Excited to share the new promo video for CONJURING WONDER - Magic: Up-Close & Personal.
Join us monthly at The Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley for The Bay Area’s Premiere Close-Up Magic Experience.
Tickets available at www.conjuring.live.
Oakland, CA - Dennis Kyriakos sells out the premiere performance of CONJURING WONDER at The Claremont Club & Spa, in Berkeley, CA.
Imagine making your way through the stunning lobby of the Claremont Club & Spa and unwinding with a glass of wine while mingling with other guests.
Take your seat around the table as a dapper gentleman is introduced and the mysteries unfold.
Suddenly, objects vanish and reappear before your eyes. Uncanny coincidences unfold. Secret thoughts are revealed.
You are left charmed, bewildered, and amazed.
CONJURING WONDER will be presented monthly at The Claremont Club & Spa. Stay informed when future tickets go on sale here.
One of the first and most memorable gigs I had came soon after we moved to the west coast in 2012.
The venue was a “maker space” in the Mission District of San Francisco. It was my first time in that part of town and had no idea what to expect. As I parked the car and walked around the corner to find the graffiti filled front door, I thought “well, this is another fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into.”
The place was filled with tables, shelves, and workspaces of electronic gear. It looked like the laboratory of a mad scientist except it felt like there was some method to it all.
At the time, I was temping to support my family and rebuild things here in The New Frontier, using skills I developed while studying and working as an actor in New York City. But I was also taking any magic gig I could get my hands on.
This particular evening was a short performance before dessert for a group of about 20 gathered to celebrate a friend who was changing jobs. For years the guest-of-honor had worked as an editor for gay porn films and now he was starting a new gig at a company that made straight porn.
And man, did they roast him. They even had a custom cake made that looked like…er, on second thought.
As it turned out, it was a fun group to entertain and we had a blast. Yeah, I’ve been wrong about these things before.
Anyway, as I stood in the back of the house waiting for an introduction, my eyes drifted around the room taking in the audience, the set up of the performance area, the decor, etc. Eventually I noticed something scrawled on the wall.
If you weren’t standing right next to it you would have missed it. I snapped a picture and it was my cell phone wallpaper for over a year.
Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend. He’s a semi-pro with a solid “day job” who does magic on the side and regularly produces his own one-man show, which has quite a following.
We were on the phone some time in May talking about what we were going to work on while shut down and sheltered-in-place. He had a plan based on the fact that, as things began to open up, people would be interested in hosting smaller, more intimate events and he asked what I thought about his idea.
“Does doing that or anything else you’ve done in magic make you happy?” I asked.
I don’t think it’s about “the marketing plan” at all. That’s a necessary evil to get your work seen. The question that needs to be answered is “does it bring you joy?”
Everything else lines up around that.
Actual size. Almost.
David Ben - Photo credit Paul Alexander
David Ben is the Artistic Director of Magicana, an arts organization dedication to the exploration and advancement of magic as a performing art.
And he’s always up to interesting things…
Magicians and Fake News
Here’s an interesting opinion about Magicians and Fake News contributed to The Global and Mail.
“This is more challenging in the digital age, when people prefer answers immediately – even if they are based on false memories and narratives – rather than embark on a journey to the realization that perhaps there are some things better left unexplained.”
Illusions: The Art of Magic
Adolph Friedländer, Comedians de Mephisto Co. Allied with Le Roy-Talma-Bosco, 1905.
David has also guest curated Illusions: The Art of Magic, which runs from February 22nd - May 18, 2020 at the Art Gallery of Ontario. The exhibition includes some amazing experiences, including live talks, performances, films, and other events.
Magicana
David’s organization, Magicana is a fantastic resource to explore — whether you’re magician or not.
Enjoy.
Recently had the opportunity to emcee and perform at the #SFNaceGala2014 at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel. Had a fabulous time reading minds of some of San Francisco's savviest event planners.
The glorious Coriander Stasi spent time with us in September documenting THE WONDER. Enjoy!
Experience THE WONDER for yourself. Thursday evenings at 7PM in San Francisco.