Last week I had the opportunity to spend 4 amazing evenings in the presence of The Maestro.

Juan Tamariz has been visiting from Spain and magicians from across the country descended on The Magic Castle in Hollywood, where he has taken residency for a few weeks.

There was a formal Q&A, two command performances, casual gatherings over dinner discussing magic theory, and sessions that ran into the wee hours of the morning.

A select few of us were even invited to give a spontaneous performance for The Maestro. I’ve never been so giddy in my life.

Thrilled. Inspired. Filled with joy.

PS - And I’m not being dramatic when I say “The World's Greatest Magician.” Read about Juan in The NY Times.

Is it a trick? A puzzle?

Many people see it that way; the challenge of figuring it out and catching the Magician. Some even want to see me fail. Mostly I believe people want to see me succeed because they want the experience. 

But what is that experience? 

Movies and theater are magical; novels, paintings, music, all magical. Although they have the ability to transport us to another place you can also see the craft in them. You know your favorite actor did not really die in the movie. She is crafting an illusion. You know that Superman doesn’t really fly. It’s CGI. It’s crafted to feel like these things happened. 

That crafting helps you get lost in the journey and in that moment you’re on the ride and it doesn’t really matter that someone might be stealing your car at that moment.

For magic to work, the “secret” must not only be kept hidden -- it must not even be suspected. Because the moment you even suspect a sneaky move…POP! The bubble bursts and there’s no magical experience. No mystery. You are thrown out of the experience and you’ll never reach your destination.

This is a challenge I accept.

Venues

The Battery

I have been fortunate enough to have been involved with The Battery since the beginning. First, I was booked to perform at their opening night and I have been the Resident Magician there since 2015, entertaining members and guests in The Musto Bar.

The Battery features a wide variety of event spaces, both indoor and outdoor, as well as hotel suites. The Penthouse is a great place to host an event with stunning views of downtown San Francisco.

It’s one of my favorite places to visit.

www.thebatterysf.com

The Bridgeyard

Formally a maintenance facility for the Bay Area’s ubiquitous street cars , The Bridgeyard is now a dedicated event space with panoramic views of Oakland and San Francisco it’s a “blank canvas” waiting for you add your vision.

Having visited countless event spaces, The Bridgeyard is a breath of fresh air.

www.thebridgeyard.com

Claremont Club & Spa

What can you say about The Claremont Club & Spa.

Stunning. Iconic. Historic resort charm in the heart of Berkeley with sprawling spaces and incredible attention to detail everywhere you look.

And I hear they have an amazing magic show happening there every month!

www.fairmont.com/claremont-berkeley

Odette Estate Winery

Odette Estate Winery is run by my friends at PlumpJack Group and their hospitality is second to none.

If you’re looking for a venue in Napa to host your holiday event you can’t go wrong with Odette Estate Winery.

www.odetteestate.com

Press Club

One of the first planners I met when I arrived in the Bay Area was Ashley Guillory and we ended up working a handful of events together. Ashley is now Director of Private Events at Press Club, a sophisticated and social wine bar in the heart of downtown San Francisco. If your group enjoys seasonal small plates and thoughtful pairings, Press Club is your spot.

www.pressclubsf.com

Catering

Carrie Dove Catering & Events

Our mission is simply stated – “to work hard to create comfortably elegant events in partnership with our clients”.

From your first inquiry to your last bite everyone you meet from Carrie Dove Catering & Events will exemplify hard work, humility, happiness, team work and a good attitude.

www.carriedovecatering.com

Day Darmet

Day Darmet provides a catering experience with a tailored handheld feel.

From client meetings, product launches, all day conferences, and more… we create menus to fit your exact catering needs providing end to end customer service.

www.daydarmet.com

Hugh Groman Group

Call us saucy, but we think gatherings should be fun–fun for guests and fun for the people who host them. Comfortable. Easy. Surprising. Delicious. You could say we are full-service caterers and event planners. Or, you could say we make magic happen. Let us delight you.

www.thehughgromangroup.com

Off The Grid

From outdoor office lunches or team happy hours to corporate holiday parties—we bring the lively atmosphere of our Off the Grid market experiences to every catered event. Curbside, inside or outside, we curate moments that are as diverse and thoughtful as the local, small food businesses we work with.

www.offthegrid.com

Tonic Beverage Catering

From humble beginnings in a questionable garage to our position as an independent brand within a highly regarded hospitality group, our team has put in the literal blood, sweat and tears to make Tonic what it is today. We produce hundreds of events per year across the Bay Area and Beyond from the most intimate gathering to the grandest experience.

www.tonicbeveragecatering.com

DJs/Music

DJ Airsun

It’s not a party if people don’t dance. DJ Airsun has been putting people in the mood to groove at private parties, events and clubs since 2011. Airsun’s experience spinning for diverse groups with different tastes means the dancing at weddings and private parties is always a blast and always curated for the people of the hour.

www.djairsun.com

Denon & Doyle

While there is no secret formula to our success, there is something special about the way we approach each event. There is a fusion of tradition and innovation, experience and youth, charisma and calm, that exists at D&D.

www.djay.com

Gatsby Event Studios

An elevated level of production focused events with all the great entertainment services you know and love.

www.gatsbyeventstudios.com

Photographers

Kevin Meynell Photography

Kevin Meynell is a good friend and a trustworthy event partner. He has an innate ability to make you smile and ensure “you” shine through.

And he’s a damn good guy.

www.kevinmeynell.com

Misti Layne

Misti and I have crossed paths at a number of events and her charm and charisma behind the camera always puts me at ease.

www.mistilayne.com

The Vanity Portrait Studio

I always feel like a ROCKSTAR anytime The Vanity Portrait Studio takes my photo and you will too.

www.thevanityportraitstudio.com

I remember doing magic when I was young. We would visit family for Sunday dinners or a holiday and I always brought something along to perform. I did that a lot.

Eventually I started doing children’s parties and while that was enjoyable and there was a lot to learn, it really wasn’t where my heart was. I was always interested in doing close-up magic.

I was fascinated with sleight-of-hand and I knew my audience was going to be in the corporate world and events with adult audiences. So I started to think more about that.

What I kept bumping into was how to make the leap from doing children’s parties to the corporate market. But the question was bigger than “how do I do more corporate events?” The question was really “who do I need to be to get those gigs?” 

That’s where I lived for a time and it was okay. But now I find the question has changed again. 

Now it’s about BEING A MAGICIAN. “Who do I need to be so that an experience of wonder just seems to happen around me?”

And that’s much bigger than doing tricks. 

Inevitably a guest will exclaim, “My kid would love this!”

When I ask how old their child is, the answer is usually six or seven. 

Never mind that I’m appearing at a corporate event or social function in a sharp suit and engaging with challenging close-up magic or reading minds from the stage. It still happens.

Don’t mistake this for complaining. I’ve been passionate about magic since I was 10 years old and I’m grateful to have it as my profession for over 25 years.

I’m just wonder why.

My kids live in a world of wonder and joy. Everything they experience is magical. But eventually society will tell them it’s time to put childlike things away and grow up. Sadly, magic will be added to that box and buried in the backyard. 

“So remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and hold on to that childlike sense of wonder about what makes the universe exist.”

— Stephen Hawking

We grown-ups need magic now more than ever. That’s why we go to the theater, visit the museum, read a novel, or listen to music. These things pull us out of our daily grind. That’s the power of magic; it puts us face-to-face with a mystery. 

If only for a few moments and even if it’s a simple, well-executed card trick.

Hey there, corporate event planners! Let's talk about shaking things up at your next conference. Ever considered adding a touch of magic to the mix? Here's why bringing in a magician could be the game-changer you've been looking for.

Picture this: your attendees walk into the conference hall expecting the usual PowerPoint presentations and networking sessions. But wait, what's that? A magician weaving through the crowd, wowing everyone with mind-bending tricks and illusions. Talk about setting the stage for an unforgettable experience!

Think about it – magicians are masters at grabbing attention and keeping it. Their interactive performances inject energy into the room, making sure nobody's nodding off during those afternoon sessions.

And hey, it's not just about entertainment. The right magician can be an ambassador for your company message. They can seamlessly weave in key points or product launches into their act, ensuring your audience gets the memo without feeling like they're being lectured.

But here's the real trick: bringing people together. Sharing moments of wonder and laughter creates instant connections among attendees, making networking and team-building a breeze.

So, if you're ready to take your corporate conference from ordinary to extraordinary, consider adding a magician to the lineup. Trust me, your attendees will thank you for it!

OAKLAND, California - “Magic thrives in Oakland” (Piedmont Living Magazine) as Dennis Kyriakos currently offers the only close-up magic show in the Bay Area, and fans have lined up to experience his CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close and Personal every month at the Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley.

For the past year, Kyriakos has been entertaining sold-out audiences at the Claremont with his high-caliber magic and mind reading. His one year anniversary show is scheduled for Thursday, May 25th at 7:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit conjuring.live.

“This is a one-of-a-kind experience in the Bay Area,” said the talented magician behind CONJURING WONDER. “There are only 30 seats available for this interactive close-up magic show so everyone has a front row seat. The magic happens in the hands, minds and hearts of the audience as they participate in the show.”

Join us May 25th to celebrate the one year anniversary and all guests (21 & over) receive a complimentary glass of champagne.

Kyriakos provides sophisticated entertainment at corporate meetings and conferences, incentive weekends, trade shows, hospitality suites and high-end private events across the country and around the world. For the past 25 years, he has been a featured performer and host of Monday Night Magic – New York City’s longest-running magic show – and Magical Nights at Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency – The Nightclub of New York.

Kyriakos has been a repeated guest lecturer at NYU's Psychology Department and at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California, talking about "Visual Perception in Magic" and "Lying and Deception." He has also been profiled on the popular website The Art of Manliness.

For more information about Kyriakos and to purchase tickets to CONJURING WONDER, visit conjuring.live. He can also be followed on Instagram at @conjuringwonder.

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“The show was really engaging and entertaining! I’m an astrophysicist with excellent perception and logical skills, yet I couldn’t figure out how Dennis did his illusions.”

— Alex Filippenko, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, UC Berkeley

World-renowned professor Alex Filippenko experienced our March installment of CONJURING WONDER at the Claremont Club & Spa with his wife, Noelle, and questions the nature of the universe even more deeply now!

Sign up and be the first to hear about future dates for CONJURING WONDER at The Claremont Club & Spa.

Piedmont Living Magazine came to see the February installment of CONJURING WONDER and shared a brief interview with their readers in their March 2023 edition!

Up-Close & Personal: Magician Dennis Kyriakos

by Karen Silva

The exciting world of magic thrives in Oakland. Magician Dennis Kyriakos is presenting his one-man show, CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close & Personal. 

Dennis Kyriakos’ CONJURING WONDER amazes and delights audiences at the Claremont Club & Spa every month

Dennis said, “CONJURING WONDER is a rare, intimate experience of close-up magic presented in the stunning lobby bar of the Claremont Club & Spa. We limit seating to thirty guests, so you’re close enough to touch it. And people often do. It’s a wonderful evening out and a great date-night.” Dennis shared, “Working up-close is demanding and exciting but so is changing people’s perspective about what magic can be.”

Dennis has been steeped in magic for over 40 years. He said, “There were two moments when I was about 10 years old. I remember watching a magic show on Saturday morning TV and distinctly recall the feelings of wonder, astonishment, and joy.” 

“Magic thrives in Oakland....experience a delightful evening of mystery and wonder...”

— Piedmont Living Magazine

He stated, “Then I discovered a handful of old magic books at our local library and realized I could learn to create the same experience for others. So, first I was enchanted and then obsessed.

While magic might look easy to some, it requires dedication and practice.

Dennis said, “The real secrets of magic come from careful study, thoughtful practice, real-world experience, and they are passed along through mentorship and community. There’s no shortcut.” He stated, “For many years I worked at a weekly magic show in New York City and that became my training ground. It’s where I got close to a couple of the world’s greatest sleight-of-hand artists and magical thinkers who became my mentors and I'm fortunate to be part of that unbroken chain of sharing secrets with like minds.”

To experience a delightful evening of mystery and wonder, check out Dennis’ show at the Claremont. Visit www.conjuring.live for information and tickets.

DJs / Music

DJ Airsun

It’s not a party if people don’t dance. DJ Airsun has been putting people in the mood to groove at private parties, events and clubs since 2011. Airsun’s experience spinning for diverse groups with different tastes means the dancing at weddings and private parties is always a blast and always curated for the people of the hour.

www.djairsun.com

Denon & Doyle

While there is no secret formula to our success, there is something special about the way we approach each event. There is a fusion of tradition and innovation, experience and youth, charisma and calm, that exists at D&D.

www.djay.com

Gatsby Event Studios

An elevated level of production focused events with all the great entertainment services you know and love.

www.gatsbyeventstudios.com