Tag Archives: Adult magic

Corporate Magic at Networking Event

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In June, I was specially engaged for a corporate networking event by DHL in which their guests consist their most important clients.

Presenting my chic style of magic in front of a beautiful rustic building

This engagement involves me performing 2 sets of Interactive Close Up Magic segment and one Stage Magic Show for the finale. I worked closely with Michelle in advising the best placement of magic.

We split the Interactive Close Up Magic segment into two parts because in such cocktail networking sessions, guests will arrive in different timings. For those who arrive early, they typically do not have much activities to do. Hence, it is most appropriate to have a magician interact and entertain them before the main activities of the event.

Priceless expression : O

Thereafter, I also performed the second Interactive Close Up magic segment slightly after dinner is served. Restaurateurs might have the false impression that featuring close up magic during dinner would be akin to disturbing their guests during their meal. While this concern is valid, the years of experience I have performing in high end restaurants  allowed me to discern the best timing to approach a table. It also made salient to me when the guests are taking a break from the food. Such an approach comes with the years of experience that a younger or semi-professional magician may not have the privilege to gather. Towards the end of the evening, I then presented my Stage Magic show as one of the entertainment finale to this networking event.

Audience participation during the magic

The stage magic show was a strong closer as it gathered everyone in the event and they all participated in the magic. It features music and visual magic. In the show, I got a gentleman (John, above) to help me with the magic. And after the show, another gentleman came up to me and thanked me for the magic. And he said if I have not chosen John to help in the show, he would not have been able to meet his friend who he had lost contact for many many years. At that point of time, my hair kinda stood due to the uncanny coincidence. But also, I think this is truly what magic is about, it is about bringing people together. This left me with a strange but yet fulfilling feeling knowing that on top of doing the show well and everyone enjoying it, I have established contact for two separate individuals who had not seen each other for more than a decade. That is, real magic! Once again, it is great to get affirmation from the events organizers and the committee!

“ At our recent Customer Event, Alexander stunned everyone with his amazing magic with his unbelievable sleight-of-hand. The performance was highly entertaining, either small groups or individually was just what was needed. He was professional and non-intrusive in his manner, whilst being friendly and approachable. People were left in awe by the seemingly impossible things he was doing! He was an invaluable addition to the evening’s activities, and one that I would recommend to any event! It was such a special night for us and you were an essential part of its success. Thank you so very much, Alexander! “

Warm Regards
Michelle Tay
Sales Performance & Development Marketing & Sales
DHL Global Forwarding (Singapore) Pte Ltd

That is all for this entry! On a side note, I will be performing outside Central Mall  along Singapore River this week and next week (Friday, Saturday and Sunday). Do catch me there! More details here.

Signing off,
Alexander

Magic with Ipad in Singapore

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Some time last month, Jonathan and I were engaged to entertain a room full of enthusiastic, energetic and excited children from the different schools (some home schooled) in Singapore. They were all young programmers who programmed Apps for Code::Xtreme::Apps::2012.

This is no doubt a very interesting project for Jonathan and I since we both love having a chance to inspire and interact with youths, and more so for Jonathan as he was enthralled to witness the enthusiastic in these children in programming at such a young age. Jonathan lamented in jest that he wished he had such resources for programming when he was that age! :s

In the spirit of programming, Jonathan showcased his Ipad app in which he programmed himself and was featured for M for Magic 2, which you can watch here: Ipad Magic Singapore

 

 

In all, it was a really awesome event in which both Jonathan and I were able to interact and entertain the children in a non-kiddish way in addition to that, we also entertained the skeptical adults and teachers at the back of the room.

 

I think it is amazing what you can achieve by combining technology and magic. Stay tuned to our next project in which we blur the lines of reality by adding Ipad technology into our magic!

 

Signing off,

Alexander

 

Children and Adult Magic?

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Our brand of magic has been distinct from traditional magicians who perform in a childish and clownish manner. From our blog, you will realize that our style is chic, stylish and intellectual. The reason why we have such a disposition is that our magicians are eloquent, sophisticated and highly educated as well. Possessing such credentials are important as there are other skills that come with a good education, such as engaging guests in meaningful conversations, the ability to be flexible in different contexts, scripting well-thought-out acts and especially in providing customization to clients with various demands.

The reason why I am sharing my thoughts on this is because of enquiry I received from Mrs Ganesh a couple of months back in May:

“8th year old birthday. But mixed crowd, so need magic to be high standard and not kid-dish. Pls quote. Thanks”

Other magicians might shrug off the comment about how the magic is not to be kiddish and still perform their standard kids show. But it was apparent to me that it was because of our image and style that we were considered and eventually engaged.

It took little convincing that we were the right choice for an event that required excellent magic, so we worked closely with Mrs Ganesh to find out about her needs and concerns. Essentially, a huge worry of hers was that the magic might be too kiddish and the children would not be engaged by it and the adults may be repulsed by it. We referred her to our blog to for a review of our past events which showcased our style and demeanor.

The event went extremely well as I understood the limitations of the event and had a plan to overcome it. I also performed to the adults as well as the children without having to compromise in style nor “talk down” to them.

I was so delighted to receive feedback from Mrs Ganesh herself the very next morning after the event!

“Hi Alex,

Thank u for doin such a great job in Shyam’s birthday party yesterday. All the guest simply loved ur magic and was talking abt it even after u left. Shyam said that of all the activities yesterday, urs was his fav. esp the one you did with the yellow balls for the close up magic( I did not see that:( ) you were extremely professional and a delight to have in the party. Once again, thank u so much:)

Chandra”

 

(Picture Credits: Mrs Ganesh. Thank you!)

Singapore Magician

Interactive Roving Magic for both children and their parents

One requirement was that the magic had to be entertaining for adults as well. In the industry, it seems almost like a dichotomous choice in which a magician can only perform for children or adults, and not for both at the same time. But I can assure you that that is not the “standard”. While it is common that magicians would resort to kiddish magic in such environments, it was natural for me to entertain the children as well as the adults.

 

Children and adults entranced by the magic!

You can see that both the adults and children were drawn to the magic. That is the benefit of performing magic that is not kiddish. Notice I also do not dress in a “clown” suit filled with an array of colours. While I do not deny that colour captures attention, it only does so for about 5 seconds. An unskilled magician in a colourful suit would still lose his/her audience’s attention if the magic is weak.

Making a “birthday card” for the birthday boy!

You see, like adults, children do not like to be talked down to. They like to be involved and engaged in the magic.

“Hi Alex, the pleasure is mine. Hope the fotos r useful. All my guests luved ur show and kept talking abt it even weeks after the party:) You really did a fantastic job. Wishing u all the best in your endeavour!

Chandra”

I thoroughly enjoyed myself performing for the wonderful children and their wonderful parents! In my subsequent communication with Mrs Ganesh, she is still full of praise of my performance. *Wide Grinnnn*

Signing off,

Alexander :)

Close Up Theatre and Magic Workshop for AIA

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Last month, I had the privilege to do a unique performance for the friendly people at AIA. It was a session in which I performed a small portion of my Close Up Theatre set and Interactive Close Up magic, which ended with  a Teach-in seminar.

Finale to the Close Up Theatre set
A mini “Circle Show”

One of the main reasons why I personally decided to take up the teach-in was because of the inspirational theme of using magic. Under the leadership of District Manager, Mr Peter Lee, he wanted to showcase to his team that even though something seems impossible, it can be achievable as long as you put effort into it.

This message resonated with me and I took up the challenge. I arranged 3 effects of varying difficulties and true enough, Mr Lee and his colleagues were all able to execute them after considerable practice.

Hands on practice

The effects were handpicked based on the following criteria:

1. It cannot be a kiddish trick as it is not in line with Meta Illusions’ policy to perform kiddish tricks, let alone teach a trick that is kiddish/clownish in nature

2. There needs to be demonstration of skill involved. Because we conduct classes for youths and professional working adults, an effect is more amazing and appealing if some feats of dexterity are displayed.

3. The tricks are not heavily exposed in other mediums accessible to the general public.

With this set of criteria, my proposal was approved.

Experiential learning and group based teaching

Apart from inculcating the theme of the seminar, learning magic as a group is fun! It can create a culture of learning and sharing. It also fosters teambuilding.

Teaching and sharing within the group

I had a lot of fun teaching and performing to this group of spontaneous and fun-loving people. And I strongly believe that while magic can be performed for just entertainment’s sake, there are other subtexts that magic can exemplify, hence, creating an underlying theme or lesson.

For more on magic workshops and lessons, you can contact us at info@metaillusions.com, or drop us a line at 97459753.

One last thing, like us on Facebook too!

 

Signing off,

Alexander Yuen