One of my favorite quotes is from Higher Magic, by Oscar Teale, subtitled Magic for the Artist. It was written in 1912. This quote has given me courage when I have been accused of being “too flamboyant,” in speech, action, or costume.
“The feather that adorns the royal bird supports his flight. Strip him of his plumage and you fix him to the earth.”
–Janius
Greetings All,
Recently, we’ve had a royal visitor at the McBride House of Mystery. No, we’re not just talking about Eugene being here for the past week. Lord Peacock arrived the other day, and we now have a peacock in our backyard! He just showed up, and is probably an escapee from one of the neighborhood mansions near the House of Mystery. He’s made a home in our backyard, roosting just above our waterfall.
Abbi opened the front door one day, and he was standing directly in front of her, so she gave him some birdseed. He has become a very friendly neighbor, and the unofficial mascot of the Magic and Mystery School.
Masters of Illusion: Mondays at 9pm, MyNetworkTV
Monday night, January 19th with the third of thirteen episodes, featuring Jeff McBride, Arian Black, Ed Alonzo, Kyle Eschen, Ai & Yuki, Mark Kalin & Jinger
On January 26th, Magic and Mystery School Alumni and Friends Chris Randall, Fielding West, Jonathan Levit, Kevin James, Krystyn Lambert will all be on the show. Be sure to catch it!
MCBRIDE ON TOUR IN ITHACA, NY
McBride Magic at the Edge is coming to Ithaca, NY! On Friday January 23, 2009 Abbi and I will be doing our full-evening show from 7:30 – 10:00 pm. Cost is $25.
On Saturday January 24, 2009 2-6pm, I will be offering a “Secret Session” workshop.
All the information is online at http://lightinwinter.com/.
If you are interested in signing up for the Secret Session, please contact Bruce Purdy (eg@cynmagic.com) and he’ll get you into this very special 4-hour Master Class.
MYSTERIUM LAS VEGAS: Jan 30 – Feb 1, 2009
…an in-gathering of old and new friends, in the darkest time of the year, a point in time where we can reflect, as individuals and a community, the light that shines within each and every one of us.
Featured events include:
Please note, this event has been growing each year, and due to spatial limitations, we have to limit the number of registrants for the playshops and overnight ceremonies.
For more info and to register go to http://www.vegasvortex.com/
MCBRIDE WORLD TOUR
Jeff will be holding a special three day series of Secret Session workshops at the upcoming Blackpool Magic Convention in the UK. For more information on this event, contact Derek Lever (d.lever1@sky.com).
Jeff McBride & Eugene Burger
Sunrise at StoneHenge
Mystery School Workshop, 2006
Peru, England, Spain and many new dates appear on our World Tour Schedule. If you would like to see our show, take a look and see if we’re going to be near you.
http://www.mcbridemagic.com/pages/calendar.php
We encourage you, dear friends, to show your royal colors, and take flight!! See you one day soon, and introduce you to our feathered friend!
Jeff McBride
Here we are coming into a month named after the Roman god Janus, an appropriate personification of the start of the new year. This particular Roman god had two faces so that he could look ahead toward the future and back at the past at the same time. As we get rid of an old year and look forward to a new one, we all try to be a little like Janus. We know through experience what we did wrong and what we did right, and hope to do better this year. Some people make ambitious new year’s resolutions; others just take a deep breath and hope for the best.…
—From The Complete Speaker’s Almanac
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Greetings from Las Vegas!Â
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The snow has all disappeared from the Las Vegas valley, but the mountains are shimmering.  The sun is out again, and I’m getting ready to go skiing atop Mount Charleston with my friend Dr. Joshua Levin! Yes, we have skiing in sunny Las Vegas, just 50 minutes from the Strip!  I’ve been an avid skier since I was 6 years old. I grew up skiing. In fact we had a ski area literally in our back yard… you could see the chairlift from the kitchen window! I would ski every day after school and on weekends too. I used to compete in the East Coast Freestyle Skiing Circuit…. I love “stunt-ballet†skiing, and in many of my competition routines, I actually mixed magic and special effects into my â€hot–dog†skiing; appearing ski poles, fire on my skis, and the occasional poof of a flash powder charge, as I swirled and whirled down the slopes doing my trick skiing act. The magic and effects I added to my routine gave me a “winning edge.â€Â  I stood out from all the other competitors because I did something new and different! I guess I’ve always combined my passion for magic with my other interests. I think that’s one of the things that helped me with my performing career. Here is a vintage photo of me doing a flip, in a Freestlye skiing competition at Holiday Mountain in Rock Hill, New York, 1975!
 
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A PASSION FOR SIMPLICITY
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Many of our students here at the school are not full time performers. Many of them are public speakers who combine business messages with magic.  I often help these speakers to come up with ideas to illustrate their points with magic, comedy and special effects. In short, we work together to “punch up†their presentations.
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I encourage them to share real stories from their lives, and to add a bit of magic to these stories as they communicate with their audiences. In Tobias Beckwith’s book BEYOND DECEPTION, there is an exercise called “PASSION PIECES.â€Â  This essay gives the secret formula on how to turn simple magic effects into pure theater.  Here is a short version of that magic formula: Take a real story form your life, something you are really passionate about and tell people about that passion when performing a simple magic effect. Why a “simple effect?â€Â  The best reason is so that you can connect more with the emotion of the story rather than worrying about the technique of the effect. I have learned over the years to focus on the story as much as the trick. Give the audience “more truth than trick†is a formula that has been successful for me!
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JEFF ON TELEVISION – CATCH IT JANUARY 1st & 5th!
I will be appearing on My Network TV for Masters of IllusionMasters of Illusion series.  I had a great time shooting the show in Los Angeles, along with Abbi and Jordan Wright.  Oh…and if you missed The World Magic Awards last month, they are re-playing it on New Year’s Day at 8pm.Â
 
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT—EDUARDO FROM SPAIN
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Eduardo Galeano, from Spain, recently joined us at a Master Class.  He also made his Las Vegas debut on our “Midnight Magic Show†at THE WONDERGROUND.   This week, he shared the good news that he will be representing his birth country, Argentina, in the competition at the World Magic Seminar here in Las Vegas in March!  We were all impressed with his card routine, and thought you’d like to see it, too!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_H1f47cczU
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It is a great pleasure to introduce some of our students to our Museletter readers, so we can all share in their success!  I look forward to featuring many of our students in upcoming Museletters.
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If you would like to see more of our award-winning students, you can enter the WINNERS CIRCLE, by going to http://www.magicalwisdom.com/winners.php
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Stay warm, my friends, and if you get too chilly, why not join us for some fun and magic in sunny Las Vegas!
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Yours in mystery,
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Jeff and Abbi McBride
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Greetings Friends,
I am taking a few days off after the long run at Palace Station to and reflect on our recent adventures. I find myself deep in gratitude for all the magical friends that have attended, assisted and empowered our recent shows. Special thanks for Eugene Burger and Tobias Beckwith and Jordan Wright for all of your help during this productive time!
I am also thankful to the local and international press for giving us such fantastic reviews!
Read a recent write up from Robin Leach in the news.
Many friends have been emailing asking, “What’s next?”
Well, here are just a few of the projects in December and January: Yes the WONDERGROUND will reopen in January, right on the Las Vegas Strip! Read on for all the details.
We hope to see you at one of these festivities.
Love and magic,
Jeff
December Magic in Vegas
Jeff McBride at The Orleans Hotel Casino starring in the ALL STAR TRIBUTE honoring Marvyn & Carol Roy. The evening begins at 7:00 pm and will star emcee Jeff Hobson, Stan Allen, Les Arnold & Dazzle, Jorge Blass, Mike Caveney, Luna Shimada, and David & Dania. Presented by The Las Vegas Chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Fantasma Ring 257.
Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 at the
Orleans Hotel & Casino
4500 W. Tropicana Ave.
Las Vegas, NV 89103
Doors open and pre-show entertainment by TOP CLOSE-UP ARTISTS begins at 5:30 pm. Light Dinner Buffet begins at 6:00 pm.
To order tickets contact Robert Schwartz:
schwartz1313@msn.com
(702) 469-0315
WONDERGROUND Holiday Party – Underground news:
We’re having a special December party event called “YULE BE AMAZED!” on Saturday Dec. 27th from 8 PM until midnight. As a reader of The Museletter, you’re invited. However, the location for this top Secret “WONDERGROUND-underground” can be found out only by RSVP. You must RSVP by emailing Abbi McBride at Abbi@McBridemagic.com or calling (702)-450-0021.
Abbi will give you info on the secret location of the event here in Las Vegas. Appearing on the show will be some of The Wonderground Players along with special celebrity guests.
Our WONDERGROUND friend Steve Dacri opens his new show “INTIMATE ILLUSIONS” at the FOUR SEASONS HOTEL. This very exclusive magic dinner show, “Intimate Illusions” debuts Friday December 26, 2008 at 6:00 p.m. in the elegant fine dining restaurant CHARLIE PALMER STEAK, in the Four Seasons Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip. The dinner show happens every Friday and Saturday night through March 28. Tickets are now on sale for the entire run, with shows limited to 30 seats.
Says Steve, “I am delighted to be performing at the Four Seasons in Charlie Palmer Steak. I have always wanted to bring this very different type of magic show to the Las Vegas Strip. Tickets are priced at $300 (plus tax & gratuity) and include a fine dining experience with your choice of numerous entrees followed by the command performance. Tickets at www.vegas.com or at www.vegasinsidetips.com.
FROM ABBI….AN INVITATION TO MYSTERY:
We hope this time of giving thanks has been a bountiful and beautiful one for all of you. We are grateful to announce MYSTERIUM 2009, which will happen on January 30, 31 and February 1st. The wheel of the year is turning, more and more quickly…. We are coming into the darkest time of the year. Now is the time to open to new mysteries, deeper layers of knowing, and clearer ways of understanding. The time for MYSTERIUM is coming soon, and we wanted to let you know that registration is now open. You can register online right now at http://www.vegasvortex.com.
Soon, the Family of Fire will become visible again, coming together out of the chill and into the soft glow of candlelight, sharing the warmth of a hug, and the light of shared knowledge, vision, and inspiration. Our eyes will see new images; our ears will hear new sounds. We will drift through the dreamtime, toward the light. We will *learn* together, as we expand into MYSTERIUM…
Seeking meaning?
Alchemy, Magick and the Fire Circle teach us how to experience our day to day lives on a much deeper spiritual and conscious level. Modern alchemy is not an esoteric study of hidden things, but a joyful metaphor of discovery of the deeper mysteries we can experience in everyday things, and in each other.
Seeking community, friendship, knowledge, and fun?
This weekend, we will explore how we, as individuals and as a community, can refine and develop our understanding, through celebration, music, discussion, experiential workshops, movement, dreaming and co-creation.
Please note, the majority of our events will be happening in the Arts District at THE BOX OFFICE (1129 S. Casino Center Blvd). We have learned that a single location that allows for daytime workshops as well as evening activities helps participants have a more connected and intimate experience. Registration spaces are limited; first come, first served. You can register online, and get more information about MYSTERIUM at http://www.vegasvortex.com.
$65 for the entire weekend, includes all events, playshops and breakfast on Saturday. Our last events were completely sold out, thank you!
With gratitude, love and magick…
Abigail Spinner McBride
  Overheard at The Wonderground:
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“This is what I had hoped to find when I came to Vegas!”
 “It’s like the Magic Castle without walls!”
 “This is so $#@^%*! cool!”
Greetings Friends,
 This is the last week for our show and  nightclub. We have almost completed our 3 month limited run and have gotten great press, wonderful response from our  audiences, and lots of interest from other promoters and venues. During the coming month or two we will be looking for a  new home for all of our events, even as we catch up on some touring dates in Europe & South America.Â
Only 5 nights to go at Palace Station!
 The show: Jeff McBride – Magic at the Edge
The place: Â
Sound Trax Showroom at Palace Station
 (702) 547-5300
www.stationcasinos.com <http://m1e.net/c?31037791-THdawZHz8HxI.%403767686-.Vp2vZS6Qzdao>Â
The club:Â Jeff McBride’s Wonderground
  THE FINAL CELEBRATION – FRI. AND SAT. NOV 21-22 9:30PM UNTIL ????
As a way of showing our gratitude to all of the artists that have played the Wonderground we are  having a 2 day final blow out this weekend! Come join us…
 If you can’t get to Vegas for our final  nights, you can participate from home! Watch The Wonderground live on the Street of Cards web site:Â
http://www.streetofcards.tv/channel/27/wonderground/Â <http://m1e.net/c?31037791-PKak2RXruwYbk%403767687-lrbCHk26OGYjQ>Â
 Speaking of video, here is a cool video clip of Jordan Wright reporting from the Vegas Wonderground:Â
THE WITCHES AND WIZARDS BALL REPORTÂ <http://m1e.net/c?31037791-y0JLWYV0zfDNY%403767688-V6JROEwsdfrKE>Â
Las Vegas Sun comes to The Wonderground!
You can read all about it here <http://m1e.net/c?31037791-v3bO1A9sLRc3k%403767689-XNVvFM5bwkKLw> .  We’ve already been exploring future locations for the new combined show & club experience, and have found several  possibilities. The new experience is set to open in January at a secret location – and you’ll read about it first right  here.Â
 Remember Muse letter friends…YOU will get the news first!Â
 Your friends in  enlightened nightlife,Â
 Jeff and all the Wonderground PlayersÂ
 LA Times Piece on  WONDERGROUND:
http://www.vegas.com/nightclubs/wonderground/Â <http://m1e.net/c?31037791-wmtPgPmtCFvkw%403767690-iEp65vSNnxgWU>Â
 orÂ
http://www.lasvegas.com/nightclubs/wonderground/Â <http://m1e.net/c?31037791-AoK14TPduFjGU%403767691-OMG8JiLPJh1LE>Â
LATE BREAKING TV NEWS:
Jeff will appear and receive an award on  The World Magic Awards TV special, airing on the MyTV network at 8pm on November 26th! Other stars include Lance Burton,  Kalin & Ginger, Ed Alonzo, Franz Harary, Greg Gleason, Hans Klok and many more! You can find your local channel airing  the special at: http://www.worldmagicawards.com/stations.html <http://m1e.net/c?31037791-dwM9xshMEHNZ.%403767692-JqQzrtJGcWFiQ> . Check  local listings for the exact time in your location. This promises to be a classic magic special, featuring many of the  world’s greatest magicians & illusionists. If you’re a magic fan, don’t forget to set the  TIVO! Â
