The Show Doctor
McBride, Jeff; Hass, Larry
Theory and Art of Magic Press
The Show Doctor includes: Eleven of Jeff's previously unpublished routines, including stage illusions, stand-up routines, manipulation, close-up magic, cards, and mentalism. Revised versions of Jeff's celebrated advice column published in MAGIC Magazine. Many interviews and additional writings that extend Jeff's thoughts on how magicians can improve their performances and have more successful careers.If you love magic...if you want to perform excellent magic...then the prescription is clear: it is time to consult The Show Doctor!
"If you only read one magic book this year, make it The Show Doctor."
- Lance Burton
"I truly believe that Jeff McBride is the best guide to improving your magic show in the world today."
- Mac King
"Some magicians have asked me if I was going to write a sequel to my one and only book, Maximum Entertainment. In many ways I truly feel that sequel is what you are holding in your hands right now."
- Ken Weber
Pages: 296 - 7.25" x 10.25" - Hardcover - Illustrations
Reviews
(Top ▲)
There are two versions of this book. One is the standard hardback book with 291 pages. It is a hearty tome that will look nice sitting in your bookshelf. The second choice is an on line version that can be downloaded to your Ipad. This would be the choice I would suggest to you.
Why? Because it has video build right into the program. The cyber version is an App that you will purchase at the App Store. The program is a little larger than the usual App and will take a bit of time to download. Once on the Ipad, everything is built into the program. You don’t need an internet connection once you have downloaded the book.
The online version is laid out much like the standard Adobe format with a few twists. You scroll down through the pages within a chapter and across the screen to move on to the next chapter. I liked this small change as it made flipping through the book a little more natural. I should point out that up until this book, I was no fan of on line books. I have them simply for their portability, but I generally don’t like reading them. This format has moved me much closer to embracing the coming age of cyber books.
Additionally, the cyber version has video built right into many of the chapters. In one chapter, Jeff McBride is talking about the types of magic tables that are available. As you near the end of the chapter there is a video link for you to tap. Then a short movie comes up with Jeff demonstrating and showing many of the tables that were talked about in the chapter. This occurs many times within the book demonstrating tricks, expanded discussions with Dr. Larry Haas, and showing props. There are also the occasional buttons that will allow you to look over additional printed material (pop-up essays). This is a fun book to just simply scroll around and explore.
So, now what about the content of the book? The bulk of the book consists of reprints of his “Show Doctor” column from Magic Magazine. Jeff has expanded the material, thrown in some tricks, and added the fun features. The reason to get the information in this book is because it will improve your show, not because you will get more tricks. Let me demonstrate:
In one chapter Jeff talks about when the show begins. It’s not what you think, trust me. This chapter will get you thinking more deeply about how and when the audience perceives who you are. In a chapter titled, “The Bends”, Jeff examines the problem of stage and stand up performers digging for props. This is a chapter many performers need to read. How about a chapter that shows you how to get rid of hack lines and replace them with meaningful dialog?
There are multiple chapters that highlight common ruts performers find themselves in when working on their shows. Jeff spins the hot spotlight of examination on them and then offers workable ideas of how to change your habits and thinking to bust through these mental barriers.
This is a must have book for your library. My advice is simple. Take a break from simply collecting tricks. Buy this book and improve your show.
(Top ▲)
And when I have it. There's no remorse.
This Book is a great book to read. It's not only show how magicians can improve their performances, bu it also help me find another meaning of what I have to know about magic itself. It give more understanding how is magic should be.
So, Buy it, Read it, Then improve your performance and understanding of magic.
(Top ▲)
For $45 bucks (or $25) you get a 290 ish page incredible hardbound book (or interactive iPad book) from Jeff McBride that is full of incredible advice for all levels of magi.
The Big Picture . . .
For several years, Jeff McBride has authored a column in Magic Magazine called The Show Doctor. Simply put, it's a 1000 words or less each month giving advice and tips and ideas to magicians. It's loaded with fun medical jargon puns and terminology. "Doctor McBride" and "Nurse Abbi" don their medical gear and magic-to-medical translator in a successful effort to entertain us with clever wit while simultaneously teaching us good magic.
There are nearly 50 articles taken from the original Magic Magazine column. Additionally there are articles and follow up articles that never were printed in the magazine. Sprinkled throughout you will also find 11 "operations" (a.k.a. tricks) ranging from a fun and simple coin production to advanced stage productions, mentalism and much more.
You can get the printed book at the Theory and Art of Magic website, and you can find the digital version by downloading the free app (from the Apple App store) called "MAGIC Books." Once you've downloaded the free app, you can purchase the digital copy of the book. I highly recommend you go to the Magic Magazine page that shows the details of the iVersion. You'll get a good look at the book's contents and the concept.
That's the basics. Any questions?
So is it any good?
Well . . . let me answer that question with a big fat "DUH!!!!!!" Come on folks . . . Jeff McBride and Larry Hass. What do you think!? But just in case let me tell you this. Whenever I have a product that is really bad, I look for something nice to say just so I don't sound like a jerk. Whenever I have a product that's really good, I look for something negative, so I don't sound like I'm over hyping a product. This product falls in the latter category, and it was truly hard to find anything negative to say. The "best" I could do is tell you that I found a handful of typos and print errors, and that the Vampire effect was a little hard to follow when I read the instructions. However, bonus points for mentioning my girlfriend Buffy. :)
The only other thing that, in my opinion, really would have made the book better is if there were a glossary or table that listed the definitions of some of the stage terminology. It seemed to be taken for granted that everyone who reads the book would be familiar with the stage terminology. But that's it folks. This book is S.O.L.I.D.
There is so much great advice and material in this book, and everyone will get something different out of it. I particularly loved the "Case Studies" where at the end of an article they would look at a real-life example of a student or friend who had actually dealt with the problem in the article.
McBride has taken 45ish of the most common ailments in magic (in performance, business, pre-show, everything . . . ) and he diagnoses them and gives you a prescription to cure them. I found countless tidbits of wisdom and advice that made a huge difference in how I approach certain aspects of magic. If you don't learn something or get inspired from something in this book, you're just not trying.
The extra interviews with Larry Hass were excellent. They provided further depth and insight into the subject of the moment. All of the effects described in the book were very intricate and detailed with excellent accompanying illustrations to make things even more clear. I'm not a flower production kind of guy, but after reading McBride's handing (written by Larry Hass) it finally made sense to me how to actually perform it so that it doesn't look like you're pulling the flowers out of your sleeve.
So . . . nutshell . . . a book full of tons of killer advice along with 11 excellent tricks/effects.
Finally, there is an amazing list of books (i.e., recommended reading) peppered throughout the text plus the bibliography is 4 full pages of incredible books for the serious student.
Book vs. iPad
You can get the book in two forms. You can either get a digital "app" version of the book for the iPad for $24.95, or you can get the hard-backed printed version for $45. The hard book is beautiful and well made and is a great addition to the Stone Cold Book Shelf. However, the iPad version comes with everything I've mentioned thus far plus a ton more . . .
- Links to other article from other contributors (e.g., Eugene Burger for one)
- Links to other websites
- Bonus videos of Jeff and Larry further discussing ideas relating to various articles
- Performance footage of some of the effects taught in the book (e.g., the flower production)
- Other video footage that adds flavor and style to the book
I own both the hard copy and the digital version. More and more these days, I'm loving the portability of the ipad, but I still haven't "let go" of my paper and ink book loving self . . . so it's hard to say which one I recommend. However, considering the price of the digital version is nearly half the printed cost and you get a bunch of extra stuff . . . well . . . you decide. :)
Final Thoughts
If you're looking for some cool ideas and effects, though that's not the focus of this book, you'll find 'em here. If you're looking for advice from a true doctor of magic on how to improve just about every aspect of your "self" as a magician . . . you've come to the right place. The doctor is definitely in.
Final Verdict:
5 stars with a Stone Status of Complete and Total GEM!
(Top ▲)
By Jeff McBride, and Lawrence Hass, Ph.D.
Once opened, I read from the first to the last page before I closed this book again. Wow, these pages contain an overwhelming amount of practical knowledge, wisdom and clever tricks. I think this is a great book, and it is my pleasure to write a review.
Jeff Mcbride, named as one the most influential magicians of our time, collected in this book the columns he wrote for Magic Magazine over the course of four years. In these 48 (revised) columns McBride answers questions of readers ranging from making your magic more fun, sweaty hands, building an in house theater, to tips on stage illusions. McBride shares his knowledge and experience in short columns of about 2 pages in an easy to read style. His examples and advices are direct, witty and honest: a questioner with five years experience who wants to build a full evening show is advised to follow his dream, and to be realistic: “Great magicians are created one trick at a time” (a quote by Eugene Burger).
Being an experienced Masterclass Student I recognize a lot of the tips I read, and again am impressed with the practical clearness of the teachings. Indeed, McBride proves there is little as practical as practical theory! But McBride is not only smart, he is wise too, having a deep love for magic and a deep love to helping people becoming better in every way. His advice is never to dream less, but always to dream more, and to dream with your eyes wide open. And in sharing his own experiences, successful and unsuccessful, he inspires to stay focused in getting the best out of yourself, as a magician and as a human!
Next to the revised columns from Magic Magazine you find some interviews by editor Lawrence Hass to go into a subject a little deeper and several extensively described magic effects. The tricks range from a close-up routine with coins, to mind reading the participants first kiss to a low budget illusion to make yourself vanish on stage. Often you find references to books, YouTube videos and articles on McBride’s own online learning ground www.magicalwisdom.com.
The hardcover book is very well produced, with high quality paper and witty drawings at the beginning of each chapter by Craig Conley and most illustrations with the tricks are by the late master illustrator Earle oakes. If you want to go digital, there’s an IPad version of the book as well available.
In short, this is one of the most practical books available to improving your magic, learn some of the most powerful tricks of the trade and learn some new strong magic tricks. This book is highly recommended.
About the reviewer Arjan van Vembde
I am a part time professional magician from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. I worked weekly over six years in a restaurant as magician of the house and won several prices at competitions. I am serious about creating an experience of wonder for my audience and have a fond interest in theory and philosophy of magic. In daily life I work as a consultant on organisational development.