Jeff McBride (born September 11, 1959), also known as "Magnus", is an American
magician and magic instructor. He is known for his
sleight of hand
Sleight of hand (also known as prestidigitation or ''legerdemain'' () comprises fine motor skills used by performing artists in different art forms to entertain or manipulate. It is closely associated with close-up magic, card magic, card fl ...
skills and specializes in the
manipulation of playing cards,
coins
A coin is a small object, usually round and flat, used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender. They are standardized in weight, and produced in large quantities at a mint in order to facilitate trade. They are most often issued by ...
, and other small objects. His stage performances blend elements of
kabuki
is a classical form of Theatre of Japan, Japanese theatre, mixing dramatic performance with Japanese traditional dance, traditional dance. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily stylised performances, its glamorous, highly decorated costumes ...
, a Japanese theater form, with traditional
conjuring. He has been recognized by the
Academy of Magical Arts
The Magic Castle is a performance venue, restaurant, and clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts for magicians and magic enthusiasts in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, United States. The Academy was started in 1952 by W ...
,
the
Society of American Magicians, and the
International Federation of Magic Societies. He has also has set several
Guinness World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, list ...
.
In 1991, he established the McBride Magic & Mystery School.
[McBride Magic and Mystery School website](_blank)
Magician
McBride is based in
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...
. He established the McBride Magic & Mystery School
to teach the art of stage magic. McBride's Magic & Mystery School is world-renowned and is recognized as the foremost magical teaching institution available today.
Eugene Burger was the Dean of the School until his death in 2017. Guest faculty have included
Teller,
Lance Burton,
Johnny Thompson and other magicians from all over the world. McBride was a star performer for years in
Caesars Palace
Caesars Palace is a luxury hotel and casino in Paradise, Nevada, United States. The hotel is situated on the west side of the Las Vegas Strip between Bellagio and The Mirage. It is one of Las Vegas's largest and best known landmarks.
Caesar ...
's Magical Empire. He created and performed at the World Magic Festival at Brushwood Folklore Center in
Sherman, New York in 1993 and 1994. He performs worldwide, and has produced several instructional books and videos on the subjects of coin and card manipulation, and has presented lectures on magic and theater for such groups as the
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution ( ), or simply the Smithsonian, is a group of museums, Education center, education and Research institute, research centers, created by the Federal government of the United States, U.S. government "for the increase a ...
, the
Society of American Magicians, and the
International Brotherhood of Magicians. In 1994, he appeared on the cover of
The Linking Ring
''The Linking Ring'' is a monthly print magic magazine published by the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM) for its members since 1922. It is based in Bluffton, Ohio. In 2007, Samuel Patrick Smith, a magician, author and publisher ba ...
magazine.
Television
In 1994, McBride appeared in the
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "
Equilibrium
Equilibrium may refer to:
Film and television
* ''Equilibrium'' (film), a 2002 science fiction film
* '' The Story of Three Loves'', also known as ''Equilibrium'', a 1953 romantic anthology film
* "Equilibrium" (''seaQuest 2032'')
* ''Equilibr ...
" as Joran Belar.
In 1995, McBride was a featured performer on ''
World's Greatest Magic II'' on NBC, hosted by Alan Thicke. He was featured in a one-hour documentary entitled ''A Magickal Life: Jeff McBride'', produced and broadcast by Canada's VisionTV, as an episode of their series ''Enigma True-Life Stories'' in January 2006. The documentary soundtrack featured music by Vegas Vortex event production collaborators
Zingaia and
Gary Stadler, as well as McBride's wife (married 2001) and partner, Abbi Spinner.
McBride has appeared twice on
Criss Angel
Christopher Nicholas Sarantakos (; born December 19, 1967), known professionally as Criss Angel, is an American magician, Magic (illusion), illusionist and musician. He is often referred to as one of the world's most successful illusionists, g ...
's show ''
Criss Angel Mindfreak
''Criss Angel Mindfreak'' is an American reality television series that aired on A&E (TV channel), A&E in the U.S. and USA Network (Canadian TV channel), Discovery Channel in Canada from July 20, 2005, to September 8, 2010. It centers on stunts an ...
''. He was one of the celebrity judges on the 2008 reality celebrity-magic show ''
Celebracadabra
''Celebracadabra'' is an American reality television series on VH1
VH1 (originally an initialism for Video Hits One) is an American basic cable television network that launched on January 1, 1985, and is currently owned by the MTV Entertainm ...
'', produced by VH-1.
He appeared on the show ''
Penn & Teller: Fool Us'' in September 2017, where he successfully fooled the hosts using an original water bowls effect.
Neopaganism
McBride is active in the American
Neopagan
Modern paganism, also known as contemporary paganism and neopaganism, spans a range of new religious movements variously influenced by the beliefs of pre-modern peoples across Europe, North Africa, and the Near East. Despite some common simila ...
movement and he has organized events based on his research into "''Alchemical Fire Rituals''", such as Mysterium and Fires Rising. He has been instrumental in the development of the eclectic Neopagan organization in Las Vegas known as the Vegas Vortex, which is described as a "thriving magical community, dedicated to creating events which celebrate and educate in the sacred arts of magic, theater, music and dance." He has appeared as a speaker, performer, and ritual leader at several Neopagan festivals and events.
Awards
McBride has won several awards, including recognition by the Academy of Magical Arts,
the Society of American
Magicians, and the International Grand Prix of Magic as "Magician of the Year." In 2008, he won The Magic Woods Award for Best Magician, and was also named "Lecturer of the Year" by the Academy of Magical Arts (at the
Magic Castle
The Magic Castle is a performance venue, restaurant, and clubhouse for the Academy of Magical Arts for magicians and magic enthusiasts in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, United States. The Academy was started in 1952 by ...
).
McBride has set several records in the
Guinness World Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, list ...
.
Discography
* ''Songs from the Center of the Sacred Circle'' – Jeff "Magnus" McBride & Abbi Spinner (
ACE
An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or a club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the ...
/
Llewellyn Collection)
* ''Dancers of Twilight'' –
Zingaia (2000) Sequoia Records
* ''Soles on Earth'' –
Zingaia (2004) Sequoia Records
References
Sources
* Bond, Lawrence &
Ellen Evert Hopman (1996) ''People of the Earth: The New Pagans Speak Out'' (reissued as ''Being a Pagan: Druids, Wiccans & Witches Today'' in 2002 Destiny Books ) Interview.
* Cohen, Andy (2006) ''
Follow the Other Hand: A Remarkable Fable That Will Energize Your Business, Profits, and Life''.
St. Martin's Press
St. Martin's Press is a book publisher headquartered in Manhattan in New York City. It is headquartered in the Equitable Building (New York City), Equitable Building. St. Martin's Press is considered one of the largest English-language publishe ...
,
* Miller, Scott L. & David Morey (2004) ''The Underdog Advantage: Using the Power of Insurgent Strategy to Put Your Business on To''. (Page 6)
McGraw-Hill
McGraw Hill is an American education science company that provides educational content, software, and services for students and educators across various levels—from K-12 to higher education and professional settings. They produce textbooks, ...
,
* Pike, Sarah (2001). ''Earthly Bodies, Magical Selves: Contemporary Pagans and the Search for Community''.
University of California Press
The University of California Press, otherwise known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing. It was founded in 1893 to publish scholarly and scientific works by faculty ...
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:McBride, Jeff
1959 births
Living people
American magicians
Card magic
Sleight of hand
American modern pagans
Academy of Magical Arts Lecturer of the Year winners
Academy of Magical Arts Magician of the Year winners