Fremont and Bay Area Magician

Number one question after every show... Chinese Yo-Yo / Diabolo

The number one question I get after shows is what is that object I'm manipulating on the string after my juggling routine?�The object is the chinese yo-yo or diabolo.�The other question is how did I get started in magic. I purchased several magic book from a bookstore. Below are the best magic and juggling supplies I can recommend:

Juggling Store and Diabolo Supplies

Another Impossible Object & Puzzle - ImpossiBill

If you enjoyed my previous post on impossible bottles and objects, you'll love this. Below is a dollar bill that Kat the Acrobat has braided. Close examination reveals that it has two lengthwise slits that extend nearly to the ends of the bill, dividing it into three bands. The braiding is real although the bands have never been separate. It is an enigma. If you are fortunate enough to receive one of these in the future cherish it as a piece of artwork. Let it remind you that all things are possible.

IMG_6390

Bay Area Party Venue Rental - Pluto's Santana Row

I've entertained at over 2500 events and been to quite a few parties. Birthday parties hosted at Round Table pizza have been quite a rage in the past as they don't charge a rental rates for the private party rooms. As parties at pizza parlors have fallen out of favor a few other great places to hold parties have surfaced. One location is at Pluto's in Santana Row in Santa Clara. For those of you not familiar with Pluto's it's a salad joint with really fresh salads, toppings and sides. Pluto's customers are conscious about making healthy food choices. Arrive when they first open to reserve the back room. A $3.75 child's meal, includes a entree (choice of chicken nuggets, turkey sandwich, mac and cheeze, or PJ sandwich), a drink (milk, chocolate milk, or juice) a side and also a desert. If you're hosting a party for 25 children you'll spend less than a hundred dollars on the event. You'll also enjoy the fact that you'll keep your house clean.

Commissioned Balloon Sculpture and balloon twisting

We're relaxing on Tuesday afternoon after our previous night's shows and enjoying a few days off. We receive an unexpected and urgent phone call from Chris, an artist and photographer, asking if Kat can make a commissioned balloon sculpture of Sutro's Triumph of Light. The best part of this project was the artistic freedom he gave us. "The sculpture can be crude, refined, larger or small --  we're very flexible, and more interested in what you might come up with than in telling you what to do." Chris was on a time frame and need something before next week's gallery opening at SF Camerawork. After we finished our work additional time would be spent manipulating the images and editing the video.

Sutro's Triumph of Light Mt Olympus San Francisco

Sutro Triumph of Light

After the phone call we did additional research on the Triumph of Light finding old photos, models, and history of the statue. Some sources claim that the Triumph of Light was inspiration of Statue of Liberty creator Frederic Bartholdi. Although there is little evidence to prove this. 

Kat started the project around 5pm and worked until 2am only breaking to eat dinner and rest her hands.  After she woke up it took her an additional 2 hrs to complete the balloon. The total time to create the final balloon was 8-10 hrs. We drove over to SF to Upper Terrace Rd in San Francisco near 17th and Clayton St. Once we arrive Chris and his wife Anne were totally wowed with the creation. They ended up snapping photographs and videos for a full 45 minutes and continued even after we left. On top of verbal expressions of gratitude they gave Kat a very generous tip.

Photos and videos of the balloon work will be exhibited at SF Camerawork starting Jan 7, 2010. The original Triumph of Light was located on Mount Olympus in San Francisco. If you'd like to find out more about Sutro's Triumph of Light click here to access sfcityguides.org article.

Commissioned Balloon Sculpture

If you'd like a commissioned balloon sculpture for your special event contact us www.danchanmagic.com.

Bian Lian (变脸; 變臉) - Change of Face

On Monday I performed the final show of the year, a magic, juggling, acrobatics and Bian Lian (变脸; 變臉) gig for a client at Koi Palace in Daly City. The audience really enjoyed the show and we were having so much fun! They were so enthusiastic and noisy everyone outside the private room was trying to peek in and see what was going on! As I was about to finish with the bian lian portion of the show. A V.I.P. in the room next door stops me and asks me to entertain his guests as well. When I entered the room I find out there are only 4 people in this room designed for 20 people. It gets better since he only asks me keep it less than 15 minutes! It's especially nice when you get a gig on the spot, since you don't have to set up or travel further. I used to do shows at banquet halls and parks and had the neighboring parties book me right on the spot to do another set.

Holiday Party Planning Hints and Tips

As a professional magician I've entertained at over 2500 events over the last 10 years and have learned quite a bit. Here are some event planning hint to help you plan a smooth party.

Have a schedule: Let your guest and entertainer know what to expect. By placing the "show" time on the schedule or evite your guest will be more likely to arrive in time for the show.

Communication: Let your entertainer know what the guest are made up of. Is it more friends, family or co-workers? What's the reason for the party? Is there any other entertainment planned? Is the location easy to find? Does it show up on GPS? Is there a cell phone number for the entertainer? What's the theme of the party? 

Have a back up plan: If your party is planned outdoors have an alternative if it rains.

Additional Money Saving Hints:

Save money by hosting your party scheduled on a weekday. Example: a restaurant I regularly recommend has a minimum charge for a venue buyout to be $2000.00 total bill and $36 per person on Fridays and Saturdays. On events held on other days they will lower the requirement $1000.00 total bill and $20 per person. 

Another example is the venue I recommend has a weekend rental rate of $120/hr on weekends but a weekday rate of $80. If you are already booking a show package with us we can provide a free consultation to help you save $$$ and make your event more successful. Also many companies now have their parties on weekends in January. Finding the venues and entertainment will be both easier and more affordable.

My bookings for Friday and Saturday in December start booking around early October. And are usually pretty much filled by the end of November. I few clients missed me this year and won't make the mistake again and are putting their deposit in as early as a year in advance.

Magic Consulting and recent Hollywood magic performances

It's been an exciting few weeks. Kat and I won the OMC magic competition and another talent competition.

DanChan-50

We also had another Hollywood performance.

To top it off I landed a magic consulting gig on NBC's new television show Trauma.

IMG_6012

San Francisco Tradeshow Magician & another Bay Area Magic Award

IMG_5100

The past few weeks have been hectic! Between magic lectures, creating new material, I also had to research for the upcoming tradeshow for VMware and its virtualization products. For this tradeshow, I also had to customize and script the magic I did to match the company message. I became the company's tradeshow magician, spokesman and infotainer. The scripting and research took over 12 hours for this particular tradeshow. In fact the messaging was so precise, many of the attendees thought I worked for the company. There were empty trade-show booths around us, but with tricks up my sleeves we generated massive crowds and even some media attention. The tradeshow was so successful the company asked me to do another upcoming tradeshow in October. On top of that I had the Oakland Magic Circle magic competition to prepare for. Kat and I ended up winning the title of Bay Area's best magician.

IMG_5102

IMG_4983

Tradeshow magician

California Summer Camp - Gold Arrow Camp

I've always wanted to give my children the best in life. The things I never had as a child. The things I never was able to do. I think that's what every parent wants. This week I did exactly that. I took James motor-boating, sailing and kayaking.

IMG_4776

In 1997, I worked at Gold Arrow Camp as an archery instructor, lifeguard and windsurfing instructor. The only thing I regret was experiencing water-sports so late in life. I hoped that my children would be able to do the things I only dreamed of as a child. When my friends Monkey & Sunshine at Gold Arrow Camp invited me to do a special performance and magic camp and I jumped at the opportunity.

Some of you may know I rarely give magic lessons because of a hectic performance schedule. If your child loves magic, or if you've been inspired by a previous performance and want to take the next step for your children. I invite you to join me at Magic Camp 2010 at Gold Arrow Camp. Not only will I teach magic, I might even teach your child sailing, another one of my passions.

IMG_4801

Small business consulting - Increasing your bottom line in this economy

Would you like to earn more money in this economy than you did in previous years. I'll show how you can apply my system and strategies to make more money and dominate the market in your small business online or offline. Is it really possible? If you invest in my coaching, together we'll make enough small simple steps to making it happen.

Compared to July 2008, I've actually made approximately 3 times this month than I did last year the same month! As an entertainer, I've perform over 2500 shows over the last 10 years and 31 shows this month. Not only have I been hired as a entertainer, I've been retained by several companies to help them market and position themselves better. Whether it's consulting your small business, executives or other entertainers. I guarantee I can help you, otherwise I won't accept you as a client.

If you're making less this year than you were last year you probably want to invest in my business consulting.

Simple techniques revealed. Online and offline strategies. Step by step, move by move, I will show you how to improve your bottom line. 

Discover how Dan has achieved market dominance in the Bay Area. Arguably the most recognizable and popular magician in the Bay.

Create more value for your client and get paid more as a result.

Establish yourself as a leading authority in your field.

Improve your negotiation tactics.

Discover how to get your competition work for you

Discover how to create more value for the client and have them use or refer people immediately after an event. 

Create an effective ad, and business card. 

Discover how to price your services effectively and leave nothing on the table.

Discover how to build your business, and also how to exit your business when you're ready

Develop a system with e-mails and phones calls pouring in without direct mailings or cold calls. Create a system and put it on autopilot. With this system, average of 5 call or leads per day, equating 1800 qualified leads per year.

Discover how to qualify your clients, and the most common mistakes you can make in negotiations.

Discover the two places you should NOT be advertising and the reasons why.

Discover what 2 things to put on your business card that is probably not on it already, the one to leave out.

Discover your limiting beliefs.

Discover your true motivation, your financial goal. And turn your passions to profit.

Dominate your market. Learn the Value you create i.e. your product, image, celebrity, skill, USP, Negotiation, System, Perception of You, Packages, and, Agents, Barter, Horror Stories, Private Lessons, Consulting, Multiple Streams of Income, Vision, Goals, Impact, Walk-away power, Giving back, Free Advertising, and Smart Advertising, reverse engineering your outcomes and more.

Do you really need a coach? Maybe not, but do realize that all the top people in their field use coaches regardless of how successful they already are. I will provide guidance, strategy and encouragement to help you achieve your business goals.

http://www.danielpendley.com/articles/tigerwoods.pdf