Posted on Jun 6, 2011

Selecting Magic to Perform

Know well what leads you forward and what hold you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.
— The Buddha

Dear friends:
As I write today, Jeff McBride is mid-tour on a trip that took him to Kalamazoo, MI, Edmonton, Alberta, and Indianapolis. Next, he will fly to Perm, Russia, for what I believe is the first-ever magic convention there.

Jeff McBride in Perm, Russia

For this tour, Jeff tells me he is traveling with just two bags (checked luggage), performing four shows while on the road – 3 different versions of the show, and playing theaters ranging from under 100 seats to over 2,500, and lecturing three times. If you’ve ever tried packing a magic show that is going to run longer than 30 minutes (and you’re not a mentalist), you’ll know that just the ability to pack for a trip like this is real magic. This is something Jeff covers in his lectures, both on the road and at the Magic & Mystery School in Las Vegas, and may be one of the most valuable lessons any professional performer can learn.
Today we are blessed to have as our guest writer (well, he’s not really a guest…he is Dean of the Magic & Mystery School), the one and only Eugene Burger. Eugene is not only, for my money, the world’s best close-up entertainer in magic – he is also among the top lecturers and teachers. Our definition of true wisdom at the Magic & Mystery School is, “open your mind and listen to what Eugene has to say.” And so…open your mind, and read what he has written!

SELECTING MAGIC TO PERFORM

Eugene BurgerJUNE, 2011
Eugene Burger
A few years ago, purely as a personal experiment, I asked myself the following question: In order for a particular piece of magic to make it into my performing repertoire are there any criteria that must be met? What features must this particular piece of magic have – or not have – for it to be something that I would like to perform?
As I thought about it, several criteria did appear. I have noted eight criteria that must be met before I begin performing something professionally. Two years ago I shared these criteria with the teens at the Lance Burton Teen Weekend of the World Magic Seminar. And now I shall share them with you.
The first criteria that must be met before I add a piece of magic to my repertoire is that the magic effect must call to me. It must be a piece of magic that connects with me on some level so that I want to perform it. When I am performing material that gives me joy to perform, the audience “catches” my enthusiasm – just as they might catch chicken pox or any childhood disease. Enthusiasm communicates from the performer to the audience. The great 20th century master of this was certainly Doug Henning. I think that whether a piece of magic calls to me is the most important of the criteria because, if it does not call to me, there is no reason to add it to my repertoire.
The second criteria asks whether this piece of magic fits in my pockets. When I perform at a corporate party, I do not carry my little box; instead, I work completely out of my pockets. So, if this piece of magic I am considering, does not fit in my pockets, it does not make it into my repertoire.
The third criteria asks whether the effect under consideration requires any reset. The truth is that I have enough magic in my present repertoire that requires reset and I really do not need any more.
Fourth, to perform this effect do a need a table. Again, I have enough material that does require a table and I would rather not be burdened with more.
The fifth criterion asks if the plot of the effect is simple. There is so much magic that isn’t simple to follow and, as Vernon always said, magic is not confusion. I personally want simple, easy to follow and memorable plots.
Sixth, is the action of this effect up by my face? If I have any hope of appearing on television this is where the action is best. I am selling myself not my belt! I want myself – that is, my face — in the action. It’s simply better theater.
Seventh, if I add this piece of magic to my repertoire will I need to check luggage on flights? I am now in the enviable situation where I can go to Europe for a month, often with material to sell, without needing to check luggage. Frankly, I would rather not trust my magic props (or clothes for that matter!) with the airlines. And there is nothing better than getting off an airplane and, without stopping and waiting for luggage, to go directly to a taxi.
Eighth and finally, how many people can be in the audience for this effect? The fact is that I want a balance in my repertoire. I want material that is intimate and best performable for two or three people; but I also want material that I can perform for a thousand people. Before any effect enters my repertoire, I asks myself how many people can be in the audience.
These, then, are the criteria that I use when selecting material for my own repertoire. I am offering them for your reflection. I am certainly not suggesting that these criteria are perfect for you. No, on the contrary, they are but signposts on a path – the path to better magic.
Have you ever asked yourself how you go about adding material to your repertoire? If you do ask this question – if you ask it honestly – you might be surprised at the answer.
Thank you, Eugene!
Before we leave you today, an update on upcoming classes seems to be in order. Both the July and August classes are nearly full, with only one or two more spots available. Sign up and get your deposits in quickly if you want to attend either one of these – they are our last Extended Classes until next year, and there’s no better way I know of to immediately raise the level of your magic. The remaining classes of the year – Sisters of Mystery, Focus on Street Magic, Master Class for Mentalism and Magic & Meaning are all currently about half filled, and we expect them to completely fill at least a month or so before they are scheduled…so again…get your registrations in early.
Oh…and I should also mention that at the end of the month, you can catch Jeff performing and teaching both at Fantasma’s “Magic on Manhattan,” honoring John Calvert, and at the I.B.M. “Legends of Magic” annual convention in Dallas. They are both star-studded and promise to be fantastic events. If you’re attending either, be sure and say hello to Jeff!
Best wishes.
Sincerely,
Tobias Beckwith

 

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Posted on May 23, 2011

Good News, Bad News

“The survival of the fittest is the ageless law of nature, but the fittest are rarely the strong. The fittest are those endowed with the qualifications for adaptation, the ability to accept the inevitable and conform to the unavoidable, to harmonize with existing or changing conditions.”

Jeff McBride: Master of the Elements
[Artwork by Matthew Wright, from a photo by Richard Faverty. Visit Matthew’s web site at www.chamberofsecrets.eu]

Greetings friends,

IS THIS THE END OF MAGIC AS WE KNOW IT?

I have good news and bad news. The bad news is from a recent Forbes article that says that variety entertainers, including magicians, are on the endangered list of viable careers.

THE GOOD NEWS

The good news is that the very best performers will still survive and thrive in these uncertain and challenging times. Whether you perform magic or not, here are some things you can do to ensure your survival. The best way to predict your future is to create it.
  • Study: Up your game! Take new courses and improve your skill set to get the edge on your competition. Is there room for improving your work? I bet there is….
  • Express gratitude: Be thankful for the good things you have, no matter how small.
  • Make time for play: This is one of the secrets to keeping eternally young.
  • Create: Use the time you have to generate new work and new ideas… here are a few of mine!
I’m so excited! Jordan and I have just finished my newest creation, EXPERT CARD FLOURISHES. Be one of the first to see it here: http://virtual.magicalwisdom.com/lessons/view/28

BRAVO!

Here is a photo from Jordan Wright, of the next video project, due out in June. Can you guess what routine this is?
Jeff McBride working on a new video

THE MCBRIDE MAGIC CARPET WORLD TOUR

From Kalamazoo, to Canada. From Indianapolis to Russia… with love!
This week sees me heading out on the next leg of my world tour; for full details of how you can see my show or attend one of my seminars yourself, click here:

QUICK TRAVEL TIP

Always bring a few sets of earplugs and a sleep mask along on the flight. Train yourself to fall asleep when the earplugs go in and the mask goes on. Staying rested and hydrated is essential to healthy travel… and earplugs are the best way I’ve found to make a crying baby disappear, legally! And if you’re traveling, come visit Las Vegas and check out our classes this summer and fall.

MYSTERY SCHOOL MONDAY… Every Monday at 7pm PST.

Can you believe we have over seventeen episodes waiting for you? Each episode is packed with magical wisdom, astonishing video clips, sagely advice, interviews with celebrities, and great product reviews. To see the back episodes, just click the “videos” button below the screen at
Here is a photo from our friend Sue West of us in our library shooting a recent episode.
Filming Mystery School Mondays
I find myself working harder these days and am grateful to Tobias, Bryce, Eugene, Larry and Abbi and the rest of the Magic and Mystery School team for all their help and support. And thank YOU, our friends and readers. It is a pleasure to share my thoughts and magic with you.
Your friend,
Jeff
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Posted on May 1, 2011

The Best-Kept Secret in Magic

Thank you for choosing Magic Carpet for all your travel needs. Don’t exit until the rug has come to a complete stop.
— Genie as an airline attendant from the Disney movie Aladdin

Dear Magical Friends:

Jeff McBride at YaleAs I write this, Jeff is just back off his magic carpet from his whirlwind trip to the East Coast, performing with yet another group of magic stars from the Magic Castle in the show “It’s Magic” at the Mohegan Sun Resort in Connecticut. He followed it all up with an amazing visit to Yale, where he presented his Jeff McBride Experience show, lecture and workshop in a setting “as much like the real Hogwarts as you can imagine!”

Now he is home preparing for his trip to the magic festival in Lille France, and some surprise events in Paris. When he gets home from that, he launches right into Mayfire, which he and Abbi have been hosting (with a lot of help from their friends) for a number of years now at Valley of Fire, just outside Las Vegas.

We are delighted to have our Associate Dean of the Magic & Mystery School, Dr. Lawrence Hass as our guest author this week. I know you’ll enjoy his thoughts:

Larry HassThe Best-Kept Secret in Magic

From Larry Hass, Associate Dean

Imagine you are reading the trick section of one the magic magazines:

The Effect: You have a magic experience that is profoundly transformational. Afterward, the world looks different to you, filled with fresh possibilities. Whereas before, your forward path was cloudy and unclear, you now feel inspired by new ideas, great, new performance material, and new friends.

The Secret: [Read More. . . .]

Thank you, Larry!   I should note that we have two Extended Master Classes this summer, before Magic and Meaning…and they are both filling fast.   These classes fill fast, and they represent your best bet, in my opinion, for moving your magic a quantum leap forward. The August class is also almost immediately after the end of Magic Live!, my favorite magic convention. I double dare you to see if you can handle 10 days in a row with more magic than you ever imagined you could experience!

Jeff McBride Lecture NotesBryce just informed me that he’s turned Jeff’s lecture notes, Magician 24/7 and Pack Small, Play Big, into virtual lessons available for download.  These two booklets contain the details of Jeff’s most-requested lectures. You’ll learn some of the secrets of being a professional magician. These are lessons that can only come from a seasoned professional like Jeff. Learn how to tour the world with a full stage show and get everything on the plane with no extra fees (and sometimes an upgrade to First Class).

Until next time, then – we all wish all of you a most magical time!

Best wishes.

Tobias Beckwith

tobias@yourmagic.com
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Posted on Apr 10, 2011

Learning from Your Mistakes

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”
— Oscar Wilde

Greetings All,
As I write to you from the mountains outside of Nagasaki, Japan, I am reminded of the first time I toured Japan. It was 1976 and I was the opening act for a famous Latin band called the Fania All Stars. I was 16 years old and this was my first exposure to Asian culture.
Jeff McBride
It was here that I first fell in love with the Kabuki Theater — the ritual, the costumes and powerful theatrics. Since then, I have studied many theatrical disciplines, and many of them have found their way into my show.  It is now my honor and pleasure, when I’m not on stage, to share my magic skills and the life lessons I have learned with all of our students here at the Mystery School, and at my workshops given around the world.
Who is the next “Worlds’ Greatest Magician?”
While in Japan, I have been sharing time with one of Japan’s most talented young magicians, Hiroki Hara.  Hiroki is one of the rising stars in the world of magic — you can see him in the upcoming feature film documentary, “Make Believe.”
“Make Believe” chronicles the lives of four young magicians — from Africa, Japan, and the USA — as they ready themselves to compete for the title of “The World’s Greatest Teen Magician” at the The World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas.  You will laugh, and you will cry!  I did!  You’ll see why!
Jeff McBride on TV!
Eugene Burger and I are the featured magic teachers in this extraordinary film.  Don’t miss “Make Believe” on Showtime on April 12th and experience the magic!  Check your local listings for times.
Make Believe
What Did You Learn from Your Mistakes?
At a recent Teen Magic Seminar workshop, Eugene and I were surprised to learn that the teens felt that one of the most important lessons they learned from us was “Give yourself permission to make mistakes!”
Scott Adams encouraged mistakes when he said, “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”
How I Made a Million Dollar Mistake – and How You Can Make One, Too!
Often parents and teachers push students too hard toward perfection, robbing the student of valuable life lessons. You may know that the finale of my show is my famous “card bouncing off the floor.”  BUT, did you know that it started out as a mistake?  Yes!  I was spinning cards across the stage at the SHOWBOAT Casino in Atlantic City and one shot down instead of up.  The card ricocheted off the floor “by mistake,” and sailed over the showroom!  I thought, “Wow. Can I do that again?”
I worked on this mistake for many years and learned an important lesson…  Some of the greatest moments in my show started as mistakes!  I call this kind of experience a “million dollar mistake!” The “GOOD kind of mistake,” that I encourage students to make!  You can hear the entire story of how I evolved my card throwing, and learn many card spinning techniques on my DVD, Zoom, Bounce & Fly!
Tallulah Bankhead said it best,”If I had to do my life over, I would make all the same mistakes… just sooner!”
Wisdom from Wizards: “The Wizard’s Corner”
Tobias BeckwithLooking to get refreshing insights on how to enhance your life and magic?  Tobias has a new weekly segment, featured on our Mystery School Mondays Livestream broadcast. Tobias offers wisdom from his upcoming book on life lessons he learned from almost 30 years of working with real life Wizards.
You can get great inspiration and insight by joining Tobias and all of the Mystery School faculty and friends for the world’s first real-time global-interactive web TV magic program! The show is filled with news, reviews and special guest reporters from around the world.
New each week, it’s FREE — and there’s nothing like it! Join us every Monday night at 7PM Pacific time. Remember! Monday is a School Night!
Life in Japan
Before I go, I want to tell you that even though Japan is in the midst of a natural and human-made crisis, we all may have much to learn from the environmental challenges and human mistakes that are going on in Japan and around the world.  Remember, there is immense beauty around us always, even in the darkest times. Nature helps remind us that life, death and rebirth are joined together by one great mystery. The Japanese have a poetic outlook towards life and death that is seen in the spring…. May you enjoy the cherry blossoms my friends.
I will be home in Vegas just in time for the April 21st WONDERGROUND! At this month’s show, I will perform many of the new magic pieces I’ve developed while in Japan. You can see the show live on www.streetofcards.tv on the 3rd Thursday of every month.
See you later this spring my friends!
Jef-fu in Japan
From Tobias:
Just a couple of reminders for all of you: Don’t miss “Make Believe” on Showtime on the 12th of this month. If you are in the North East, you can also catch Jeff in the company of other great magicians in one of the two shows on Easter Sunday at the Mohegan Sun, in Connecticut. He’ll also be presenting “The Jeff McBride Experience” in New Haven – a show, lecture and all new “Super Session” workshop on Wednesday and Thursday, April 27 & 28, sponsored by the local IBM Ring and our friend, the environmental wizard, Cyril May. After that, he gets to go home and pack for his upcoming trip to France, where he will be featured in the magic festial in Lille on May 5 & 6, then present a workshop in Paris on May 7. You’ll find links to all these events on Jeff’s calendar.
Best to all for a magical spring!
Sincerely,
Tobias Beckwith
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