 Magic is for kids. Right? Okay, maybe there are a few places where magic is appropriate for adults. But, certainly not in a business environment! These words are often spoken by those who don’t understand the power that magic can have on the bottom line.
Motivation and Reward Do you need a motivator for the sales force or an attention-grabber for that new product launch? Magic can do that. Do you need something special on the program to reward the staff for a job well done? A magician might be the solution. Do you want to show your best customers how much they mean to you? Hire a magician to perform at your next thank you event. Next week, I plan to cover these aspects of magic that can help to improve your business. I will also touch on a few more. Some of my insights may seem obvious but my real goal is to show how you can make and keep more money by doing some things that you may never have thought of.
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In our discussion of magic as an aid in motivating and educating, we have already established that magic is different, interesting and fun. The fact that the impossible is happening in front of people who are watching a live performance instead of a video makes it even more powerful. It establishes you as one who is worthy of being listened to. After that, it is up to you to keep the audience’s attention and to include the information that you want them to get from you. You can use more magic or switch to something else to mix it up a bit. (Watch the above video clip and note the audience reaction at a Vacation Bible School presentation in which I used magic to illustrate the lesson.)
Magic has been used in math and science classrooms for many years to spark interest in the subject matter. Today, others are finding it useful in therapy, churches and corporate settings. I encourage you to find out more about using magic to get your point across to your audience. If you have questions, please contact me. I will be happy to point you to some additional resources.  So, you have a group of learners and you want to get them to better understand the subject matter. It doesn’t matter if they are children, teenagers or adults. Magic will get the attention of all ages of people. First, because it is unexpected. Most of us don’t regularly see magic performed right in front of us. In fact, many people have never seen a live magic show. Secondly, a magic trick combined with a well-crafted story can draw the audience in and keep their attention. Sometimes that is all you need to do. Adding additional illustrations using magic works great for longer presentations.
For example, in my “Ag Is Magic” show (shown above), I explain how food and other agricultural products get from the farm to the consumer. The audience is so busy having fun that they don’t mind that they are learning about farming and marketing farm products. At the end of the show, I provide additional resources that interested individuals can use to find more information. Next week, I’ll discuss how to use magic to educate in just about any situation.  One of the hardest things to do in this age of short attention spans and constant stimulation is to get adults and kids to pay attention to you long enough to get your point across. This is a problem for both teachers and business leaders. You know that you have information that is important for your audience but, they don’t seem interested in what you have to say or are distracted by something out of your control.
One answer to this problem is to peak their interest with something that most people don’t see every day and then draw them in by seamlessly combining that special something with the subject matter. Many of the variety arts will supply this special touch if they are applied properly. Although juggling, ventriloquism or any one of the other seldom seen performance arts can work, I am going explain how magic can be used to grab an audience’s imagination and focus attention on the desired topic. I have been an educator in a variety of positions in the public schools and adult education for more than forty years. In that time, I’ve found that grasping the attention of the class at the very beginning of the lesson is the key to success. Next week I will expand on this concept. Many people have the mindset that magicians are for kid’s birthday parties. Although there are magicians who specialize in this area, many magicians frequently perform at banquets, corporate events, weddings, schools, class reunions, fairs, festivals, picnics and trade shows. Some perform exclusively for adults. However, there are magicians who specialize in family-friendly entertainment. Be sure to choose a specialist.
 Absolutely. When you hire an entertainer, be sure to ask for suggestions. You are paying for their expertise. If the artist is not able or willing to help, you may want to look elsewhere. An experienced performer will be glad to assist you. They can provide valuable tips that will make your job easier.
 The event you are planning may be a onetime affair or it may only occur once each year. It may be the only time you have booked entertainment for an event. Although the process may be unique for you, an experienced entertainer does events like yours all the time and knows how to make them a success. If not, they wouldn’t be in business. Look for acts that regularly perform at events of the type you are planning. Experience does matter.
 Some types of entertainment just aren’t suitable for everyone. If there will be a variety of ages at the event, try to get an act that the entire audience will like. Be aware that musical tastes vary even among those of the same age group. Just to be safe, be sure to get a family-friendly act.
 That depends on your budget and the type of entertaining you are booking. The old adage is that "you get what you pay for" Before deciding what your entertainment budget will be, see what the act you would like to have charges. People will remember and talk about the entertainment for a long time. Many will not notice or care if some other budget items are diverted to entertainment to make the event a success.
 Despite the general thought that for a performer to be good, they must be from out of the area, that is not necessarily the case. Many local performers will do a great job and can charge you less because they don’t have the extra travel expenses. Remember, the entertainer you are bringing in is a local act where he or she came from.
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