Master Class for Balloon Entertainers
at McBride's Magic & Mystery School
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Alumni Reflections
"Two years in a row I was at Balloon Masterclass. I worked on a centerpiece of my act. I was nice to have a year to work on it and then return and get more input on my progress. To date I have won one award for the act that I worked on at an International competition. I also attribute the showing of that act to my opportunity to perform in China for a month. Jeff and his staff have created a warm and relating environment for creative thought. Don't be fooled though ... you must come ready to work and have an open mind to expand and create your act. The creativity exercise and and the ideas I had leaving there filled my notebook. I still refer back to it when I am looking for inspiration and vision. I look forward to performing more overseas, Masterclass helped direct me to act like an International Star. " -- Mark Byrne
"Fellow balloon twisters ask me all the time how they can make the jump from balloon twisting to putting together a professional balloon stage show. In actuality, balloon twisting skill is only a tiny part of a successful balloon stage act - a great show is based on first having a great character, then developing & performing interesting balloon routines designed to showcase that character. Jeff McBride's Master Class was a crucial key to my development of the Big Balloon Show. Mr. McBride is a master at capturing an audience's attention from the stage then holding it for the duration of his show, and he is both passionate and skillful in passing along his vast years of experience to those seeking to improve their own shows. Books and videos can be helpful in career improvement, but no other educational material is as useful as the one-on-one, direct interaction you'll receive at Master Class. If you're content to maintain the same level of performing that you've always done, then skip Master Class. However, if you're looking to separate yourself from the pack with a balloon act that is more exciting, and more creative than the rest, I can't recommend Jeff's Master Class any higher to achieve this improvement. You'll see immediate improvements right after the Master Class, and your audience will see the difference!" -- Smarty Pants
"If you are a professional balloon artist who wants to enhance your entertainment skills, and are wondering about attending the Master Class for Balloon Artists, GO! I could try to explain what goes on there, but it wouldn't matter; it is something that you must experience. I can honestly say that there are multiple gigs that I would never have gotten had I not attended in 2008. Combine the Jeff McBride team's collective wisdom, along with that of Don Caldwell and Todd Neufeld, then add all the creativity of the other attendees, and you have the most valuable 3 days you can invest in your balloon entertainment career. The relationships that grew from this experience are ones that I will cherish. If you get nothing but the ongoing friendships with your fellow attendees, and the ability to pick each others brains for ideas after the class, it would still be a fantastic investment. I hope to see you in 2009!!" -- Brad "Jesterman" Higbee
"Jeff McBride's Master Class has been incredibly valuable for my show development. At first, I hesitated to go to a show coach who worked with magicians - what in the world could a balloon entertainer learn? Don and Todd kept assuring me that it would be a good class. Then I went to the Magic Castle and three or four successful magicians who I spoke with said they got their "signature routine" from this class. Since that's exactly what I needed, I thought, what the heck it'll be fun. I came with a germ of an idea and left with, yes, you guessed it, the backbone of my "signature routine." This routine now closes my show. On top of that, I learned so much from Jeff, Scott, Eugene, and Tobias working with me and other performers - and I still use this advice. I was so impressed with Tobias' business advice that I took a business workshop from him after that which helped me define the direction of my business." -- Laura Caldwell
"About two years ago Don and Todd invited me to attend Jeff McBride's Master Class for Balloon Artist in Las Vegas and at the time I had no idea how it would change my performing life forever. This class will not teach you a single balloon design but what it will do is turn a simple idea you have and transform it into an original balloon performance piece. The inspiration you get from your fellow students and the all magician staff Jeff Mc Bride has put together is like no balloon workshop you have every been to. What amazed me the most was Jeff would take someone's bare boned idea and work with that performer and offer them an act you could perform in any night club or corporate venue. I can tell you from personal experience I came to Jeff's class as a professional birthday party clown and within a few months I was doing balloon shows all over Asia. Last year, I performed seven months in Japan and one month in Shanghai, China doing my balloon shows which got there start in Jeff McBride's Master Class for Balloon Artist. I can't promise these same results for everyone but as for me without Jeff and his team of magicians' thoughtful advice I would have never had a clue on how to design my balloon show and now I can call myself an International Balloon Performer." -- Mike "Funnybone" Ianneo
"A lot has happened since Master Class `08. I have stopped marketing myself as a twister and now focus on the title Entertainer. I do less and less birthday parties each month but replace them with higher paying corporate gig's. I now have 3 custom shows that I have been commissioned to build for specific events. All of this has been possible because of what all I learned from Master Class 08, and am excited to be going to MC `09. Master Class is a handful of days that will cause you to evolve your business and give you a "Monkey touch the Monolith" experience. If you don't know what that is GOOGLE it." -- Michael Clay
"After performing for years, I had gotten too comfortable with what I was doing on stage. I needed someone to review my act and tell me what was wrong with it - where to go with it next. Jeff was just the person. He helped me get to the next level by showing me in only a few days where I needed the most work and where to focus my energy. He has a way of reviewing a performance in the most friendly manner. Not only didn't I mind being critiqued, I enjoyed it. It was one of the best learning experiences I've had as an entertainer." -- Larry Moss
"For me, Master Class was a great experience. It's a wonderful place to learn from an amazing team of seasoned professionals, committed to teaching you everything they can. Not only did I develop an award-winning routine there, I was also able to create a character that I love, and love playing. The Mystery School is a soul-searching experience designed to refine both your craft, and your spirit." -- Tawney Bubbles
"If you have any thing you perform, or want to perform, Master Class is a great incubator and refinement tool. The critique and constructive feedback are where it’s at. Jeff McBride's process is based on a vast knowledge. He opens a portal revealing the fabric and pattern of the entertainment industry's past and the muscles it flexes today." -- Mo The Clown
"I have always believed that performing with balloons is what balloon twisting is all about. I am always interested in exploring more of that area with other entertainers. Before I went to Master Class, I felt I was limited by doing my same routines over and over in limited contexts. Master Class was the impetus to have me create and put into action a brand new routine and explore areas of a new character. It set a lot of things in motion and I truly learned a lot. I occasionally get together with good friends for an hour or two to create material together, but having a week together with other balloon entertainers is magic in itself. When I have been able to perform with that new routine from Master Class, it's really exciting for me. It still leads me to bring out the new character. The organization and group experience that comes out of Master Class definitely brings out some lasting results!" -- Pat "In The Hat" Duffek
"Spending the week with Jeff McBride was one of the single most influential decisions I've made in my professional balloon career. I was able to take the knowledge and know-how of a seasoned performer that has traveled the world and direct that toward my career goals as a balloon artist. There is no better way to speed up the learning process in anything than to have an expert walk you through the steps. Jeff's course covered more than I can list here, but it included business advice, performance stories, routine suggestions, and even connected me with a team of like-minded individuals that have helped me grow into much of what I am today." -- Jonathan Fudge
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