Magic & Meaning 2017: Reflections From The Worlds Oldest 10 Year-Old, Part 1

I was 38 years old before I first visited Disney World.  Walking through the gates of the Magic Kingdom, I immediately became the teary-eyed 5 year-old who wanted to visit 33 years earlier... full of wonder & love, even as I stumbled off curbs.

I am now, of course, much more mature, so when I attended my first gathering of magicians this past week, I was a teary-eyed 10 year-old... full of wonder & love.  Oh, and I did stumble off a few curbs too (more on that later).

Understand that Magic and Meaning isn't just another conference for magicians; at least that's what everyone kept reminding me. Wisdom is shared, but not the kind you might imagine.  "Tricks" are taught, yes, but "Magic" is not so simple a word; so much emphasis was put on finding the deeper meanings of it all.  Heavy stuff for the worlds oldest 10 year-old.

I'm still processing it all, and obviously there are things I can't and won't share about the experience, but I can part the curtain a bit and try to explain why Magic and Meaning was important to me... the learning, the friendships (old and new), and yes, even the missteps.

Face-to-Face Friend Time

Going in, I really only knew 3 people, and those I had never met face-to-face.

Kenton Knepper is my brother from another mother.  Neither of us remembers exactly how the friendship began, but it is a deep bond that goes far beyond our mutual love of music and magic... some souls just click on a deeper level.  We've often talked about getting together, but we hadn't made it happen until Magic and Meaning.

For my non-magic Friends, I want you to understand that Kenton is a Legend in the magic world, and I was about to meet him on his turf, so I wasn't sure what to expect.  When I arrived in Vegas, I discovered that his lady had been rushed into surgery, and I feared that I might not see him at all, but as it turned out, he managed to make it to the first evening, when he was scheduled to play his singing bowls for the group.  I made my way to the area where he was busy setting up and said, "Brutha K?"  He smiled, jumped up, and hugged me, and at that moment my extended magic family became real.

It was through Kenton that I had gotten to know another Brother & Sister, Ed & Karen Underwood.  Magicians, musicians, entertainers on endless levels, Ed & Karen have developed a band, long-distance, with Kenton, and have also embraced me as their "techy brother."  My wife and I met them before anyone when we arrived, and it was another case of "souls clicking."  We spent a lot of time together, Ed, Karen, Kenton, my wife and I... a powerful, magical circle.

Meet My Heroes/Hosts

I am, first and foremost, a Jeff McBride fan.  Jeff created the Magic and Mystery School with his mentor, Eugene Burger and a gifted team of Wizards.  Magic and Meaning is one event of many they host throughout the year, teaching magicians around the world... and making the world of magic a better place.  One would think that would be a full-time job itself, yet he also hosts the Wonderground once a month in Vegas (an entertainment experience you MUST experience), performs around the world (this year taking on a huge tour of China), and hosts his own online television channel.  I know I'm missing something... oh yeah, he fooled Penn & Teller this year.  Yep, Jeff McBride is a talented, busy man. We had never met; he did not have to go out of his way to encourage me to be a part of Magic & Meaning... but he did.  And from the second we first met face-to-face, he couldn't have been more kind, busy as he was.

I confess that I was often a babbling fan in those moments I had with Jeff through the conference (one of those curbs I stumbled off), but come on... Jeff McBride?  He is as amazing as I imagined... sue me for being in awe.

I mentioned his team... let's get specific.  His wife Abigail, as talented as she is lovely & kind, Larry Hass, the new Dean of the school (more on that later) and talented Sage & writer, Tobias Beckwith, Business Manager and another gifted Sage & writer, and Bryce Kuhlman, Tech Director & technical Wizard on many levels.  Like Jeff, all were insanely busy the entire conference, yet each one took some of their precious few moments to make this Novice feel welcomed and part of the family, while creating a magical event like none other.

And then there's Eugene Burger, the man I never met, the presence that was everywhere and everything during the conference, the soul I wept for more than once during the week.  We'll come back to Eugene.

New Friends, True Friends

Magic is often about the unexpected, which is why I shouldn't have been surprised that I would discover a larger magic family at Magic & Meaning, but I was.  I now have many new Brothers and Sisters, and I'd like to introduce but a few of them...

The first day of Magic & Meaning, we were asked to pair off, and Michael, Jonas, and I were the only pair of 3.  3 is a powerful number; Tesla suggested that those who know the power of 3, 6, and 9 will know the universe.  What I know is that my universe is better now that these guys are in it.  Both Michael Mirth and Jonas Cain are gifted, experienced, award-winning magicians, who are more than willing to take this novice under their wing, but it's more than that.  On many levels, we became a band of brothers during the conference and will continue to be so if I have anything to say about it (sorry guys, you're stuck with me).

Luna Shimada. Ah, Bella Luna! She is, quite literally, magic royalty, and I have been in awe of her for a very long time.  She is as magical in real life... a powerful personality who brightens the room with her presence, who smiles with her heart.  She was in my small group at the conference, and when I let them know that I was looking for a mentor for my magic, she immediately stepped up. Why?  ME?  Part of the magic, I suppose.  Another "click," and I have a magical Sister & another special bond I never imagined.

Speaking of Sisters, meet Simone Marron, pictured in her natural environment, surrounded by magicians (in this case, Brutha K and Banachek, 2 of the greatest mentalists in the world).  She was introduced to me as "the Godmother of Magic in Las Vegas."  I disagree.  She is the Godmother of Magic and Magicians, PERIOD!  A vital part of the Magic & Mystery School family and loving friend of every magician you've ever heard of (and I do mean every magician), Simone hosted both the first and last evening of the conference in her home.  Another soul who is surrounded by magic's biggest stars, yet still couldn't be more gracious and caring to this novice... just as she is with everyone.

Another new Sister, one who made me feel welcome within seconds of the first event, Lupe Nielsen.  She and her husband Norm are magic inventors/suppliers, collectors (oh, to see their posters), legends.  I suppose I'm belaboring the point that I don't feel worthy, but Lupe is yet another larger than life figure in the magic world who immediately reached out to me with friendship and love.

Barry Fernelius is an Expert at the Card Table who chose to befriend and share his magic with the Novice.  If you ever find yourself at the Magic Castle in LA, you might be lucky enough to see Barry perform.  He blew me away with several card effects, then offered to teach them to me. "You can do these, absolutely," he said, then set me up for success.  The Expert and the Novice - Brothers at the Card Table.

Kim Silverman is a Wizard on so many levels.  Have you used Siri?  You can thank Kim (really... look for his Ted Talk).  His magic is, well, magical... art, really.  Kim does a trick that's known to magician's as "Crazy Man's Handcuffs," but in his hands, it becomes a love story of Shakespearean proportions.  At the closing party, I sought out Kim and asked him to help me with the "moves" of the illusion, as I have been trying to grasp it for awhile.  What followed was a comedy of Shakespearean proportions.  My sleep-deprived brain and stupid fingers simply weren't getting it, though Kim was doing his best to teach me.  In the end, we both threw in the towel, after I had launched about 20 of his rubber bands across Simone's living room (GREAT MOMENTS!).  I hope that he doesn't consider me a complete dolt, as I certainly find him a magic brother who I will always look up to.  As for the trick... I will always think of it as both one of Kim's masterpieces, and THAT FUCKING RUBBER BAND TRICK (as I stumble off the curb)!

Meeting the Man I Will Never Meet

Of all the people I was looking forward to meeting, Magic and Mystery School Dean Eugene Burger topped the list.  As I mentioned, he was Jeff McBride's Mentor, that in itself was reason enough to want to shake his hand, but as all magician's know, there was so much to the man to admire and be drawn to.  My non-magician friends will want to seek out his performances online... ingenious, funny, sometimes a bit spooky, always entertaining on the highest emotional level... that was Eugene to me.

When he suddenly passed away not long ago, I was broken-hearted.  I must also confess that my thoughts were a bit selfish.  It wasn't fair!  Magic & Meaning was so close, and now I was never going to meet this magic hero!  Yes, selfish... and completely wrong.

This year's Magic & Meaning was, in nearly all ways, a love note to Eugene.  His spirit was in every talk, every performance, every ceremony, and every smile.  Eugene stories were in abundance, filled with plenty of both laughter and tears.

There was, as you might imagine, a very special time in the conference reserved to honor Dean Burger.  I wept with those who knew him best, I grieved and celebrated his memory as one of the newest members of the magic family he grew, and cheered Larry Hass, the man who has taken up the mantle of Dean.

Did I meet Eugene Burger?  Yes. Yes I did.

But Wait - There's MORE!

As I mentioned, I still have a lot to process. I also have more stories to share, friends to introduce, and events to describe.  For now, here's what the worlds oldest 10 year-old has come to realize... the real meaning of magic is fellowship and family, and this lucky, lucky Novice has been given the gift of both.