A Question For You

A QUESTION FOR YOU

Eugene Burger

Museletter July, 2016

Over a year ago I received a comment and an important question from my friend, Rabbi Arthur Kurzweil, the former publisher of the wonderful Parabola magazine. I did not answer it when I received it but feel that now is the time to consider what Arthur sent. Rather than try to summarize what he wrote — and thereby perhaps dilute it — I will quote his comment and question in full.

Arthur wrote:

“I have often heard people say they don’t like magic and magicians. I have often heard magicians complain that the ‘magical arts’ are not taken seriously.

“But I often attend lectures and read the lessons of some of the most popular and celebrated children’s magicians. They are offering their ‘wisdom’ and experience on how to be a successful magician for children’s audiences. It seems that their major goal is to get children to laugh, and their tools include fart and body fluid jokes as well as routines based on silly antics that show the magician to be a foolish idiot. ‘Kids love it,’ they say.

“My question is this: aren’t these magicians, who are so often praised by the magic community, despite all the laughter they generate, also sending the message to young people that magicians are obnoxious jerks? Aren’t they really going for the easy laughs? Isn’t it time we woke up to this to realize we are our own worst enemies when we plant these kinds of memories of magicians in the minds of young people?”

A very serious comment and question, don’t you think?

How do you relate to these thoughts? How would you answer Arthur’s question? Are you sympathetic or fighting mad? Thoughts like this do tend to divide and polarize us. But Arthur is serious. That’s the first thing we need to remember.

I have said many times that I think in the United States there are two different philosophies or approaches to presenting magic for children. To summarize them in a very brief way: one philosophy presumes success when the children are laughing and screaming and the other approach presumes success when the children are quiet and listening. This may be too simplistic a summary of these views but I think you get the point.

Which is best? Which do you prefer? Can they be combined?

I do not perform for children. When I began my professional career in 1978, I consciously decided that I would be an adult entertainer. Not that I wanted to present off color humor in my work but, rather, because I felt more comfortable performing for adults. I say this so you understand that I have never had to make a decision about which of these two paths to travel.

Well…what do I think? Which approach do I think is best?

Does it really matter what I think? Doesn’t it matter much more what you think? Especially if you, unlike me, actually perform for children?

So, what do you think?

Back in the early 1980s, when I was performing at Don’s Fishmarket, a restaurant on Chicago’s Rush Street, one of the waiters came over to me and said, “Jean Marsh is here tonight. Should I ask her if she wants to see some magic?”

Jean Marsh was an actress who was one of the stars of Upstairs, Downstairs, a British television series that was very successful on PBS in the United  States. In 1975. In fact, she received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the show.

I said to the waiter: “Absolutely! Please ask her.”

He did. She replied, “I loathe magic!”

At the time, I remember thinking to myself: Perhaps she had an early bad experience with magic and magicians at a child’s birthday party.

Help!

Dear Friends:

Many people are afraid to ask for help. They think asking for help is a sign of weakness.

Writer Lorie Corcuera offers a few reasons why you should ask for help and support.

• When you ask for support, you maintain focus and energy as the task is shared with others. You create more FLOW, making the journey fun and easy.
• When you ask for support, you create opportunities for others to share their gifts and talents. You empower others to shine, and you learn more about others’ strengths and passions.
• When you ask for support, you allow others to experience the happiness that comes from giving. When we give or receive a gift, we release oxytocin, a powerful bond-stimulating hormone.
• When you ask for support, you are trusting in others, which strengthens the trust between you and your supporters.
• When you ask for support, you are stating that you are imperfect, just like everyone else, and others will relate to you. No one is perfect and everyone has room to grow.

Read Lorie’s full article here:

http://www.inc.com/lorie-corcuera/become-a-better-leader-by-asking-for-help.html

Getting Help with Your Business

Years ago, I asked Tobias Beckwith to help me with my career and business. His advice and guidance was essential to my success. Now, he can help you make good choices and help your career to grow. Just look here:

Money is the Best Applause: Building Your Business as a Magician

It’s time to get your career in gear with this special workshop conducted by Tobias Beckwith and Jeff McBride. You will learn techniques for enhancing all aspects of the business, and marketing of your business as a magician. You will also receive Feedback on your act, and learn about practice sessions on executing all aspects of finance, legal, communications, gig management and marketing. Includes a photo shoot with Richard Faverty. Only 12 students will be admitted, due to the extensive amount of personalized material we will be processing.

Do You Need to Find Your Direction?

A very important person in my life is Bob Fitch. Bob has directed my shows for many years.

Now you can study with Bob here at the Mystery school.

We are excited to be offering – The Bob Fitch Workshop at The Magic & Mystery School

In the past, magicians have had few resources available to learn theatre and movement skills. These intensive, structured multi-day workshops have been tailored to magicians, and are intended to help them obtain basic theater tools and self-directing skills to take away, and be able to apply to their work. The multi-day workshop format allows time to effect real, hopefully lasting, change. http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events#504

The writer J. Michael Dolan reminded me that

— Asking for directions doesn’t mean you’re inept. It could mean you’re eager to get where you’re going ASAP.

— Asking for tech support doesn’t mean you’re over-the-hill and out of touch. It could mean you’re eager to learn something, so you’ll know what to do next time.

— Asking for coaching is not a sign of surrender; it’s a sign of determination.

— Asking for help doesn’t mean you’re not ready, on the contrary, it means you’re ready to move on.

The Institute for Magic Education

This new program is making history! How can YOU give back to our magic community?

Just look here http://www.instituteformagiceducation.org/

McBride World Tour News:

Jeff will be some exciting places this next month, including:

June 20-26: In the Close-up Gallery at Hollywood’s world-famous Magic Castle

July 6-10: The Ignite Festival in Santa Cruz, CA

July 11-12: A McBride Magic Experience Event sponsored by SAM 94, in Cupertino, CA

July 23-24: The National Speaker Association annual convention in Phoenix, AZ

See the calendar at the side of this page for a more extensive listing.

Wonderground Alert:

June 16th- 3 Great Shows!

7 PM   Christian & Randilyn, Hosts

Strolling magic with Miguel & Juan Pablo

Allen Scott will do tarot readings

The Magic of Will Bradshaw

8PM   Tim Wise, Your MC & Host

Jeff McBride – Always a NEW Wonder

Chris Funk – From WIZARD WARS

Roilan Hernandez – Amazing Circus Skills

Chris Ruggiero – World Class Juggling

Allen Abbott- Something Mysterious This Way Comes

9PM  Christian Diamond, Your Host

James Kelsey – Close Up Bar & strolling

Chris Funk – Comedy with Magic

Elliott Hitchcock- Man of Mystery

Will Bradshaw – Prepare to be Amazed

10PM   Jeff McBride, Master of Ceremonies

Les Contortionettes – Unique in all the World!

Miguel Romero Ramirez – A Rising Star from Cuba

Chris Ruggiero – World Class Juggler

Iam Creed – “Radio- Active” Illusion

Roilan Hernandez – Acrobatic Sensation

Allen Abbott – Flights of Fancy

PLUS: Bar Magic with Zack Pattee and Scott Steelfyre, Iam Creed, and Randilyn, Photography by Sheryl Garrett.

The NWR-Tribal Belly Dance Troupe, Psychic Sideshow with Alan Scott, live art with Areeya and Suzanne and many more surprises and special celebrity guests!!

All info at:  www.vegaswonderground.com

I will see you at the shows in Vegas or on tour!

Jeff McBride

What Does Freedom Really Look Like?

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds!

    –Marcus Garvey

Even though it was 15 years ago, I clearly remember the day I walked into my annual performance review at Motorola. My boss was coming in to tell me I was getting a promotion and an 18% raise.

I told him I was leaving!

It wasn’t that I was unhappy with the work or pay. I just wanted more freedom with my time.

I had decided to start a business.

Fast-forward 13 years…

I had done really well building custom software for companies (and a few magic websites here and there on the side). The work was fun and challenging. The pay was much better than my corporate job…. and, most importantly, I had control of my time.

Or did I?

See, I could take a week off any time I wanted… and I did quite often.

But I always had to come back to the work.

Then it hit me:

I didn’t own a business. 

I owned a JOB! 

If I wasn’t working, there was no business.

That’s certainly not what I had set out to create. My original vision had two key components that I had not achieved:

1. I wanted to help as many people as possible (not just companies that could write big checks).
2. I wanted the business to operate, and even grow, without me.

Time for another major life change!

Just like before, I resigned… this time from my own company.

I knew that I would need a different set of skills and, more importantly, that there were attitudes and habits I had as a solo-preneur that would hold me back from building the business I really wanted.

Fast-forward two years…

It’s been a crazy ride. I have achieved things beyond my wildest dreams… and had many days where I could barely get out of bed, because I was terrified to do what needed to be done that day (I still did, though).

Most importantly, I’ve created the new attitudes and habits I needed.

When Larry asked me to write a Museletter with an update on my journey, I wanted it to be more than just my story. So I’m going to pass on the Top Three “Things” I’ve had to integrate into every fiber of my being and my business.

There’s nothing new here. Anyone who’s been through this process has to learn the same lessons if they’re going to succeed. But, trust me, there’s a whole new level of understanding that comes from having done it, not just read about it.

The “One Thing”: Priority & Laser Focus

If there’s any one thing that has made the most impact, it’s forcing myself to work strictly by priority and nothing else. What’s more important? That email or text that just came in… or building the future you desire?

If you have problems in this area, I have a daily practice that will help:

1. Every evening I spend 15 minutes reviewing the previous day and reminding myself of the ultimate vision. I call this my “CEO Time.”
2. While in this mindset, I write out my goals for the next day… IN ORDER OF PRIORITY.
3. During the work day, I’m now free to simply execute those goals. I know exactly what needs to be done, whose responsibility it is, and in what order they need to be done.

Most people, myself included, can’t think in “big picture” and “work mode” at the same time. This allows me to do both daily, but in a focused way.

The “Hard Thing”: Doing the Things You Don’t Want to Do

Want to know why so many entertainers are struggling financially?

They’re waiting for the phone to ring.

One of the key differences between a hobby and a business is sales. How many prospecting calls are you making each day? How many emails are you sending? How many references are you asking for?

I understand that most people don’t want to do this. But without sales, you have no business. Period. It’s just math. And you’re not going to have any sales unless you start picking up the phone.

(NOTE: If you don’t do it because you’re uncomfortable doing it… keep reading)

The “Easy Thing”: Get Help

Want to know the fastest way to achieve success?

Find someone who’s done it and ask them to help you!

Notice I put an emphasis on done it. This is where people get burned over and over again… they don’t do their due diligence when choosing who to take advice from.

I have a simple rule: before I spend any time or money to learn from an “expert,” I find out how many hours they’ve spent doing what I want to learn. Not teaching. DOING. If they’ve surpassed the magical 10,000 hour rule, I’ll consider them.

With that in mind…

I’ve met some truly amazing people over the last two years. Some are just customers that inspire me with the success they’re having. Others are experts in related fields that have shared their hard-earned wisdom with me.

While much of what they do isn’t applicable to entertainers, there are a few skills that are sorely needed by many of the people who read these emails.

So we’re considering starting up a special program to bring some of this work to those that are interested.

Because we know not everyone on this list is an entertainer… or interested in these topics, I’ve started a special list for people who feel they might want to know more.

If you are interested, you can learn more and join the group here:

http://www.magicalwisdom.com/business

Once we see how many people sign up, we’ll decide if we’re going to do this at all.

Until next time…

Bryce Kuhlman

Founder / Creator

Wisdom Robot

http://www.wisdomrobot.com

Blog: http://www.brycekuhlman.com

How We Can Give Back

This is Jeff, writing from Las Vegas.

How can we give back to the world, and to the Art of Magic?

PLEASE take the time to read this important message! We have helped, and are in the process of creating something that we hope will change the world of magic!

The Art of Magic Gets a New Champion!

New Organization Formed to Promote Education For Magicians

May 12, 2016, Las Vegas, NV — The Institute for Magic Education, Inc. has been created to help magicians, magic students, and magic enthusiasts increase their skill and knowledge of the magical performing arts. The Institute has just received its designation as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization by the IRS, and has commenced operations. To support its initial activities, the Institute has launched a $100,000 fundraising campaign – Transforming Magicians and Magic – to provide scholarship support for deserving students and help underwrite innovative magic projects.

The McBride Magic & Mystery School 25^th Anniversary

The Institute for Magic Education was created by the McBride Magic & Mystery School, which is currently celebrating its 25^th anniversary. The Institute is an independent, self-sustaining, tax-exempt organization. The formation of the Institute extends the mission of the McBride Magic & Mystery School to help students of all ages fulfill their own interests and potential as magicians and performers, and to lift the level of the art throughout the world.

Jeff McBride, founder of the Magic & Mystery School, notes that “As was true for Harry Houdini or Harry Potter, becoming a full-fledged wizard requires specialized training that goes well beyond reading a library book or having Uncle Bob teach you how to pull pennies from your ear.”

Scholarship Program

Dr. Lynn Miner, President of the Institute, states that “While magic schools exist in the United States and elsewhere to teach the performing arts, most lack a firm financial footing to award scholarships to needy students.”

Dr. Miner adds, “The Institute intends to fill that gap as a tax-exempt organization headed by seven top-flight magicians on its Board of Directors, including Jeff McBride, the “World Ambassador of Magic,” and Mac King, acclaimed by MAGIC Magazine as the premiere comedy magician in the world today.

Other Board members include Tobias Beckwith, an innovative producer of magic shows in Las Vegas, New York and around the world; Bill Evans, a lawyer/magician who is Past President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians; Bill Cook, hailed by his peers as the Young Master of Magic; Simone Marron, a magic enthusiast active at the local and national levels; and Dr. Miner.

How can YOU help the future of magic?

Further details about the Institute, including how to donate funds in support of magic education or apply for financial aid, are available at the web site:

www.InstituteForMagicEducation.org.

Contact: President@instituteformagiceducation.org

Healing and Magic

Can the magic we do help heal the world?

Join us to explore that question and get real answers–and learn great magic at the same time! This four-day Seminar is specially designed for physicians and other health care providers, including nurses, therapists, and alternative medicine practitioners.
The Seminar is taught by Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger, two of the world’s leading magicians, Ricardo Rosenkranz, M. D., who has pioneered a revolutionary Magic and Medicine teaching program at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and Lawrence Hass, Ph.D., a philosopher and a magician who founded the internationally-celebrated educational program, The Theory and Art of Magic.

The Seminar will explore many areas of theoretical interest, such as the history of the relationship between magic and medicine, the importance of ritual, and the place of magical art in human life. However, the primary focus of the educational experience is on practice—on how the powerful skills of performance magicians can enhance the interactions between providers and patients, and thus yield better outcomes in healing relationships. 
It is by no means necessary to be a performer to attend this learning experience. In fact, most attendees will have little to no magic performing experience at all. Even so, attendees will learn some magic appropriate for their skill level during the Seminar, and they will have an opportunity to share a story or a performance if they would like to do so.

For more info: www.magicalwisdom.com/events#486

Wonderground News – May 19, 2016 

All info at : www.vegaswonderground.com

7 PM -  Christian and Randilyn, Hosts

Strolling magic with Miguel

 

8PM – Tim Wise, MC

Steven Owens – The Shadow Magic Act

Joe Atmore – Master of Mental Mystery

Jeff McBride’s Mask Theater Ensemble Present- “Obama & Trump”

Elliott Hitchcock – International Man of Mystery

 

9PM – Christian Diamond, MC

Joe Atmore – Modern Mind reader

Jeff McBride – New Egg-splorations

Special guests will present strolling magic

Zack and Tim at the WONDER-BAR

 

10PM – Jeff McBride, MC

Steven Owens – The Competition act

Jarrett and Raja- the Drunken Piano Player

Ryan Stock & Amber-Lynn – Comedy Daredevil

PLUS: Bar Magic with Zack Pattee and Scott Steelfyre, Iam Creed, and Randilyn, Photography with Sheryl Garrett.

The NWR-Tribal Belly Dance Troupe, Psychic Sideshow with Alan Scott, live art with Areeya and Suzanne and many more surprises and special celebrity guests!!

All info at:  www.vegaswonderground.com

I will see you at the shows in Vegas or on tour!

Jeff McBride