Las Vegas Weekly

July 16, 2009 · 12:47 PM

Mac King, Jeff McBride traveling to China for world championships gala

By Robin Leach

Mac King and Nathan Burton.

Photo: TVT

Two Las Vegas magicians are flying to China in the next few days to entertain at the 24th Annual World Magic Championships. More than 2,000 wizards from around the world will participate July 26-31 for the title of world’s best in categories ranging from card magic to manipulation to stage illusions.

Our hometown heroes Mac King and Jeff McBride have been booked to showcase their skills onstage to the competing magicians and are not taking part in the contests. Jeff, who will represent the U.S. in the grand finale stage show, will stay on afterwards to star in a 10-day headlining tour in China.

The International Federation of Magic Societies, or FISM, was created in 1948 and now has more than 50,000 magicians as members in 44 countries. Said Mac, who headlines twice daily at Harrah’s: “This is my first trip to China. It’s a great honor to be chosen for this year’s FISM as a performer, and I’m ecstatic about entertaining a convention center full of magic enthusiasts.”

Jeff, who runs the Magic & Mystery teaching school here, added: “This is regarded as the Olympics of magic and is only held once every three years. These are the world all-stars. It is a great honor to be chosen at the peak of my career, and to be acknowledged this way is a real feather in my cap. We are not competing, so we are the diplomats of magic representing America and Las Vegas, which is the U.S. headquarters of magic.

“I perform at magic festivals and conventions around the world, and the Chinese hosts saw me in Peru and in Europe and thought it was the perfect act to represent the USA in China. From my global travels, I have a feeling that the Koreans will prove the best with their amazing card and CD manipulation.”

Check out these magic clips via YouTube:

Jeff, who holds the world speed record for card throwing, added: “This is my first tour of China, and it gives me an opportunity to entertain with East meets West. I have a changing masks piece in my act as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and the Chinese have a tradition of changing face magic from the Peking Opera, so my Western version will be new and different. I developed my own style of mask magic using Western techniques, and it fascinates them. I’m not sure how long their tradition with face masks goes back, so I’m thinking of this as a mask change summit!”

More magic news

If you missed Flamingo headliner Nathan Burton on America’s Got Talent the past two nights, watch this via YouTube:

Nathan performed two illusions, one designed for AGT and a second that’s a highlight of his Flamingo show. Nathan appeared on the debut season as a mentor to would-be magicians, but this time around he’s a contestant. He’s friends with the Alizma triplets, who live here, too, but he did not appear with them although they were all on the same episode. Another Las Vegas contestant is 17-year-old Las Vegas Academy of Music student Bri -- that’s’ where country singer and Dancing With the Stars champion Julianne Hough graduated! The contestants from different cities now head here for the next set of eliminations.

Although already taped for broadcast, they are all sworn to secrecy about the outcome, but Vegas DeLuxe will follow the progress of our local participants.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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