Greetings my friends
“Don’t part with your illusions. When they are gone, you may still exist, but you have ceased to live.”
— Mark Twain
Jordan Wright, Jeff McBride and Alan Wong in Hong Kong
Greetings my friends,
I am just back from Hong Kong, where I had the great pleasure of sharing time with Master Magician Albert Tam. Our Mystery School presented Mr. Tam with a certificate of recognition for his accomplishments in magic, and the launch of his new Albert Tam Magic Dojo. Many of the Hong Kong magicians said they will tune in on January 17th for our new internet TV show. Read all about it just below the banner:
WATCH JEFF MCBRIDE’S NEW TV SHOW!
My internet ‘Livestream TV’ has lots of fun videos for you to watch, and we will also 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.
MYSTERY SCHOOL MONDAY
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’s all free, complements of your friends here at the Magic and Mystery School and Murphy’s Magic! http://www.mcbridemagic.tv
IS THIS THE YEAR YOU UPGRADE YOUR LIFE?!
We’ve just listed new classes for 2011. There are only fifteen spaces open in each class, so if you want to study with us this year, the time to register is now! There is still time to register for the Master Class that runs from January 28-30th. With the CES conventioneers gone, Vegas prices are at their lowest ever right now.
WONDERGROUND
Wow! It’s hard to believe that it’s been over one year of performances for WONDERGROUND at its new home, The Olive. You can join us at the most happening magic party in Las Vegas, on Thursday, January 20th, starting at 8pm sharp. This will be an all-new show, with many special guests. Read the details at www.vegaswonderground.com.
And remember, you can also watch from home at http://www.streetofcards.tv
THE MCBRIDE MAGIC EXPERIENCE IN SEATTLE
Jan 14, 15 http://tinyurl.com/mcb-seattle
One of the great pleasures of teaching magic is to forge lasting relationships with students who become very good friends. I have the pleasure of traveling the world and being hosted in interesting cities by dear friends.
This month, my friend Fredrick Turner will host my “MCB-EXPO†in Seattle. Fredrick performs “Magic Before Your Eyes.†With his unique blend of magic, Yoga, and humor, he evokes feelings of wonder and connection with his audiences. He has been performing magic for over thirty years.
Fredrick produces and performs at Seattle’s longest running magic showcase, Magic Monday. He uses his magical talents to design and deliver learning experiences across the US and Canada. He is the co-author of the recently published, One Jinxed Year.
A lifetime student himself, he frequently presents, performs and studies right here at Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas. He received training in mime at Le Centre du Silence and has performed extensively in theatre and stand-up comedy. These wide and varied experiences have enabled Fredrick to continually grow in his appreciation and understanding of the Art of Magic.
WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR
Join Eugene Burger and me for the must-see event of the year! Look at this amazing line-up!
http://www.theworldmagicseminar.com/
Juan Tamariz will headline the WMS this year, and is not to be missed. Lance Burton will host the Teen Magic Seminar, which is featured in the new movie Make Believe. For details about the Teen Magic Seminar, go to:
http://www.theworldmagicseminar.com/teenweekend.html
Mini-Mystery… I really do not understand why this magic effect is so popular. Do you?
Looking back over the last year, I noticed that the most popular item in my magic catalogue was the “ Ritual of Liberation.†Look what people have to say:
See you on the road, or at a show here in Las Vegas!
Jeff
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
— Mark Twain
WORLD MAGIC SEMINAR UPDATE:
This year’s World Magic Seminar (WMS) will bring lots of new changes and surprises. One of my favorite magicians, Juan Tamariz, will be performing. This year, the competition will be awesome! We have top acts from Latvia, Singapore, France, South Korea, England, Cuba, and oh yes, the USA all slated to compete. Abbi will be the Mistress of Ceremonies for the International Stage Competition, and she has some surprises in store… The WONDERGROUND players will be hosting the opening night party. If you were there last year, you know it was a great time, and we plan to top it this year! The WMS is a magical social event like no other, hosted by the extraordinary Siegfried and Roy. Join us for this historic experience. You can read more and register here:
http://www.theworldmagicseminar.com
THE LANCE BURTON TEEN MAGIC SEMINAR
The documentary MAKE BELIEVE is getting rave reviews at film festivals across the country. Much of it was filmed at the world’s top teen magic contest at the WMS here in Las Vegas. Eugene Burger and I make a few appearances in the movie. You can see a promo trailer here:
http://www.makebelievefilm.com/
Bob Rossi is arranging a screening of this exciting new feature documentary at this year’s WMS. Many of the world’s top young magicians have attended our exciting seminar.
There are still a few spaces open for this year’s Lance Burton teen magic seminar. This is held Friday through Sunday, February 25-27th, and is free for any teen attending the WMS. For all the information on this exciting event, go to
http://www.theworldmagicseminar.com/teenweekend.html
THE MCBRIDE HOUSE OF MYSTERY IN THE NEWS
Abbi and I know you will enjoy this fun story about our Magic School. The story ran in this week’s local paper, The View.
http://www.viewnews.com/2010/VIEW-Dec-21-Tue-2010/whitney/40748296.html
THE JEFF MCBRIDE EXPERIENCE
Tobias and I are booking the “Jeff McBride Experience†which is a special show, lecture and Super Session workshop. It is a two-day magic experience. Many of our Mystery School alumni and friends have offered to help bring this unique event to their magic friends in their home towns. Fred Turner will be hosting THE JEFF MCBRIDE EXPERIENCE in Seattle in January. If you would like to bring something very special to your community, the details on how to book this event are here:
http://www.mcbridemagic.com/pages/venues/mcbride-magic-for-magicians/the-jeff-mcbride-experience.php
MCBRIDE WORLD TOUR: NEXT STOP HONG KONG!
Film-maker/magician Jordan Wright and I are packing our bags and preparing for a week in Asia. We will also be doing a special one day lecture event in Hong Kong with Albert Tam, and presenting him with a MAGIC AND MYSTERY SCHOOL recognition award for his continuing commitment to excellence and education in the magical arts. To learn more, you can contact Albert directly: mrmagicalbert@yours.com
Magic is believing in yourself. If you can do that, you can make anything happen.
— Johann Wolfgang van Goethe
Dear Friends:
All of us here at McBride Magic send you holiday cheer and the very best wishes for a magical new year!!
VIDEO CHANGES THE WORLD!
The way we learn and gather information is changing. New access to broadband technology and the internet is increasing the amount of hours you stay on-line and absorb video via the net. This exciting TED talk will show you the coming trend. When you have eighteen minutes to invest, I recommend you take the time to check this out.
After you view this clip, you will get an idea of the direction our Magic and Mystery School has begun to explore. I’ve been involved in many “Skype Sessions†online recently, helping students from around the world.  We talk about ways to improve magic, business and life. For more information on our Skype sessions and how you can benefit from them, go to:
http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/
WONDERGROUND NEWS
Last month, at WONDERGROUND, we had Criss Angel, Jonathan Pendragon, The Amazing Jonathan and too many other magic celebrities to really count. You never know who might show up. Make sure to arrive around 7:30 if you are planning to attend in person, or, tune in to http://www.streetofcards.tv at 9pm pacific time to watch from your home! You can get all the details at http://www.vegaswonderground.com.
ARE YOU YEARNING FOR LEARNING?
Isn’t it time you brought your magic to the next level of excellence? We keep our Master Classes to about a dozen people. This way, we can give hands-on attention to each individual attending the class. I hope you can join us this year. See our exciting line-up of classes at http://www.magicalwisdom.com.
From Tobias:
Happy holidays to all! A quick holiday thought…whatever religion you may be, or holiday you might celebrate this time of year… Don’t you think Santa Claus must qualify as “The Christmas Wizard?†Who has more magical powers than Santa? Between flying around the world on that tiny slay, powered by magical flying reindeer and presiding over his own mythical kingdom at the North Pole, he is one phenomenally productive wizard! And he’s clairvoyant, telepathically aware of whether every one of us has been naughty or nice. He never seems to age, in spite of what has to be a stree-filled Christmas Eve each year, trying to cover every house in the world, teleporting up and down all those tiny chimneys, all within one 24 hour period. Truly amazing.
So…I wanted to take a moment to share this photo of our own magical “Christmas Wizard†with you once again. We have so many new subscribers this year, I know about half of you have never seen Eugene in his “alter ego†role before.
We hope this finds you all enjoying the most magical and happy holiday season ever. Thanks once again for being a part of our extended family here at McBride Magic.
Magically yours,
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com
December is upon us, with its short days, long nights, and holiday preparations in full swing! In many traditions, this is a time of gift giving, and our guest writer for this Museletter has some fascinating observations about gifts and magic. And don’t miss a special offer from Teller and Todd Robbins at the end of this Museletter. Enjoy!
This month we hear from Associate Dean Larry Hass:
Dear Magical Friends,
As the calendar turns to December — with a chill in the air and perhaps also the flickers of snow — we turn and return to a remarkable, wonderful time for the giving of gifts.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, Kwanzaa, or some other gift-giving practice, this is a time of year when most of us think about the people in our lives and the gifts we might like to give them.
If you are like me, then you know there is a deep joy and pleasure in this meditation; it feels good to connect my heart and thoughts with the people around me.
But you may also know there can be disquiet or confusion in it. We may say or hear such things as: “How can I top last year?â€Â “I don’t have enough money.â€Â “I don’t have enough time!â€Â “I hate the lines and the hassles of shopping!â€
For me, an alternate approach starts with a quote from novelist and poet Richard Bach: “Every gift from a friend is a wish for your happiness.â€Â Wow! What a magical thought! For me, that trasnforms and re-frames everything.
As I think about gifts I have received, I recall so many of them that arrived on the wings of a wish for my happiness: the long-desired Led Zeppelin album I received when I was fourteen (even though my parents hated that stuff), a big, fluffy bathrobe from my wife Marjorie, hand-written, hand-drawn cards of love from my kids — just to name a few. Each of these arrived with a palpable wish for my joy in the world.
And so as we approach the season, as we think about the people to whom we might gift, perhaps we can approach it this way: “What could I give to [fill in the blank] that would arrive as a wish for [his/her] bliss?â€
For me, when I approach the coming season this way it becomes much easier to know what to give my people; the light bulb goes on! And too, when we quiet the disquiet — the struggle and chatter fueled by market and marketing forces — it is rather amazing how quickly flawed practices fall away.
For example, it becomes clear that spending a lot of money — or even any money — is missing the point. It becomes clear that giving something because we want to enjoy it isn’t much of a gift, such as “Here’s that 52†HD TV for us, honey; now we can watch the game!â€Â It becomes clear that giving to others out of sheer obligation arrives more like a burden than a blessing.
And so, again, what can I give to each person in my life, or to needful people in my community that will let them “feel the love?â€
I hope you find Richard Bach’s magical idea to be helpful and refreshing as you approach the coming season. And I truly wish for you wonderful days and nights with family and friends—and all the people you love.
Larry Hass
(Larry is also the editor and co-author, with Jeff, Eugene, George Parker, Bob Neale, and Rich Bloch, of Gift Magic: Performances that Leave People with a Souvenir. All the profits from the book are being donated to Rich Bloch’s non-profit Encore Foundation that assists magicians in times of catastrophic need.
Gift Magic is available from Larry at www.TheoryandArtofMagic.com and from select magic dealers.)
From Tobias:
For those of you near Kansas City, now is the time to give yourselves and your loved ones the gift of magic. Take someone you love to see Jeff’s show at US Toy on December 11. Not your average magic show, by any means. Jeff will not only dazzle you with his amazing feats — he will make you think, and, even more important, his magic and stories will touch your emotions. I see what care he puts into sculpting each of his performances, and I know you are your loved ones are in for a treat! And if you’re a magician yourself, by all means stick around for the lecture. Jeff always has something new to teach and talk about, and he carries several items to lectures that you can only get directly from him…so this is an opportunity not to be missed. Finally, the workshop. For those truly serious about taking their magic to the next level — no matter what level it is at now — there’s really no better way to get a quick boost in knowledge, skill and inspiration than learning directly from the master. Don’t pass this up — it is Jeff’s first visit to your area, and we have no idea when he might get back there! For more information, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/mcb-ustoy
One final reminder: Magic makes a great gift, for you, for friends and family…and we have lots of very special magic to offer. Visit our sites at:
http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/
Wishing you all a fabulous holiday season!
Sincerely,
Tobias Beckwith
(415) 889-9491
From Bryce:
We do our best to shy away from advertising in our Museletters. In fact, we’re doing less than ever so we have more room to bring you quality content. However, we’re so excited about the new Play Dead production from Todd Robbins and Teller that we couldn’t resist making their offer available to our Museletter readers. Information about the show and the special offer can be found below.
You’re probably well past getting scared by haunted houses, but you haven’t been entertained in an abandoned-looking theater, lit by a single ghost light leading you on a darkly comedic journey, encouraging the dead to speak to you.
PLAY DEAD takes a more supernatural road than what’s generally seen on, off or anywhere near the great white way. Co-writer TODD ROBBINS (“Dark Deceptions”) stars as the audience’s storytelling guide on an evening exploring death, darkness, and deception. Magician, comedian and dark arts expert TELLER (Penn & Teller), is the director and other co-writer. Their collaboration and combined knowledge and expertise in the underworld promise to take the audience into uncharted supernatural waters, loaded with haunting surprises and plenty of shrieking nervous laughter.
“4 Stars. Great Date: It is exactly the kind of show that will have you pawing each other for comfort!â€
– Time Out New York
“This wild, wicked show is not just a screamfest; it’s a good piece of theater!â€
– The New York Times
“Funny, furious and wholly enthralling!â€
– Wall Street Journal
“Teller has filled Play Dead with elaborate illusions and effects including a slam-bang finale!â€
– New York Post
“Todd Robbins is a consummate showman!â€
– New York Magazine
“If there’s one thing more fun than a haunted house, it’s a haunted theatre!â€
– Variety
Performance schedule:
Tues-Fri at 8pm |Sat at 7pm & 10pm |Sun at 3pm & 7pm
SPECIAL OFFER!
$25 TICKETS (reg. $61.00)
THREE EASY WAYS TO BUY:
ONLINE: Visit www.ticketmaster.com and use code DEAD1
PHONE: Call 800.982.2787 and mention code DEAD1
IN PERSON: Print out a copy of this offer and visit The Players Theatre Box Office – 115 MacDougal Street (Between West 3rd Street & Minetta Lane)
FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT: www.PlayDeadNYC.com
*Offer valid through 1/16/11. Offer is subject to availability and may be revoked at any time. Blackout dates may apply. Normal service charges apply to online and phone orders. No exchanges or refunds. All sales are final. Cannot be combined with other offers. Not valid for prior purchases. Limit 8 tickets per order. Schedule subject to change.
Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?
—Albus Dumbledore
Dear Friends:
Allow me to be among the first to wish you a very happy and magical holiday season!
Jeff asked me to put together this special bonus Museletter because he wanted to make sure you’re all informed about the upcoming “Magic & Mystery School Week†at the Magic Castle. From November 29 through December 5, Jeff & Abbi, Larry Hass, Eugene Burger, George Parker, Jordan Wright and Bryce Kuhlman will all be performing at the Castle, taking over all of the performance spaces, and treating Castle guests to our own special brand of meaningful magic. It promises to be a wonderful week, topped off with a joint lecture given by the authors of the new “Gift Magic†book, recently published by Larry Hass’ Theory and Art of Magic Press. If you have a chance to be in Los Angeles any time during that week, you’ll want to be sure to drop by and see the whole gang.
With the holidays coming, we all start thinking of gifts to give, and what we’d like to get, as well. I don’t know about you, but each year I find myself challenged to find something really special for my very special friends and family. Most of us, as we get older, don’t really need another set of gloves, or a tie, or whatever they’re pitching this year down at the local big box store.
So, I hope you’ll forgive this blatant pitch: There’s no greater magical gift than the gift of learning. Each new skill, new idea opens us up to grow further. And so, if you’re a magician yourself, think of putting one of our upcoming classes on your holiday wish list. We have master classes in January both for magicians and for balloon twisters, and we still have spots available in each one. Las Vegas is even more affordable than usual in January, and learning new ways to take your magic to the next level is a great way to keep your momentum going through the dark months of winter. Check out our upcoming offerings at www.magicalwisdom.com.
And, if a class seems like a bigger gift than you’re likely to get or give, wander on over to our catalogue at http://shop.yourmagic.com, where our magic can become your magic.  Featured products include Jeff McBride & Alan Wong’s excellent “Butterfly Blizzard,†a package including a teaching DVD along with everything you need to perform the butterfly effects taught. The new Gift Magic Book is also available there, along with Bob Neale’s Magic Matters, and much, much more from Jeff, Eugene, Larry and others.
If you’re not a magician, we also have a selection of wonderful music by Abbi Spinner McBride & Gary Stadler available on CD, as well as a number of collectible and souvenir items you might enjoy if you’re reading this.
Ah: One final bit of news. If you’re anywhere near Kansas City, you’ll have the opportunity to see one of Jeff’s shows presented by the magic division of US Toy Co. on December 11. He’ll be there for two days, Dec. 11 & 12. On the 11th he will present “Magic UnMasked†at 7pm, then will lecture for local magicians at 9:30pm. The following afternoon, he’ll present his special Super Session workshop, an intensive four hour, no holds barred, hands on workshop.  This will be Jeff’s first visit to Kansas City – and probably the last, at least for the next few years. Don’t miss this rare chance to partake of “The McBride Experience.†For more information, call the shop at (913) 642-8247.
Note from Bryce: I grew up in this shop. I spent every Thursday night and Saturday morning there from the age of 8 until I was in my late teens. I’m not sure I’d still be in magic if it weren’t for the guys at that shop. It was always my dream to get Jeff to K.C. It only took me 20 years of knowing him and now I have to fly in from Phoenix to be there with him. Don’t miss it!
That’s all for now. Next week we have a special Museletter coming to you from Larry Hass, talking about gifts and magic. I think you’ll really enjoy Larry’s thoughtful writing. We may have some additional news for you by then, as well. Till next week, then!
Best wishes for a magical holiday!
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com