Greetings Friends,
This month’s Muse letter is an Invitation to Mystery… a real live magical adventure. But there is a bit of work to do on your part!
Can you find the key to this TOP SECRET MYSTERY?
Here are some hints.
If you like your magic to connect to the heart and soul… then I have a new experience for you. There is a hint in the artwork below….
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(I’m only going to share what I know if you email me personally Jeff@mcbridemagic.com. Just ask me for a key to the mystery)
MAGIC NEWS IN VEGAS
MAGICFLIX.COM is a new online magic platform making quite a buzz. Rumor has it that this project will debut at the IBM. National Convention. This could be the biggest magic training site ever.Â
Many of magic’s top performers are involved with the new project, and more are joining this project every week. You can get a sneak peek at what could very well become a leading force in the world of magic and entertainment here: https://magicflix.com
Lance Burton Teen Seminar at I.B.M. Convention
You can see THE NEW STARS OF MAGIC at the I.B.M. National Convention.
July 8-14 I will be at the I.B.M. Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona, helping Dr. Larry Hass & Lance Burton with the Teen Magic Seminar. Many of today’s top performers have attended our event, including Shin Lim, Bill Cook, Krystyn Lambert and other award-winning magicians.
Jeff, Tetro and Lance Burton will teach YOU magic at this year’s Lance Burton Teen Seminar. If you are a teen and are interested in attending, all the info is here:
http://ibmconvention.com/lance-burton-teen-seminar/
The best part is that the Teen Seminar is FREE to all teens who register for the I.B.M. convention.
Student of The Month: Elliott Hunter –
See Elliot Hunter live at WONDERGROUND this month only!
Elliott was twelve years old when he first learned of Jeff McBride and the Magic and Mystery School through his viewing of L&L’s The Art of Card Manipulation series. He attended his first Master Class as soon as he was old enough. Once he got to college, Elliott became one of Jeff’s privately mentored students. From that time on, Elliott has become a regular performer at the Magic Castle, and he recently won the International Magic Master Summit Stage Competition.
Parents and students take note:
Elliott has built his business to the point that it helps cover the cost of his college expenses. He is currently an engineering student at Cal Poly (one of the nation’s top engineering schools), a competitive swimmer, competing on the national level, a triathlete, a volunteer swim coach, and a professional magician!
Giving back to the World:
For the last twelve years, Elliott has been refining his art to develop versatile, full evening productions to build his magic into a career. Elliott uses his talent to help numerous non-profit organizations raise tens of thousands of dollars! To find out more about Elliott, go to www.ehuntermagic.com.
Jeff McBride wears many hats – performer, teacher, producer, musician, alchemist, and master of ceremonies. One of his most magical & electrifying hats is one you will see at WONDERGROUND!
WONDERGROUND NEWSÂ
Thursday, June 20th, 2019
Doors open at 7pm
Pre-show Music with Capt. S. Rokk and Tarot by Eliza Snow
8pm Comedy magic & Variety show
Tim Wise – Host
Chris Herren – 1st Place Award for Parlor Magic – Philippines
The Magic of Lynetta & Joan – Something Tipsy
Daryl Rogers – Classic Magic with Style
Kalani Kokonuts – Queen of the Burlesque Scene!
Elliott Hunter – A Visual Vortex of Magic & Mystery
Steve Owens – International Award-winning Manipulation
9pm Close up, Strolling and Bar magic
Will Bradshaw – host
Joan DuKore -Â Die-Namic Deceptions
Chris Herren – With Mysterious StrangerÂ
Steve Owens – Mastery in MotionÂ
Elliott Hunter – Sleight of Hand Sensations Â
Daryl Rogers – Parlor magic classicsÂ
At the WONDERBAR
Captain S. Rokk – The Pirate of Prestidigitation
Kent Axell – Mind Melting Mysteries
Joan Dukore – Die-Namic Deceptions
10pm Stage Magic Extravaganza
Jeff McBride – Host
Steve Owens – Shadow Magic
Chris Herren – With his Alter Ego Mask- “FAUST”
The Magic of Lynetta & Joan – Something Knotty!
Daryl Rogers – Silken Sorcery
Kalani Kokonuts – Living Legend of Burlesque
Elliott Hunter – The Competition Act
3 great shows, plus: Dance by The New World Rythmatism Dancers, Photography by Sheryl Garrett, Strolling Magic and Bar Magic by Scott Steelfyre, Magnus Mythos, Lights and sound by Maggie, Corey Rubino, Psychic Sideshow, Tarot Reading with Eliza Snow & many more surprises and special celebrity guests.
Late Breaking News
Magicians to Attempt Five Guinness World Records
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:Â
On July 12, 2019 over 450 magicians will attempt five Guinness World Records while attending the International Brotherhood of Magician’s (I.B.M.) Magic Convention at the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Jeff McBride is a master at the ancient magic effect named The Linking Rings. This year Jeff will join forces with magicians from around the world to attempt to break the current record for “Most Chinese Liking Rings Linked Together,” which is 534 rings. This record was set by 130 magicians at the Cleveland, Ohio I.B.M. convention in 2004. This and four other new records will be attempted at 3:00 pm on Friday, July 12, 2019.
The International Brotherhood of Magicians is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the art of magic with members in 88 countries. 450 magicians at the magic convention will attempt to set two records with the Chinese Linking Rings, two records with coins, and one record with playing cards.
Should the group succeed with the new record for Linking Rings, it will be McBride’s fourth successful attempt at setting a Guinness World Record.
Contact: Jeff@McBridemagic.com for more information.
FINAL WORD
This month, Eugene Burger would have been 80 years old. We celebrated his birthday and in doing so it reminded me of how short and sweet our lives can be. Every day is an opportunity to share your love for magic with others…. go forth and be awesome!
Blessings to all
Jeff and Abigail
Dear Friends:
Our guest contributor this month is Daryl Rogers. You will enjoy Daryl’s reflections on this time of year, with its fascinating array of magical celebrations. Daryl has been a part of our community at the Magic & Mystery School for a very long time, and was recently named to be one of the instructors at the school. He is a deep thinker about our art, and also a wonderful performer.
The Magical Month of June
By Daryl Rogers
June in the Midwest is that special time of year when winter’s icy grip has long been released, and the hot and humid days of summer are still a few weeks away. It is an all too brief season of equilibrium between the two extremes, that is savored every moment.
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June is also the month of the summer solstice, which occurs on the twenty-first, and is the moment in time when the sun reaches its northernmost position in the sky, as seen from Earth’s northern hemisphere. It gives us our longest day of the year, and the shortest night. After this point we begin the long, slow descent into darkness and cold once again. But for now, we can glory in the warmth and comfort of the season.
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The summer solstice was known to the ancients, and recognized for its profound significance with feasts and rituals. For the Greeks, the summer solstice was the beginning of the new year, and every four years, it marked the one-month countdown to the Olympic games. A festival to Kronai, the god of agriculture, was held at this time. The Romans held the celebration Vestalia, during which married women could leave offerings to Vesta, the goddess of the hearth, in exchange for blessings for their families.
The pagans of Northern and Central Europe welcomed Midsummer with bonfires, hoping to boost the sun’s energy for the growing season ahead. The ashes from the bonfires would be spread across gardens to ensure a bountiful harvest. Bonfires were also strongly associated with magic, which was thought to be strongest during the summer solstice. The bonfires were believed to help banish any evil spirits or demons, and even to lead maidens to their future husbands.
Many cultures still celebrate the summer solstice to this day. Midsummer festivities are especially popular in Northern Europe where bonfires are lit, girls wear flowers in their hair, and homes are decorated with garlands and other greenery.
In some parts of Scandinavia, maypoles are erected, and people dance around them at Midsummer. neopagans, wiccans and newagers around the world hold summer solstice celebrations, with thousands gathering at Stonehenge to commemorate this special time of the year.
This is a good time, at this half-way point in the year, to examine the resolutions and goals we set for ourselves six months ago. Do you have a copy of your list in plain sight where you can see it every day? Are you working on all, or at least some of these goals every day? Or has your attention been pulled away by other things? Perhaps the goals you set at the beginning of the year are no longer valid, or circumstances have changed, or new situations have taken precedence.
That’s okay! You can alter your resolutions and goals to fit your current situation. But don’t abandon them. As Jeff McBride is fond of saying, “A dream is a goal with a deadline!†You can’t fulfill your dreams if you have no goals.
The summer solstice is a perfect time to take stock of your situation. If you want to reap a bountiful harvest with your magic endeavors, now is the time to examine how much time you are spending to tend your garden of goals. Remember, magic is particularly strong at this time of year, so use that to your advantage. Take a deep breath, reorient yourself, and get to work on your resolutions and goals, so that six months from now you will know you have done your best.
Dear Friends:
3 Important Life Lessons!
Q: What are the most important lessons in life?
A: Here are 3 important lessons I learned from my friend Johnny Thompson.
Johnny Thompson was my lifelong friend and an amazing magic teacher. His passing was a shock to the magic world. A few weeks ago, I had the honor of speaking at his memorial celebration. I chose to share three lessons that I learned from Johnny.
These are the lessons that stick to my heart. They are the lessons I will pass on to my friends, family, and students.The lessons he taught me will always be remembered!
Johnny Thompson is now immortal! For those who are remembered never die!
1 – Don’t Stop Thinking!
Most people settle for the first answer to their question.Most magicians stop at the first solution to their problem. Johnny always said, “There are 20 or 30 more answers to the question!†He reminded us to keep thinking beyond our comfort zone. Keep coming up with possible solutions, methods, and alternatives to our questions. Never stop thinking!
2 – Bring People Together
Johnny and his wife Pam would always bring people together around their dinner table. In fact, they had the longest dinner table in Las Vegas!
Johnny and Pam Thompson were the MOST sensational hosts in Vegas history! Abigail, Eugene and I attended so many of their dinner parties over the years. Each week Johnny and Pam would host a spaghetti dinner and invite visiting and local friends to their table.
Abigail and I have a tradition of hosting community dinners here at our home, in no small way inspired by the Thompson’s incredible talent for hospitality, bringing so many old and new friends together around the table!
3 – Always Say, “I Love You.â€
Abigail also reminded me that whenever Johnny said goodbye to her, he said, “I love you Babe!†The fact is, Johnny said this to almost everyone all the time! He always took a moment to show his love for you.
For the guys, he always said, “I love you, Pal!†It was Johnny’s way of letting you know you were a special person in his life. He always left you with those warm words, “I love you.†I think I’m going to make a habit of this now–a very good habit to take up!
We miss Johnny, but his magic and inspiration live on in his books, videos, friends and students.
Our friend Christopher Rose is hosting a tribute site for Johnny Thompson. Go visit the site and add your story.
https://www.tomsoni.co
McBride World Tour News
The past few months have taken me to the UK, China, the Philippines, Canada, and many cities here in the States. This summer I return to the USA and will be teaching in Vegas and also performing and teaching at Hollywood’s famed MAGIC CASTLE from June 10-17.
I‘ll also be at Magic LIVE! in August, so I might see you there.
Let us know when you come this way. Just call Abigail at 702-450-0021 to let us know your schedule.
WONDERGROUND NEWS
The Biggest Magic Party in Vegas!
May 16th, 2019 – one night only! 3 GREAT Shows! Never to be repeated! See the NEW magic!
8pm — Comedy & Variety Show
Tim Wise is your Host
Tetro – Modern Magic & Manipulation
Jimmy Fingers – Creator, Inventor, Artist
Bizzaro – He F*cks with your Brain! (in a good way)
The Shocker – WARNING! WARNING!
Jeff McBride – a New Rendition of his classic “Heroesâ€
9pm — Close Up Magic, Bar Magic, & Strolling
Jimmy Fingers – New Magic Creations
Tetro – Up Close & Personal
Bizzaro – Step back! He may attack your normality!
Jeff McBride – “I’ve been working on a new one!â€
Shocker – You have been WARNED!
LIVE- at the WONDERBAR – World Class Bar Magic
Kent Axell – Mind Melting Mysteries
Scott Steelfyre – Witness “The King of Kupsâ€
Jimmy Fingers – A Mind Blowing American Original
Tim Wise – Hollywood Star of Magic
10pm — Stage Show Extravaganza!
Jeff McBride – Your Host with the Most!
Tetro – Magic in Flow Motion
Jimmy Fingers – Favorite Creators and Performers
Bizzaro – Normal is Just a Setting on the Dryer!
Ryan and AmberLynn – Stars of America’s Got Talent
Shocker – Consider this your FINAL WARNING!
All the Above Plus:
Dance by The New World Rythmatism Dancers, Photography by Sheryl Garrett, Strolling magic and Bar Magic by Scott Steelfyre & Maggie, Corey Rubino. Belly Dancers, Psychic Sideshow, Tarot Reading with Eliza Snow & many more surprises and special celebrity guests.
Final Thought
I always appreciate your feedback or comments, so please email me at Jeff@mcbridemagic.com — I always personally answer my emails from you!
Always remember –†We love you!â€
Jeff and Abigail
Magic & Mystery School News
New Classes
Jeff McBride’s Commando Act Bootcamp – August 8 & 9, 2019
Jeff McBride has become world famous for teaching magicians how to live their dreams. In this first-ever “Commando Show Bootcamp,†Jeff will help YOU to create a perfectly practical stand-up magic show that can play anywhere!
“Pack Small & Play Big!â€
2 days of Hands-On Magic Training with Jeff McBride. Many of the world’s top magicians started as street magicians, performing in demanding settings. A real magician should be ready and able to perform anytime, anywhere, even in the most challenging of environments.
Now, you can learn the secrets of the masters and receive hands-on personal instruction from America’s Grand Master of the Magical Arts, Jeff McBride.
The BEST way to learn magic = Live Personal Instruction.
The BEST place to learn magic = Las Vegas Magic Capital of the World.
Imagine yourself receiving hands-on, personal instruction by some of the top experts in the world of magic. Now you can! You will learn 9 professional routines you can do anywhere. You will learn a show-building formula to create custom made shows.
Get bullet proof effects
This is the real work on how to get a show ready to rock in ANY situation. Never worry about angles or setup–just pick up ONE small case and walk through the stage door to your show. You enter clean, put your case on a chair, and do your 30 minutes. Pick up the case and walk off clean and ready for your next show.
LEARN THE REAL SECRET OF HOW TO GET IN AND OUT FAST AND CLEAN.
BONUS:
This is one weekend that will help your magic forever! Space is limited to 12 students.  Register now to reserve your space.
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events#611
Have you ever readÂ
EXPERT AT THE CARD TABLE?
The Expert at the Card Table is one of the most mysterious books ever written!
“The Expert at the Card Table is the most famous, and the most carefully studied book ever published on the art of manipulating cards at gaming tables.â€
– Martin Gardner
Published in 1902, It is considered by many to be “The Bible†of Card Technique. No other book in all of conjuring has been so avidly read, and so affectionately regarded. Now you can begin to master the techniques that have confounded many of the top card experts for over 100 years!
We know how challenging it can be to learn from a book or DVD, so for the VERY FIRST (AND PERHAPS ONLY) TIME, you can have personal and professional help with your card technique from the very best in the business.
September 14th-15th 2019
Join us for 2 days that will change your card magic forever!
In this exciting two-day seminar, you will get hands-on training with two of the world’s foremost experts on card technique: Jeff McBride – America’s Grand Master of the Magical Arts, and Allan Ackerman – The Las Vegas Card Expert.
SIX STUDENTS ONLY!
The small and intimate size of this class will give each student the opportunity for individual coaching.
Allan Ackerman is known throughout the world as one of the foremost expert teachers on the material in Expert at the Card Table. Allan’s skills are unmatched, and now, for the very first time, he can be your personal guide through the mysterious territory of this classic book of magic.
What you take away from this two-day seminar:
Join Jeff McBride and the Las Vegas Card Expert- Allan Ackerman for this 2-day experience that will change your magic forever!
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events#616
Dear Friends:
The Reverend David Reed-Brown is one of our oldest friends and students, who has been coming to various Magic & Mystery School events for over 20 years. Besides being an inspiring performer, David is a deep thinker about both the technique and philosophy of our art. I know you’ll enjoy his guest-artist article which follows:
The House of Magic Has Many Rooms,
And Ours Has Many Chairs Around the Table
Eugene lovingly took Cindy’s hand… My wife had just come through the front door of the House of Mystery during an evening session, but she didn’t know where to go. He graciously led her to our group out back on the patio and made sure she had a place at the table. It was my first Master Class, back in January, 1999. That was Eugene Burger’s way. He often looked out and looked closely for people on the fringes, for those who are different. He very intentionally connected and welcomed people. Eugene was fond of saying, “In the House of Magic there are many rooms.†Let me add to this statement, “In our particular room we have a variety of chairs around the table waiting just for you.â€
I remember performing for critique at my first Master Class. I had never performed for magicians before, and I was so “green,†yet still very welcomed. We have people of many different abilities participating at the Magic & Mystery School.
We have those just starting out, as well as seasoned professionals, women and men, older and younger, people of all skin tones, LGBTQIA, well-known and unknown people speaking different languages, all with different finance levels, professions, talents, and education – each one with a unique approach to magic.
Back in the early 2000’s after one of our conferences ended, a number of us went into Las Vegas to watch close-up magic. A well-known magician approached us, and we introduced ourselves as being from the School. He looked down condescendingly, muttering under his breath, “You know that’s where all the gay magicians go, don’t you?† A number of us proudly responded right away, “O yes we do! It’s a safe, caring community where all are welcome. It doesn’t matter to us if someone is different. It actually enriches us and magic all the more…†A silent and magical teaching moment followed, as he absorbed a glimpse of this love. What I’m saying is, “All are welcome.” We’re not perfect at it. No one is, but we really try.
Every October at Magic and Meaning, the annual homecoming of the Magic & Mystery School, we open with a ritual led by Abigail McBride. I won’t fully explain this experience because that mystery is especially for those who attend, but I will share that it is lightly adapted for our purposes from Mahatma Gandhi’s community. This bonding experience helps us to appreciate and support each person in a variety of ways right from the start of the conference. It creates room for each one. We also check in with the group at regular points along the way. There are daily opportunities for each person to share in smaller groups what they are processing. The welcome continues in some fashion at every online and in-person event hosted by the school. Every voice is welcome.
AN INVITATION:  No matter who you are, no matter where you are on your magical journey or your life journey, in our magical room, there’s a special place for you at the table. In fact, meeting YOU might be the best thing that happens to us all year…
David Reed-Brown is an Instructor at McBride’s Magic and Mystery School, where he has studied for twenty years. As a fusion of clergy and magician, he gives people hope through the Art of Magic. He lives in Simsbury, Connecticut with his wife, Cindy, and two amazing boys, Matthew and Kirby. See his articles on www.SecretArtJournal.com