Dear Friends, Ladies & Gentlemen:
It is our pleasure this month to present a piece written just for you by our Dean, Eugene Burger:
For the past several years, the task of writing an October Museletter has fallen upon me. I think this is partly because images of Halloween goblins are on the same wavelength as my continuing fascination with things spooky and mysterious. And so it has been with a certain delight that I have accepted the task of writing the October contribution. After all, I do love the Halloween season!
But this year my thoughts are moving in a different direction. I am not thinking so much about things mysterious. Instead, I have been reflecting on much more, shall we say, “practical†matters. These thoughts spring from my work as a teacher and also from my great interest in the teaching process itself.
A thought has been in my mind for some time now. It surfaces at some point almost every day and, when it does, I try to understand it once more. I find that my understanding changes and even grows at times. Here is the thought that has been echoing in my mind:
Sometimes the greatest gift of all is failure.
Among other things, I have been thinking about how much time is spent in the teacher-student relationship with the teacher helping the student deal with failure—and, more specifically, the fear of failure. The fear of failure can be crippling and even paralyzing, whereas failure itself can be an important way to learn and grow. It’s an important difference. Perhaps to see this, to see it clearly and deeply so that the very seeing is action, requires personal courage. For fear can be met only with courage.
Then, another voice in my head rises up and says, “Wait a minute, Eugene, nobody wants to fail! Including you! So, if failure is a gift, it is a pretty weird gift. In fact, if you don’t mind, it’s a gift that I would just as well refuse to accept! Thanks anyway!â€
Yes, I hear that voice, which is also my voice. Yet when I look at this closely, I see that failure can be a gift—perhaps, the greatest gift of all. Here is what I mean: first, when I fail (in the performance of a magic effect, for example), I may be inspired to work harder, to go back and fix the problem, and to move on. Learning from failure might be called “learning by fire.†And it works.
Second, failure may bring me new insights, new ideas that had previously never entered my mind. Some of my most creative thoughts have been generated by having something go terribly wrong during a performance.
Third, failure can be the gift that tells us to stop, to give up on a particular performance piece, to remove it from our show and stop performing it. The end. It’s over. Period.
Over the years, there have been many times when I have worked on a piece of magic for a very long time (sometimes on and off for years) and then finally, after repeated failure, I just gave up.
Sometimes, I think the best thing to do is to give up, to stop and spend my limited time working on a piece of magic that is within my reach. As Alan Watts put it so well, “When you get the message, hang up the phone.â€
So I wonder, isn’t failure the greatest gift of all?
Each time we face a new challenge, we have an opportunity to break old patterns. We can react to challenges in old ways (as seen above), or move beyond our old habits and limitations, and resolve conflict in new and more enlightened ways. One of the best pieces of advice I’ve ever gotten from Max Maven is; “If you get mad…you lose.”
So before the next time you get “mad as hell,” read this short, but potent, Samurai parable.
http://www.onbeing.org/blog/the-little-monk-and-the-samurai-a-zen-parable/5496
“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor”
— English proverb
When I think of all the times I encounter “trouble” along the road, I remind myself to reframe each experience as a “challenge”, and that facing each of these challenges makes me wiser! Yes, that is right my friends… over the years I’ve stopped using the words “troubles” and “problems”, and I’ve replaced both these words in my vocabulary with “challenges.”
Hint: try this as an exercise! Just stop using the words and they seem to go away! Now all I have are “challenges”…. and I love a good challenge!
Why not take a risk and face your next challenge in a new way? There is NOTHING to lose!
If you win, you will be happy;
if you lose, you will be wise.
— Zen wisdom
Even the top pros face extreme challenges. Many of us encounter bullies, hecklers and haters. What to the pros do? Take a look at this film and find out. Maybe you’ll find it to be as interesting as I did.
This documentary is titled Heckler, and I would consider it essential viewing for anyone who stands on a stage. (Thank you, Ferdinando Buscema for finding this!)
http://documentaryheaven.com/heckler/
I am on tour all over the planet this season! Russia is the next stop on my world tour.
Then our full illusion show Abracadazzle! will open in a huge theater in Shanghai.
I travel a lot! And it takes a great team to keep me on track. Thank you Tobias, Jordan and Abbi for helping with all “the challenges” of this immense tour!
Sometimes I feel like I just want to “just stay home,” but then I reread this poem. Whitman’s words gave me hope, strength and courage to keep going.
“Henceforth I ask not good fortune — I myself am good fortune.
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing. S
trong and content, I travel the open road.”
— “Song of the Open Road,” Walt Whitman
Every so often tears come to my eyes when I hear a poem read out loud…This poem is a gift for every one of us who travels. Listen to the full poem read out loud….it is so beautiful! Here is a link to a wonderful reading of this great poem, with inspired images.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOwUBvqiLY0
When I get off the road and come home, I love sharing good times with my magic friends. I throw a party each month so we can gather and share fun, music, magic and community. Look who showed up last month! Wow — what a show, and what a night to remember!
On September 19th you are invited to this month’s version of our community magic celebration!
Directions and all info at: www.vegaswonderground.com
8 pm Early Stage: Master of Ceremonies, Tim Wise, with Daniel Giandoni, Bijan the Magician, Alien Warrior Comic
9pm Parlor Magic: Master of Ceremonies, Christian Diamond, with Daniel Giandoni, Nate Jester, David Gabbay, Adam Flowers
10pm Late Stage: Master of Ceremonies, Tim Wise, with Anthony Rais, Shocker, Marc Love, TanBA,
THE WONDERGROUND PLAYERS:
DJ Leo Diaz, Christian Diamond, The New World Rythmatism Dancers, Tim Wise, Body Painting by Suzanne, Video Wizard Scott Steelfyre, Live art by Areeya, Photography by Sheryl Garrett, Psychic sideshow with “Scott Brown and The Readersâ€, Plus Great Food and Hookah at THE OLIVE!.. and much, much more! www.vegaswonderground.com.
The Magic & Mystery School Locked Room is our place to host custom online learning experiences in real time.
Beginning in September, 2013, our format is changing somewhat. On the first Monday of each month, we will broadcast our usual hour long “Mystery School Monday†show, free to all at McBridemagic.tv. Every other Monday of the month we will have a different host opening the show with a 15 minute discussion, promptly at 7:00pm, which is free and open to all, discussing the subjects to be covered that week. Immediately following that 15 minute free session, we will be hosting weekly Locked Room sessions for Magic & Mystery School Members only. Because these sessions are closed, except to our Members, we will be free to go a bit deeper, discussing techniques and tricks in a way we would not be comfortable doing in sessions open to the public at large.
Become a Member to get access to this exclusive content, starting in September.
“What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.â€
— The Captain, a prison warden, in Cool Hand Luke
Dear Friends:
Our guest writer this week is Jordan Wright, a.k.a. “Mr. Right†– an amazing magical performance artist and film-maker. Jordan has created most of the current pieces in our on-line video archive in the Virtual Magic School, as well as promotional videos for Jeff McBride and many other magicians. Today he shares some insights about the choices every artist must make. I give you Jordan Wright:
As performers, one essential element to our success is how our audiences and clients perceive us. Are we someone they want to watch, and hopefully hire? Are we someone they find interesting enough to want to learn more about? The way that we present ourselves both on stage and off should be consistent with the image we want to convey. From the aesthetic elements in our show to the way we dress, speak, and interact with people, to our website, business cards, and our promotional videos and photos. The style we choose for each of these elements will communicate a certain image or feeling, giving people a sense of who we are.
Whether we are looking at props, music, costumes, or marketing materials, it is important to evaluate the positive or negative impact they have on our image. It is important that each piece be consistent with what we want to project. Consistency builds your brand. When your look and style is consistent, people will get a better understanding of you and, ultimately, remember you.
“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