Dear Friends:
How did the first of May ever become a call for distress? Wikipedia has the answer:
The Mayday procedure word was originated in 1923, by Frederick Stanley Mockford (1897–1962).[1] A senior radio officer atCroydon Airport in London, Mockford was asked to think of a word that would indicate distress and would easily be understood by all pilots and ground staff in an emergency. Since much of the traffic at the time was between Croydon and Le Bourget Airport inParis, he proposed the word “Mayday” from the French “m’aidez“, a shortened version of “venez m’aider” (meaning “come and help me”).[2]
I love it that it is, or at least corresponds to, the French “M’aidez,†or “Help me.â€
So what, you may well ask, does this have to do with magic, and with you? What might it have to do with our efforts here at the McBride Magic & Mystery School?
Well, we’re certainly not in distress. Classes have never been fuller, and we’ve never had a stronger or better team helping us keep everything running smoothly, and expand our efforts. I hope you’re not in distress, either.
Nevertheless, we can certainly use your help. Even the best of organizations is really only as strong as its relationships. In a company, that means how it relates to employees, investors, and clients. Smart companies know that it also means everyone with whom they communicate, whether they wind up being customers or not. How you are perceived in the eyes of the general public has a lot to do with your ability to accomplish the mission your company has set for itself.
Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream is a good example. On their web-site, they state the basics of their mission as follows:
Our Product Mission drives us to make fantastic ice cream – for its own sake.
Our Economic Mission asks us to manage our Company for sustainable financial growth.Â
Our Social Mission compels us to use our Company in innovative ways to make the world a better place.
Many people who, for whatever reason, don’t buy and consume Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, nevertheless have a great opinion of the company, largely for the ways in which it accomplishes it’s social mission. They pass on good “word of mouth†about the company, and that translates to more sales. These people are the company’s fans, it’s community. They provide invaluable support.
For us, you are the support network. Whether you ever pay to come to a class, buy a product, or otherwise provide financial support for our mission, you continue to stay tuned in to what we have to offer. Our mission is to lift the general level of the art of magic. We are committed to providing safe environments where that can happen — where we can encourage our students to test the limits of their abilities and their own comfort zones, in order to become better magicians.
We’re about to embark on a new phase of our activities that will vastly expand our own ability to achieve those goals. I can’t tell you more about it just yet, but watch this space in the coming weeks, and we’ll tell you all about it. For now, just enjoy the mystery. We are, after all, a Mystery School.
There is something you can do right now that will help, if you’re willing. Help us spread the word. There are almost 15,000 of you who receive our Museletters. Although we continue to do our Monday evening shows and do as much outreach through our faculty’s attendance at various magic conventions, lecture tours and the like, the Museletter reaches more people, with a higher frequency, than all of our other activities. However, we need to reach an even wider audience. That’s where you come in.
Please help us by forwarding this Museletter to at least two of your friends who you think might benefit from seeing it. Encourage them to sign up! Please also do the same when you post to social media. This and all our past museletters are archived at https://blog.mcbridemagic.com. You can use that URL in social media posts to send your followers there. The more the merrier!
As you already know, we do our best to bring you not only the latest news on what we’re up to, but new ideas and techniques that we think will be of special interest to you as magicians and fans of magic; things that will improve your lives. We seek to build a community of those who care as much about the art of performing magic as we do, and we love having you as a part of that community. This is your chance to help bring friends and family who share your passion into the community, as well. We’ll continue to do everything we can to support the mission… but hey: If you help us expand the community, you’ll be leveraging our efforts. Just by spending a few minutes of your own time, you can make a big difference, and you’ll have our undying gratitude.
Jeff McBride will be back in this space in two weeks with more of his special brand of teaching for you, along with news of this month’s Wonderground.
Till then:
Mayday! Mayday! Mayday! Please help spread the word!
Best to all.
Sincerely,Â
Tobias Beckwith
PS: On a personal note: I’ve begun a new enterprise in association with the school, whose mission is to take what we’ve learned in our work with magicians, and expand our principles and teaching methods to a wider community. Please visit the new website for that enterprise, and send me your feedback: http://www.wizardventure.com.
Thank you!
Hi my friends,
This is getting serious!
One of the complaints I get most often from students: “I don’t have enough time to practice!” Or, “I’m addicted to Facebook!”
Many years ago I made a healthy choice. I pulled the plug on TV watching. It was in 1979 when I left home to move to NYC to study and perform. I could not even afford cable TV back then, so I could not have a TV even if I wanted one! I really feel that one of the big secrets to my success has been how I have chosen to limit my time watching TV & social media.
SCARY FACT! “According to Nielsen, the average American watches about five hours of TV per day… perhaps that is what makes them average!”
“Kill your TV” was a slogan in my high school days…I took that action and it gave me more time to take classes, read books, and meet great people and performers, I went to shows, and I watched no TV! To this day, I do not own a TV with incoming reception. I do, however, have a computer, and these days I have to be more and more disciplined about how much time I spend at the computer!
Today we are all glued to our computers and devices. They are hand held miracles. Even as I type this I’m connected to all the knowledge I can google. But I’m just a click away from immense distraction. Many of us waste our valuable creative, practice and rehearsal time, and we can get lost in the world of Facebook, Pinterest, Tweeting and YouTube clips. In today’s “social networking world,” we need to set serious limits on the amount of time we spend online or we can watch our practice and rehearsal time vanish.
Are you a FACEBOOKÂ addict?
Catherine Paddock, Phd., writes a very interesting article that explores this topic. She reports that researchers in Norway have published a psychological scale to measure Facebook addiction; the first of its kind worldwide.
The Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale
Scoring “often” or “very often” on at least four of the six items may suggest the respondent is addicted to Facebook.
CLICK HERE to read the full article.
CLICK HERE for some helpful tips on how you can limit your social media time and get back to real life!
HOW ABOUT SOME SOLUTIONS?
“Social media is one of the biggest ways to waste time and you can do it effortlessly. If you have a lot to do, the temptation to procrastinate on Twitter can ruin your best efforts. When self-discipline fails, there’s an app for that.”
– Alicia French
* To read about Alicia’s strategies, CLICK HERE.
* To learn how to TAKE BACK YOUR DAY, CLICK HERE.
READ SOME GREAT MAGIC INSTEAD OF TV OR FACEBOOK
THE SKILLED MAGICIAN- have you met “BUTZI?” He has been a regular contributor to THE SECRET ARTS JOURNAL, and also to our online school’s weekly show, MYSTERY SCHOOL MONDAY. He is a creator of magic effects and ideas. Take a look at his new essay “Have-A- Drink”
Butzi is dangerously talented! He is a “skilled magician” and he can show you what skills you are missing and how to find them! Really! take a look and meet him
https://facebook.com/theskilledmagician/
Butzi also turned me onto a good book that teaches skills on how to effectively use social media instead of being consumed by it.
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17383989-jab-jab-jab-right-hook
When I watch Joel Grey and Liza Minelli in CABARET, I remember how much this movie influenced the creation of WONDERGROUND. 3:25 is my favorite part!
Every time we take our final bows..it feels like CABARET!
WONDERGROUND NEWS!Â
“THE CENTER OF THE LAS VEGAS MAGIC COMMUNITY”
THURSDAY APRIL 21ST Â is our next WONDERGROUND.
Doors will open at 7:30pm at The Olive, located at 3850 East Sunset Rd., Las Vegas, NV. There is a $20 admission. ONLY $10 for locals. The best deal in Vegas!
The Early Stage show begins at 8:00 pm. The Close Up show starts at 9:00 pm. The Late Stage show begins promptly at 10:00 pm. Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to ensure seating for the shows.Â
3 GREAT SHOWS!
7:30 PM Christian and Randilyn Hosts
Strolling magic with Miguel
Allen Scott and Mon Dre
8PMÂ Will Bradshaw MC
NWR
Chuck Crespo – Comedy with  Magic
Taliesin – Celtic Conjuring
Tim Wise – A Magical Storyteller
Draven – A magic lesson
Jarol Martin – Master of Manipulation
9PMÂ BAR MAGIC AND CLOSE UP:
Tim and Scott at the “WonderBar”
At the Diamond Close up table: special Guest-Mondre
10PM Tim Wise MC
NWR
Jarol Martin – Illuminations!
Will Bradshaw – Magic with Music
Rene Delgadillo – Salsa magic
Draven – A Dream of Magic
Stoil and Ekaterina – Quick Change Magic
PLUS:Â 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!!
So shut off your Facebook, and come join us LIVE in Vegas at a class or WONDERGROUND event! Life is a Cabaret!
see you in the real world,
Jeff
“The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place.â€
—George Bernard Shaw
From Larry Hass, the Associate Dean:
As you may know, I have spent the past three months on tour—both in support of my latest book, Inspirations, and of the 25th Anniversary of the Magic & Mystery School. I have met magicians from all over who have been very kind and enthusiastic about our efforts to help people become better, more successful magicians.
Even so, I have been surprised to hear the following kinds of comments, again and again:
“The School has a live video broadcast every Monday night? And we can watch it ‘on demand’?â€
“You offer scholarships to attend your classes in Las Vegas?â€
“Wait: you guys are a real school for magicians!â€
Answers: yes, yes, and yes!
I am always happy to educate people about the Magic & Mystery School, but I have also been thoughtful. How can it be that after 25 years and all the articles, press, and media, many magicians still don’t know what we do?
One answer, with a nod to Shaw, is “The Illusion of Communicationâ€â€”our assumption that flying the flag loud and clear, far and wide, is sufficient for people to hear us. Indeed, in our age of information overload, where so much media screams for attention and the information cycle is measured in minutes, people might well miss seeing our “flag,†or not understand much about it.
So in the interests of ever-clearer communication I will devote this Museletter to the latest, exciting news and notes about the Magic & Mystery School. I have a lot to report, so let’s plunge in!
1. Latest News
— Last week Jeff and I learned that we, as co-lecturers, were nominated for the “Lecturer of the Year†award from the Academy of Magical Arts in Hollywood, California. We are greatly honored by this, and we send our warm congratulations to the other nominees. Voting for Academy members begins very soon and will conclude by the end of April. Margie and I are planning to attend the Awards Ceremony in Beverly Hills on Sunday, May 15. Hope to see you there!
— The House of Mystery was home to a Penguin (Live) Lecture shoot on March 24-25, hosted by Dan Harlan. After a week of pre-production, Penguin filmed four long lectures during those two days; lectures by Jeff, Eugene, Ross Johnson, and me. Penguin’s plan is to release them one-by-one over the next several months, so please keep your eyes out for them. They are fully reflective of our Magic & Mystery School approach to teaching and learning.
2. Magic and Meaning Conference Announcements
— We are now accepting proposals for presentations and performances for the Magic and Meaning Conference this October 19-22, 2016. The guidelines and requirements for making a proposal can be found by going to: www.magicalwisdom.com/events. We hope that you will consider sharing your best thinking and magic with us at the Conference.
— Also, it is not too early to register for the Conference. This is going to be our big 25th Anniversary Party, and we think you will want to be there. The theme for the Conference is “Honoring Eugene Burger,†who will be our guest of honor. Our Special Keynote Speaker is the wonderful magic director, Bob Fitch.
3. 2016 Supporting and Premier Member Videos Now Available
In January 2016 we increased our benefits as a way to generate new members. Previously, we had made an exclusive video available only to Premier Members, but this year we decided to extend this exclusive video to Supporting Members as well. On top of that, we are making an additional special video available for Premier Members.
The 2016 Exclusive Supporting and Premier Member Video is a film of the show and panel presentation that were part of the School’s 25th Anniversary Party at the Magic Castle in January. This was an extremely successful event for the School. (The place was packed, wall-to-wall, and the Southern California Friends of the Magic & Mystery School kindly sponsored the refreshments.) The 2016 extra video for Premier Members is a terrific interview with Jeff and Eugene that was filmed at Blackpool several years ago.
If you are a Supporting or Premier Member, these two videos are now available at your Member Home page at virtual.magicalwisdom.com. If you are not yet a member, we ask you to please join at the Sustaining, Supporting, or Premier levels ($25, $50, and $100), or at the new Angel level (any amount over $100 you like). The benefits of membership are extensive, but also the lion’s share of your membership fee goes directly into our scholarship fund that provides need-based financial aid for talented magicians to come study with us in Las Vegas.
4. Program Notes
— The theme for Mystery School Monday for April 2016 is “Going with the Flow.†Tune in every Monday night this month, 7:00 p.m. PDT, to learn what our faculty and facilitators have to say about this fascinating topic.
— Dr. Lynn Miner, our Director of Development, has published “A Prescription for Practice†in the April issue of MAGIC Magazine (pp. 44-50). The article details a strategic approach to the work of practice so we get the most out of it.
— The April article for The Secret Art Journal is from Craig Conley, author of the remarkable book Magic Words: A Dictionary, who instructs us to create a personal and inspirational talisman that employs Robert E. Neale’s “Birth Date Magic Success Square†from An Essay on Magic. Go to www.secretartjournal.com.
5. In Case You Missed It . . . .
For many months Jeff and I had been laughing about the Beatles’ connection with our recent “Magic & Mystery School Tour†of the UK. We imagined Jeff, Eugene, and I in satin, pastel-colored Sgt. Pepper’s jackets. We wondered who would be the Walrus (“goo, goo, g’joobâ€). But there we were in Hertfordshire with our friend and producer Jay Fortune, and it all became clear. On the way to lunch, we saw a crosswalk, and our fantasy became a reality. We call this our “Abbi Road†photo. Enjoy!! And no, I am not dead!
Thank you for being and staying connected to the Magic & Mystery School!
PUSH YOUR COMFORT ZONE!
Our magic student Paul Craven turned us on to the quote above–it struck a chord! I hope it can help move you to take steps to keep your dreams alive! As a teacher, it is my job to inspire and motivate our students. I also learn and listen from the best. Today we listen to the wisdom of writer and “life-hacker” Alan Henry.
He suggests a few good steps to take to keep your dreams alive. Alan says,
“Here are some ways to break out (and by proxy, expand) your comfort zone without going too far:
Read the full article:
http://lifehacker.com/the-science-of-breaking-out-of-your-comfort-zone-and-w-656426705
THE RISK OF TRAVEL:
People tell me all the time that they are “scared to travel overseas these days, with all that is going on in the world!” Too bad for them. They are walking the slow funeral march of the dead and dying dream!
A few weeks ago Eugene, Larry and I left the comfort of our homes, and we are so glad we did! The new adventures we had enriched our lives. We met new friends and reconnected with our community in the UK.
THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR–25 years of Mystery School
Jen Allen took this modern classic shot of us on the tour. Our own “Abbi” road!
THE STRANGEST BAR ON EARTH!Â
Here is a photo of us entering the museum – by Paul Kieve
I’m a fan of “Cabinets of Curiosity” also known as “Wonderkammers.†A few months ago I read Viktor Wynd’s book on “oddities and curios.” Last week my longtime friend Paul Kieve took me to Viktor’s “Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art & Natural History.†Yes, it’s a very strange place.
http://www.thelasttuesdaysociety.org/museum-curiosities
THE OLD VIC THEATER
Eugene and I “trod the boards” at one of the grand old theaters in London. The “Old Vic” has a new Variety Nights show. Our friend Paul Kieve created an opportunity for us to weave our magic into the night’s production.
Here we are at the theater.
SPRING TRAINING:Â Take the leap from the minor league to the Major League!”
Card Magic, Close-Up & StageÂ
Parlor Classics
Portable & Grand illusions
3 Unique, 2 Day Classes
May 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 2016
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
*Imagine yourself receiving hands-on instruction by some of the top experts in the world of magic.
*Learn new magic, and the correct practice disciplines that lead to a professional presentation.
*You will learn both basic and advanced techniques, suited to your skill level, and how to make your magic entertaining and play BIG in large venues.
But even more…
We will explore the hidden MEANING of these magic effects, why they are memorable and how they can touch the souls of the audience.
We will explore the symbolism, mystery and metaphors of each of these classics of magic.
COME FOR 1 SESSION OR GET A DISCOUNT IF YOU ATTEND ALL 3!
At all 3 events, we will have Greg Gleason as our guest teacher! Read more here!
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/events#499
Vegas WONDERGROUND NEWS!
March 17TH  is our next WONDERGROUND. Doors will open at 7:30pm at The Olive, located at 3850 East Sunset Rd., Las Vegas, NV. There is a $20 admission. Only $10 for locals. The best deal in Vegas!
The Early Stage show begins at 8:00 pm. The Close-Up show starts at 9:00 pm. The Late Stage show begins promptly at 10:00pm. Please arrive at least 30 minutes prior to ensure seating for the shows.Â
Photo montage by Sebastian Navarro
We will have a new look and feel to the parlor and close up magic this month…come in and see!
MARCH 17, 2016 Schedule
8PMÂ Â Â Â Â Â Host – Tim Wise
Michael Mirth – Classic Enchantments
Ariann Black – A Sophisticated Sorceress
Clyde McBride – Direct from Ireland
9PMÂ Â Â Â Host – Christian Diamond
Ariann Black – Beautiful Deceptions
Steelfyre – The Enigmatist
Jeff McBride – With an “eye-opener!”
Peter Woerde – The Grifter
Lion Fludd – Mind-Blowing Mysteries
10PMÂ Â Â Jeff McBride MC
Kevin Hall – The Halls of magic
Xavier Mortimer – A Musical Magical Interlude
Circe – Scintillating, sensual amazement
Clyde McBride – He’s back again!
PLUS:Â 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!!
See you on the road or at a class in Vegas!
Magically yours,
Jeff McBride