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!

Yes, we still continue to face challenges but I firmly believe that it’s important to occasionally look at where you’ve come from and acknowledge your success — and failure. Do this often enough and with the right spirit and a clear path emerges in the direction you’re heading.

Despite the uncertainty of 2021, I was fortunate to present Virtual Deceptions at 44 online events and make appearances at 20 in-person corporate, private, and fundraising events this past year.

Here’s a taste of some of the most memorable moments…

The Return of In-Person Events

My first in-person event happened in May 2021. A team-building dinner for my new friends at Saltmine.

The event took place at Taplin Cellars, one of the oldest family-owned vineyard in Napa and Sylvia Taplin is the consummate host. The entire experience felt like being home.

The entertainment portion of the evening was a surprise for the team, so the folks at Taplin put me up in their cottage which doubled as a greenroom. After a fantastic meal prepared by The French Laundry, I was introduced and performed al fresco overlooking the vineyard.

What a joy to be back!

The Cottage at Taplin Cellars

The Cottage at Taplin Cellars

Greenroom

Dinner by The French Laundry

Sylvia Taplin thanking our chef for the evening and introducing the performance

Trade Shows

We saw the trade show industry open up this year with shows — large and small — across the country. One of the last events I did before locking down was the RSA Conference in February 2020 and we had no idea when the industry would be back.

Nice to see trade shows coming back and organizers adjusting the circumstance.

Stopping traffic for W Brothers at the Institute of Real Estate Conference Orange County Chapter Conference and Trade Show

Presenting for Bitdefender at Connect IT 2021 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

Presenting for Bitdefender at Connect IT 2021 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

In-Person Conferences

This year brought the opportunity to help a new client entertain conference attendees in Las Vegas and New Orleans.

Each reception included about 50 - 60 VIP conference attendees from across the country. And I designed a couple of customize presentations to get the client’s message across.

VIP Conference Reception at 1923 Prohibition Bar in Las Vegas

VIP Conference Reception at The Chicory in New Orleans

Speaking of Magic

As I mentioned at the top of this blog post, it’s important to look back and acknowledge success and failure. One of the things that kept me sane these past two years was finding a way to take the challenge we’re facing and do something positive with it.

“Every obstacle in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths.”

— Epictitus

Making Zoom Magic

The more Zoom meetings I had with clients the more I realized I had something to offer.

MAKING ZOOM MAGIC is a peek-behind-the-curtain to share the process of pivoting from performing at in-person events to crafting a highly-interactive and successful virtual magic performance for corporate events. I presented the talk to a handful of groups — virtually, of course! — and walked attendees through the nuts and bolts to making their next Zoom meetings amazing.

If you’d like to discuss bringing MAKING ZOOM MAGIC or another customize presentation to your group please drop me a note here.

The Speaker Spring Board Podcast

Alfred Poor invited me to be part of The Speaker Springboard Podcast. We talked about the business of doing magic, and what managers and leaders can learn from it.

Yeah, we jammed a lot into 10-minutes but Alfred it really good at what he does and apparently I have a lot to say on the subject.

And that’s no lie.

Listen to the episode here!

Virtual Conferences and Meetings

As challenging as it has been, there have also been some exciting opportunities to emcee and entertain at sales and kick-off meetings and opening receptions at virtual conferences for clients like Guidewire, SingleStore, Clarizen, DocuSign, SNUG World, Side reUnite, the Society for Technical Communication, and more!

The Battery

Thrilled to be back at my residency at The Battery this year. It was great to see the membership and staff again!

I’ve been the Resident Magician at The Battery since 2015, entertaining casually in The Musto Bar.

In November, I presented Psychic Illusions for approximately 80 club members. The performance ran 90 minutes in length and featured an act rarely seen today. What a treat to be back at the club!

The Oracle Act

The Parlor at The Battery

Thank you

We made it! We’re one year wiser, one year stronger.

Thank you for your loyalty and support.

May you find much WONDER & JOY in 2022. I’ll see you there!

Dennis

Recently, I was approached by a division of Thomson Reuters that was launching their new brand at a financial services conference in San Francisco.

The newly named division, Refinitiv, sponsored the evening’s networking reception and they asked me to help with two things:

First, it was long, two day conference and they wanted to provide the cocktails, entertainment, and fun for the evening.

And second, they wanted to ensure attendees were aware of the transformation, why they changed, and what their new capabilities were.

After gathering information via phone conversations, emails, and their marketing materials for the event, I set upon connecting the dots.

Combining the powerful visual metaphor inherent in magic with some of the big ideas Refinitiv wanted to get across — transformation, re-branding/re-birth — is the most creative part of this process and I love it!

And here is the result that evening…

See those faces? That’s genuine wonder, excitement, and surprise attendees are experiencing and in that moment they are incredibly receptive to Refinitiv’s message.

Are you planning to sponsor a cocktail reception, hospitality suite, or kick-off meeting? Launching a new product or making an announcement? Perhaps you want to create an experience that will effortlessly open the minds and hearts of your audience to your specific message or brand?

Well then, let’s talk.

PS - And if you’re curious to see a “down-and-dirty” rehearsal of the piece I came up with for Refinitiv, let me know.