Mind reading, three ways
Strolling mentalism
I move through a cocktail hour or a reception, a few people at a time. No stage, no microphone, nothing for the venue to set up. I tell one guest what they are thinking, then the person beside them, and within twenty minutes the room has stopped talking about anything else. Guests who have never met start comparing notes about what just happened to them, which is the fastest way I know to warm up a room full of strangers. Best for cocktail hours, receptions, trade show booths and holiday parties.
The seated mind reading show
Thirty to fifty minutes for a room that is seated and already facing the same direction. One shared moment the whole room talks about afterwards, rather than fifty separate ones. I have worked audiences up to four hundred comfortably. It is the kind of thing that makes a VP say "there's no way... that's impossible" out loud in front of two hundred people. I bring a microphone and AV where the room needs it, I work to whatever slot you give me, and I finish when I said I would. Best for awards dinners, galas, sales kickoffs and after dinner entertainment.
Corporate Mind Reading
Your material, built into the mind reading. A product name, the theme for the year, a number nobody in the room should know, sealed in an envelope before anyone sits down. I work with your content team beforehand so the reveal lands on the thing you actually want remembered. Your message gets across, and nobody checks their phone while it does. Best for conferences, product launches, incentive trips and client appreciation evenings.
See Mike in action
About
What mentalism actually is
There is a difference between magic and mentalism, and it is worth understanding before you book either one. Magic asks people to enjoy something they cannot explain. Mentalism makes it personal, because the secret being exposed is theirs. That is why it works so well on an audience of adults who think they are too sensible to be impressed.
I should say plainly what this is. It is entertainment, and I never claim otherwise. I do not do psychic readings, I do not contact anyone's relatives, and I will not tell your CFO what next quarter looks like. Nobody is made to look foolish, nothing private gets exposed, and anyone who would rather not take part does not have to.
I spent more than twenty years inside corporate America before this, so I know what a sales kickoff feels like at four in the afternoon on day two. I know the difference between an audience that chose to be there and an audience that was told to be there, and I know the second one is the harder room and the more grateful one. It also means I am easy to work with on the day. I read a run of show without needing it explained, I know who to check in with, and I am set up before the first guest walks in.
I am based in Philadelphia and work across the city and the suburbs, plus New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Washington DC, New York and Connecticut. Further than that is a conversation, not a no. I carry performer liability insurance and can send a certificate naming your venue.
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
Marriott · Wyndham · Mohonk Mountain House
Borgata · Ocean Casino Resort
Live! Casino · SugarHouse Casino
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.