“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.â€
― Thomas A. Edison
Dear Friends:
On the Internet, folks tag videos with the words “EPIC FAIL” like it is a bad thing. Take heart my friends. If we fear failure… we will never be creative or innovative! Let’s explore this “Epic of Failure” together, and experience how the alchemy of persistence can turn the “lead of failure” to the “gold of success!”  )0+
Oh, how I love this “Failure to Success” illustration (above)!
It really is the “Epic Story of My Life,” and illustrates how I feel about my own creative process! Â Life is not an “epic fail,” but a series of “smaller fails” that lead to success. Our first attempts are frequently dreadful. It often takes us many attempts to “get it right.”
My own process for creating a new performance piece often takes many years!
I used to beat myself up for not getting it right the first time, or thinking I was moving “too slowly.” Â Now, I finally “get it!” Â The fact is that good things take time to develop, and often, failing is a prerequisite to success.
Mr. Churchill said it years ago!
“Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.â€
― Winston Churchill
Love is magic! As of August 15th, Abbi and I will have been married for 12 years! But Abbi and I started co-facilitating life enriching events over 20 years ago. We love learning from experts, and sharing that knowledge with our students. Abbi and I invited our friend Marshall Sylver over to our Mystery School one day. Marshall shared his insights with our students on how he developed his impressive speaking and performing career, and balanced his amazing success with his family life. Marshall is well versed in magic, hypnotism, public speaking — and he is also a millionaire who teaches prosperity seminars. He offered one of his most potent formulas for success:
“Fail Forward Fast!”
Looks simple right? Just 3 words; “Fail forward fast.” But it took me a few years to really get this idea into practice. The essence of the idea is that we are going to make many mistakes…. let’s not fear them, let’s make them now, and make them more often than the “other guy” who fears failure!
Ms. Bankhead said it in her urbane way…
“If I had to live my life again, I’d make the same mistakes, only sooner.”
― Tallulah Bankhead
One of the big breaks I had in my life was having my teacher, Eugene Burger, to guide my progress as a performing artist. I feel very blessed to be able to share time with Eugene here at the school. If you can’t visit Las Vegas this season you can watch and listen to Eugene each week on our web-tv shows on www.mcbridemagic.tv. We have programs running 24 hours a day, online for free! Our gift to you. So if you need a little magical inspiration from Eugene and our faculty… just tune in.
Jeff and his mentor Eugene Burger at a recent Master Class”- photo by Beckett Studios
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.â€
― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Soon, 13 magic enthusiasts from all over the world will arrive at the McBride House of Mystery for our summer Master Class. Their ages range from 18 to 65. A few are full time pros, but most are magic hobbyists. Many speak English as a second language. Though they have never met, these students have a few things in common.
For those of you that are sitting at home reading this, know that we will be here when you are ready to push past your limitations and take the next step on your magical path to success. Many years ago, I learned that helping students to realize their potential is my passion! Â So “Fail Forward Fast,” and we will see you soon online or in Las Vegas.
Yours in the art of magic,
Jeff McBride
Here is the line up so far for August 15th, 2013. WONDERGROUND is the day after MAGIC Live!, and it will rock!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-Fm_XulNgA
Early Stage 8pm
Jeff McBride, Bill Cook, Jen Kramer, Michael Trixx, Mr. Right & Bizzaro
The Diamond Parlor room 9pm
Jeff McBride, Jordan Wright, Bizzaro, Special MAGIC Live! guests
Late Stage 10 pm
Rudy Coby, Xavier Mortimer, Michael Trixx, Mr. Right, Jeff McBride, Bizzaro
Plus DJ Leo Diaz, Christian Diamond, Kumuda Tribal Belly Dancers, Tim Wise, Body Painting by Suzanne, Video Wizard Scott Steelfyre, Live art by Areeya, Psychic sideshow with “Scott Brown and The Readers” and much, much more! www.vegaswonderground.com.
I am writing today to announce that we have just finished and posted the exclusive Premier Member Video for 2013.  Filmed in March 2013 in Las Vegas, this 50 minute video features the Faculty of the Magic & Mystery School discussing four routines performed and taught by Jeff McBride, Larry Hass, Eugene Burger, and George Parker.  Three of the four routines have never been published before, and this is the first video presentation for all of them.
If you are a Premier Member of the Magic & Mystery School (the $100 level), this is a benefit that we have created especially for you.  Simply go to virtual.magicalwisdom.com and sign in to your Member page. You should see the “Premier Member Exclusive Video†as a separate box among your other benefits.
If you are not a Premier Member of the School, it is not too late to become one and receive access to this special video.  Please go to http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/members/signup and sign up as a Premier Member.  Remember the lion’s share of your membership fee goes directly in our scholarship fund—every dollar of which goes out to students who need financial assistance getting the magic education they need to be more successful.
On behalf of Jeff and Eugene and the entire Faculty, we thank all of you for supporting our membership program at whatever level you are able. Â You are making a real difference for talented magicians who need your help!
Sincerely,
Larry Hass
Associate Dean, McBride’s Magic & Mystery School