Finding Inspiration Outside of Magic

It is no secret that many of us have too often seen multiple magic shows with performers reciting the same jokes with the same cliché lines or (the dreaded) performing a piece with someone else’s routine.  We know that this exists today in magic. We often make mention of how troublesome it is to go to a magic convention and see every act in the competition perform another card manipulation act...

Audiences: Remembering and Forgetting

I have come to the conclusion that there are two types of audiences: audiences that come to a show to remember, and audiences that attend a show to forget. It is amazing how different these audiences can be, and how their attention spans differ. An experienced performer can tell the difference between these two audiences and can change their performance style, script and even magic effect...

Selecting Magic to Perform

A few years ago, purely as a personal experiment, I asked myself the following question: In order for a particular piece of magic to make it into my performing repertoire are there any criteria that must be met? What features must this particular piece of magic have – or not have – for it to be something that I would like to perform? As I thought about it, several criteria did appear. I have...

The Best-Kept Secret in Magic

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

Privileges of a Street Performer

Over there! It’s happening here! — Just about to start! Magic show, it’s good, I know I’ve seen it before! These are just a couple of lines I have used to gain the attention of the passing public when I start a street show. Street theatre is an art form I simply love — more so — Magical Street Theatre, changing people’s lives who simply had no plans at all to watch a show. Then, they find...

It’s Never Too Late to Learn from Your Mistakes

I published an article entitled Getting the Gigs in October of 2010.  The article was sent in by our dear friend, and “head mother” of the World Magic Seminar Teen Weekend, Chris Koch.  Shortly after it was published, I got a somewhat obscure email from Jeff asking me to take the article offline while we investigated a claim of plagiarism. I’m pleased to say that the article is...

It’s the Same Every Time: Master Class Observations

I have an interesting position at the Magic & Mystery School. I’m technically faculty, but I have asked not to be paid (other than a small travel stipend which I usually spend on dinners with the gang). In addition to all of the web and technical work, I donate about six weeks of my time every year to teach at the Extended Master Classes. Why, you may ask, would I do this? Those of you...

The ABC’s of an Act

Get a short, silent, parlor/standup act that doesn’t use a lot of props or specifically require the knowledge of one language. Learn it. Know it. Repeat it in front of live audiences. Not just paying shows where everyone expects a magician there. Do it out of your pockets, in bars, at festivals, anywhere people gather. Talk with the owner of a bar or club, and ask them if you can come in and...

I, Mage: Marketing Your Magic

“Style is a magic wand, and turns everything to gold that it touches.” – Logan Pearsall Smith, author, essayist and critic If you have attended a class at McBride’s Magic & Mystery School, you have likely heard Jeff break down the word “image” as “I, Mage,” meaning “I, the Magician.” As performers, our image is crucial. And whether you are doing it consciously or unconsciously, you are...

Creating an iPod Cue Sheet

Like a lot of magicians, you might use an iPod to play music during your show. It’s no surprise that this is so popular because you can carry multiple versions of your show’s music — along with your regular tunes — and nearly any assistant or show tech who hasn’t been living in a cave for the past 9 years will know how to operate the device. However, even an experienced iPod...