Dear Friends:
For this Museletter, we’ve asked Jordan Wright, our long time friend, sometime student, and for the past couple of years, Jeff’s number one assistant, to write something for you.
We’ve also got the results from the April FoolsLetter Caption Contest. They’re included at the end of this email. If you’ve got one of the winning captions, Bryce will be in touch with you via email next week.
Before Jordan kicks things off, here’s a reminder from Tobias:
Don’t forget to tune in to CelebraCadabra on VH-1 this Sunday. Check your local listings for the exact times in your area. Tell your friends to watch, too! We all watched the first episode, and were delighted with the results. The producers have done a fabulous job of weaving together the various personalities, their stories, and the story of the competition itself to create a very entertaining program.
Also: Between picking up students during this week’s World Magic Seminar and viewers from CelebraCadabra, we’ve seen more folks rushing to sign up for the summer classes at the McBride Magic & Mystery School. We have a few slots still open for both the July and August classes, but they are filling fast — so if you’re thinking about joining us for one of these upcoming classes, now is the time to sign up: www.magicalwisdom.com.
Best to all!
Tobias Beckwith
From Jordan:
“The lessons of the ordinary are everywhere. Truly profound and original insights are to be found only in studying the exemplary.”
— Warren G. Bennis
As I’ve said many times, I believe that in order to be great at something we all must strive for excellence by learning from those who are the best at what they do. Jeff, Eugene, Bryce and I have just finished hosting the Lance Burton Teen weekend as part of the annual World Magic Seminar held in Las Vegas. This is always an exciting weekend. It not only gives me a chance to teach a few tricks while offering bits of advice and tips to the teens, but it also gives me a chance to see what a real impact Jeff and Eugene make on these students’ lives by offering wisdom and encouragement going way beyond mere technique. The weekend ended with a pizza party at Lance Burton’s house where the teens were joined by some celebrity magicians who were equally happy to offer advice and answers to various questions the teens had. Much was accomplished and it was a very successful weekend.
Now for some important news items…
The faculty of the Magic and Mystery school is gearing up to travel out to Hollywood in two weeks for the first ever Magic and Mystery School Week at the Magic Castle. Jeff, Abbi, and I will be performing in the Palace of Mystery. Also performing that week will be Eugene Burger, Dr. Larry Hass, George Parker, Just Alan, and Bob Fitch, with special guests Katlyn Miller Breene and Todd Karr. If you are in the Los Angeles area the week of May 20th through the 25th, please be sure to join us for what is sure to be a unique and exciting week of shows.
Finally, in reference to the opening quote, Jeff McBride has just received the 2008 award for Best Magician by the Magic Woods in England — another tribute to a man that has contributed much to the magic world. You can view the list of all of the 2008 Magic Woods Awards online.
Best wishes and hope to see you soon.
Yours in magic,
Jordan Wright
April FoolsLetter Caption Contest Winners:
First Place: “Criss Angel wows his audience by blowing up a lifelike Jeff McBride to finish his balloon modeling
act.”
Second Place: “Here we see famous magicians Jeff McBride and Criss Angel attempting a new Himber Ring routine using earrings and lip rings.”
Third Place: “Artist’s rendering of how Siamese twins Criss and Jeff would have matured, if not separated at birth by grueling 16-hour facial reconstructive surgery. Both infants magically thrived, with only sleight
complications…”
Honorable Mention: “Here we find Jeff McBride at home, showing off a most unusual ear
piercing.”
“A few can touch the magic string, and noisy fame is proud to win them: Alas for those that never sing, but die with all their music in them!”
— Oliver Wendell Holmes
Dear Friends:
We’re excited. A postcard goes into the mail today… many of you will receive it by the end of the week, but all of you get to see it right now (just in case some of you don’t receive it before Sunday night’s premiere). Here’s what it will tell you:
Set your Tivo! It’s a Battle of the Wizards — And Jeff McBride is the Judge!
CelebraCadabra
Beginning April 27 on VH-1
check local listings for times in your area
See seven TV and film stars vie for the title of “Best Celebrity Magician” when they gather at the Magic Castle and other locations in Los Angeles and in Las Vegas, as they attempt to learn and perform the art of magic. Guided by veteran magicians, the competitors face tough crowds and a master panel of judges who will determine which celebrities get to advance to the next round and a shot at a grand prize of $100,000.
The celebrities are C. Thomas Howell, comedian ANT, Hal Sparks, Chris Reid (Kid from Kid n’ Play), Lisa Ann Walter, Carnie Wilson, Kim Wyatt from The Pussycat Dolls. Jeff McBride, Max Maven & Jonathan Levit are the judges.
We’ve only now received the full schedule for the show, and wanted to share it with you so you’ll be inspired to catch every episode:
Episode 1 — April 27 (Introduction – Street Magic)
Episode 2 — May 4 (Children’s Magic)
Episode 3 — May 11 (Comedy Magic **Jeff was away for this episode.)
Episode 4 — May 18 (Strolling Magic)
Episode 5 — May 25 (Cabaret Magic)
(We get pre-empted on June 1)
Episode 6 — June 8 (Escapes)
Episode 7 — June 15 (The Road to the Finale)
Episode 8 — June 22 (The Finale)
Episode 9 — June 22 (Magician’s Special)
Be there and experience all 8 weeks of this exciting magical competition!
In the meantime…
If you’re attending the 31st Annual World Magic Seminar next weekend, here in Las Vegas (April 27-30), be sure to drop in and see us! Jeff and Eugene have their own corner room set up at the top of the escalator as you enter the convention, and it’s going to be something special this year! A preview of Jeff’s latest project, “Jeff McBride Presents — The Magic Wonderground.” After he and Eugene finish up with their “Teen Weekend,” sponsored by Lance Burton just prior to the convention, they’ll be meeting and greeting, performing and consulting for friends old and new in their special room. We’ll hope to see you there!
For the rest of you — we’ll be revealing more of the secrets of The Wonderground in later issues of the Museletter. For now, it’s all very hush-hush!
I hope this finds you all enjoying a wonderful and magical spring.
Sincerely,
Tobias Beckwith
Late Breaking News:
McBRIDE STUDENT CHOSEN AS THE NEXT URI GELLER!
Our friend and Magic & Meaning student RAMANA won the TV competition to find “THE NEXT URI GELLER!” in Europe.
RAMANA wrote to us last night:
“The highest art in any medium can only emerge from a spiritual background. This applies particularly to the art of magic”.
— S.H. SharpeDear Jeff, Eugene, and Tobias,
The last 3 months were the most lucrative in my life as a performing mystery entertainer. I joined the Dutch version of PHENOMENON (THE NEXT URI GELLER) and I won the series! In my performances I tried to mix true magic/mystery with performance mentalism. Every time, I tried to give something more to the audience than just nicely presented effects. I always put hidden, mostly spiritual, empowering messages in my performances. I believe to create true mystery one should have one hand in the ‘real’ world and the other in the ‘other’ world.
I am inspired by my little life experience, travels to India and other strange places, knowledge from books but also by my great teachers Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger. Especially their vision to put MEANING!!!! in your magic/mentalism.
Thank you Jeff for the advice and inspiration you gave me for this show. I feel proud to be your student.
I highly recommend everybody to visit the MAGIC AND MEANING in Las Vegas and other of their classes and don’t forget to believe in your self, follow your heart and a passion…
Your student in the mystic arts,
RAMANA
Thank you Ramana for making us proud to be a part of your growing success! If you want to see a bit of RAMANA check out the video at http://www.myvideo.nl/watch/3508522.
And now, on to our regularly scheduled Museletter!
“We can escape the prison of our own beliefs and enter the Palace of Possibilities when we allow ourselves to be astonished by everything.”
— Gary Craig
Greetings All,
Abbi and I have escaped. We took a week off from traveling to, guess what? TRAVEL! We escaped to Zion National Park, in Utah, for a few days of hiking the majestic peaks and experiencing the breath-taking vistas. Hey, it’s only three hours from Las Vegas. Abbi drove the van, while I sat shotgun, practicing a new card routine that I’ll show you next time I see you.
GET OUT OF JAIL, FREE!
Heather Rogers, a recent Master Class attendee did, using the skills she learned at the Magic and Mystery School to win her freedom… Heather writes:
Dear Jeff & Abbi,
It’s 1:30 a.m. and I just arrived home from going to the gym. On my way home I was stopped by a policeman for “rolling through a stop sign”. I handed him the license with the clown nose on it and quickly put mine on. He was only mildly impressed.
Then I tried my first hand at my newest effect from Mystery School: B’wave… and Wammo! I got an “I’m impressed and I won’t write you a ticket this time.
Ya gotta love magic!
Love, Heather
P.S. Have you read “The Science of Getting Rich?” It is an amazing book written by Wallace D. Wattles in 1910 that is blowing my mind. You can print it out for free from wikipeda, because it is now in the public domain. Below is the link to get to that page.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Science_of_Getting_Rich
MCBRIDE ON TELEVISION: VH-1 CELEBRACADABRA
We’re just about to send out our souvenir postcard commemorating the first season of CELEBRACADBRA. If you don’t receive our regular mailings, please email Abbi your snail mail address – Spinner@mcbridemagic.com – and we’ll make sure that you get our upcoming special edition postcard mailing.
Stan Allen at MAGIC Magazine ran an article on Celebracadabra, VH1’s magic reality series, in the March issue. Some updated info for you: The kick-off to the series has moved back a week, now April 20th, 9 p.m. The show airs every Sunday evening, with the exception of June 1st, wrapping up on June 22nd. And we’re now able to release the names of the celebrities who will be competing for the $100,000 grand prize: singers Carnie Wilson, Kimberly Wyatt, and Chris ‘Kid’ Reed; comedians Hal Sparks and Ant; and actors C. Thomas Howell and Lisa Ann Walter. We’ll post the full running schedule in April.
MCBRIDE ON TOUR, ISTANBUL AND BEYOND!!
UK
Last Call for Euro-Master Class 2008! We still have a few spaces for our upcoming class in Cornwall, England. Contact Kenny, maverick7@tiscali.co.uk for more information.
TURKEY
Istanbul, Turkey, and beyond! Jeff will be on tour with Magic Stars Festival with Abbi, and with his friend Kevin James and many other magic stars. For more information email Lee Alex at info@magicwaistcoat.com.
Dear Friends in Magic:
Our friend Romany, from the UK, will be saying hello to you this issue! Romany is a long time student at the Magic and Mystery School and recently won the prestigious MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR from the Magic Circle in England. This is the world oldest magic club and Romany was the first woman ever to win!
And now from Romany…
Ciao! Romany, Diva of Magic signing in…
I’d like to share with you all, a favourite quote that I have right before my eyes stuck on the practice mirror:
“What we vividly imagine, ardently desire, enthusiastically act upon, must inevitably come to pass.” — Colin P Sisson
Which leaves us to question, exactly WHAT is it that I ardently desire etc… or rather WHAT, WHO, WHEN?????
If we look at our paths in magic in terms of a Sat Nav (that’s GPS for us here in the US…surely the most magical bit of technology to aid our paths to the gig!), if we know where we are and precisely where we want to be, then it is easier to move forward in the right direction and know what we need to focus on to arrive in the place of our best dreams.
For myself, for magic, my desire is to create finely polished pieces of magic that invite the audience to a point of childlike wonder and pleasure. I would like to entrance them with colour, soften their hearts with music, win a smile with eccentric comedy and put myself on stage before them, heart open with the spirit of that lovely line from the Irish poet Yeats, “I have spread my dreams under your feet…”.
In all this, I take great inspiration from Eugene’s teaching on scripting, John Carney’s dedication to exquisite magic, the eccentricity and flamboyance of Jeff Hobson, Topaz’s stagecraft and from Jeff’s life & charisma and especially his teaching on “pack small, play big!”
So I need to turn off the computer, get in the studio more, dare to experiment with new magic, finally choreograph the silent act etc… lots of things, but at least moving forward with patience and optimism that all is possible. And…! I don’t know about you, but I really waste a lot of time in despair about not having learnt that new trick or worked on the new act. That doesn’t take us anywhere! So my New Year’s Resolution is ONLY to ENJOY magic! What’s yours?
I love meeting up with you my fellow magi around the world, here’s looking forward to the next time!
With sequins,
Romany – Diva of Magic
www.romanymagic.com
A FEW WORDS FROM TOBIAS…
We’re very excited about the classes and events coming up in the UK in April. I understand that Kenny has opened up a few more for the Cornwall classes and show, as well. Go to http://www.magicmasterclass.co.uk/ to learn more and reserve your space for the class or the show in Cornwall. Don’t wait to the last minute — these events sold out early last time we did them!
Just after the events in the U.K. Jeff will be traveling to Istanbul, where our friend Lee Alex is sponsoring a 2 day class on April 12 & 13 (also filling up fast!), and performances of “Stars of Magic – 2008” from April 16-20. For more information on the Istanbul events, write to Lee at: info@leealex.com.
We’re also excited about the upcoming airing of the 8 episodes of “Celebracabra!” on VH1, starting April 20. We’ll include a detailed schedule of airings in our Museletter a week or so before the first episode airs. In the meantime, MAGIC magazine just ran a fascinating article on the show in the issue that just came out. Pick up a copy and read it — and don’t miss Jeff’s “Ask the Show Doctor” in this month’s issue, either!
As I write this, we’re wrapping up our first Extended Master Class of 2008. I really love these longer classes, as they give us time to go into more depth with all the students, and give all of us a chance to get to know one another better. And in just another couple of weeks (March 25-27) we have the class for Balloon Twisters. We’re lucky to have both Don Caldwell and Todd Neufeld offering sessions during the class this year, and we’re excited about that. For those of you who think balloon twisting is just for kids — well, this is a rapidly expanding and growing branch of our entertainment arts, and you’ll be amazed at the things these folks are doing. I understand we still have one or two slots open – if you’ve every thought about adding balloon twisting to your repertoire, sign up and have your mind blown by the things you’ll see at this class!
Thanks for bearing with us all the way to the end on this one. We look forward to sharing more exciting news and views in just a couple of weeks!
Best to all,
Tobias Beckwith
Greetings Magical Friends!
This is Tobias, writing while Jeff is off in the UK, winding up his short tour there, following what may have been truly the world’s greatest magic show in Blackpool, produced by Derek Lever. Here’s a photo of Jeff with local magicians at his lecture in Manchester last night. We’ve already had several delightful e-mail letters from those who attended … it appears to have been a smashing success.
Speaking of the UK: I understand the classes scheduled in April — both the Master Class in Cornwall and the 2 Secret Sessions in Brighton, are filling fast. You can now find links to both events from magicalwisdom.com, as well as from Jeff’s main tour calendar. If you think you might want to attend, I highly recommend getting yourself registered as soon as possible!
Before I go any further, we wanted to share with you the following report from our good friend Ferdinando, who recently hosted a wonderful tour by Eugene Burger through Italy.
“All of the buildings, all of the cars,
were once just a dream,
in somebody’s head”
— Peter Gabriel
Dear Friends,
It’s a very exciting time, over here in Italy!
After the recent translation into Italian of his wonderful book The Experience of Magic , Eugene just spent 10 days here in Italy for a lecture tour, which has been an huge success!
(in photo attached, Eugene is with Anna, Ferdinando and the world famous quick-change artist Arturo Brachetti)
Another great book is now available in Italian: David Jay Brown’s Conversations on the Edge of the Apocalypse, in which Jeff is interviewed, along with such people as: George Carlin, Noam Chomsky, Deepak Chopra, Alex Grey, Rupert Sheldrake, Robert Anton Wilson and many others! A MUST reading!!
The last bit of information: please keep an eye on the Master Class schedules… for a possible Master Class in Torino (Italy), in 2009!!!
We are working to turn the idea into reality.
Greetings from Italy!
ferdinando (ferdinando.biz)
For those of you in the North East (of the US), don’t miss Jeff’s appearance as part of the Twist & Shout Balloon Twisters Convention in Boston next week (Feb. 22nd). The convention is for balloon twisters — but the show if open to anyone, and will include not only the pieces Jeff is best known for, but several new items he has just recently developed. You can find detailed information at http://www.balloonconvention.com/index.html. Be sure to scroll down the page, as the detailed show information is a ways down.
Also, do note there are a couple of spaces still available for the March Extended Master Class here in Las Vegas. This is our first extended class of the New Year, and we have lots of new experiences in store for you, including new video presentation facilities, a special session with web-guru Bryce Kuhlman (Jeff’s site, Lance Burton’s… and dozens of others). I’ll be doing a streamlined version of my business & career session, and a new lecture taking you through the basics of my book “Beyond Deception” and giving you further creativity exercises not included in the book.
Oh — I nearly forgot. We’ve also just posted all of the classes available through the end of November. For those of you just waiting to sign up for this year’s “Magic & Meaning,” registration is now open! We’re also finally ready to ship the DVDs some of you ordered from last year’s conference… so watch your mailbox if you signed up for one!
One final bit of late-breaking news. We’ve just received the following press release from our friends at VH-1:
In development news, VH1 has given the green light to “Celebracadabra” — Seven TV and film stars vie for the title of “Best Celebrity Magician” when they gather at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, the world’s most famous club for magicians, and attempt to learn and perform tricks normally left to the professionals. Guided by veteran magicians, the competitors face tough crowds and a master panel of judges (including Jeff McBride) who determine which celebrities get to advance to the next round and a shot at a grand prize. Executive producers are Michael Hirschorn, Shelly Tatro, Karla Hidalgo and Chris Martin.
This is their official press release information, and we’re not permitted to give out anything further — except that Jeff will be seen judging every episode, and that we’ve seen bits and pieces… and this promises to be a very good series for the art of magic!
Best wishes for a magical month,
Tobias