Dear Friends:
                                                                                                            Â
We are currently gearing up for all our autumn events at the Magic & Mystery School, and just wanted to check in and remind you about what’s coming:
Focus on Street Magic has become one of our most fun events. Each year it is hosted by Jeff and Marco Morris from October 9-11. At present, I see three spots still open for that class. If you enjoy busking on the streets, in the parks or at other interesting outdoor venues, this is a great chance to learn from two masters, even while you make your Las Vegas debut. Some of our students have actually covered their costs for the class and the trip by working the streets while they are here!
Master Class for Mentalism (Oct. 14-17) has already been sold out for months. But if you want to get your name on a waiting list, contact Abbi by calling (702) 450-0021 or emailing Spinner@McBrideMagic.com.
Magic & Meaning 2015 is next, from Oct. 21-24. We’re about 85% sold out for that, so if you’re thinking of coming, but haven’t registered and sent your deposit yet, now’s the time. Our special guest is the inimitable Max Maven, and we’re all looking forward to what Max has to share with us. 
Also, please note: This will take place at Sunset Station in Henderson (there was an error in the Museletter a few days ago–sorry about that). We have a special deal with them for discount rooms, but it’s only good if you register before September 15. Again: Now is the time!
Here is the info from our web site:
The 2015 Magic and Meaning Conference will be held at the Sunset Station Hotel and Casino located at
1301 W Sunset Rd
Henderson, NV 89014
(702) 547-7715
A discounted room rate has been secured for attendees who reserve their room by September 15, 2015 ($39 for October 21 and 22; $109 for October 23 and 24—plus tax). To make your reservation, please call the Sunset Station Casino’s reservation number at (888) 786-7389, and tell them you are part of the McBride Magic, Inc. group, attending Magic and Meaning at Sunset Station. Please note: reservations made online will not receive the discount.
For additional information or questions, please contact Katherine Rettke, the Conference’s Executive Assistant, at mmconference@magicalwisdom.com.
That’s it for now. We look forward to seeing you all one day soon, in Vegas, or in your own neck of the woods (let me know if you think you might like to bring Jeff’s show and lecture to your area)!
Best to all.
Sincerely,
Tobias Beckwith
Greetings Magical Friends,
Abigail here, writing from the House of Mystery on a peaceful morning in the desert. I have been thinking these past few weeks, about my mind and how mysterious and magical it is.
“…the magic show takes place primarily in the spectator’s head…. Nevertheless, the wizard may exert a certain degree of control: he determines what the audience shall not pay attention to (a process known in conjuring as misdirection), and he restricts so far as he can, the ways in which each onlooker shapes his own private performance. What you must realize is that your game is angling, not shooting. You don’t propel, you lure. The “fly†is in the trout’s appetite, not on the hook.”
 -Henry Hay, The Amateur Magician’s Handbook
I’ve come to the realization, as the sages say, that I am not just my mind. Not only that, but I now know I don’t have to believe everything I think. My mind is brilliant, and finds patterns and tells stories, and remembers and plans for the future, and can be a two-edged sword, of both discernment and distraction. When I find my mind is not acting like my good friend, I remember that I have a choice.
“Words and magic were in the beginning one and the same thing.â€
–Sigmund Freud
When my mind is dragging me out of the moment, into regrets of the past, or fears of the future, I have an option. I can use my senses to get out of my head, and into my body, and back into the moment I am actually inhabiting, the present. I am embodied, alive and breathing in this moment, so I have the option of using my eyes to look around and notice what I am seeing. I can use my ears to be aware of what I am hearing. I can notice the taste inside my mouth, the scents in the air around me, the sensations I am feeling through my skin… I can notice how I am breathing, and I can choose to deepen my inhales and lengthen my exhales. When I control my breath, I control my heartbeat, and this influences my state of mind.
“It is important as a mentalist to notice small things… little things such as being able to tell if someone is right or left handed by looking at which way their belt is pointing. Looking at a book of matches will tell you if they are right or left handed by the side the matches are removed…. It’s important to notice these things because the more you do, the more you will realize that each person has little psychological nuances that tell you a lot about the individual. Doing so will tremendously sharpen your skills.”
 -Banachek, Psychological Subtleties
When I do turn my awareness to these things, I return to the actual “real†world of here and now. When I find myself not in the present moment, then, as Fritz Perls would say, I can recognize that I am in “fantasy land.†If I’m going to go into my fantasy world, then I may as well make it a good fantasy, and imagine the best possible outcomes, the nicest things happening, and how good I could feel. Of course, I can always choose to step out of the present moment, if there is something that actually needs planning, but now I know it can always be a conscious choice.
Being present is where the real magic happens. Not too long ago, I wrote a song called Right Here, Right Now. You can check it out right here, it’s #7.
“Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really. Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure, or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember, that’s where you will find success.â€
– T. J. WatsonÂ
CREATIVITY + PRODUCTIVITY + a pinch of failure = SUCCESS
To see more, CLICK HERE
 
Greetings,
I have creative friends. They are inventors of magic and stage technology, musicians and painters. We get together every month at the Magic & Mystery School and at WONDERGROUND to share new ideas, and to see what the Las Vegas performance art crowd thinks and feels about our offerings.
As Larry Hass says, “Getting an idea from paper to the stage is a process that, if done correctly, is NOT tedious! It takes hard work, but even hard work can be lots of fun!”
“Productivity is being able to do things that you were never able to do before.†– Franz Kafka
BE MORE CREATIVE, BE MORE PRODUCTIVE
What type are YOU? Are YOU a “creative type†or a “producer type?”
There is a BIG difference between these types.
Let me ask you an important question. Are you getting expert feedback? How do you know when you are “off the deep end” or “right on target?â€
Producer types “get it done.†They have systems, and they have developed formulas to grind away at tasks…and that, too can be fun. We certainly get a sense of accomplishment when a deal is done or a new product is brought to market. My manager, Tobias, is a real wizard at this type of creative-productive merging of talents.
His book, The Wizard’s Way, teaches how real wizards produce new products and manifest creative ideas. http://www.wizardsway.net
I’m always looking for new sources of inspiration to empower my life and business. Here is a chart I found the other day.
I printed out this chart and hung it on my wall so I could see it every day!
Make more of your time and energy.
This article will help you learn techniques to grow a more prosperous future.
http://www.businessinsider.com/napoleon-hill-explains-why-you-arent-rich-2015-7
A MENTOR CAN SAVE YOU LOADS OF TIME AND MONEY
I save many people from making costly mistakes. Last week a student wanted to get props built, and had placed an order with a builder who is less than honest. I turned him on to our Mystery School resources and saved him over $50,000.00
A 1-hour consultation with an expert can forever change the way you work and produce.
MY HYPNOTIC MENTOR
My hypnotism mentor is Dr. Richard Nongard. He and I have innovated a hybrid form of magic & hypnotism. Now, you can see the highlights reel we just created, with our compliments!
“Real magicians invent the future!”
One of the ways to create the future is to set goals. Set short term and long term goals. Use “smart goals.”
A useful way of making goals more powerful is to use the SMART mnemonic. While there are plenty of variants (some of which we’ve included in parenthesis), SMART usually stands for:
For example, instead of having “to study magic in Las Vegas” as a goal, it’s more powerful to use the SMART goal “To have completed my Master Class training by August 2016.†Obviously, this will only be attainable if a lot of preparation has been completed beforehand!
For more info on goal setting, CLICK HERE
One of my goals is to create and produce a new WONDERGROUND event each month. Now THAT is a deadline! How do I do it? I have the pleasure of working with a great team! Each month, we develop new ideas and book new performers for that month’s one-time-only night of magic and variety.
 “Photo by Sheryl Garrettâ€
WONDERGROUND – Where the Las Vegas Stars come out to play!
AUGUST 20th – Eugene Burger, Larry Hass and the Mystery School All Stars
7:00 pm – The magical “Art of Sean Scott” – original strolling magic creations
8:00 pm – Tim Wise – Master of the Ceremony
Jonathan Pendragon – Newsworthy Magic
Larry Hass – The Magical Philosopher
Mark Presley – The Master of Thimbles
Ty Reveen – The Legend Continues
Jeff McBride – The Magical Storyteller
9:00 pm – Christian Diamond – Your Host
Eugene Burger – The Master of Mystery
Nabeel Arshad – Continental Mysteries
Justin Rivera – The Clever Conjuror
Larry Hass – Is It Real? He Lets You Decide.
10:00 pm – Jeff McBride – Your MC and Host
Yangyang – China’s New Rising Star of Magic
John Shaw – Something Wicked This Way Comes
Les Contortionettes – A Magical Collaboration
Chris Randall – I.B.M. Stage Contest Winner 2015
May this summer bring you new creativity and productivity.
See you in Las Vegas, on TV or on tour!
Jeff
“What’s the story of the hidden daisies among the roses,Â
and the stars which break at the dawn?â€
– Saleem Sharma
Unsung Heroes
Larry Hass, Associate Dean
In the run up to magic convention season, I found myself observing how many familiar names were on the convention bills. Many of them are the same names we saw at last year’s conventions or the year before. Some of them will be the same at different conventions this year. And some of these people are familiar because they receive a lot of attention in the magazines.
This is terrific for these magicians, and I am delighted for their success and celebrity: it helps spread the word, get the bookings, and pay the bills. But I am also aware that the famous names in magic are a very thin slice of all the magicians who are out there performing excellent magic shows for non-magicians in real-world venues, night after night, week after week, year after year.
So as a gentle corrective to the “season of celebrity†I wanted to dedicate this Museletter to some of the unsung heroes in magic today. That is, talented magicians who are out there making excellent shows and who are unlikely to get much coverage in the echo chamber of our subculture. You might well know some of the names I’m about to mention, but it’s more likely you won’t. That’s part of the point and the fun!
To gather these names, I emailed a wisdom team of respected friends and advisors, asking for their recommendations. My approach was not scientific or systematic. I simply asked some people whose opinions I trust, and by no means do they canvas the country or the world. Also, I am severely limited in the space I have available here. This all means there are a lot of unsung heroes I have missed!
Let me also say that it wasn’t at all necessary for the performer to be connected with the Magic & Mystery School. Instead, the criteria I presented in my request were simply: 1) that the magicians should be performing excellent magic on a regular basis, and 2) that they haven’t yet received the kind of recognition in the magic subculture their work probably deserves. Despite these rather open criteria, I was amazed to see a number of these names appear on several replies. Tells you something!
Here they are, then, in alphabetical order; some unsung heroes performing magic in the world today:
In closing, allow me to say what a deep personal pleasure it was to read and learn about these magicians and the very fine performance work they are doing. I hope that you, too, will take a little time to broaden your magic horizons by getting acquainted with them.
So, who have I missed? Who are your unsung heroes? Whether they are folks on my list or on your list, I encourage you to make a special point to go see them work next time you are in their area. If you enjoy their magic, let them know. Working in the trenches is challenging, and your good words can make a big difference. Also, spread the good word to others whenever you can.
Indeed, the world needs magic. And there are unsung heroes all over delivering it.