McBride MuseLetters

WMS, AprilFools Winners & more

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Sat, 03 May 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Dear Friends: For this Museletter, we�ve asked Jordan Wright, our long time friend, sometime student, and for the past couple of years, Jeff�s number one assistant, to write something for you. We�ve also got the results from the April FoolsLetter Caption Contest. They�re included at the end of this email. If you�ve got one of the winning captions, Bryce will be in touch with you via email next week. Before Jordan kicks things off, here�s a reminder from Tobias: Don�t forget to tune in to CelebraCadabra on VH-1 this Sunday. Check your local listings for the exact times in your area. Tell your friends to watch, too! We all watched the first episode, and were delighted with the results. The producers have done a fabulous job of weaving together the various personalities, their stories, and the story of the competition itself to create a very entertaining program. Also: Between picking up students during this week�s World Magic Seminar and viewers from CelebraCadabra, we�ve seen more folks rushing to sign up for the summer classes at the McBride Magic & Mystery School. We have a few slots still open for both the July and August classes, but they are filling fast -- so if you�re thinking about joining us for one of these upcoming classes, now is the time to sign up: www.magicalwisdom.com. Best to all! Tobias Beckwith

From Jordan: "The lessons of the ordinary are everywhere. Truly profound and original insights are to be found only in studying the exemplary." -- Warren G. Bennis As I�ve said many times, I believe that in order to be great at something we all must strive for excellence by learning from those who are the best at what they do. Jeff, Eugene, Bryce and I have just finished hosting the Lance Burton Teen weekend as part of the annual World Magic Seminar held in Las Vegas. This is always an exciting weekend. It not only gives me a chance to teach a few tricks while offering bits of advice and tips to the teens, but it also gives me a chance to see what a real impact Jeff and Eugene make on these students� lives by offering wisdom and encouragement going way beyond mere technique. The weekend ended with a pizza party at Lance Burton�s house where the teens were joined by some celebrity magicians who were equally happy to offer advice and answers to various questions the teens had. Much was accomplished and it was a very successful weekend. Now for some important news items... The faculty of the Magic and Mystery school is gearing up to travel out to Hollywood in two weeks for the first ever Magic and Mystery School Week at the Magic Castle. Jeff, Abbi, and I will be performing in the Palace of Mystery. Also performing that week will be Eugene Burger, Dr. Larry Hass, George Parker, Just Alan, and Bob Fitch, with special guests Katlyn Miller Breene and Todd Karr. If you are in the Los Angeles area the week of May 20th through the 25th, please be sure to join us for what is sure to be a unique and exciting week of shows. Finally, in reference to the opening quote, Jeff McBride has just received the 2008 award for Best Magician by the Magic Woods in England -- another tribute to a man that has contributed much to the magic world. You can view the list of all of the 2008 Magic Woods Awards online. Best wishes and hope to see you soon. Yours in magic, Jordan Wright

April FoolsLetter Caption Contest Winners:

First Place: "Criss Angel wows his audience by blowing up a lifelike Jeff McBride to finish his balloon modeling act." Second Place: "Here we see famous magicians Jeff McBride and Criss Angel attempting a new Himber Ring routine using earrings and lip rings." Third Place: "Artist's rendering of how Siamese twins Criss and Jeff would have matured, if not separated at birth by grueling 16-hour facial reconstructive surgery. Both infants magically thrived, with only sleight complications..." Honorable Mention: "Here we find Jeff McBride at home, showing off a most unusual ear piercing."

Celebracadabra!

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:01 GMT

"A few can touch the magic string, and noisy fame is proud to win them: Alas for those that never sing, but die with all their music in them!" -- Oliver Wendell Holmes Dear Friends: We�re excited. A postcard goes into the mail today... many of you will receive it by the end of the week, but all of you get to see it right now (just in case some of you don�t receive it before Sunday night�s premiere). Here�s what it will tell you: Set your Tivo! It�s a Battle of the Wizards -- And Jeff McBride is the Judge! CelebraCadabra Beginning April 27 on VH-1 check local listings for times in your area See seven TV and film stars vie for the title of "Best Celebrity Magician" when they gather at the Magic Castle and other locations in Los Angeles and in Las Vegas, as they attempt to learn and perform the art of magic. Guided by veteran magicians, the competitors face tough crowds and a master panel of judges who will determine which celebrities get to advance to the next round and a shot at a grand prize of $100,000. The celebrities are C. Thomas Howell, comedian ANT, Hal Sparks, Chris Reid (Kid from Kid n� Play), Lisa Ann Walter, Carnie Wilson, Kim Wyatt from The Pussycat Dolls. Jeff McBride, Max Maven & Jonathan Levit are the judges.

We�ve only now received the full schedule for the show, and wanted to share it with you so you�ll be inspired to catch every episode: Episode 1 -- April 27 (Introduction - Street Magic) Episode 2 -- May 4 (Children's Magic) Episode 3 -- May 11 (Comedy Magic **Jeff was away for this episode.) Episode 4 -- May 18 (Strolling Magic) Episode 5 -- May 25 (Cabaret Magic) (We get pre-empted on June 1) Episode 6 -- June 8 (Escapes) Episode 7 -- June 15 (The Road to the Finale) Episode 8 -- June 22 (The Finale) Episode 9 -- June 22 (Magician's Special) Be there and experience all 8 weeks of this exciting magical competition! In the meantime... If you�re attending the 31st Annual World Magic Seminar next weekend, here in Las Vegas (April 27-30), be sure to drop in and see us! Jeff and Eugene have their own corner room set up at the top of the escalator as you enter the convention, and it�s going to be something special this year! A preview of Jeff�s latest project, "Jeff McBride Presents -- The Magic Wonderground." After he and Eugene finish up with their "Teen Weekend," sponsored by Lance Burton just prior to the convention, they�ll be meeting and greeting, performing and consulting for friends old and new in their special room. We�ll hope to see you there! For the rest of you -- we�ll be revealing more of the secrets of The Wonderground in later issues of the Museletter. For now, it�s all very hush-hush! I hope this finds you all enjoying a wonderful and magical spring. Sincerely, Tobias Beckwith

The Next Uri Geller

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Late Breaking News: McBRIDE STUDENT CHOSEN AS THE NEXT URI GELLER! Our friend and Magic & Meaning student RAMANA won the TV competition to find "THE NEXT URI GELLER!" in Europe. RAMANA wrote to us last night:

"The highest art in any medium can only emerge from a spiritual background. This applies particularly to the art of magic". -- S.H. Sharpe Dear Jeff, Eugene, and Tobias, The last 3 months were the most lucrative in my life as a performing mystery entertainer. I joined the Dutch version of PHENOMENON (THE NEXT URI GELLER) and I won the series! In my performances I tried to mix true magic/mystery with performance mentalism. Every time, I tried to give something more to the audience than just nicely presented effects. I always put hidden, mostly spiritual, empowering messages in my performances. I believe to create true mystery one should have one hand in the 'real' world and the other in the 'other' world. I am inspired by my little life experience, travels to India and other strange places, knowledge from books but also by my great teachers Jeff McBride and Eugene Burger. Especially their vision to put MEANING!!!! in your magic/mentalism. Thank you Jeff for the advice and inspiration you gave me for this show. I feel proud to be your student. I highly recommend everybody to visit the MAGIC AND MEANING in Las Vegas and other of their classes and don't forget to believe in your self, follow your heart and a passion... Your student in the mystic arts, RAMANA

Thank you Ramana for making us proud to be a part of your growing success! If you want to see a bit of RAMANA check out the video at http://www.myvideo.nl/watch/3508522. And now, on to our regularly scheduled Museletter!

"We can escape the prison of our own beliefs and enter the Palace of Possibilities when we allow ourselves to be astonished by everything." -- Gary Craig

Greetings All, Abbi and I have escaped. We took a week off from traveling to, guess what? TRAVEL! We escaped to Zion National Park, in Utah, for a few days of hiking the majestic peaks and experiencing the breath-taking vistas. Hey, it's only three hours from Las Vegas. Abbi drove the van, while I sat shotgun, practicing a new card routine that I'll show you next time I see you. GET OUT OF JAIL, FREE! Heather Rogers, a recent Master Class attendee did, using the skills she learned at the Magic and Mystery School to win her freedom... Heather writes:

Dear Jeff & Abbi, It's 1:30 a.m. and I just arrived home from going to the gym. On my way home I was stopped by a policeman for "rolling through a stop sign". I handed him the license with the clown nose on it and quickly put mine on. He was only mildly impressed. Then I tried my first hand at my newest effect from Mystery School: B'wave... and Wammo! I got an "I'm impressed and I won't write you a ticket this time. Ya gotta love magic! Love, Heather

P.S. Have you read "The Science of Getting Rich?" It is an amazing book written by Wallace D. Wattles in 1910 that is blowing my mind. You can print it out for free from wikipeda, because it is now in the public domain. Below is the link to get to that page. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Science_of_Getting_Rich MCBRIDE ON TELEVISION: VH-1 CELEBRACADABRA We're just about to send out our souvenir postcard commemorating the first season of CELEBRACADBRA. If you don�t receive our regular mailings, please email Abbi your snail mail address - Spinner@mcbridemagic.com - and we�ll make sure that you get our upcoming special edition postcard mailing. Stan Allen at MAGIC Magazine ran an article on Celebracadabra, VH1's magic reality series, in the March issue. Some updated info for you: The kick-off to the series has moved back a week, now April 20th, 9 p.m. The show airs every Sunday evening, with the exception of June 1st, wrapping up on June 22nd. And we're now able to release the names of the celebrities who will be competing for the $100,000 grand prize: singers Carnie Wilson, Kimberly Wyatt, and Chris 'Kid' Reed; comedians Hal Sparks and Ant; and actors C. Thomas Howell and Lisa Ann Walter. We'll post the full running schedule in April. MCBRIDE ON TOUR, ISTANBUL AND BEYOND!! UK Last Call for Euro-Master Class 2008! We still have a few spaces for our upcoming class in Cornwall, England. Contact Kenny, maverick7@tiscali.co.uk for more information. TURKEY Istanbul, Turkey, and beyond! Jeff will be on tour with Magic Stars Festival with Abbi, and with his friend Kevin James and many other magic stars. For more information email Lee Alex at info@magicwaistcoat.com.

Romany - Diva of Magic

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Dear Friends in Magic: Our friend Romany, from the UK, will be saying hello to you this issue! Romany is a long time student at the Magic and Mystery School and recently won the prestigious MAGICIAN OF THE YEAR from the Magic Circle in England. This is the world oldest magic club and Romany was the first woman ever to win! And now from Romany...

Ciao! Romany, Diva of Magic signing in... I'd like to share with you all, a favourite quote that I have right before my eyes stuck on the practice mirror:

"What we vividly imagine, ardently desire, enthusiastically act upon, must inevitably come to pass." -- Colin P Sisson

Which leaves us to question, exactly WHAT is it that I ardently desire etc... or rather WHAT, WHO, WHEN????? If we look at our paths in magic in terms of a Sat Nav (that�s GPS for us here in the US...surely the most magical bit of technology to aid our paths to the gig!), if we know where we are and precisely where we want to be, then it is easier to move forward in the right direction and know what we need to focus on to arrive in the place of our best dreams. For myself, for magic, my desire is to create finely polished pieces of magic that invite the audience to a point of childlike wonder and pleasure. I would like to entrance them with colour, soften their hearts with music, win a smile with eccentric comedy and put myself on stage before them, heart open with the spirit of that lovely line from the Irish poet Yeats, "I have spread my dreams under your feet...". In all this, I take great inspiration from Eugene's teaching on scripting, John Carney's dedication to exquisite magic, the eccentricity and flamboyance of Jeff Hobson, Topaz's stagecraft and from Jeff's life & charisma and especially his teaching on "pack small, play big!" So I need to turn off the computer, get in the studio more, dare to experiment with new magic, finally choreograph the silent act etc... lots of things, but at least moving forward with patience and optimism that all is possible. And...! I don't know about you, but I really waste a lot of time in despair about not having learnt that new trick or worked on the new act. That doesn't take us anywhere! So my New Year's Resolution is ONLY to ENJOY magic! What's yours? I love meeting up with you my fellow magi around the world, here's looking forward to the next time! With sequins, Romany - Diva of Magic www.romanymagic.com

A FEW WORDS FROM TOBIAS... We�re very excited about the classes and events coming up in the UK in April. I understand that Kenny has opened up a few more for the Cornwall classes and show, as well. Go to http://www.magicmasterclass.co.uk/ to learn more and reserve your space for the class or the show in Cornwall. Don�t wait to the last minute -- these events sold out early last time we did them! Just after the events in the U.K. Jeff will be traveling to Istanbul, where our friend Lee Alex is sponsoring a 2 day class on April 12 & 13 (also filling up fast!), and performances of "Stars of Magic - 2008" from April 16-20. For more information on the Istanbul events, write to Lee at: info@leealex.com.

We�re also excited about the upcoming airing of the 8 episodes of "Celebracabra!" on VH1, starting April 20. We�ll include a detailed schedule of airings in our Museletter a week or so before the first episode airs. In the meantime, MAGIC magazine just ran a fascinating article on the show in the issue that just came out. Pick up a copy and read it -- and don�t miss Jeff�s "Ask the Show Doctor" in this month�s issue, either! As I write this, we�re wrapping up our first Extended Master Class of 2008. I really love these longer classes, as they give us time to go into more depth with all the students, and give all of us a chance to get to know one another better. And in just another couple of weeks (March 25-27) we have the class for Balloon Twisters. We�re lucky to have both Don Caldwell and Todd Neufeld offering sessions during the class this year, and we�re excited about that. For those of you who think balloon twisting is just for kids -- well, this is a rapidly expanding and growing branch of our entertainment arts, and you�ll be amazed at the things these folks are doing. I understand we still have one or two slots open � if you�ve every thought about adding balloon twisting to your repertoire, sign up and have your mind blown by the things you�ll see at this class! Thanks for bearing with us all the way to the end on this one. We look forward to sharing more exciting news and views in just a couple of weeks! Best to all, Tobias Beckwith

Greetings from Italy!

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings Magical Friends! This is Tobias, writing while Jeff is off in the UK, winding up his short tour there, following what may have been truly the world�s greatest magic show in Blackpool, produced by Derek Lever. Here�s a photo of Jeff with local magicians at his lecture in Manchester last night. We�ve already had several delightful e-mail letters from those who attended ... it appears to have been a smashing success. Speaking of the UK: I understand the classes scheduled in April -- both the Master Class in Cornwall and the 2 Secret Sessions in Brighton, are filling fast. You can now find links to both events from magicalwisdom.com, as well as from Jeff�s main tour calendar. If you think you might want to attend, I highly recommend getting yourself registered as soon as possible! Before I go any further, we wanted to share with you the following report from our good friend Ferdinando, who recently hosted a wonderful tour by Eugene Burger through Italy.

"All of the buildings, all of the cars, were once just a dream, in somebody's head" -- Peter Gabriel

Dear Friends, It's a very exciting time, over here in Italy! After the recent translation into Italian of his wonderful book The Experience of Magic , Eugene just spent 10 days here in Italy for a lecture tour, which has been an huge success! (in photo attached, Eugene is with Anna, Ferdinando and the world famous quick-change artist Arturo Brachetti) Another great book is now available in Italian: David Jay Brown's Conversations on the Edge of the Apocalypse, in which Jeff is interviewed, along with such people as: George Carlin, Noam Chomsky, Deepak Chopra, Alex Grey, Rupert Sheldrake, Robert Anton Wilson and many others! A MUST reading!! The last bit of information: please keep an eye on the Master Class schedules... for a possible Master Class in Torino (Italy), in 2009!!! We are working to turn the idea into reality. Greetings from Italy! ferdinando (ferdinando.biz)

For those of you in the North East (of the US), don�t miss Jeff�s appearance as part of the Twist & Shout Balloon Twisters Convention in Boston next week (Feb. 22nd). The convention is for balloon twisters -- but the show if open to anyone, and will include not only the pieces Jeff is best known for, but several new items he has just recently developed. You can find detailed information at http://www.balloonconvention.com/index.html. Be sure to scroll down the page, as the detailed show information is a ways down. Also, do note there are a couple of spaces still available for the March Extended Master Class here in Las Vegas. This is our first extended class of the New Year, and we have lots of new experiences in store for you, including new video presentation facilities, a special session with web-guru Bryce Kuhlman (Jeff�s site, Lance Burton�s... and dozens of others). I�ll be doing a streamlined version of my business & career session, and a new lecture taking you through the basics of my book "Beyond Deception" and giving you further creativity exercises not included in the book. Oh -- I nearly forgot. We�ve also just posted all of the classes available through the end of November. For those of you just waiting to sign up for this year�s "Magic & Meaning," registration is now open! We�re also finally ready to ship the DVDs some of you ordered from last year�s conference... so watch your mailbox if you signed up for one! One final bit of late-breaking news. We�ve just received the following press release from our friends at VH-1:

In development news, VH1 has given the green light to "Celebracadabra" -- Seven TV and film stars vie for the title of "Best Celebrity Magician" when they gather at the Magic Castle in Los Angeles, the world's most famous club for magicians, and attempt to learn and perform tricks normally left to the professionals. Guided by veteran magicians, the competitors face tough crowds and a master panel of judges (including Jeff McBride) who determine which celebrities get to advance to the next round and a shot at a grand prize. Executive producers are Michael Hirschorn, Shelly Tatro, Karla Hidalgo and Chris Martin.

This is their official press release information, and we�re not permitted to give out anything further -- except that Jeff will be seen judging every episode, and that we�ve seen bits and pieces... and this promises to be a very good series for the art of magic! Best wishes for a magical month, Tobias

Introducing Jordan Wright

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 00:00:01 GMT

"Illusion is the first of all pleasures." -- Oscar Wilde

Greetings from sunny Las Vegas! Jeff & Abbi here. It seems like we�re skipping stones on a giant ocean. We just skipped back to Las Vegas from China, and this week, Jeff is off to England for a show and a lecture tour. So, here�s a shout out to all of our UK friends and fans; Jeff will see you soon! Here is a photo of Jeff and Eugene sharing a glorious sunrise at Stonehenge during a visit last year.

All of us here at McBride Magic would like to formally introduce you to the newest member of our team, Jordan Wright. Jordan began studying with us here at the Magic and Mystery School several years ago and now is touring with us as our opening act. Jordan is a perfect example of someone who has applied his passion to his art and is making great progress! He is also an accomplished film-maker, and I will include a link to one of his recent pieces. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTjUzEO09hQ Here are a few words from Jordan: Greetings Museletter friends, Jordan here, saying hello and sharing with you one of my favorite inspirational quotes:

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." -- Henry David Thoreau

I work toward that everyday, especially on my recent trip to China. Jeff, Abbi, and I have just returned from performing Jeff�s full evening illusion show in beautiful Sanya, China. Sanya is located on the island of Hainan, which happens to be China�s smallest province. It was there that we provided the evening�s special entertainment for the executives of Viasystems. While on the long plane ride to Sanya, I had time to reflect on my journey to this point in my career. I cannot believe that only five years ago I moved to Las Vegas to start college and enrolled in my first Master Class. I look back and realize that I have come a long way from that first class having now opened for Jeff�s show in Atlantic City, Taiwan, and China. Of course I am also busy creating my own material and performing my own show in various venues. I attribute a lot of my growth thus far to continually observing a man whom I consider to be a master of the art. As Virgil once said, "Follow an expert." If we want to be excellent at what we do, I truly believe we must learn from those who are the best at what they do. Thank you Jordan! And, thank all of you that keep in touch with us through these Museletters. It�s great to stay connected with you, and I enjoy getting your feedback emails. We are exploring new ways to bring our magic to you, and to create a source of inspiration and magic for all of our friends, like you! In the next few months, we hope to be giving you more news from our friends and faculty here at the school. Tobias, Eugene, Bryce, Abbi, and Jordan will be sharing more of their magical insights and inspirations with us! Yours in mystery... Jeff, Abbi, and all of your friends here at the McBride Magic and Mystery School NEWS FROM TOBIAS: Not only is Jeff on his way to the UK this week, but he and Eugene will be traveling there again in April to conduct another special performance (April 3) and master class in Cornwall (April 4, 5 & 6), followed by two one-day Intensives in Brighton (April 9 & 10). The classes are filling fast, so be sure and register early. You can find further information on the Cornwall classes now at http://www.magicmasterclass.co.uk, or by contacting Kenny at Kernow Magic: maverick7@tiscali.co.uk, or, for further information on the Brighton classes, contact Romany at romany@romanymagic.com. This will just be the first leg of a tour in Europe for Jeff -- more on that in an upcoming Museletter! We�ve just completed our first classes of the New Year here in Las Vegas. Jeff�s "Focus on Manipulation" was well attended, as was our first 3-Day Master class of the year. We�re experimenting with a new schedule for the 3-Day classes, as well as making use of Jeff�s newly installed home-theatre / lecture space that allows us to use Powerpoint and Video to enhance some of our presentations. What�s more, Bryce Kuhlman, our Internet Wizard joined the class again for the first time in quite a long time, and delivered a terrific presentation on web-sites for magicians. Bryce intends to be at all our future classes, as his schedule permits. We�re very excited to be able to include what he has to offer to our students once again! That said: We still have a few spots available in our March classes -- but they won�t last much longer! If you�re a serious student of magic, now is the time to register: MagicalWisdom.com. If you�re new to the Magic & Mystery School, we�ve recently added some videos to the site to give you a better idea of just what you can expect. Best wishes for a magical February! Tobias Beckwith

New Year Musings

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Dear Friends (from Tobias): Wow -- it's already been a busy year! Jeff and Abbi and Jordan have just returned from the island of Hainan, off the southern coast of China, where they performed "Magic at the Edge" at a corporate event. Now, as January winds to a close, those of you who have Magic Magazine�s annual calendar will be bidding goodbye to Jeff McBride�s photos as "Mr. January." Jeff is honored to be the lead-off magician for 2008! Before moving on to additional news, I�d like to share a story from one of Jeff's students, Jacques le Sueur. This is from an e-mail sent us by Jacques: I've just been up to Lagos, Nigeria to perform at corporate shows, but had a chance to go into the jungle and entertain at a couple of villages. The chief of one village, Big John, asked me as I left if I could give him the Lottery numbers. I said sure, but could only give him four of the five numbers, the last he'd have to choose for himself. I gave him some random numbers, and then forgot about it. At 3:30 that morning I got a phone call at the hotel from my corporate host. The Lottery numbers had come through, and the village has won a very small fortune!! They're using the money to put a borehole in, get electricity, and redo some of the shack housing. Oh, and putting a small statue of me in the centre of the village. :-) It just goes to show -- your magic can change the lives of others in ways far beyond what you might imagine! Before I turn this over to Jeff, I wanted to let you know that Jeff's column "Ask the Show Doctor," which appears monthly in MAGIC Magazine, is about to become a live entity in and of itself. Sometime in February we�ll be activating the online version, in which anyone who visits MagicalWisdom.com can log on and post questions for Jeff to answer in his role as "The Show Doctor," with answers viewable by all. We�ll let you know when the new site is live -- but you can start collecting your questions for Jeff right now! Happy New Year to All! Tobias Beckwith From Jeff: "Magic -- and among its branches I include psychology as its purpose to describe and change consciousness -- is an art." --Starhawk MAGIC AND PSYCHOLOGY One of my passions is exploring the connection between magic, psychology, and philosophy. Richard Weisman is a scientist, lecturer and magician who created this unique event at a science museum in the UK. Here are a few interview segments from a recent exhibition in London. Psychology of Magic part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8loQRnjhuwY Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CivohBu_-Ek FORBIDDEN SECRETS REVEALED! We are offering some new classes this year at the Magic and Mystery School. If your passion is card magic, I will be sharing my inner secrets about my card manipulation act with a small group of students at Focus on Manipulation. This event will be followed with our three day Master Class. For more information please go here: http://www.magicalwisdom.com/calendar.php JEFF AND ABBI IN THE MOVIES!! Over the next few months, a new documentary will start showing at film festivals across the country. "Women in Boxes" explores the history of women in magic. Abbi and I are featured in interviews and performance segments. Eugene also offers his unique perspective on the role of the feminine mystique in magic. You can get a sneak peek online. LAST CALL FOR MYSTERIUM! February 1, 2, 3rd in Las Vegas. This alternative event is for people who are interested in magical community, alchemy, drumming and dancing. All the information is online at VegasVortex.com. Check it out! The days have been sunny here in Las Vegas. We are looking forward to hosting Eugene Burger for our upcoming classes. I am spending a lot of the time this month between tours editing some new DVDs that will be out in the next few months, and working with private students. Also, look for me on season four of MINDFREAK. Criss and I will be doing a few segments together. Love to all, Jeff VISIT HTTP://SHOP.YOURMAGIC.COM FOR THE LATEST AND BEST FROM JEFF MCBRIDE, EUGENE BURGER, TOBIAS BECKWITH & OTHERS. Recent additions include: Exploring Magical Presentations with Eugene Burger Jeff McBride's Revolution! -- The Secrets of the Double Dancing Cane! Jeff McBride: A Magickal Life -- An extraordinary one-hour documentary of Jeff McBride's quest for real magic. Beyond Deception -- Tobias Beckwith shares the secrets he uses to help Jeff McBride, Marco Tempest and others create astonishingly original magic.

Happy New Year!

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 00:00:01 GMT

Greetings All, Jeff, Abbi, Eugene, Tobias, and Bryce all wishing you a Magical New Year! JEFF�S NEW FAVORITE INSPIRATIONAL QUOTE! We would like you to start 2008 with this following thought from explorer W. H. Murray. It is our hope that it will inspire you to achieve your magical dreams. �Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, the providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets: Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it!" This is by far one of our favorite inspirational thoughts. I printed it out and posted it next to my computer, so I can see it everyday and to remind me of my magical quest. I hope you refer to it and that it gives you hope, courage and inspiration! TELEVISION MAGIC IN ASIA Next week, we are off to China for a corporate date, with our big illusion show. Jordan Wright will be our opening act. He has been developing a very interesting new character. Here is a video clip from a recent hit television show in Taiwan. Magic is really big in Asia these days. Your friends, Jeff & Abbi YOUR DREAMS ARE OUR PASSION! Do you have a magical dream? If you do, what's your next step? McBride Magic and Mystery School and a sample of our 3 day and 7 day schedules. Please take to time to read the following and if you want more detailed info please go to http://www.magicalwisdom.com/school.php Or feel free to call us at the school. Just ask for Abbi at 702-450-0021. MYSTERIUM 2008 Our annual gathering Mysterium will be happening February 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in Las Vegas. This alternative event is for people who are interested in magical community, alchemy, drumming and dancing. All the information is online at http://www.vegasvortex.com. Check it out!

Gifts of the Magi

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:00:01 GMT

It is only possible to give someone a magical experience if you have first had a magical experience, for it is impossible to give a gift you do not possess. -- Jeff McBride Greetings Friends, One of our gifts is being able to explore the world and bring the magic home, and then share it with our family and friends like you. We also feel that it is a gift that we can create a magical home for magic here in Las Vegas that magic-lovers can visit to get re-charged and to be inspired. In this way, the current of magic that flows into our lives can flow out again into the world. We are just home from our tour of Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia. The past few days, Jeff has been performing with his magic hero, John Calvert. Mr. Calvert is a living legend of magic. At 96 years old, he is still touring the country, doing his show and lecture. When Jeff asked him his secret to success, health and longevity, he said: "I agree with the great playwright William Shakespeare, when he said that all the world's a stage.... and every morning, Jeff, when I get up, I decide that I will play the part of a young man." Thank you, Mr. Calvert, you are an inspiration to all of us! Here is a photo of Jeff getting schooled by John. Ask Jeff to tell one of his favorite "Calvert stories" the next time you see him! HAWAII MAGIC ADVENTURE We will be sharing our magical gifts with our friends in Hawaii soon: We'll be doing a show, lecture and Master Class in Oahu on Dec. 17 and 18th. Our friend, Mike Ching, is one of the leading magicians in Hawaii, and is hosting our event. For all the details click here. We will also be on retreat at FireTribe Hawaii... See you at the fire? We will be home just in time for Christmas! So, we'll be thinking about all of you as we travel the world, and return to you, dear friends, to share the gifts of our magic. Yours in mystery... Jeff & Abbi A FEW WORDS FROM TOBIAS: How can you give the gift of Magic this year? We've had some great ideas about that! Now you can give the gift of magic to someone you love: Magic School Gift Certificates are available now, for the first time, for your holiday convenience! You can send your favorite magic enthusiast the gift of an extraordinary magical experience! You can give any amount - from a portion of their deposit for a class all the way up to full tuition. And the best part � they can choose the class they want to attend. Just click on this link for more information and instruction. Pay by check or by Paypal, and receive a printable certificate by mail or e-mail within two days. Speaking of gifts and Gift Certificates - we've also created a Gift Certificate Program for the shop at Yourmagic.com. If you know you want to give something to your favorite magician, but aren't sure just what the most appropriate book, trick or video might be, this could be your perfect option! You'll find the gift certificate featured on the front page at http://shop.yourmagic.com. We have lots of other new items, as well. My new book Beyond Deception, is designed you help you take those favorite magical effects and turn them into your own completely original and powerful performance pieces, and it has just arrived from the printer. All copies bought through the web site are signed copies, from the first printing of just 1,500 -- over a third of which are already spoken for. JEFF MCBRIDE HAS NEW DVDs READY TO SHIP IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS! If you are looking for something fresh and new, you want to see JEFF MCBRIDE'S REVOLUTION! The Secrets of the Double Dancing Cane! In this DVD, Jeff teaches you the secret workings of one of his favorite routines. Not only that, but we have special package deals when you buy REVOLUTION with one or two of Jeff's VORTEX rainbow light canes. JEFF MCBRIDE: A MAGICKAL LIFE: An extraordinary one-hour documentary of Jeff McBride's quest for real magic... from the stage shows of Las Vegas to the fire rituals of Burning Man, get an inside look into the life and times of one of the world's leading magical artists, produced by our friends at Reel Time Images. What's more: We've finally received our shipment of the next batch of the DOUBLE JUMBO CARD FAN FINALE. This favorite item has been out of stock for almost six months, but we just received an order of 50 or so. Ten are gone already, but we expect the supply to hold up at least for the holiday season. FINALLY: Eugene Burger has just released his "Growing in the Art of Magic" recordings as a series of instant downloads, available exclusively through Yourmagic.com. You can also buy the book transcription of this amazing series of Eugene's talks. If you find yourself looking for that special "last minute" gift, with no time to wait for shipping, either this special "Growing in the Art of Magic" download, one of our instant download videos, or the new Yourmagic Gift Certificate make the perfect last minute holiday gift for your favorite magician. See you at the shop! With all best wishes for a most magical holiday. Tobias Beckwith tobias@yourmagic.com

Food for Thought

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 00:00:01 GMT

Many years ago a very wise man named Bernard Baruch took me aside and put his arm around my shoulder. "Harpo, my boy," he said, "I'm going to give you three pieces of advice, three things you should always remember." My heart jumped and I glowed with expectation. I was going to hear the magic password to a rich, full life from the master himself. "Yes, sir" I said. And he told me the three things. I regret that I've forgotten what they were. --Arthur 'Harpo' Marx It�s our time to remember. The above quote made us reflect on what we consider to be the three important keys to a rich, full life. 1. Gratitude -- Jeff says that Abbi is a continual reminder of how important an �attitude of gratitude� is in daily life. Whenever Jeff gets into a stuck or tense place, Abbi reminds him to ask himself what he is grateful for. This is a magical formula that can dissolve even the most corrosive elements that block our daily lives. 2. Inspiration -- To be inspired means to be �filled with spirit.� Seeking the highest quality experiences in life, learning from the wisest people, and experiencing the many gifts this world offers us, we can be inspired to create artistic expressions of our interactions with the cosmos. We are closest to the Creator when we are creating. 3. Mystery -- and it will remain a mystery until we share it with you when we see you next�. We love mystery, and that is our passion, and our profession, here at the McBride Magic and Mystery School. If you�ve never been to one of our events, perhaps it�s time for you to consider pushing beyond your comfort zone and journeying into the heart of our mystery. Q. Where has Jeff left his heart? A. In San Francisco! And yes, Jeff will be sharing the heart, soul and spirit of his magic in a unique two day event... It�s the Jeff McBride Magic & Mystery Experience, live, in San Francisco! On November 29th and 30th, Jeff will be performing his show, lecture and Master Class seminar for a few select magicians and their friends� Yes, you can attend, too, by contacting info@misdirections.com READY FOR THE HOLIDAYS!! Jeff has two new DVDs ready for you! JEFF MCBRIDE, A MAGICKAL LIFE, is an extraordinary documentary of Jeff�s life, work and his quest to discover real magic. Here is a short clip that our friends Jordan Wright & Paul Draper put together: http://youtube.com/watch?v=pvEhHSJ9lpk Also, JEFF MCBRIDE�S REVOLUTION, the Evolution of the Double Dancing Cane is now available. You can learn the insider tips on the dancing cane, and all about the new dancing light canes! This has been one of Jeff�s pet secrets for many years. You can get these and others of our latest items at: http://shop.yourmagic.com MCBRIDE IN LAS VEGAS Jeff will be making a guest appearance at the Orleans Hotel, as part of the John Calvert gala on December 3rd. This event will be hosted by our friend Roger Dreyer from Fantasma Magic. Jeff will be appearing with Johnny Thompson, Jeff Hobson, and the legendary Carl Ballantine. For more info on how you can attend this historic event, contact Joey King, kingscastle1@cox.net. See you in December! Jeff & Abbi McBride

Asia - Fire of Creation - More!

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Wed, 14 Nov 2007 00:00:01 GMT

�One of the most tragic things I know about human nature is that all of us tend to put off living. We are all dreaming of some magical rose garden over the horizon -- instead of enjoying the roses blooming outside our windows today.� --Dale Carnegie Greetings Magical Friends, Abbi here, checking in from the House of Mystery... I am thrilled to announce that my new CD project, Fire of Creation has returned from the printer and has officially been completed. I�m exceedingly grateful to everyone who helped with the kindling of this fire. I have had a limited number of Fire of Creation CDs printed, and they�re now available on our website. My music, as many of you know, is a techno-tribal revival of drumming, chanting, lush synth beds and trance grooves. I hope you�ll enjoy it! MYSTERIES OF THE EAST Tao Te Ching, chapter 11 Thirty spokes share the wheel's hub; It is the center hole that makes it useful. Shape clay into a vessel; It is the space within that makes it useful. Cut doors and windows for a room; It is the holes which make it useful. Therefore profit comes from what is there; Usefulness from what is not there. Sometimes it�s the space that is in between the days of our busy schedule that I find most productive and useful. Today, I�m sitting here, reflecting in our home while Jeff is currently in Japan. I�ve been enjoying spending time cultivating the rose garden, and have been diving into my music practice. I will rendezvous with Jeff for a tour of Taiwan later this month, for a big international magic conference and television show he�s shooting over there. We will be performing our full evening show: JEFF MCBRIDE: MAGIC AT THE EDGE. After our time in Taiwan, Jeff will continue on to Malaysia for another week, and will be home just after Thanksgiving. MCBRIDE IN SAN FRANCISCO November 29th and 30th Jeff will be sharing his magic with all of our friends in San Francisco, sponsored by Misdirections Magic Shop. You can find information at: http://www.misdirections.com/calendar.html or by writing to Misdirections� proprietor, Joe Pon: Info@misdirections.com. Jeff will be doing a show / lecture and a one day Master Class. We�ll look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming classes, lectures or shows! Until then, I send you my very best magical wishes! Abbi McBride QUICK NOTE FROM TOBIAS: Thanks to all of you who have signed up for pre-orders of Beyond Deception! I expect delivery from the printer on Monday, November 19, and will be signing and sending out the pre-orders then. This means that if you want a personalized signed copy, you still have 4-5 days to get your order in by going to http://shop.yourmagic.com. While you're there, why not do some holiday shopping for your favorite magician. Jeff has several new products available, and more going up all the time! With magical best wishes, Tobias Beckwith (tobias@yourmagic.com)

Magical October

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 00:00:01 GMT

�Last Halloween a kid tried to rip my face off. He thought it was a mask. Now it's different when I open the door the kids hand me candy.�--Rodney Dangerfield Greetings Magical Friends and Family, October is one of my favorite months. It�s the time of myths, monsters and mayhem. I grew up in a little town in upstate New York, called Rock Hill. Halloween was my favorite holiday. I remember, as a pre-teen, prowling around the streets in my werewolf costume, banging on neighbor�s windows and scaring the nightlights out of them. All this mayhem wreaked on my unsuspecting neighbors, weeks before Halloween came around. Yes, Lon Chaney was my hero. My sisters got the worst of it. I remember when my older sister, Donna, had just come home from watching the horror movie The Exorcist. I dressed up like a monster and hid in her closet, and just before she fell asleep, I started scratching on the walls, rousing her from her slumber, and when she rose to investigate the sound, I leapt, screaming, as only a prepubescent wolf-boy can do. HOWWLLL! Yep, she still hates me. Since then, I have channeled all of this monstrous energy into more practical endeavors, like this one... Abbi and I will be hosting the annual Las Vegas Witches and Wizard�s Ball. All the information is online at http://vegasvortex.com/pages/FallFest Next time you�re in Las Vegas... Private Sessions If you are interested in scheduling a private session here at the McBride House of Mystery, please contact Abbi at 702 450-0021 and she will assist you. (She�s an excellent assistant, and a terrific wife...) Magic for Medical Professionals We�re really excited to be hosting doctors and other medical professionals from around the world for our third annual Magic for Medical Professionals Conference. We will explore the art of magic from the shaman to the showman, and the connection between the magician and the healer. Have a monstrously fun Halloween! From your favorite wolf-boy magician, Jeff NOTE: We have several new videos on line, including a new brief trailer for "Jeff McBride - A Magickal Life." Check it out at http://shop.yourmagic.com.

Exploring Magic & Meaning

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 00:00:01 GMT

"The word 'magic' is out of fashion, though its spirit was never more widely diffused than at the present time. Thanks to the gradual debasement of the verbal currency, it suggests to the ordinary reader the production of optical illusions and other parlour tricks. It has dragged with it, in its fall, the terrific verb, to 'conjure,' which, forgetting that it once undertook to compel the spirits of men and angels, is now content to produce rabbits from top hats." -- Evelyn Underhill, Mysticism Greetings all, Putting meaning back into magic is very important to me. So much so, that I put a great deal of energy into creating events that will, hopefully, elevate the art of magic. This month, I am proud to be hosting our Mystery School reunion, that we call The Magic and Meaning Conference. Our special guests this year will include: Internationally acclaimed modern mage and corporate alchemist George Parker, who will teach us how to infuse our magic with powerful metaphors that relate to the business and corporate world. George has an unusual ability to empower his audiences with his philosophy of life and magic. Dr. Lawrence Hass, award-winning author who is currently writing a monthly "Theory and Art of Magic" column for MAGIC magazine. He is the author of a brand new book, Transformations, and will be presenting "Heidegger & The Experimental Roots of Magic." It will be a thought-provoking and discussion generating talk. From the UK, Jon Randall, editor of Pentacle magazine, the UK�s leading independent Pagan magazine -- will be presenting FRAUD! An expose of fraudulent mediums and sham psychics. Tobias Beckwith has just finished his new book, Beyond Deception, and will be presenting a workshop based on its extraordinary content. Also, Father Daniel Rolland and many of the Mystery School alumni will be on hand. Of course, Eugene Burger, Dean of the Magic and Mystery School and author of Magic & Meaning, one of my favorite and most-recommended books, will be joining us. To read more about Magic and Meaning, please go to: http://www.magicalwisdom.com Master Class for Mentalists ... is sold out, and there is a waiting list for next year. Thank you Tobias, Abbi, Eugene, and Ross Johnson for hosting yet another great magical adventure. Other Events in Las Vegas Our good friend Sheila Z, is an accomplished author, teacher and spiritual life coach. Sheila�s energy and angelic presence touches everyone around her. She is coordinating the Intentional Wellness Conference on October 20th. If you�re interested in creating opportunities for wellness and health in every area of your life, check out this link for more information: http://www.intentional-wellness.com. Coming Next Museletter: Wolf-boy Jeff returns!! Enjoy the Fall... Jeff & Abbi PS For those of you that are interested in ritual fire magick, check out Fall Fest at vegasvortex.com in the events section, or take a look at this clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSjnq_ALNVY AND A NOTE FROM TOBIAS: First, let us make a correction: In a previous Museletter, we listed Michael Carbonaro as one of the magicians who helped us entertain audiences before the shows at Trump Marina in Atlantic City. While Michael is a good friend and terrific performer -- he wasn�t there. It was MARK Carbonaro, who was in town for the master class that week. Thanks to Mark! Further: I�m excited. My book Beyond Deception: The Theory and Technique of Creating Original Magic, is at the printers, and we�re putting it up on the web site this week for special "pre-orders." I�ll be signing each copy that is pre-ordered with a personal note to each person who has ordered that way. Although all copies of the book bought through our site will be signed, only those pre-ordered will get the personalized signing. I expect to be shipping by December 1st. Many thanks to Jeff, Eugene, Bob Fitch and all the others who have helped me make this book the best it can be! We�ll include a short excerpt from the book in an upcoming Museletter. Wishing you all a magical October! Tobias

Time for Magic & Mystery

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 00:00:01 GMT

LATE BREAKING NEWS FROM TOBIAS: JEFF MCBRIDE on TWO (COUNT �EM) TV SERIES THIS SEASON We told you in our last letter about Jeff�s upcoming featured role on the new reality TV series for VH-1. We still can�t tell you much more about it, except that Jeff is at the Magic Castle right now, preparing with the team for the tapings, which will occur over the next 6 weeks or so. In the meantime, Jeff has just reminded us he�ll probably be the only magician this fall to be seen on not one, but two different series: the one now taping on VH-1, and with Criss Angel on Mindfreak on A&E. MORE NEWS OF THE DAY: MAGIC & MEANING News flash! From England, special guest Jon Randall, the editor of Pentacle Magazine, the UK's leading independent pagan magazine, will present an expose of fraudulent mediums and sham psychics as a special addition to the Magic and Meaning Conference in Las Vegas, October 24-27. Not only that, but I�ve just been added to the schedule doing a special lecture workshop on my own about to be released book, Beyond Deception, presenting techniques you can use to jumpstart your own creative process and create power original magic. The book itself won�t be available for purchase until 2-3 weeks after the conference, but I�ll have galley copies you can check out during Magic & Meaning. And now, on to our regularly scheduled Museletter! "For in and out, above, about, below, 'Tis nothing but a Magic Shadow-show, Play'd in a Box whose Candle is the Sun, Round which we Phantom Figures come and go." -- Omar Khayyam Greetings Magical Friends, THE MAGIC AND MEANING CONFERENCE Oct 24 - 27, 2007 Magicians and storytellers from all over the world are coming to what we think of as "The Mystery School Reunion," also known as The Magic & Meaning Conference! Along with many shows, lectures, and works in progress this event will feature special guest presenters, performers and lecturers, including: George Parker from the Netherlands. George is a fine motivational speaker and magician, who weaves inspiration and metaphor into his presentations. He is going to teach us some of the tools of his art. Larry Hass, Professor of Philosophy at Muhlenberg College. Larry is an award-winning teacher of phenomenology, aesthetics, magic performance, and magic theory. He is also the Founding Director of the Theory and Art of Magic program�an ongoing educational symposium that brings the world's greatest magicians to the campus to perform, lecture, and teach about their amazing art. WITCHES AND WIZARDS, OH MY!!! Also at the Magic and Meaning conference: attendees will celebrate the season with the LAS VEGAS WITCHES AND WIZARDS BALL with live DJ Sylvia Brallier, special performances and an outrageous midnight seance by master storyteller Eugene Burger. Creative costumes welcomed and encouraged, but not required. For more info, go to http://vegasvortex.com/pages/FallFest ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Our friend and magic student Tom Mesoroll has just published a very fine book: Magus, Master of Martial Magic, Book 1. A recent reviewer wrote that "It has the potential to be thought provoking rather than just entertaining, and the science behind it may be more realistic than one realizes. It is a very interesting blend of Magic, Martial Arts, and Quantum Physics. That in itself makes for a most unusual concept, and Tom, being involved with and quite knowledgeable about all three topics, pulls them together in a very entertaining manner. With many references to Magic, such as The Castle, and actual practitioners like Eugene Burger, Jeff McBride, and others, and then delving into some rather esoteric theories of Physics, this book is much more than a simple novel." And, of course, the great Eugene Burger: "A fabulous tale incorporating Magic, Martial arts and Eastern Philosophy. I loved it! Tom Meseroll has managed to meld the many forms and philosphies of magic into a marvelous tale of good and evil. I can't wait for the sequel!!" Tom is offering to sell you a signed and numbered limited edition copy via his web page: http://www.martialmagician.com MCBRIDE ON MINDFREAK! In case you missed Jeff on Criss Angel's MINDFREAK, doing a very special fire initiation with Criss, you can see it here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=B9xq52x4Sh0 Special thanks to Jordan Wright for editing this together! We'll look forward to seeing you in Las Vegas at one of our upcoming events or classes. Your friends in magic, Jeff & Abbi McBride

Back from the Edge, On to Hollywood

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 00:00:01 GMT

�There is a real magic in enthusiasm. It spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.� -- Norman Vincent Peale, The Power of Positive Thinking SHHH! JEFF IS ABOUT TO BEGIN TAPING A NEW SERIES WITH VH1. IT�S ALL VERY HUSH HUSH � BUT WE�LL FILL YOU IN ON THE DETAILS JUST AS SOON AS WE CAN! Greetings Friends, I wish I could tell you all about it � but for the moment suffice it to say I�m very excited to be working with the folks at VH1 on what promises to be a very exciting project. BACK FROM THE EDGE It�s strange to think that I�ve been performing for Donald Trump for almost twenty years. I started at �the Donald�s� birthday party bash in 1988. I was the opening act with co-stars Liza Minnelli and Billy Crystal. Now, almost twenty years later, I am the headliner and Liza is appearing next door at Trump Plaza�. Feels like we�ve made it to the top! All of us here at McBride Magic have continued our magical relationship with the Trump organization and it was a pleasure to be the featured headliner this summer. Here is a photo of our magic company, including Abbi and Jordan Wright, in front of our gigantic billboard, on the way into town. What I learned on my summer vacation; give your audience more than they expect! The biggest improvement in our show this season was adding one extra hour of pre-show street magic and improvisation before the show. Our audiences, made up of old and new friends, were able to share more magical time with our cast, not only before the show, but after the show as well. Abbi, Jordan, and I were blessed to have many of our Magic and Mystery School students join in the pre-show festivities. Hats off to: Chad Juros, RJ Lewis, Michael Carbonaro, Michael Trixx, Mike Hankins, Russ Clark, Benjamin Corey, and many others, for helping to make the show wonderful! Magic at the Edge also hosted a post-show friends and fans party in the lobby outside the theater after each show. Not only did this give us an opportunity to meet and greet and spend more time with our friends, we also utilized the pre- and post-show parties to work in new material that will be featured in next season�s shows. Love and magic have a great deal in common. They enrich the soul, delight the heart. And they both take practice. -- Nora Roberts BACK TO SCHOOL I learned a lot of new lessons about interactive street magic and walk around mentalism this summer� knowledge and wisdom that I will share with you at our next class! You can learn a lot about your potential audience participants by just meeting and greeting them before the show, seeing if they make and hold eye contact, and how energetically or softly they shake your hand. With younger audience members, seven to teen, I ask them �Are you a big magic fan?� If their eyes light up, and they energetically shake their head yes, they are more likely to find their way on stage. I also, in casino environments, pay very close attention to the kind of beverages that are in front of people who I am considering for selection. I never select audience participants or �volunteers� without meeting them and engaging them in conversation before the show. I suggest, if you are doing a stage show, to take the time, pre-show, to meet and greet your audience participants. I feel that this is one of the most important lessons I can share with you. Abbi and I will be working out of our home base here at the Magic and Mystery School for September and October. If you�re going to be in town, check the www.magicalwisdom.com site and book your private session, or scheduled Master Class. We�ll look forward to seeing you soon! Your friends in magic, Jeff & Abbi QUICK NOTE FROM TOBIAS: As luck would have it, we still have 2 slots left for the September Master class. This is the last non-themed class of the year. It�s the perfect time to tune up your act for the holidays, and to spend some time thinking and learning about the best ways to promote those holiday season shows. Be there! Tobias Beckwith tobias@yourmagic.com

Atlantic City!

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Tue, 14 Aug 2007 00:00:01 GMT

"Logic only gives man what he needs. Magic gives him what he wants." - Tom Robbins, Another Roadside Attraction Greetings magical friends! Tobias here, just home from a chocked-full week of rehearsals, press events and fun in Atlantic City! Jeff, Abbi and Jordan Wright opened Jeff Mcbride � Magic at the Edge at the Trump Marina this week, to overwhelming success. For my money, this is Jeff�s riskiest show in some time, with lots of new pieces. Perhaps the most noted of them is his �Time and Memory,� in which he tears up this week�s copy of TIME Magazine and tosses the page out to random audience members. Asking them to shout out their page numbers, Jeff proceeds to tell them exactly what�s on the page they are holding, in great detail. He goes through a half dozen pages during the show, then challenges those holding all the other pages to meet him in the lobby after the show, and challenge him with the remaining pages then. The truly amazing thing about this is that it�s not a trick � Jeff really does memorize the whole magazine! It makes great theater. Reviews in Atlantic City have been glowing. I think my favorite so far is Chuck Darrow�s review for the Courier Post and Daily Record newspapers. A brief clip from the review: �With the exception of a weekend gig at Trump Plaza a couple of years ago, master illusionist Jeff McBride has not spent any time in Atlantic City since 2001. Suffice it to say, it's we fans of the veteran wizard who have gotten the crummy end of that deal. That's because McBride... has always been among the very best magicians who have earned Atlantic City gaming hall paychecks. As "Magic at the Edge" clearly illustrates, McBride's brilliance remains intact. Foremost among his considerable talents is his ability to be cerebral and arty, yet totally accessible to audience members of all ages.� This week, Eugene Burger and a dozen students from around the world are joining the company for a special edition of the McBride Magic & Msytery School extended Master Class. The press coverage has been great fun, -- they've dubbed the class "Hogwarts by the Bay," with even a TV crew turning out to cover it as a special feature! You can read a great South Jersey Courier Post article by clicking here. By the way: We do have a few slots left for September�s 3-day Master Class in Las Vegas. This will be our last �regular� Master Class of 2007, and if you�re looking to tune up your magic before those holiday season parties, this is a great opportunity. I�d advise registering early by clicking here and then clicking on �Register Online� and getting that space reserved! We have other news, as well. After several months, we finally have the Enigma � Jeff McBride, a Magickal Life available in our online catalog, each copy signed by Jeff. The price is $30, and we currently have only a limited supply. While we�ve recently had to raise our price for the popular Kundalini Rising to $18, we now have refill kits available for the first time for those who previously bought the effect. The refills don�t contain any instructions, and will go for $10 each. We have also begun selling the McGrip Tip card spinning gimmick as a replacement for those of you who may have lost the one that comes with Jeff�s Zoom, Bounce & Fly video. At present the McGrip Tip comes in a small plastic bag, but we�re working on having it available as a boxed item with some special tips not contained on the DVD included within the next 6 weeks. Explore all this and much more by going to http://shop.yourmagic.com. Back here in Vegas, I�ll be running the stage shows next week at Magic Live! For those of you planning to be there, you�re in for a treat. If you haven�t already made plans, you�re out of luck, as the convention has been sold out for several months now. Stan likes to keep as many of the details of the convention a secret right up until the last minute, so I can�t even tell you who is on the bill � but I can tell you it looks like a great show! If you�re visiting and you see me at the convention, please stop me when you see me and say hello. One last tip: Did you know you can receive this newsletter as an RSS feed? It�s fun, and you can use it to go back and catch up on issues you may have discarded. Just go to: http://mcbridemagic.com/rss/ Have a great week! Oh... and mark September 21 on your calendar. Best wishes. Tobias Beckwith

Fire & Magical Passion

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Sun, 29 Jul 2007 00:00:01 GMT

"Any media-brainwashed automaton can summon the insipid courage to peer into the horrifying abyss. But it takes a freaking genius with a fearless imagination to peer into the maw of happiness." --Rob Breszny Greetings Magical friends, Pictured here is Jeff, Jordan, David Copperfield, Eugene, and Tobias inside the secret magic museum. SEEKERS OF MYSTERY These Magic and Mystery School faculty had the pleasure and rare opportunity to explore David Copperfield�s fabulous private magic collection last week. For two and a half hours, David led us on an incredible journey through the history of mystery. David also performed some rare and exotic vintage magic, including the Carl Germaine Blooming Rose Bush illusion, culminating with live roses being presented to the ladies. Special thanks to David and his staff for allowing us this rare privilege! MAGIC & HUMAN SACRIFICE Jeff McBride on A&E MINDFREAK, August 21st. This photo of Jeff and Criss was shot on location, during the "TRIAL BY FIRE" episode, which will air 8/21/07. Jeff not only consulted on this "Burned Alive" illusion which will be the feature of the episode, but also performed some thrilling fire magic as well. Check your local listings for details. Criss was a special guest at our recent Master Class here in Las Vegas. He dropped in during our Las Vegas magic party, and spent time answering questions and sharing his life with our students. One of the things he shared that was how keeping a positive attitude has been a major key to his success; whatever was going on, he held onto his vision and his dream and stayed positive, and that has helped his to make his magic a reality. MAGIC AT THE EDGE This final photo is Jeff�s new billboard for the upcoming show at the Trump Marina in Atlantic City, NJ. We�ll be there August 2nd through September 2nd. We hope to see all of our East Coast friends at the show. Get your tickets now at http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/16496 This will be a last call for anyone who wants to attend the August 8 - 14th Master Class in Atlantic City. Two spaces are available. If you want one of them, move quickly to MagicalWisdom.com. We will not at the Burning Man festival this year due to our show schedule, but wish Bryce Kuhlman and the wizard Gary Stadler lots of success with their amazing installation, The Inner Mind! To take a peek at their genius, go to http://www.heartmagic.com/garylinks.html Summer magic and blessings to all! See you on the road... Jeff & Abbi McBride

The Show Doctor in Action

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 00:00:01 GMT

"Indubitably, Magic is one of the subtlest and most difficult of the sciences and arts. There is more opportunity for errors of comprehension, judgment and practice than in any other branch of physics." -- Aleister Crowley 1875-1947, British Occultist Greetings Magical Friends, THE SHOW DOCTOR IS IN! Pictured here is Jeff, with Pamela Anderson and Hans Klok. Jeff�s reputation as "the Show Doctor," is having a major impact on shows around Las Vegas. Recently, Hans hired Jeff on to consult on his new hit show, "The Beauty of Magic." If you�d like to read some tips on how you can improve your show, Jeff and Bryce Kuhlman have created The Secret Arts Journal, a free service to our readers. Jeff was also a guest speaker for David Copperfield last week at his Project Magic conference at the MGM Grand Hotel, here in Las Vegas. Jeff�s talk at the seminar was called "Magic for Medical Professionals," and was a highlight of the day. For more information on our annual conference for doctors who love magic, go to: http://www.magicalwisdom.com/calendar.php MAGIC AT THE EDGE Here is a recent photo from a new book on Street Magic. Here, Jeff is shown just before he swallows a razor sharp steak knife. Tom Ogden is the author of this new book on urban conjuring, and it will be out in the Fall. For those who want to see our MCBRIDE MAGIC AT THE EDGE live, we will be on the East Coast, for the entire month of August, at the Trump Marina, in Atlantic City. For more information, go to: http://www.mcbridemagic.com/calendar.php MCBRIDE ON A&E MINDFREAK Jeff will be a special guest star with Criss Angel on the upcoming TRIAL BY FIRE episode. Check your local listings for the air date. Criss told Jeff that he expects it to air "sometime in August." Criss and Jeff are also exploring new magic for season 4. Watch for Jeff on upcoming episodes. MAGIC LEGENDS Next is a photo of Jeff at the Australian Society of Magicians 100th Anniversary Convention. In this photo, Shoot Ogawa, Lenart Greene, Ai, Jeff and Gaetan Bloom are shown outside the convention hall, preparing to go in and meet their fans. Jeff is looking forward to meeting all of you when we get to our next stop in Atlantic City. We always take time to meet and greet all of our friends and fans after the show. PARTING THOUGHTS Jeff and Eugene will be together for our August Master Class in Atlantic City. There are still two spaces available for the class. You can read more about it here: http://www.magicalwisdom.com/school.php We�ll look forward to seeing you soon! Yours in magic, Abbi & Jeff McBride

Congratulations & Summer Trips

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:00:01 GMT

Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood.... Make big plans; aim high.... -Daniel Hudson Burnham LATE BREAKING NEWS -- Congratulations to master class alumni Sterling Dietz, Krystyn Lambert & Shayna Reed, all competition winners at this year's annual International Brotherhood of Magicians Convention in Reno, Nevada! Sterling took 1st in the youth stage competition and Krystyn 2nd. Shayna won special honors in the adult stage competition. Bravo Sterling, Krystyn and Shayna! We are all very proud of you! Greetings Friends,Jeff and Abbi here, just back from our travels to Death Valley. On our way to the lowest valley in the western hemisphere, we stopped to visit Methuselah, the oldest living being on the planet. This is a 4,700 year old bristlecone pine tree. Imagine being in the presence of this ancient witness to humanity. This tree was a sapling when King Tut was ruler in Egypt! What we learned from these trees is that one of the reasons for their survival is that they can exist peacefully in the most stressful and harsh environment, a good lesson for all of us, who spend our time in cities.... Ghost Town On the way home, we stopped at Rhyolite, a ghost town near Las Vegas. Jeff is considering doing a wild west magic DVD here one day. At one time, there were ten thousand people living, working and playing here.... Now, there is only the bones of buildings, and the occasional curious tourist. There is a small collection of strange art scattered about the town, which is definitely worth seeing if you're in the area. Vegas and Oz This week, Jeff is teaching private students, and helping Hans Klok with a few new routines for his stage show and television. Next week, Jeff is off to Australia for the Australian national magic convention in Melbourne. He'll be performing and teaching a Master Class, and he's excited to be going, for his first time, to the land "down under!" Pass the vegemite, please! Magic at the Edge! We will see all of our friends on the East Coast during the month of August! We will be performing from August 3rd to Sept. 3rd at the Trump Marina in Atlantic City! Tickets can be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-736-1420 or on-line at www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, call the Trump Marina box office at 1-800-777-8477. This is our full evening show, and we will be presenting lots of new material for all of our friends and fans. Special Atlantic City Master Class We have moved the August Master Class to Atlantic City, NJ! Yes, Eugene will be with us, and other East Coast special guests to be announced. Students will share seven exciting days with us, and get special backstage tours and workshops on the "real inside work" of our full evening show! Of course, we will include show tickets for students and their guests as well as special lectures, workshops and parties. If you're looking for a summer vacation with a magical touch, you are invited.... Go to our website for the rest of the details. http://www.magicalwisdom.com Wishing you all a magical summer! Jeff & Abbi McBride

Upcoming Summer Events

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Fri, 08 Jun 2007 00:00:01 GMT

All creative art is magic, is evocation of the unseen in forms persuasive, enlightening, familiar and surprising. -- Joseph Conrad Dear Magical Friends, Tobias, here, writing again in Jeff and Abbi's absence. Lots of news this time! Jeff and Abbi have just arrived in New York City after an SRO series of events at Denny & Lee�s Magic in Baltimore. Show, lecture and workshop were all overflowing, and already receiving rave reviews from the attendees. The good news for those of you in the New York City area are that Jeff is repeating it all at the Fantasma store this weekend � with lots of new material since last year's appearance there -- and there are still some tickets left. He is doing both show and lecture on both tonight and Saturday evenings, and a full workshop on Sunday afternoon for a select few really serious students. This is a great way to experience the workshop / master class experience without having to travel all the way to Las Vegas. You can read more and purchase tickets online by clicking here! http://www.fantasmamagic.com Which reminds me � this will be a great summer for McBride fans on the East Coast, because we�ve just signed for Jeff and Abbi to perform their latest show, �Magic at the Edge� at the Trump Marina Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City from August 2 � September 2nd. See all of Jeff�s greatest hits with masks, cards, coins, etc. � joined by lots of newer material you�ve never seen before � all in an intimate 500 seat showroom. We�ll have the links to the box office site up on Jeff�s calendar within the next week or two�be sure and check it out. More great news for magicians on the East Coast: Because of the show at the Trump Marina, we�ve moved the August extended Master Class back one week, so it will now take place August 8-14, and, instead of being in Las Vegas, we�ll be in the showroom at the Trump Marina in Atlantic City. For those of you in driving distance from Atlantic City, this will be a great chance to participate in the first ever East Coast Extended Master Class, and to witness the workings of a big casino magic show from all angles. As a final bit of news, before getting on this week�s special �Muse� piece, you should be aware we still have some spots available for this year�s Magic & Meaning conference, with special guests Robert E. Neale and Dr. Lawrence Hass. We�ve just confirmed our space at the Courtyard Marriott on Green Valley Parkway in Henderson, NV,and we have a special deal with the hotel for those who attend the workshop. Just call 1 (800) 583-0079 and tell them you have registered for �Magic and Meaning� and want to reserve your room at the �McBride Magic group rate.� I believe the rate is $125 a night, which is about a 10% reduction from their regular rates. We�ll be sending this specific information to everyone who has registered as a direct e-mail, as well, so don�t worry if you lose this Museletter. Okay � today�s Muse piece is a quick optical illusion / magic trick I like to perform when I�m having lunch with a new potential client. Because I�m in the business of providing people with magical experiences, I�ve always felt that my approach to selling should also be magical, and this is just one example: All you need is two coins. I like to borrow one and use one of my own, for reason�s you�ll soon see. The two coins should be similar in size. Two quarters work just fine � if you can find someone with a Susan B. Anthony dollar and you have one, that�s even better. You hold the two coins between your thumb and finger, as shown in the image at the right. You can even have your new friend do this for themselves � it�s always more effective when the magic happens in their own hands. Just have them rub the two coins together, while observing them from the edges (their eye should be in the position the camera was to take the photo at the right). As they rub the two coins together, their minds will create the image of a third coin in between these two. It�s only an illusion � until you reach over and produce the third coin (using your favorite sleight-of-hand method � I just push the coin out from a finger-palmed position) right from the tops of the two moving coins. �See what can happen when we pool our resources?� I say. A minute ago, we barely had two coins to rub together between us � now we�ve already made a profit!� And I give them the coin I produced, along with the one I borrowed from them. �Magic is a lot of fun, and it can really bring about some amazing transformation. I hope we�ll have a chance to make a lot of magic happen together.� I hope you all enjoyed this newsletter. We�ll have another one with photos from Jeff and Abbi�s current trip East out in another couple of weeks. Wishing you a magical summer! Sincerely, Tobias Beckwith

News of the Summer - and a Special Creative Treat

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Tue, 22 May 2007 00:00:01 GMT

Magic is believing in yourself, if you can do that, you can make anything happen. -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Greetings, Magical Friends! This is Tobias writing from Las Vegas, as Jeff and Abbi are too fully occupied with creating and performing new treats for the upcoming summer shows. We�ve all been enjoying an unusually creative time here in Vegas this summer � and I have a lot of news for you! There�s also something fun for you to try out for yourself at the end of the letter � if you dare. Whether you�re a creative artist yourself, or would just like to experience your own life a bit more creatively, you should have fun with it! First, allow me to take care of a bit of business: We�ve all heard that word of mouth � also known as �buzz� � is the most effective kind of advertising. Part of the reason we do these muse letters is to generate that buzz -- but also to stay in touch with friends, fans and colleagues, and, I hope, to give a little something back for all the inspiration, ticket sales and other ways you�ve supported us over the years. But we can do better. We can reach more of you if you�ll help us. Can you think of someone else you know who would enjoy this Muse letter? Please let them know, and suggest they sign up. You can just forward this to them and if they like it, they can click here: http://www.mcbridemagic.com/magic/contact.html, then fill in their e-mail under the �McBride Mailing List� option. Jeff continues his popular series in MAGIC MAGAZINE, �Ask the Show Doctor,� and he�s been busy BEING �The Show Doctor,� as well! Most recently he has been coaching Hans Klok to help him build new manipulation routines to be featured in Hans� new show, The Beauty of Magic, soon to open at the Planet Hollywood Casino, co-starring Pamela Anderson. It promises to be the biggest magic show in Las Vegas since Siegfried & Roy. In the meantime, Jeff and Abbi are working hard on a new version of Magic at the Edge, which will be touring extensively this summer, with lots of new material. If you have a chance, do come see it! Just in the next few weeks, the show will be at the Rhinebeck Performing Arts Center in upstate New York (May 25, 26 & 27), Denny & Lee�s Magic in Baltimore (June 5), and the Fantasma Store in New York City (June 8 & 9). We�ll be taking it down to the Edgewater Casino Resort in Laughlin from June 15-23, as well � if you�re near Las Vegas, give yourself a treat and make the drive down � the 300 seat showroom in Laughlin is a perfect venue for this intimate but powerful show! You can find more about each of these appearances by clicking their calendar entries at the right, or going to Jeff's calendar online. And now, this month�s MUSE offering. I�ve been putting the finishing touches on my first book, (as yet untitled � why is the title always the hardest part?) which is designed to help magicians and other independent performers develop their own creativity and make their presentations more unique and magical. I present many different ideas and exercises in the course of the book, but the following is a basic acting exercise that can bring breakthroughs in many areas of life � not just the creative performing ones. I call it �Putting on the Mask.� Think of something you�ve been working on that�s giving you trouble. Maybe your job requires you to make cold calls, and you hate it. Maybe you�re a teacher, and there�s one particular thing you teach that your students just can�t seem to get. Maybe you�re a student, and have been having problems with math, or with history. Just think of some simple thing you know you should be able to do, but, for some unknown reason is giving you trouble. Write it down. Okay�now think of someone you know, or know of, for whom this problem would not be a problem at all. Maybe you�ve been having trouble getting inspiration for an art project � and so you think of Pablo Picasso, one of the most innovative and creative artists of all time. Picasso was short, sturdily built but never fat. He was balding from a young age, and notoriously irreverent. He was passionate about life � about great food and beautiful women, often having several mistresses at one time. His work was eclectic and always changing, ranging from Ingress-like classical realism through his blue and rose periods, both analytic and synthetic cubism, which he pioneered, African inspired periods and surrealistic experiments. He created continuously. Could you step into the persona of Picasso? Try it! See if you can match his facial expression, or perhaps hold your body as he would. He spent most of his life living between Barcelona, where Catalan is spoken � a lovely language with hints of Italian, French & Spanish all mixed in, but a flavor all its own, and in Paris. Can you imagine what his accent must have sounded like? Try and imitate it. Try and get into Picasso�s body, voice�and mind. It doesn�t matter if you�re like the real Picasso. Use your imagination and become the Picasso of your dreams. What must it have felt like to BE Picasso? Imagine you ARE Picasso. And now, as Picasso, create your own art. Allow yourself to be inspired by his passion, his experience, his approach to life. Picasso was famous later in life for scribbling on a napkin and signing it when presented with the bill for a particularly lavish meal he was having with friends in a restaurant, and offering it in lieu of cash payment. �That�s worth at least $1,500 in the art market right now, just because it has my signature � do you want that, or shall I just give you money?� That�s confidence, and Picasso had it. Many of those napkins are now on display in major art museums of the world. What will you create now, knowing ANYTHING you put your name on can be priceless? This seems such a simple thing, but you�ll amaze yourself at the talents you have, well suppressed within your �normal� character, which can be released by the simple act of putting on the mask of another. In playing role games in the class, it�s amazing what fun we�ve had � and what new bits we�ve discovered with such simple things as �Now do it as Daffy Duck. Okay�now you�re Heavy D, the hip hop star. Great. Now you�re Tony Soprano�and so on. Each performer will do each character differently � and in the context of that character, will discover entirely new and different ways of presenting their magical pieces. Some are great, others not. It doesn�t matter, because by putting on the mask of the character, we�ve broken out of our own ruts and made new creative discoveries. Oh � I nearly forgot, and promised Jeff I�d remind you � if you enjoy this kind of creative exercise and want more; it�s just one of the things we offer in our Master Classes. There are only three general Master Classes scheduled for the rest of this year: July, August & September. That means only 45 spots available, and over half of those are gone already � so it�s really more like 20. Don�t wait, go to http://www.magicalwisdom.com/ choose a class and register now! I hope you�ve enjoyed this Muse letter. I�ve certainly enjoyed bringing it to you. If any of you have ideas for a really creative title for a book about creating magic, and would like to give them to me, please send them to tobias@yourmagic.com. Have a great summer! Sincerely, Tobias Beckwith tobias@yourmagic.com From Jeff & Abbi: For deep mystery seekers only! (You know who you are...) Fires Rising, Artemas, PA, May 31st - June 3rd Experience three days and nights of ancient and modern mysteries. Join us for an alchemical blend of fire, drumming, dance, magic, storytelling and song at Four Quarters Farm in Artemas, PA. Read all about it at http://www.4qf.org/_FiresRising/index.htm If you've been wondering about what, exactly, happens at one of these gatherings, we're happy to share this great video on YouTube showing the Alchemical Fire Circle. The video is from a documentary, ENIGMA, produced by Vision TV about Jeff's magic profession and his work with alchemical fire circle with Abbi. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSjnq_ALNVY Please, tell your friends about it! If any of you have a YouTube account, we'd appreciate you linking to it. We'll see you in the spotlight, or by the firelight! Your friends in mystery, Jeff & Abbi McBride

Canada, Mind Freak & More

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Sun, 25 Mar 2007 00:00:01 GMT

"The profession of magician, is one of the most perilous and arduous specializations of the imagination. On the one hand there is the hostility of God and the police to be guarded against; on the other it is as difficult as music, as deep as poetry, as ingenious as stage-craft, as nervous as the manufacture of high explosives...." -- William Bolitho 1890-1930, British Author Greetings Friends, and Happy Spring! Abbi here, sending magical greetings and good wishes from warm and sunny Las Vegas! Playing with Fire Jeff McBride will be appearing on the third season of Criss Angel's MINDFREAK show soon! Several years ago, many of you saw Jeff on ABC's Champions of Magic, where he performed the world's largest fire stunt at that time, called "Burned Alive!" When Criss decided to do his own version of the burning man, he called Jeff and asked him to consult and appear in this exciting episode of MINDFREAK. Check your local TV listings to see Jeff playing with fire! Jeff and I both love fire and magic. We're excited to be hosting a special event called MAYFIRE during the first weekend of May. Read more information about our passion at http://www.vegasvortex.com McBride Live on the Las Vegas Strip Jeff returns to the World's Greatest Magic Show for one week only, from March 25th to April 2nd! If you're going to be in town, come to the Greek Isles Casino and see Jeff live! Be sure the stick around after the show to meet Jeff and the other performers, including Joseph Gabriel, Kozak and many others! Home at Last! Our full evening show, The Secret Art of Magic returned to the United States after a successful performance in Canada! Jeff, Eugene and I had a great time in Edmonton, Alberta, presenting our full evening show and teaching a four day Master Class. Sheldon Casavant helped produce this inspiring weekend, and we three enjoyed Canadian hospitality and the s-s-snow!! Student Spotlight on Sheldon Casavant We met Sheldon Casavant at a World Magic Summit teen weekend several years ago. Sheldon attended the teen weekend for five years, then came to a Master Class, and has just returned to Canada after six hundred performances of his illusion show. He is an extraordinarily talented performer, and also has a knack for production. You will be seeing a lot more of Sheldon in the future, or right now, at his website http://www.sheldoncasavant.com/ See you soon? I don't know about where you are, but here in the Vegas Valley, it's 85 and sunny, and the roses are starting to bloom! We have two spots left open for the Special Extended Seven Day Master Class coming up in April. You are invited to join Jeff, Eugene and me, along with Tobias Beckwith, Lance Burton and Mac King for a truly magical week! Yours in the art of better magic... Abbi McBride

More Vision TV & Spring Master Class

jeff@mcbridemagic.com — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 00:00:01 GMT

Stuff your eyes with wonder. -- Ray Bradbury Dear Friends: Greetings from sunny and rapidly warming Las Vegas (it was 85 here today)! Jeff, Abbi and Eugene left for Canada yesterday morning, to teach a 3 day Master Class sponsored by our former Master Class Student Sheldon Casavant, along with the Festival Place Theater in Sherwood Park (near Edmonton, Alberta). I�ll be taking off to join them for a special performance of "Magic � The Secret Art" on Saturday evening � but for now I�m left behind here in Las Vegas. There�s so much going on now, I hardly know where to begin. Last week Jeff, Eugene and I had a fabulous time doing a show for Dr. Lawrence Hass� group from Muhlenberg College, right here in Vegas for the first time. Many of you will know that Dr. Hass sponsors one of the few (perhaps the only?) sanctioned program for the study of performance magic in a college setting. His annual program at Muhlenberg, entitled "The Theory and Art of Magic," has featured such magic luminaries as Max Maven, Robert E. Neale, Rene Lavand, Juan Tamariz and many, many more since the program began in 1999. This year, Dr. Hass brought a group of students and alumni to Las Vegas, the capital of magic here in the U.S., where, besides Jeff and Eugene, they met with Mac King, saw shows, and enjoyed their magical week in Las Vegas. A high point for me was having lunch with a half dozen theatre majors between our tech rehearsal and the show last week. I felt right back at home from my own days as a theater major, back in the early �70�s. Once Jeff and Eugene get back next week from the shows in Canada, we�ll be immediately busy with a couple of corporate engagements here in Las Vegas, and preparing for our first extended master class of this year, from April 23-29th. When we began the 7-day extended classes two summers ago, we wondered if it would be possible to sustain the intensity of the 3 day classes over the longer period. After having done the first 4 or 5 such classes, we�re actually finding it difficult to get everything in! Besides the visits to Mac King and Lance Burton�s shows, and visits with them, we�ve been able to go much deeper in in working with individuals in each class to improve their particular pieces, and to spend more time creating break-out sessions particularly tailored to the wants and needs of the particular students in each class. Beyond that, we�ve found that it�s really a lot of fun to have the additional time to get to know one another and share our magics. For this class, we do still have 2 slots left open. If you want to be one of the 15 people to share this amazing experience, I�d highly recommend you go to www.magicalwisdom.com right now and register. For those of you in Canada, we highly recommend that you tune in for this week�s edition of "Enigma" on VisionTV. The show will feature our friend Max Maven, and promises to be fascinating. Max is, besides being perhaps the best known mentalist in the world today, one of our deepest thinkers and most prolific writers on magic and mentalism � you�re pretty much guaranteed to learn a lot any time you encounter him. Next week on "Enigma," Jeff will be featured again, in the "Mysteries of the Tarot Cards." The hour-long documentaries commissioned for Enigma take an entertaining, contemporary view of historical subjects, investigating everything from Eastern mysticism and secret societies to psychic communication and belief in the afterlife. You can learn more from the Vison TV website at http://www.visiontv.ca/Enigma/. VisionTV is available as a �basic� service on cable and satellite in approximately 8.4 million households across Canada. One in four Canadians tune in to VisionTV at least once a month. Approximately two million people watch each week; 6.3 million watch every 13 weeks. The producers have assured us that once they have the first 6 episodes completed, they intend to begin the process of finding an outlet here in the U.S. for the show. We�ll let you know when you may be able to see it here.