of Quick Change
Join world-famous expert on the art of Quick Change, Lee Alex and me for two days of immersive study in this fascinating art.
Jeff McBride, Dirk Losander and Eugene Burger
Alternative Spring Break – Extended Class
March 6-11th, 2011.
If you want to take your magic to a higher level of excellence, we have a fantastic new opportunity for you. Treat yourself to the ultimate spring break experience, even if it has been decades since you were in college:
…remember, Monday is a school night!  Join us for
McBride’s MysterySchool Monday
This Monday at 7pm, Pacific time.
LIVE magic, reviews, celebrity interviews & news reports from around the world with Jeff McBride and the Mystery School faculty  www.mcbridemagic.tv
As you know, we love to feature a few words from our alumni, faculty and friends from time to time.  This month’s special guest writer is film-maker Jordan Wright.  Jordan records some of the videos for the Magic and Mystery School. You can see many of our magic lessons here:
And now, Jordan Wright:
Jordan Wright
Magic That Moves
There is a new trend sweeping us out of our living rooms, away from our televisions and onto our computers – it is the Internet. Over the past several months, news reports have highlighted the shifting of social media into daily life. In fact, people are spending more time on YouTube than watching TV. Most of us accept that an online presence is necessary and more or less standard for every business, but I believe social media is really where we need to connect and interact in order to be perceived as relevant in today’s markets. While many seem to still feel a strong desire to go after the television market, appearing on whatever new reality show they can in hopes of getting their 3 minutes of air-time, I believe now is the time to begin placing more focus on building a presence through social media. Posting video on Facebook and YouTube, for example, will allow you to reach more people worldwide than you will on a single television appearance.
Many performers and artists still have reservations about what they put out for public viewing, and rightly so. While I do not think it wise to put your “bread and butter” money-making material on YouTube, you might consider posting something simple along the lines of a “behind the scenes” video from a recent tour or a short clip from a recent performance. Posting video blogs is another great way to build a direct relationship with people interested in your work.
Having a good viral video that you post will serve as a look into your world, allowing an international audience to experience what you do before they are able to experience it live. Your most significant cost is time and labor. A direct return on investment cannot always be realized — but, again, this is about building relationships and influencing markets. Regardless of what you are trying to sell (your show, a new product, etc.) it has become clear that the place to do it is through social media on the Internet.
To that end, I have been hard at work creating new videos this month. View our new Wonderground promo video here (http://www.vegaswonderground.com). We are also constantly adding new teaching videos to the VirtualMagicSchool.  (http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com) Watch Jeff McBride’s new Essential Card Manipulation teaching video and his torn and restored bill effect “Money!” Other new releases include two new effects by Lawrence Hass “The Impossible Prediction” and “The Tale of the Rabbi Magician”.
A brief note from Tobias:
I can’t quite believe it, but Jeff has agreed to teach the secrets of “Magic & Masks” at the upcoming Focus Session on March 2-3. He is joined by another mask master, Enrico Pezzoli. If you’ve ever wanted to learn about masks in magic from the man whose name is synonymous with the subject – this is your chance! Sign up now – I doubt we’ll offer this again. Limited to only 10 students.
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Tobias Beckwith
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Posted on Jan 17, 2011

Media Muse

“Progress is made by lazy men looking for easier ways to do things”

— Robert A. Heinlein

Dear Friends:

We have a brand new way for you to make progress – from the comfort of your own desk.

Mystery School Mondays – on Murphy’s Magic Community

You can be part of the first episode of our new interactive magic fun night!

Monday, Jan 17th, 2011

7pm Pacific time

Live from Las Vegas; Chicago; Phoenix; Sherman, Texas; and San Francisco!

Join us in experiencing a new way to share magic, and good times, with friends from all over the world.

Monday night we try something new and different for you, and it is completely free!

McBride’s Mystery Monday (MMM) will be hosted by the faculty of our school.   Jeff, Eugene, Larry, Jordan, Bryce, Tobias and Master Diaz will all be coming to you LIVE online.

All you have to do is go to http://murphysmagiccommunity.com/, the new and rapidly growing site sponsored by Murphy’s, and sign up for a free account. Then go to the groups area and sign up for our “Mystery School Monday’s” group.  This will take you to our online studio where, for now, you can watch some select Jeff McBride videos…but on Monday night at 7pm, you can chat with all of us!  This is a new experiment for us. Help us build a great show by just showing up!

All of us will be offering segments on diverse areas of magical arts, new works, books, film, video reviews and all of this with a focus on YOU our home viewers! Yes we have a chat feature that allows YOU to talk with us and we will be taking questions and doing our very best to make this a great night of magical wisdom.

We encourage you to prepare a question or two for us to answer. You will have the opportunity to log in and talk with us via a chat feature on the website. The best part is that it is all free, complements of your friends here at the Magic and Mystery School and Murphy’s Magic!

On a related note:

WWW.MCBRIDEMAGIC.TV hits the air!

WATCH JEFF MCBRIDE’S NEW TV CHANNEL!

My internet ‘Livestream TV’ has lots of fun videos for you to watch, and we will also be using it to broadcast live on January 17th, starting at 7pm pacific time, sponsored by Murphy’s Magic Community.  We hope you will join us for an evening of magical inspiration and wisdom from the faculty of the Magic and Mystery School. The Murphy’s event is slated to continue one Monday each month for the next six months…and will be just one of the regular events offered on www.mcbridemagic.tv.

Still more on the video front:

NEW WONDERGROUND VIDEO

Mystery School filmmaker Jordan Wright’s latest short about our favorite Las Vegas nightspot…watch it and tell us what you think!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HdYc93XtK4

Have a look, and let us know what you think!

Austin College hosts a night of ‘Magic, the Secret Art’

Magic comes to Sherman this winter as some of the world’s most famous and influential magicians appear at Austin College in “Magic: The Secret Art” at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10 in Ida Green Theatre of Ida Green Communication Center. This Las Vegas-style show starring internationally acclaimed magicians Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger, along with Austin College professor Lawrence Hass, is suitable for all ages.

Tickets are $10 each for the general public and available from Carolyn Cranford from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday by phone at 903-813-2281 and in person in Room 103 of Ida Green Communication Center. For more information, contact her at ccranford@austincollege.edu.

The performance is part of the Austin College Theory and Art of Magic series, which Hass coordinates through the Department of Communication Studies.

A special evening for those interested in a more close-up look at the art of magic will be offered through “Love and Magic” at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Park City Club in Dallas. This unique fundraising event combines a Valentine’s Day banquet, magic by acclaimed magicians Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, and Lawrence Hass and scholarship support for fine arts students at Austin College.

BURNING MAN, ART, RITUAL, MAGIC AND ALCHEMY!

Listen to a fun new Jeff McBride interview with techno-mage Erik Davis. Just click here:

http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/expanding-mind/2010/12/28/expanding-mind-122310.html

WORLD TOUR NEWS

Tobias called and said that I will be going to Japan on tour in late March and April. Tobias is working hard on arranging all the details…more news on the world tour next month! We are also going to join the It’s Magic tour for the Easter weekend engagement at the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Looking forward to seeing all my New England friends and fans there!

See you online or at one of our shows in Las Vegas!

Jeff

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