From Larry Hass
Associate Dean, the Magic & Mystery School
In my recent Museletter titled “What is Education?” I promised to be back soon with some suggested summer reading. But first, I want to remind everyone about the Magic and Meaning Conference in Las Vegas, October 20-23, 2010.
Since my move to north Texas, many people have written me to ask when I will be holding another one of my Theory and Art of Magic Conferences. The fact is that I am already holding one because the Magic and Meaning Conference we create every year through the Magic & Mystery School is its equivalent.
For those of you who have not attended the Magic and Meaning Conference, let me tell you that its mission is to create a genuine learning community about magic. The conference includes first-rate magic performances and works-in-progress opportunities, but the heart of the event is three days of presentations on magic from conference attendees and special keynote speakers.
So this is your opportunity: if you would like to submit a proposal for a 20-minute presentation at this year’s conference, please click here to see the details (the deadline is August 1). Whether you submit a proposal or not, I encourage you to think seriously about joining us for the conference in late October. Come see why so many people return to this event year after year. (To register, visit http://magicalwisdom.com/events/view/416)
As I said above, I promised to suggest some good books for summer reading. I have already taken one shot at that exercise in one of my MAGIC columns (August 2008, p. 19), so what I want to do here is provide the names of some of my favorite books to re-read.
Let’s think about this for a moment. Popular culture moves at a breakneck speed. The news cycle is now instantaneous. Countless new magic products arrive every month. We try to keep up, but it is impossible to keep up. So we bounce from this to that, to some “new this” to the next “new that.”
I know this is just the pace of modern life, but I also know something else: that rarely does “pursuit of the new” bring the best and deepest experience of something. On the contrary, my very best experiences of a good film, piece of art, or novel come when I view or read it again. For it is only then, when I already have a baseline of understanding, that I am able to really appreciate the work’s deeper levels of significance or achievement.
So here is a partial list of some favorite magic books I didn’t mention in my previous column — books that I find myself being enriched by again and again. If you haven’t read them yet, then you have a real treat in store for you. If you already have read them, then I invite you to pick one of them up again on some lazy summer day so you can get reconnected with something good and deep. In no particular order:
1. Jim Steinmeyer, Conjuring. This book is a dazzling array of great material from one of the most creative people in magic.
2. Harry Lorayne, Close-Up Card Magic. The material remains fresh and stimulating thirty-five years after publication; the revised edition in The Classic Collection includes better credits and many fine touches and improvements.
3. Max Maven, The Lisp Series (Thequal, Doth, Amperthand, Fifth, Thavant, Thabbatical). The Color Books are more famous, but a lot of material in these books is every bit as good, and they are a blast to read.
4. Lewis Ganson, The Dai Vernon Book of Magic. This classic work remains an exemplary lesson in how to construct deeply magical routines with invisible sleight-of-hand. I re-read “The Vernon Touch” chapter on a regular basis.
5. Theodore Annemann, The Jinx 1-50, 51-100, 101-151 (three volumes). Read one issue a day for a month and notice at the end how many great new ideas you have.
6. Eugene Burger and Jeff McBride, Mystery School. I realize that including this may seem nepotistic, but the truth is I have read certain sections of this book at least seven times. There is a lot going on in here of extraordinary value and intelligence.
So happy re-reading this summer! And be sure to let me know your favorite books to re-read. I look forward to being with you at one of our Master Classes or at the Magic and Meaning Conference in October.
“Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen.”
— Goethe
Dear Friends:
We’ve heard that some people take summer vacations — but, frankly, we’re having too much fun doing and teaching magic to want to take a break. In the past week, Jeff has performed, lectured and conducted workshops in Raleigh, Cocoa Beach & Atlanta. While in Atlanta he taped a segment for CNN — perhaps some of you got to see it. And now he’s on the way home, and busy preparing for what promises to be a most amazing Wonderground on Thursday. More about that further down the page. First, we want to talk about —
Media Magic
We did it! We made it happen! Last week Bryce sent you the news — we opened the new online Virtual Magic School! The response has been great, and we have students coming online from all over the planet!
Bryce tells me we’ll have a myMoney! – Torn and Restored Billroutine online by the time you get this email.
Media is changing the way we watch and learn magic. Our VIRTUAL MAGIC SCHOOL is the newest way to learn, and a way for all of us here at the Magic and Mystery School to share our magic with you — and you don’t even have to leave your own homes. Visit the siteand see what’s already there for you — and come back often, because we’ll be growing the online school rapidly.
More Media Magic
In July, the first ever online magic conference ever will take place — on the internet! The Essential Magic Conference is sponsored by Marco Tempest, Luis da Matos and David Britland, and will feature 33 “live” speakers, all speaking directly to you over the web from Luis’ TV magic studio in Portugal. In addition, top magicians from around the world have recorded interviews for the conference, and Jeff’s is already online. You can view it (and a dozen other fascinating short talks from various stars of magic from around the world) at:
http://essentialmagicconference.com/videos/31
Master Class
Our Extended Master Class from August has been sold out for almost a month now… but the class scheduled from June 26 to July 4 still has two spots left. This is your last chance to be a part of an Extended Class this year. Sign up now for this, or one of the remaining shorter classes this year (they are filling up quickly, too), at:Â www.magicalwisdom.com.
News from the Wonderground
June 17, 2010 — shows start at 8pm and go ’till 11pm!
Our Amazing Line up Jeff McBride’s Wonderground This Week:
Featured Close-up Show (8:00)
Paul Vigil -Â A Pure Magic Experience
Close-Up and Strolling Magic (8-10 pm)
Jean Pierre Kraft -Â Hands of a God!
Circe Martinez -Â Close up Magic Delight
Eduardo Martinez -Â Cuba’s Master of Manipulation
Samina -Â The Sorceress
Parlour Show (8:30)
Jordan Wright -Â Your Host
Tim Wise -Â A New Beginning
Tawney Bubbles -Â Elastic Fantastic
Mat Black & Captain Jack -Â Very Dangerous!
Bizzaro -Â From America’s Got Talent
Bram Charles -Â Magic Comedy
Stage Show (10:00 – each act performs one 3-5 minute piece)
Jeff McBride -Â Kabuki Magic
Jordan Wright -Â Vintage Memories
Bizzaro -Â Cutting Edge Magic
Jean Pierre Kraft -Â Magic from Dusk till Dawn
Sean Critchfield -Â Grand Slam Poetry Champion
Mickeyo -Â New Vaudeville Eccentrics
Anthony Rais -Â Marionette Theater
PLUS!
DJ Master Diaz
The Mojo a Go-Go girls
The NWR dancers
Live Art, Body Painting and Psychic Side Show!
FOR COMPLETE DETAILS GO TOWWW.VEGASWONDERGROUND.COM
You can participate live on the internet starting at 9pm (PST) by logging on to www.streetofcards.tv
See you at the WONDERGROUND, at the Virtual Magic School…or live at a Master Class someday soon!
Magically yours,
Jeff and all the McBride Magic Family
From Bryce:
It all started about 10 years ago. Actually, it has started and re-started several times for various reasons, many of which were technology-related. We were trying to do something that the world wasn’t quite ready for… until now.
We love teaching classes in Las Vegas, but also realize that not everyone is able to spend a week hanging out at Jeff’s house working on their magic. Even those of you who have been to Vegas know that we have more information to pass on than we can even cover in just one week. Of course, both Jeff and Eugene have DVDs and books for sale. But then you’re paying for shipping, waiting for the product to arrive and then you are left on your own to work on the material unless/until you email or call one of them for some help (which can be daunting the first time and tricky because they both travel so often).
We wanted a more efficient way to pass on the collective wisdom of our teachers. The internet was the obvious choice as a mode of communication, but how would we make it work?
We now have the answer:
The Virtual Magic & Mystery School
The idea is simple. We’re putting pieces of our collective wisdom online. We’ve started by taking apart Jeff and Eugene’s existing DVDs and posting each segment online as an individual lesson. You no longer have to buy a 3-DVD set if all you want is one effect. Breaking out the material this way also allows us to provide the individual segments and much lower prices. Think iTunes versus a CD.
Got questions or feedback? Each lesson has its own discussion forum. Not only do you get the basic teaching from Jeff or Eugene — now you can brainstorm ideas and ask questions of other people that are working on the material. Jeff and Eugene will drop in now and then to answer questions and provide further insights.
Jeff is also offering private sessions online via Skype. The ones he’s done so far have been hugely successful. Whether you’re working on routining your show or just trying to perfect a move, having real-time video help from Jeff is the way to go.
Now that we have filmmaker Jordan Wright on our team, we’ll be able to get new material to you faster than ever. New content goes directly online once it’s edited; no need to wait for DVD production or shipping.
In addition to the material from the DVDs, our first new, never-before-seen footage should be up on the site by the time you get this email. It’s an interview I did with Eugene on the business of close-up magic, a topic which he’s never talked about before. Jordan even managed to make me seem almost natural on camera (the things terrify me).
The whole Virtual Magic & Mystery School is still a work in progress, so feel free to poke around and email me comments or questions. As with our Master Classes, we want to create the highest quality learning experience possible.
I should also mention that the Virtual Magic & Mystery School is only the first step. I’ll be finishing up work on two, even bigger ventures in the next week or two. The first is a digital store for magicians that uses the technology I created for the Virtual School. In addition to Jeff & Eugene’s materials, I’m working with other magic creators to get their content online. This is going to be a great new resource for magicians and students of magic.
I’m also forming alliances with people who have expertise in other areas (hypnotism, martial arts, marketing, basket weaving, etc.). The idea is to partner with experts who can serve as “Wisdom Filters”… people that can provide quality instruction based on true experience. The internet is full of charlatans. My goal is to get people connected with the true masters. If you are interested in contributing material, please drop me an email at bryce@mobiusmagic.com.
I look forward to seeing you online at The Virtual Magic & Mystery School!
Sincerely,
Bryce Kuhlman
“Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory.”
— Diane Arbus
Greetings magical friends,
I learned years ago that sometimes I had to create the ILLUSION of confidence in order to generate it within myself. I had to develop sort of a “fake it till you make it” mindset. I can tell you this…it worked for me, and might for you!
Never let the competition see you sweat. By projecting an air of confidence you can often trick yourself into really feeling it!
Perhaps that is why I started working with masks years ago. Like many performers I had stage fright. I did not have a coach or magic teacher back then so came up with a “coping” device…the mask. Underneath the mask I was often shivering with fear, but I was also building courage… a confident persona that was projected on the surface of the mask.
It took me many years before I could take that mask off and “be me” on stage. The mask was like a cocoon for me. The masks protected me until I grew strong enough to shed them. When we begin a new venture we need help. Help often comes in the form of a teacher; someone who can help us on the road to achieving our dreams.
One of the most important guides on my path is Eugene Burger.
Eugene is often heard to say, “The goal of the teacher is to create students that transcend the teacher.”
And so today we are delighted to feature some of our students… two of the hottest rising stars in the world of magic. The Faculty at the Magic and Mystery School is proud to be a small part of their success.
Student Winners
Micke Askernas came to our Master Class, and then he attended the Master Class for Mentalists…twice!
Micke was facing a career challenge. He was switching over for “normal magic” to the world of mentalism. In two short years he achieved his dream…take a look at what Micke is creating in Sweden!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DSVVUo7JQk
Paul Brown came to our classes in the UK a few years back. He paid his dues by working at a magic shop for many years perfecting his skills…that hard work is paying off now. Watch Paul win the Magic Circle ORIGINALITY AWARD! (photo of Paul by Arto Airaksinen)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbWrciNO4gU
What does it take to be a winner?
Listen to what some of the hottest new acts in the business have to say about success and winning!
http://www.magicalwisdom.com/winners
Robert Schuller once said, “What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?”
One of my answers to this question was “to have my own show in Las Vegas.” I have had the good fortune to do that many times. Now I help many of our magic students get a “shot in Vegas.”
Take a look at some of our magical friends and magic students on stage this week. You can watch from the comfort of your own home! Just hop on your computer and watch:
Jeff McBride’s WONDERGROUND Live in Las Vegas!
We go live @ 9pm (PST)Â http://www.streetofcards.tv, this Thursday, direct from The Olive. You can even participate via live chat.
You can watch an ALL NEW show this Thursday at WONDERGROUND. Go towww.vegaswonderground.com to see this week’s line up of great talent. What other Las Vegas shows lets you have a complimentary front row seat? And if you’re in Vegas this week, be sure and drop by to The Olive to say hello and join in the fun!
See you in Las Vegas!
Jeff