A few months ago, I presented an evening of mind reading at a venue in San Francisco. We had about 150 people in the audience. A very sophisticated and savvy group. 

Over the past year, I have been working on a new closing piece for the show. It's rarely seen anymore because it's challenging to perform well. I've only performed it a handful of times over the course of the year, mainly because I don't always have the right audience and venue. 

But this audience in this venue was perfect.

I think a lot about the shows I perform. I think about structure and theme and plot and character. Then I work things out to try to convey these thoughts. I tend to err on the subtle side, but I think about it and try to convey.

Anyway, I started thinking about this show, considering things about it a couple of weeks leading up to it. So I had invested time and energy into it. Then the big night is here. I arrive early. Set up the stage, check my mic. The audience arrives and I'm introduce and we're off. 

An hour into the show and things are going well. It feels good. I think they're getting it. Then the moment arrives to introduce the finale of the performance. The piece I'm most nervous about and have been thinking about for over a year. 

This piece involves everyone in the audience. At least those who want to participate. Before the show begins, they each write something specific on a piece of paper, fold it up and drop it in a bowl on stage. My job is to reveal those secret thoughts without reading them. Everyone one is invested in this piece, not just me. See? Challenging.

So, we dive in. I begin with the first revelation when I hear it. "Is that...the fire alarm?" I think to myself. "Nah. Can't be."

A beat goes by and the stage manager comes to the foot of the stage and asks everyone to make their way to the exits.

Dammit.

We make our way outside and wait for the fire department to give the all clear. It takes about 30 minutes. I make friends with some of the audience members and we have pleasant conversation. I'm not sure who is more disappointed. I think it's me.

A couple of weeks later I'm back in the venue -- I have a weekly residency there performing casual close-up magic. And one of the audience members who was at the show, is back to catch some magic. She asks me a bit about the final piece of the show and I walk her through what was supposed to happen. She says that based on what had they had seen leading up to the finale, that was the only inevitable place the show could have gone.

Wow. She got it.

This past weekend, I was invited to be a "surprise guest" at someone's 40th birthday party. The venue was a lovely, modern home in the Potrero Hill section of San Francisco, owned by a friend of the guest-of-honor.

I arrived well after the party began and mingled with guests on the roof deck. Then we moved to the second floor living room to read some minds. 

San Francisco Mind Reader Dennis Kyriakos

One of the most comfortable homes and gracious host and hostess. The perfect mix for a perfect evening entertainment.

We just wrapped up the 2018 RSA Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. RSA brings in nearly 50,000 attendees and 500+ exhibitors, so competition for mindshare is fierce on the show floor.

We helped Checkpoint Software stop traffic at VM World, AWS re:Invent, Blackhat, Microsoft Ignite, and twice now at RSA -- that's a total of 6 times in the past 2 years. We've triple their leads and have made their investors very happy.

Are you serious about making a change in the way you market at trade shows? Looking for a proven method that will...

• BUILD CROWDS
• GET YOUR MESSAGE HEARD
• DELIVER RESULTS 

Visit Interactive Trade Show Marketing to learn more. And contact us today to schedule a free consultation and let's MAXIMIZE YOUR VISIBILITY.

We're back with Check Point for Microsoft Ignite, from September 25th - 28th. The conference and trade show attracted 30,000 attendees over the course of four days at the Orlando Convention Center, in Orlando, FL. 

This was our fourth time working with Check Point to stop traffic and build crowds at their booth. Our presentation included visual and amazing magic and mind reading, as well as custom-scripting that included information on Check Point's vSEC Cloud Security solution for Microsoft Azure and Azure Stack environments.

Maximizing visibility at Mircosoft Ignite 2017

Once the crowd reached maximum capacity, we turned them over to the selected expert for a brief in-booth presentation on specific ways Check Point seamlessly integrates with Microsoft. Then we came back to wrap up the session with more entertainment, messaging, and a raffle.

Introducing Don Meyer, (center) Head of Marketing, Cloud Security for Check Point, one of the experts offering in-booth sessions..

And finally, here's a brief, candid moment between presentations on the show floor. Photo credit https://www.lindahamlincreative.com/

Thanks, Linda!

Photo by https://www.lindahamlincreative.com/

Building crowds at Blackhat 2017

This year at Blackhat, we helped Checkpoint Software fill their booth with prospects and introduced speakers who presented on specific topics. And of course, we developed custom-scripted presentations that entertained attendees and got their message across.

Are you in charge of your company's trade show exhibit? Contact us to discuss building crowds and maximizing your visibility!

Did you know that people would rather die than speak in front of a group?

Think about that for a minute. That’s big.

I spend a lot of time in front of groups and I get nervous every time I’m waiting in the wings. I’d get really worried if I didn’t.

Why am I telling you this.

Last night I performed at a corporate event in San Francisco. This was the 20th anniversary of an investment company and they brought a team from the east coast office for a weekend with their west coast counterparts. I performed walk around magic during the cocktail reception and a 30 minute show after dinner.

Right at the top of the show I ask for someone to join me in the front of the room. One gentleman began waving his arms and pointing to a colleague that sat next to him.

“Pick her! Pick her!”

Not sure why exactly, but he was very enthusiastic about having her participate. She, on the other hand, not so much. In fact, she was doing everything in her power to make herself small and invisible. She tried to pull his arms down and failing that, actually got up and scurried behind some other people at her table.

The last thing I want to do is bring someone up who does not want to be up there. She looked extremely uncomfortable with the idea, so I told her she did not have to participate if she wasn’t comfortable.

So the performance continues and about halfway through I ask for another volunteer. And the same thing happened. Again the man waved his arms and pointed at his colleague.

Some of the other guys in the room cheered her on to participate as well. And again, she scurried out of her seat and this time crawled around to another table where she spent the rest of the show cowering behind a sympathetic coworker. She didn’t actually sit at the other table but literally crouched behind a couple of people.

I get it.

You’re having a good time with your coworkers and friends. And I can see how you’d think it might-possibly-sorta-kinda would be fun to put someone on the spot. I don’t agree with you, but I get it.

And let’s not mention the fact that you’re making my job more difficult than it needs to be. There is a rhythm I’m trying to establish during a performance. Creating a spectacle out in the audience to grab attention serves only your ego.

But, most importantly, when it’s clear that someone is in distress over your actions or perhaps has a fear -- a genuine fear -- like being in front of a room of people, and yet you continue to harass? Well, that’s just plain mean.

Know that if I’m lucky enough to have you in my audience you will be made to feel comfortable and treated with the respect you deserve.

Even if you’re an asshole.

Currently at Cisco Live, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

This is my second time working for A10 Networks. At this show, I'm performing magic to draw in a crowd and once it hits maximum capacity, introduce a speaker who gives a talk on how A10 can help attendees deal with their pain points.

Planning your company's next trade show exhibit? Let's maximize your visibility.

Work begins.

2017 started off big with the RSA Conference at the Moscone Center. Our second time at the conference and our second time working for Check Point Software.

This time, Check Point had one of the largest exhibit booths on the floor, measuring 30 x 30. 

We performed twice an hour pulling in large crowds with magic and introduced presenters from Check Point who spoke to attendees on a variety of topics.

Birds-eye view of Dennis Kyriakos pulling large crowds into Check Point's exhibit booth. 

We helped Check Point Software triple leads and badge swipes at the booth. By the end of the final day, Check Point logged close to 3000 leads.

We performed at dozens of events in 2016. Here are just a handful of highlights from some of our favorites.

Enjoy!

Toyota President's Award Dinner

Toyota Motor Sales rewarded their top dealers from the Boston Area to a weekend at Calistoga Ranch. We entertained these VIPs and their spouses on the closing evening of the festivities with our after-dinner mind reading show. 

#bringingyoutoboston

This way to the reception. please.

Stage is set for 30 minute mind reading show.

A short testimonial from the Toyota President's Award Dinner. #bringingyoutoboston

Team Building at Facebook

Facebook brought us in for a Team Building event for Halloween.

The recruiting team were working overtime and were in "lockdown mode" for months. We were brought in for a 30 minute mind reading show that brought down the house. What a great group.

“Hands down the absolute highlight of the event! His performance was beyond incredible...off the charts, exceeded anything we expected and pushed the boundaries of what everyone thought was possible.”

— Vivian T., Meeting Planner, Facebook

Post performance photo with some very happy Facebook-ers.

"The Year of The Trade Show"

2016 put a number of big IT Security shows under our belt. In fact, we were in Las Vegas twice in August for two different shows! 

We helped to build huge crowds with custom=scripted presentations and amazing magic over the course of multiple days on the trade show floor.

And 2017 is looking even better.

VM World, Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas

AWS re:Invent, Sands Convention Center, Venetian Hotel, Las Vegas

RSA Conference, Moscone Center, San Francisco

San Francisco Lithuanian Community Awards Gala

Performed at and hosted the SF Lithuanian Community Awards Gala.

We were honored to introduce and share the stage with Lithuanian dignitaries and ambassadors who were invited to celebrate with the local community.

Hosting and performing for the SF Lithuanian Community Awards Gala

Ken Fulk's Magical World Book Release Party

In October, we were invited to entertain at the book release event for Ken Fulk's Magical World.

Ken is San Francisco's interior designer du jour, having created some of the most elegant, sophisticated, and fun spaces and homes in San Francisco and across the country, including The Battery, where I entertain on Thursday evenings.

This event took place in the lobby and penthouse of The Harrison. A new, luxury apartment building, with interiors design by Mr. Fulk.

Ken Fulk's Magical World

Lobby of The Harrison, in San Francisco. Awaiting to entertain guests.