“Home is a name, a word, it is a strong one; stronger than magician ever spoke, or spirit ever answered to, in the strongest conjuration.”
— Charles Dickens
Abbi and I are just home from tour. Ah, it’s good to be home by the fire.
A PERFECT SHORT MOVIE FOR YOU:
Here’s a little holiday gift I think you’ll enjoy… take the time to look at this. It reminded me what “real magic” is all about. It takes about 10 minutes, so make the time; you’ll be better for it!
http://vimeo.com/2604280
Photo of Jeff and his young fan, Eli, at a recent “JEFF MCBRIDE EXPERIENCE” event near Boston, MA
WIZARDS!
Last month’s Museletter by Tobias generated a huge amount of positive feedback from you, dear readers. Thank you for your comments and contributions to Tobias’ new book.
POP QUIZ
My question to you this month is: What do you feel the “perfect holiday gift” for your friends might be?
HOLIDAY RANT
I am not giving people “stuff” this year! I will get my friends delicious food and enriching EXPERIENCES instead.
Shopping for THINGS? Yuck!
Why give a store bought gift, that will sit and collect dust on the shelf? Give the person you love the gift of magic…not a trick but a REAL magic experience! Each of our Master Classes are handcrafted and tailored to your individual needs. Just imagine the joy you will feel when you go downstairs one winter morning and see Eugene Burger, aka “Magic Santa” sitting under your tree! The perfect gift!
EUGENE BURGER IS THE REAL SECRET SANTA!
We have 2 spots left for the January Master Class
Extended Master Class – Las Vegas
January 18 – 24, 2010
THE BEST IDEA YET!
Magic Lovers around the world agree…McBride’s Master class is the holiday gift of choice! Did I mention we have gift certificates? You can get one for a magic loving friend or get one for yourself!
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/payments/gift
WHAT IS THE BIG SECRET?
There really is a secret to better magic, and it’s different for everyone. The real magic secrets are not to be found in books or videos. They are passed from mentor to student. Our programs cater to your individual performing style and abilities. You get personal attention from many of the world’s top magicians as you enjoy the wonders of the magic capital of the world!
JOIN ME IN SALT LAKE CITY
The next JEFF MCBRIDE EXPERIENCE will be happening in Utah! Make the trip and join the fun!
http://www.mcbridemagic.com/pages/jeff-mcbride—salt-lake.php
Michael Fraughton: (801) 604-2160
WONDERGROUND RISES!
Dec 17th, 8PM until???
The WONDERGROUND premiered a little over a year ago. We’ve taken a few months and found a new home, and a great new home it is! If you can’t make it out for the live show on December 17th, catch us on www.streetofcards.tv. Read all about it and get the inside scoop here:
http://www.vegaswonderground.com
We look forward to seeing you at the Wonderground, or one of our upcoming classes. Til then, have a magical holiday!
Yours in creating the world’s most progressive magic events,
Jeff
The most good you can do for the world is to become a wizard.
— Deepak Chopra
Dear friends (from Tobias):
As I write, Jeff and the Mystery School Magicians are off to The Magic Castle for our second “Magic & Mystery School Week,” bringing their own special brand of magical mysteries to that iconic home for magic. If you can be in L.A. between November 30 and December 6, be sure and let us know — and drop by to join the festivities!
We’ve just wrapped up our busy fall season of classes and conferences which kicked off with Magic & Meaning, followed by Magic for Medical Professionals, and finally, theMaster Class for Mentalists. These are always three of our favorite events, and this year proved no exception. We had at one point considered making some of these classes every other year events, but both growing attendance and the overall excitement generated have encouraged us, and all three events will be offered again next fall. As a Muse Letter subscriber, you get to see announcements of our newly added classes before they appear to the general magic community in our magazine advertising — so please feel free to go to http://www.magicalwisdom.com and register early for next year’s events. If attendance continues to grow as it has this year, they’re likely to be sold out well in advance!
As many of you may be aware, I’ve been spending a fair amount of time thinking about my new book, “Wizards Ways.” It’s about the methods, mind-set and secrets of “real” wizards. The book will combine a series of short teaching stories with advice on wizard techniques readers can use in their own lives — and even a few original tricks that can be used to help the readers created real magic!
Since we who perform magic often present ourselves playing the role of a real wizard, I thought you might find a brief overview of some of the book’s premises to be of interest. First, the question of what it is that makes a wizard a wizard. That is, what is it that sets him or her apart from the rest of the population. Here’s my initial list:
And so, my question to you: What else can you think of that really sets wizards apart from the rest of us? What can you or I, or anyone who wishes to become a real wizard, do that will help them become ‘the real thing?’ Feel free to e-mail me with answers:Â tobias@yourmagic.com.
With the gift-giving (and getting) season fast upon us, I suppose I should tell you just a bit about some of our more recent offerings at our online shop:
First and foremost, we have the most recent creation/ collaboration between Jeff & Alan Wong: “Butterfly Blizzard.” Jeff has been performing his own special version of the Butterflies for many years — but only now tips his personal secrets for the routine – expanded here to make use of Alan’s beautiful butterfly blizzard effect. The package includes everything you need to get started with your own version of the effect: Beautiful Chinese Fan, DVD instructions, special thread required for the effect, and a dozen butterfly snowstorms. You can view the video for this effect by clicking here (http://www.yourmagic.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=214).
We also have two new books by one of our favorite authors, Robert E. Neale: “Magic Matters,” and the recently expanded and re-released “Magic & Meaning,” by Bob and Eugene Burger. In addition, I’m pleased to announce I’ve just upgraded and updated my “Get Your Career in Gear” 12 week course teaching you how to manage and promote your own business as a magician. Of course, we continue to carry the full McBride / Burger / Johnny Thompson line of incredible books, DVD’s and magic effects.
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
— Winston Churchill
NEWS FROM JEFF:
Wonderground cast photo by Beckett Studios, Las Vegas
The Return of Jeff McBride’s WONDERGROUND!
When: THURSDAY, Dec. 17th, Doors open at 8pm
Where: THE OLIVE: 3850 E SUNSET RD. Las Vegas, NV — 702-451-8850
We’ve made arrangements to revive Jeff McBride’s magical club experience ‘The Wonderground’ on a once monthly basis for the coming year. Every Third Thursday, magic lovers will converge on the Olive – our favorite Las Vegas Mediterranean restaurant & hookah bar, for a continuous magical experience from 8pm til 1pm – or maybe later.
As always, the Wonderground experience will include magic, variety, performance art, DJ Master Diaz – and even The Mojo A Go-Go Girls. Close up & Street magic will be provided by The Mystery School Magi. There will be art films by Jordan Wright, live painting by Areeya and Minnie, and a psychic sideshow & tarot readings by Danita and Morganne. One of the highlights of the evening will be our All Star Stage Show at 10pm, hosted by our own master of masks & magic, Jeff McBride, with different special guest artists from around the world each month.
Best of all: Admission is FREE with a 2 drink minimum (Adults only, 21+). For more info go to http://www.vegaswonderground.com. If you can’t make it in person, you can participate “live on the web.” The Wonderground will be broadcast live each month on www.streetofcards.tv.
TV News: Extreme travel
We thought you’d enjoy this clip from the Travel Channel’s recent “Extreme Conventions.”
http://www.mcbridemagic.com/video/extremeconventions_med_conv.html
We’re very happy with this coverage, and that the Travel Channel considered the Magic and Mystery School to be the most popular event at the recent World Magic Seminar. Eugene and I will be at the WMS again this year, March 1, 2, and 3rd at the ORLEAN’S HOTEL here in Las Vegas. It’s a great convention, and we highly recommend it. You can register online:
http://www.theworldmagicseminar.com
A note from Abbi…
The voting is in for the 2009 New Magic Order Houdini Awards for Excellence in Magic and Variety Arts, and Jeff received the 2009 Houdini Lifetime Achievement Award from MagicTalk.com!
It is interesting to note that there are many Mystery School alumni among this year’s winners:
Cabaret magic — Peter Pitchford: Jeff helped Peter design his award-winning act that won top prizes at this year’s SAM and IBM competitions.
Mentalism — Paul Draper: Paul not only attended many classes here at the Magic and Mystery School, but is also a guest teacher at many of our events, and appears frequently at THE WONDERGROUND magic nightclub.
Rising Star — Rick Star: Rick is a private student who works with Jeff via the internet.
Dream Builder Award — The Dymonds: Erin and Christian Doleshall are both building strong individual careers, and sharpening their skills in the magical arts with Jeff’s help.
It’s amazing to watch Jeff and Eugene work with the students here at the McBride House of Mystery. Our doors are open to you when you feel you need to re-energize or re-inspire your magic. Here is a photo of Jeff filling up on the magic of life at a recent regional Burning Man event. The two photos above were taken by his brother Clay.
“Everyone has a talent; what is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark places where it leads.”
— Erica Jong
Greetings Friends…
We are in the season of dark places. Today, only the most courageous and talented will avoid the grim reaper of pop culture, and become immortalized in the book of ages. My question to you is how much are you pushing your edges? For, you see, there are a few daring young ones among us, who are pushing far beyond what we ever thought possible, or even acceptable!
CUTTING EDGE MAGIC
Shock & Awe, Blood & Gore
Sometimes it takes a lot of high weirdness to get people’s attention these days. With the amazing amount of information coming at us, often people think they need to screeeeeeeeam or draw BLOOD to get attention. It is rare that performers take an artful approach to this sort of “geek magic.” However, I know two magicians that are very good at doing just that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZg7_aTLqq0
COULD THEY BE THE HIPPEST MAGICIANS IN THE WORLD?
Here is a photo of Barry, Stuart and me, halfway through our recent all day magic brainstorming session.
Thanks to Youtube, we can see many of their television specials, which air in the United Kingdom. My favorite series of theirs is MAGICK. Eugene Burger and I have the great honor of being consultants for their show. This week, Barry & Stuart came to Las Vegas for the very first time, and we got to spend the day together, working on some of their TOP SECRET new mind-exploding concepts. DJ Master Diaz and I hosted them around town, and took in a few shows. We even kidnapped them and took them over to the Darwin Society Magic Club, where we forced them, at wandpoint, to do an interview for streetofcards.tv. I never really thought, when I started magic, that I would be involved in some of the most interesting “think-tanks” in the world of magic. I’ve worked with Lance, Criss, and, oh yes, here is a clip of me working on a recent Hans Klok extravaganza. My piece starts at 1:18. It’s a sneak peek of a casual private session.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tikQQexKalk&feature=related
Nowadays, I find time to work with many of my students via Skype. This is a great new way for you and I to work together, and to upgrade your magic skills, even if you can’t get to Las Vegas. Just send me an email (Jeff@mcbridemagic.com) and let me know you’re interested, and we’ll take it from there!
CHINA: IT’S THE NEW LAS VEGAS!
Abbi and I are just back from two weeks in China, my second trip there in two months! Magic is HUGE in China, and I am sure Tobias will be arranging more tours for us in 2010. So, to all of our new Chinese magic fans and students, you’ll be seeing more of us soon! Here is a photo and a video clip from our time there:
http://www.mcbridemagic.net/video/
See you at one of our Skype sessions, or on the road soon!
Jeff, Abbi and all of the Magic and Mystery School Faculty
From Tobias:
Fall has become a time filled with fascinating activities for so many of us. Following fast on the heels of Magic & Meaning will be the Magic & Medicine and Magic for Mentalists master classes – both filling fast but with a few slots still available.
It seems the end of October now kicks off the holiday season, so some of you may want to know about our new McBride Magic & Mystery School Gift Certificate, good towards tuition for whatever class you might choose. Something to place on your own wish list, or to buy for your favorite magician! Just go to magicalwisdom.comand you’ll see the link for it!
I’ll write more about the holidays and some upcoming adventures Jeff has planned in our next note. In the meantime, enjoy what’s left of “national magic month!”
Best wishes.
Tobias Beckwith
tobias@yourmagic.com
LESSONS LEARNED ON THE STREET
STREET MAGIC:
Street magic is one of the fastest growing new styles of magic, yet it is one of the oldest forms of magic as well! Today, there are many successful magicians that began their careers working the streets. The streets are a place where a beginner can go and get real world experience. When I first moved to New York City, I had the pleasure of studying with the man who literally wrote the book on Street Magic. Jeff Sheridan and I met in the mid-1970s in New York City. Over the years, I have met many of the top “classical” street performers from all over the world, including Jim Cellini, Chris Capeheart, and Gazzo, and I have learned something from every one of them. There is also a new breed of internet street magicians, like Cyril, Marco Tempest, and David Blaine, and they have lessons to teach us as well…. The world is changing.
OLD SCHOOL
The old school street performers are very low-tech and high-touch. Their effects must be able to be performed in the round. They have to play for small audiences as well as large audiences.
NEW SCHOOL
The new school techno-mage designs effects that are often specifically created to play for “the home viewer.” Many of these effects are shocking, get spread as viral videos, and reach a global viewership. Years ago, a young magician might upgrade their stage show by adding an illusion, such as a zigzag or sub trunk. Today’s new magicians are getting a high-def video camera as the upgrade to their shows. The amazing thing is that some kid living in the boondocks can make a clever magic video at home, and be seen by thousands, perhaps millions of people. Twenty years ago, this was unheard of. Street magic, and the internet, are changing the way we experience magic.
MYSTERY SCHOOL
I have been very blessed in my life to have traveled the world with my show. Street performing has taught me many important lessons:
Many of the lessons that I learned in the school of hard knocks are ones that I still use today, whether I am designing a corporate show, a theater show, a casino show, or even when we design a show to play a luxury ocean liner.
I’ve learned many tricks of the trade and secrets that make a great street magic show. These lessons can help you. I will be sharing these secrets with many of our friends at the Magic School, October 9, 10 and 11th.
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events/view/395
MAGIC AND MEANING
“Magic is the art of reaching into a deeper reality and bringing gifts from it into the ordinary world”
—Robert Moss
The Magic and Meaning Conference is a distinctive, annual small-group conference that focuses on creating meaningful magic routines, effective scripts, and new venues for performance. If you love magic, storytelling, motivational speaking, the philosophy of magic — or want to learn more about it — this is the place to be!
The 2009 conference will feature Keynote Addresses by Jeff McBride, Eugene Burger, Robert E. Neale, and Lawrence Hass. The conference also features a select number of Short Talks by conference attendees on subjects relating to the themes of the conference. Also, the conference will offer interactive small group sessions as well as “works in progress” shows where we create a safe and fun space to try new ideas and get valuable feedback on your magic.
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events/view/392
CHINA MAGIC
Magic is exploding in China. Recently, a Taiwanese magician named Lu Chen appeared on the biggest Chinese New Year’s television show. He only did three close-up effects, but it made a huge impression on the Chinese viewers. Now, the entire country is crazy for magic. I experienced this recently, at the World Championships in Beijing, and I took a few videos, too! You can see them on my internet television channel here:
http://streetofcards.tv/channel/27/jeff-mcbride/
MCBRIDE MAGIC WORLD TOUR
Our entire company is off to Shenzhen, China, to a huge theme park called Happy Valley.
http://www.chinahighlights.com/shenzhen/attraction/happy-valley.htm
See you on the road, or here in Las Vegas!! (We’ll be back October 8, just in time for the Street Magic Class).
Jeff