Greetings Magical Friends,
ON THE ROAD… A DAY ON TOUR WITH JEFF MCBRIDE
Jeff here, in Toronto, reporting from out 2010 Canada tour… Jordan Wright is traveling with me, as my opening act, lighting designer and assistant. It’s amazing to watch how Jordan can handle every situation that’s thrown at him, especially in some of the more challenging theater venues. Each day, we get up early, hit the road, get to the theater around 2pm, set the props and lights at 3pm, do a run through with an all new tech crew at 4pm, take a break at 5pm, and get ready to do pre-show walk-around and meet and greet the audience at 7pm. Showtime is at 8pm, and comes down around 9:30. We pack up the entire show, visit the VIP after-party, go back to our hotel for a few hours of rest, then up early the next day and do it again, and again, oh, and again!
We have an amazing tour manager, Jeff Montgomery, who is multi-talented, and has an outstanding gift for communicating with people. On the most challenging day of travel, he was able to get a plane off the runway a half hour early, and later that day, convince another crew to hold a plane a half hour so our props and baggage could make the connection. It’s a real pleasure to work with highly skilled pros like Jordan and Jeff.
Here is the tour schedule that Jeff Montgomery put together, and hey, every ticket is already sold out!
April 13 Perform in Fort Frances Ontario 500 people
April 14 Perform in Thunder Bay Ontario  1400 people
April 15 Perform in Brandon Manitoba 900 people
April 16 Perform in Manitou Manitoba 500 people
April 20 Perform in Regina Saskatchewan 2200 people
April 21 Perform in Lloydminster Saskatchewan 600 people
April 22 Perform in Saskatoon Saskatchewan 2200 people
STREET SMARTS
Here’s what I’ve learned so far, on this tour.
1) Never play “name that tune” with a professional radio disk jockey. Our tour manager, Jeff, can instantly name any tune from the 1970’s on. He always wins.
2) It’s nice to be important, but more important to be nice. Tour manager Jeff’s philosophy on dealing with challenging people and situations on the road: he never loses his cool, but always manages to find a win-win situation for everyone.
3) Don’t look in the rearview mirror, keep moving straight ahead. That’s another Montgomery-ism. There’s no time for looking back with regret when there’s so much to do on the road ahead.
4) Eat more fruit, less potato chips…. ‘Nuff said.
WONDERGROUND, THURSDAY APRIL 15TH!!
If you’re going to be in Las Vegas this week, you are cordially invited to WONDERGROUND! We have an amazing NEW line-up (yes, the show changes completely EVERY month). You can see the list of performers here: http://www.vegaswonderground.com
Abbi will be the Mistress of Ceremonies this month, and I hear she’s gonna be doing her “McBondage Escape” which I guarantee you don’t want to miss….
VIRTUAL JEFF MCBRIDE
I will be beaming in via internet, live from Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. AJ Olsen and Jeremy Espinosa fromwww.streetofcards.tv have created a cyber-magic interface that will connect me, live-time, from Canada to all the folks at WONDERGROUND!  Even if you can’t make it to Las Vegas this week, you can see it all as it happens, or on demand, at streetofcards.tv.
As a college professor and magician, I have spent a long time thinking about this profound question.
One reason for my focused attention is fairly obvious: I am in the “education business” and an “educator” so it seems pretty important to get clear about what I should be doing. But another reason is that “education” seems to have become a problem in the subculture of magic.
Why do I say that? Well, for many years I have been bombarded by questions, calls, and e-mails from magicians — young and old, amateurs and pros — who are hungry for education in magic. They seem to sense that, despite all the instructional DVDs and so-called “lectures,” they are not really becoming “educated” in their art and craft. They are frustrated and want something more, but don’t know how and where to go.
I understand this frustration and try to offer my best support and advice. I think they are right that “education” in the best, full sense is lacking in the usual patterns of magic conventions, club meetings, and DVDs. So first, I want to say a few words about why that seems true and then point you in a couple directions to get more and better magical education.
Let’s start with the word itself: “Education” is rooted in the Latin word and concept “educare.” This concept was a central one in Roman life and civic culture. In short, it means to “bring up,” “bring out,” and “bring forth” a hidden potential in someone. To educate then, is to work carefully to bring out the very best that is inside a student; to be educated is to have undergone that process so your own best potentials are shining forth.
Pretty cool, isn’t it? Once we see this, I suspect that each of you will remember a teacher, professor, or classroom in which this discovery of your own potentials happened. To experience this is an amazing and literally transformational thing. And when we don’t get much of it, or we are fed substitutes that have other goals (like getting you to buy something or “buy in” to something), then we start to wilt a little bit, starved for sun, feeling stuck and stunted rather than on the path of growth and development.
So what can we magicians do to get educated? The very first step, I think, is simply to recognize, with great clarity, that a lot of things going on in the magical subculture have other goals than uncovering your best potentials. That doesn’t mean those things are “bad” things. Not at all; they just aren’t “educational.”
OK, then, what kinds of things are educational for us magicians? My first answer is as ancient as those Romans: reading and writing. Not just any old books (the Romans used scrolls), but excellent books that challenge our static patterns of thought and seek to help us find our potentials. My own view is that these kinds of writings are fairly uncommon in magic magazines and online. Most magic writing is descriptive (like news-reporting), reviews, or explanations of tricks. Again, these are fine and sometimes important, but not in themselves educational. However, educational magic books and essays do exist, and I am sure you can all think of some of them. (In a future “Museletter” I will share some of my favorites with you.)
But reading and writing is almost never sufficient for the best education. That’s because virtually everybody needs some person, some “teacher” to inspire, challenge, and encourage growth. The basic truth, long recognized among educators, is that you cannot really “educate yourself” because you are the one hiding your best potentials!
So we need teachers. We need guidance, advice, and insight, not from “screaming heads” on TV, critics, or from people trying to sell stuff, but rather from educators, directors, magic coaches. Where can we find them? Well, you probably already know some of them. They are those rare people in your Ring or Assembly who have that special way of helping you see something new in your work. Or they are those people you know with theatrical or directing experience who can help you develop those skills.
But there is another important resource to which I have always directed my magic students: Jeff’s Magic & Mystery School.
Many of you know that in recent years I have partnered with Jeff on several projects related to the School. For example, I have worked closely on the program for the Magic and Meaning Conference (which is deeply “educational” in its focus). And this past January, I co-taught a weeklong Master Class in Las Vegas.
2009 Magic & Meaning Participants
After these first-hand experiences, I want to tell you that Jeff’s School is genuinely and deeply educational. I have seen it time and again: magicians and magic enthusiasts who come to the School — to its programs and classes — have transformational experiences in which their own hidden potentials and best selves come to light.
I invite you to read that last sentence again. The programs and classes are not about “indoctrinating” people and they are not about turning people into “clones.” On the contrary: they provide content-rich experiences in which a person’s own inner hidden potentials are brought to light. Simply put: people go home from these experiences positively glowing.
As far as I know, there is no other organization or program in magic that is offering this kind of on-going, intensely educational experience for its participants. This is why I have committed my work and talents in the service of the School: because it really is a school. And it is why I am deeply pleased and honored to have been recently named “Associate Dean.”
I believe in education. I think it is one important part of feeling happy and fulfilled in life. We do not have to starve for it in our magical pursuits, and once we clearly see the goal, we can take conscious, strategic steps to experience more education in our magic.
The good news is that your magical education is the explicit mission of Jeff’s Magic & Mystery School. I sincerely hope you will join us some time in 2010 to experience that in yourself.
We all crave inspiration, and motivation to stoke our creativity.
Our Muse Letter this month is brought to you by Surrealist Illusionist Jordan Wright.
WHO IS YOUR MENTOR?
One of the first experiences I had with Jeff taught me just how a simple gift of magic can make a huge impact on a person. One night we were in the checkout line of a supermarket and Jeff asked the checkout guy if he likes magic. He replied that he had not really seen magic before. Without hesitation, Jeff began doing card manipulations for him and ended by giving him one of his cards. The guy was so shocked that his entire demeanor was transformed into a state of bliss. As we were walking out to the car I realized how a simple magic trick in an unexpected way will almost instantly bring people out of their mundane task. This was one of those unique moments that had I not witnessed, I never would have understood.
MASTERING THE ART OF MAGIC
I often get emails from people asking what advice I can give them on finding a mentor. One of the best pieces of advice I can offer to anyone is to seek out a magician in your area or local market whose work you admire and who is willing to “show you the ropes”. It is not about learning tricks. It is about watching others and learning from the way they work. Having a mentor will allow you to see what real world performing environments are like, to learn what goes into structuring a show, and to absorb all the wisdom that comes from their years of experience. Having someone to not only help guide you but also teach you the life lessons of being a performer is invaluable.
In today’s digital age with so much information on the internet we often feel uncertain of where to turn to for inspiration in our magic. Here’s one suggestion:
THE TED TALKS OF MAGIC
For many years now Jeff, Eugene, Larry Hass, and the other Mystery School faculty have been hosting an event in Las Vegas called The Magic and Meaning Conference. Inspired by the TED conference held in Northern California every year, the Magic & Meaning Conference is an event with some of the most brilliant minds in magic and other fields. Philosophers, writers, filmmakers, and other artists gather with some of magic’s greatest thinkers to share their wisdom and insight to inspire others in their work. We call the talks “PEP Talks” — PEP standing for Performance, Entertainment, Philosophy. We recently posted several of the talks from previous years on the Magical Wisdom website to give people a sense of what the conference is about. You can view them here:
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/infopages/view/mm_talks
I recommend viewing Larry Hass’ talk on Gifting Magic and Payne’s hilarious presentation on Why Must We Repeat Ourselves?
For a little more insight into this amazing conference here is a short video I created:
THE LAS VEGAS NEWS!
I recently got the chance to impart some wisdom on younger minds in magic at the World Magic Seminar. This 2 day workshop brought together 52 teens from all over the world to gain insight from Jeff and Eugene on ways to improve their magic. Many of the teen magicians have studied with Jeff and Eugene numerous times. In fact, the three winners of the Teen Stage Competition are all alumni of the Magic and Mystery School.
1st Place — Henry Vargas
2nd Place — Reuben Moreland
3rd Place — Eric Gilliam
What do these talented your magicians have in common? They all have have attended classes with Jeff. We are all very proud of these young rising stars of magic!
It is always amazing to see what an impact Jeff and Eugene have had on magicians, young and old.
This year’s SARMOTI award winner Nestor Hato was quoted as saying “Jeff McBride was the man who taught me magic.”
HOT NEWS FROM VEGAS: A VIRTUAL MAGIC NIGHTCLUB?
As I write this Jeff is just about to return from touring in the Midwest and we are making the final preparations for our March WONDERGROUND, which will take place this Thursday, March 18. If you are unable to attend we hope you will tune in to the live broadcast on www.streetofcards.tv.
Read more about the magic and film work of Jordan Wright in his new column on www.iTRiCKS.COM.
Dear Magical Friends:
The Magic & Mystery School staff has had quite a ride this past month! While Jeff and Eugene are currently at the World Magic Seminar (please drop in on them there in the special ‘McBride’ room if you’re attending the convention), they’ve each been making their own kinds of news these past few weeks.
A Magical Vision, the film Michael Caplan created about Eugene Burger had its international premiere in October 2009 in Indore, India at the Global Film Festival, which was very exciting. Now, A Magical Vision is available for a limited time to watch on line as part of the Spirit Enlightened Film Festival — it is among the most viewed film currently, with 3800 views last time we checked. So, if you haven’t seen this, do it now, and then spread the word and the link:
http://www.cultureunplugged.com/play/2422/A-Magical-Vision
A DVD release of the movie will be coming soon, as soon as the Spirit Enlightened Film Festival ends at the end of March.
Jeff McBride, of course, has just returned from a whirlwind tour in the Netherlands (Magic GONGA), and Italy (Turin, Venice & Milan). He was hosted by Ferdinando Buscema, one of Italy’s leading corporate magicians. Along-time student of Jeff and Eugene, he has now become Jeff’s Italian Tour Manager, and we’re delighted to have him on the team!
This week Ferdinando will be performing at the Magic Castle in Hollywood. Our congratulations for such a success! If you’ll be in L.A., make sure and drop in to see him. You’re in for a treat!
Ferdinando is our guest columnist this month, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy his description of the fantastic Ballo del Dogeand Jeff’s other adventures in Italy. Enjoy!
From Ferdinando:
Greetings to you all!
We have just awakened after 7 days and 1171 miles on the road with Jeff and my partner Anna: an unbelievable experience!
This Italian tour (de force) has been a huge success: Jeff performed, lectured, held a Master Class and received outstanding reactions from all the friends in both Torino and Milano!
The highlight of Jeff’s tour has of course been his performance at the Ballo del Doge in Venice, the hottest party of the Venetian Carnival. According to Vanity Fair, it is “The most exclusive, sophisticated and sumptuous ball in the world.” Having been there, we can only wholeheartedly agree! What a magical experience!
The creator of the event — Mrs. Antonia Sautter — is a most refined costume designer, having created the masks and costumes for Stanley Kubrik’s final masterpiece “Eyes Wide Shut”.
Jeff was the headliner of the show, and his masks’ act was highly acclaimed by the 400 masqueraders attending the party! A greatest hit!!
After Jeff’s departure back to Las Vegas, it took Anna and me a few days of “recovery”, after a breathless immersion in Jeff’s energy and enthusiasm. Jeff is a volcano of ideas, information, books, movies, music, stories, laughter and… magic of course!! We got an overwhelming dose of inspiration!
Having had the great fortune of spending a lot of time with Jeff, Eugene and all the Magic and Mystery Tribe, the one lesson that I always get is:Â Be brave and dare to dream bigger dreams! Jeff sets his own bar very high, and through his own example, gives the other permission to do the same.
Learning from the Masters means learning to dream bigger dreams!
Greetings from all the Italian friends, who look forward for having Jeff here again soon!!
PS: a small piece of secret knowledge I discovered about Jeff: he looooves to drink Sambuca and Limoncello! 🙂
That’s all for this Museletter. Thanks for continuing to read our news and ideas. If you know a friend who might enjoy keeping up with our musings, please send them a copy and invite them to sign up themselves!
Greetings magical friends,
Abbi found this quote from Jeff Hoke that takes a look at the difference between humor, science and art:
“Humor says: ‘Ha Ha!’
Science says: ‘Aha!’
Art says: ‘ahhhhhh!'”
We were wondering what you, our readers thought that Magic might say….??
February 18th, 2010, is the next WONDERGROUND with an entirely new show line-up. Jordan Wright, our company manager, has updated our website:http://www.vegaswonderground.com with the new information.
Just a tip to you, our Museletter readers, plan to arrive at WONDERGROUND **EARLY** to get a good seat. We sold out last month. If you can’t be with us in Las Vegas, you can watch us, at http://www.streetofcards.tv streaming live on the internet anytime after 9pm (Pacific time) on Thursday night.
My last piece of wisdom to leave you with this month is something a New York City taxi driver told me as he looked through the rearview mirror: “Man, you gotta work with the tools you got.” It was also said by Rousent, many years ago, in a different, not-so-street-savvy way: “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.”
Yours in the art of wonder-making,
Jeff & Abbi
FROM TOBIAS:
Greetings, friends. Jeff has just returned from his trip to Holland and Italy. I thought you might enjoy seeing this photo of him, along with his host Ferdinando Buscema and Ferdinando’s wife Anna, all taken at the Ballo del Doge in Venice just a couple of nights ago. Enjoy!
A special thanks to all of you who responded to my recent writings regarding both “what it takes to be a real wizard,” and, more importantly, your wishes and thought for things we might offer at the Magic & Mystery School to satisfy your wildest dreams. I’m still sorting and compiling the latter set in order to pass it on to Jeff and Eugene…but some of your ideas are really fantastic, and we’re truly grateful that you’ve offered them.
Also for those of you who may be attending the World Magic Seminar, know that Jeff and Eugene Burger will be in their usual room just as you enter the convention area. Be sure and drop in to visit and discover all the latest from these two modern masters.
Finally: We have a few spots left for the March master class which follows the World Magic Seminar by just a few days. Sign up now to reserve your space – classes later in the year generally fill up much earlier, so this may be one of your last chances this year to make a last minute decision to attend.
http://www.magicalwisdom.com
Best wishes.
Tobias Beckwith