How I work a Baltimore or DC room
The association reception
Washington is the country's association capital, and every annual meeting has the same problem: hundreds of members who see each other once a year and a short reception to get them talking. Close-up magic and mind reading solve it. I move group to group, a few people at a time, and the thing happens in their hands rather than across a room. No stage, no sound, nothing for the venue to set up. Best for annual meetings, member receptions and conference welcome nights.
The client night in Baltimore
Baltimore's corporate calendar runs through the Inner Harbor and Harbor East hotels, the firms downtown and the hospital and university crowd. A client evening there mixes people who know each other well with people meeting for the first time. Strolling magic and mind reading are built for that. I start with the first few guests and keep going while the room fills, so nobody stands at the edge for long. Best for client appreciation nights, holiday parties and firm receptions.
The after dinner set
Thirty to fifty minutes once the plates are gone, for galas, awards dinners and the close of a conference day. I have comfortably worked audiences up to four hundred. Magic and mind reading both, written for adults. I bring a microphone and speaker where the room needs it, I work to whatever slot the run of show gives me, and I finish on time. Best for galas, awards nights and conference dinners.
See Mike in action
About
A room that weighs every claim
A Washington room is a particular kind of audience. Policy people, lawyers, lobbyists and federal contractors spend their days weighing claims and looking for the flaw in an argument, and in my experience that is exactly the crowd that enjoys being fooled the most, as long as it still holds up when they replay it on the way home. Nobody is planted, nothing depends on a stooge, and no guest is ever asked to take my word for something.
Baltimore and DC are part of my regular territory. I drive down from Philadelphia, I arrive forty five minutes early and I am ready before your first guest walks in, largely because there is nothing to set up. I bring everything and I need nothing from the venue beyond the room itself.
I spent more than twenty years inside corporate America, which matters more than it sounds. I read a run of show without needing it explained. I do not perform over the speeches. I know the schedule slipping is normal and not a crisis. Nothing in the act will embarrass your organization, the material is clean and appropriate for a mixed audience, and nobody gets made into the punchline. Standard dress is a dark suit.
The paperwork is handled. Performer liability insurance, a certificate naming your venue on request, which the hotels will ask for, a real contract, and an invoice your accounting team will accept without a conversation.
Magic and mind reading both. Some rooms want a magician, some want a mentalist, most want some of each, and I will tell you which I think yours is once I know the date, the venue and roughly how many guests. Baltimore, Annapolis, Bethesda, the rest of Maryland and Washington DC are all standard for me, along with Philadelphia, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Connecticut.
Proof
Real rooms, real reactions
"We brought Mike in as a nice complement to a cocktail reception, but instead, he became the main event. The whole room followed him around, chasing the next trick, because once people saw one they wanted more. Mike is genuinely talented, has great energy, and is a crowd-pleaser in a room that's not easy to win over; we'll definitely be bringing him back."
Christine R. Felice, SVP, Mitchell & Ness Commerce
"Mike is magic! We hired Mike for my 40th at a winery and all I can remember is random screams of amazement among the crowd. He is flawless in his execution and left us all in awe. My family and friends talked about his performance for weeks!"
Ankur Patel, 40th birthday celebration
"Michael was absolutely incredible! We had him at our end-of-summer carnival party, and he completely captivated the entire crowd. With a big party, it's not easy to hold everyone's attention, but he had people gathered around, laughing, amazed, and genuinely trying to figure out how he was doing what he was doing! Our guests were talking about him all night and even afterwards."
Kejal Bhatt, end of summer party
Below, photographs from real events, taken on the night, with real guests reacting in real time. Ballrooms, cocktail receptions, hotel function rooms and convention stages across the East Coast.
Volunteers from the room
Two guests who walked in as strangers, now standing next to me in front of a full house. Nobody is planted and nobody is the punchline.
A full room
Cocktail hour at a black tie gala, guests closing in on both sides. No stage and no microphone, just a room full of people who came over to see what everyone was looking at.
Black tie season
Arriving for an annual charity gala. One case, no setup, ready before the doors open.
Partial client list
Vanguard · Insight Partners · Alimera Sciences
New American Funding · Fox Chase Cancer Center
Mitchell & Ness · Marriott · Wyndham · AtlantiCare
Mohonk Mountain House · Borgata · Harrah's
Ocean Casino Resort · Live! Casino · SugarHouse Casino
Disney Cruise Line
Questions I get asked
How long do you perform?
Once I know a bit more about your event, I will come back with a recommendation on the length and the format that fits it best.
What do you need from the venue?
Strolling needs no stage, no sound and no setup. I simply start. For a seated show I need somewhere the whole room can see me, and a small riser helps past about 80 guests. I bring my own microphone and speaker if the venue has none.
Where do you travel?
Philadelphia and the surrounding region are standard: NJ, DE, MD, DC, NY and CT. Further afield is possible, just ask.
Is it right for a mixed audience?
Yes. Nothing in the show is off color, nothing embarrasses a volunteer, and nothing needs explaining to the client's boss afterwards.
Insurance and dress?
I carry performer liability insurance and can send your venue a certificate on request. Standard dress is a dark suit. Black tie or a costume brief is no problem if your evening calls for it.
Contact
Tell me about your event
Send the date, the venue and roughly how many guests. You'll hear back the same day with what I'd do and what it costs.