McBride Magic and Mystery School

What McBride Magic and Mystery School does

McBride Magic and Mystery School is a privately held, founder-operated magic education institution founded in 1991 by Jeff McBride in consultation with Eugene Burger, headquartered at the House of Mystery on Shadowridge Avenue in Las Vegas, Nevada. The school teaches the technique, philosophy, performance, and business of magic to serious amateur and professional magicians worldwide, and operates with a small staff of approximately 8 employees including founder Jeff McBride, Dean Lawrence Hass Ph.D., Business Manager Abigail McBride, and a Technical Director. Its offerings span in-person master classes (3-day and 7-day formats) and Focus On... workshops at the Las Vegas campus, one-on-one private instruction and mentorship (online via Zoom or in-person), an advanced premium Masterpiece Series of elemental magic residencies priced at $5,000 per 2-day session or $18,000 for the full four-course bundle, a subscription-based Mystery School Monday online classroom and McBride Magic TV platform, an e-commerce storefront selling magic props and instructional materials, the Theory and Art of Magic Press publishing imprint, and a CME-accredited Magic and Medicine program developed with Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine.

The underlying platform combines live in-person delivery at the House of Mystery (which houses an extensive private library and proprietary props) with online distribution via Zoom for private sessions, the McBride Magic.TV streaming platform for Mystery School Monday webcasts, and a shop.magicalwisdom.com e-commerce and membership storefront. Marketing is community-driven, relying primarily on word-of-mouth referrals within the global magic community, faculty appearances at magic conventions worldwide, the bi-weekly Museletter newsletter, and the credibility of competition-winning alumni across FISM, IBM, PCAM, SAM, and America's Got Talent. The business has no external investors, no funding rounds, and no public listing; it has operated continuously for over 30 years and claims to have educated magicians globally, including named students such as Lance Burton, Mat Franco, and FISM World Champions.

Revenue is generated across six distinct streams: live master class programs, private consultation and mentorship, Masterpiece Series residencies, recurring Mystery School Monday memberships, e-commerce product sales, and publishing through Theory and Art of Magic Press. Pricing ranges from $15-$85 for individual magic props and DVDs up to $18,000 for the full four-course Masterpiece Series bundle, with gift certificates ($350), single sessions ($300-$350/hour), mentorship packages ($1,250 for five sessions), and in-person intensives ($1,050-$2,300) filling the mid-range. No revenue figures are disclosed publicly.

Name

McBride Magic and Mystery School

Legal name

Magic and Mystery School

Website

https://magicalwisdom.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

McBride Magic and Mystery School, founded in 1991 and based in Las Vegas, is a privately held magic education institution that teaches technique, philosophy, performance, and the business of magic to amateur and professional magicians worldwide through in-person master classes, online programs, premium private residencies, and a publishing imprint.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Las Vegas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Live Master Class Programs: In-person multi-day master classes held in Las Vegas at the House of Mystery. The school offers 3-day and 7-day Master Class sessions, as well as specialized Focus On... experiences and workshops. Tuition varies by program length and format.
2. Private Consultation and Mentorship: One-on-one instruction with Jeff McBride, available in-person at the House of Mystery or via Zoom. Options include single hourly sessions ($300-$350), the Mentorship Program (5 sessions at $1,250), and intensive in-person sessions ranging from 3-hour ($1,050) to full-day 7-hour ($2,300) blocks.
3. Masterpiece Series Residency: Intensive one-on-one advanced magic training with Jeff McBride covering four elemental magic disciplines. Each 2-day session costs $5,000; the full four-course series costs $18,000. Includes custom props, performance rights, and follow-up online classes.
4. Online Membership and Streaming: Subscription-based access to the Mystery School Monday online classroom, on-demand video episodes, and Wisdom Wednesday content. The Magic & Mystery School membership provides ongoing access to digital learning resources.
5. E-commerce (Physical Products): Sale of magic props, books, DVDs, and instructional materials through the school's online store. Products include stage manipulation effects, close-up magic supplies, philosophy books, and magic-themed gifts and collectibles.
6. Publishing (Theory and Art of Magic Press): Sale of books and instructional materials authored by faculty members including Jeff McBride, Larry Hass, Eugene Burger, and others, published through the school's own imprint.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

McBride Magic and Mystery School is a private magic education institution that teaches the technique, philosophy, and business of magic through live Master Classes and one-on-one residencies at its Las Vegas House of Mystery, online instruction via Zoom and its McBride Magic TV streaming platform, and an e-commerce store selling magic props, books, and DVDs. Founded in 1991 by Jeff McBride, the school serves serious amateur and professional magicians worldwide through small-group, hands-on instruction by master performer-educators, plus a subscription-based online membership and an in-house publishing imprint (Theory and Art of Magic Press).

Product overview

McBride Magic and Mystery School is a magic education institution founded in 1991 by Jeff McBride, offering a multi-faceted learning ecosystem comprising live and online instruction programs. The core offerings include Master Classes held at the House of Mystery in Las Vegas, the McBride's Magical Masterpiece Series for advanced one-on-one training ($5,000 per session), and online learning through Mystery School Monday web TV and the virtual classroom. Supplementary offerings include private consultation and mentorship programs ($300-$1,250), a products store selling magic effects and instructional materials, and the Magic and Meaning Conference. The school differentiates through world-class faculty, personalized feedback, and integration of magic theory, philosophy, and performance technique.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Live Master Class Programs In-person multi-day magic instruction held at the House of Mystery in Las Vegas covering technique, philosophy, performance, showmanship, and the business of magic. Offered as 3-day and 7-day Master Class formats as well as specialized Focus On... experiences and workshops in small group settings with hands-on feedback from master teachers.
• McBride's Magical Masterpiece Series Advanced one-on-one intensive training with Jeff McBride covering four elemental magic routines — The Miser's Dream (Earth), Practical Levitations (Air), Enchanted Water Bowls (Water), and Secrets of the Fire Sorcerer (Fire). Each 2-day session costs $5,000; the full four-course series costs $18,000. Includes custom props, performance rights, Library of Secrets access, all meals, and 2 follow-up online classes; limited to one student per session.
• Private Magic Instruction & Mentorship One-on-one instruction with Jeff McBride and faculty available in-person at the House of Mystery or via Zoom. Includes single one-hour sessions ($300-$350), Mentorship Program of five 60-minute sessions ($1,250), and intensive in-person multi-hour sessions ($1,050 for 3 hours, $1,600 for 5 hours, $2,300 for 7 hours). All fees include study materials, props, and DVDs.
• Mystery School Monday Online Membership Subscription-based access to the Mystery School Monday live webcast, on-demand video episodes, Wisdom Wednesday content, and the online classroom archive. Provides members-only weekly engagement with Jeff McBride, guest magicians, and master class material.
• Magic Products & Supplies Store E-commerce storefront at shop.magicalwisdom.com selling magic effects, books, DVDs, props, and supplies including the Squeak Technique ($39.95), McSqueakers ($15), Best Ever Knots Off Silk ($60), Double Shot ($25), Butterfly Blizzard ($70), and Manipulation Coins sets ($75-$85).
• Magic and Meaning Conference Annual Las Vegas conference featuring presentations by Eugene Burger (legacy), Jeff McBride, and faculty on magic philosophy, performance, and artistry, including the Nealist Show.
• Theory and Art of Magic Press In-house publishing imprint founded by Larry Hass in 2007, publishing high-quality books and effects from faculty and friends of the Magic & Mystery School, including works by Jeff McBride, Larry Hass, and Eugene Burger.
• Magic and Medicine CME Program CME-accredited course developed by Dr. Ricardo Rosenkranz in conjunction with the Medical Humanities and Bioethics Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, exploring the anthropological relationship between medicine and magical arts for medical students, physicians, and healthcare professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Mat Franco won AGT 1st place; multiple students have won Gold Medals at PCAM, IBM, SAM, and FISM competitions worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Tannen's Magic: Tannen's Magic is a long-established New York-based magic shop that also sells instructional materials and offers in-person classes and lectures. It is directly comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both combine magic retail with educational programming for magicians, though Tannen's emphasizes retail and live lessons in a commercial storefront rather than a private-residence model.
• Vanishing Inc. Vanishing Inc. is a leading online magic retailer and publisher that also produces original educational content, videos, and effects for magicians. It is directly comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both serve the same magic practitioner audience with overlapping e-commerce, publishing, and instructional offerings, though Vanishing Inc. operates at a larger scale.
• Ellusionist: Ellusionist is a magic retailer and content creator specializing in card magic, instructional videos, and proprietary effects. It is directly comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both target serious magicians through online education, branded instructional content, and curated magic product offerings.
• Penguin Magic: Penguin Magic is an online magic retailer and educational community offering instructional videos, downloadable effects, and tutorials for magicians. It is directly comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both deliver magic instruction via digital platforms and serve hobbyist through professional magician audiences with online learning subscriptions and product sales.
• The Magic Circle: The Magic Circle is a UK-based international magic organization providing membership, education, and examination pathways for magicians. It is directly comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both serve as educational institutions for magicians, offering structured learning, performance opportunities, and community for serious students of magic, though the Magic Circle operates as a membership organization rather than a private school.

Others

• Society of American Magicians (SAM): The SAM is a US-based magic organization providing membership, conventions, and educational programming for magicians. It is thematically comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both operate within the magic education ecosystem and serve serious amateur and professional magicians, though SAM is a membership society while McBride is a private paid school.
• International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM): The IBM is the world's largest organization for magicians, providing membership, conventions, and publications. It is thematically comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both serve the magic community with educational resources and events, though the IBM is a membership association while McBride is a private paid instruction school.

Emerging players

• Theory11: Theory11 is a magic retailer and creative studio producing playing cards, instructional videos, and educational magic content. It is an emerging comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both serve magicians with branded instructional content and premium products, though Theory11 is more retail/playing-card-focused while McBride emphasizes live instruction and publishing.

Regional players

• Wonderground: Wonderground is a Las Vegas-based magic performance venue and community hub founded by Mac King, hosting weekly magic shows and a magic community gathering space. It is regionally comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both serve the Las Vegas magic community with live programming and community engagement, though Wonderground is primarily a performance venue while McBride emphasizes structured instruction.

Broad incumbents

• Academy of Magical Arts (Magic Castle): The Academy of Magical Arts operates the Magic Castle in Hollywood, a private club for magicians and enthusiasts that hosts performances, lectures, and educational events. It is broadly comparable to McBride Magic & Mystery School because both serve as elite venues for magic education and performance, though the Magic Castle is a membership club with multiple programming partners rather than a dedicated school.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=XBJHYhkch9s
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mcbride-magic-and-mystery-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McBride Magic and Mystery School