Top Corporate Mentalist Christopher Grace

Here is how to transform your next corporate event when you hire a mentalist for your entertainment! Are you tired of the same underwhelming cocktail receptions, predictable keynote speakers, and cheesy or ignored DJs at your company's parties? Have you ever looked around a company party and seen attendees dutifully checking their phones every few minutes, desperate for something genuinely exciting to happen? If so, you’re not alone. Event planners and business leaders everywhere are searching for unique corporate entertainment that not only engages their guests but makes a lasting impression. Believe it or not, the biggest game-changer sweeping the corporate world right now isn’t a cutting-edge virtual reality booth or an Instagram photo station—it’s an interactive corporate mentalist . A modern, cutting-edge performer who reads minds, astounds audiences, and injects an air of wonder into even the most buttoned-up business environment. We’ll dive deep into the art of mentalism, reveal why mentalists beat run-of-the-mill magicians or stand-up comedians hands down, and discuss how you can book these captivating performers for your next event. If you want to know why everyone in the event planning sphere is buzzing about booking a Mind Reader for Corporate Event success, stick around. You’ll be amazed at how this rapidly growing trend can supercharge your company’s gatherings. 1. The Corporate Event Crisis: Why Your Parties Need Saving Boredom Is The Silent Killer: A corporate event is only as good as its events, and entertainment. A stale agenda filled with forgettable speakers, tepid conversation, and cookie-cutter awards ceremonies spells trouble for even the most important gatherings. Attendees might show up for the free food or mandatory presence, but their hearts aren’t really there. Meanwhile, morale suffers, team bonding never takes flight, and the event goes down in the records as just another boring day at the office. What’s at Stake? Brand Reputation : If your company events aren’t memorable, you may miss out on opportunities to impress clients and stakeholders. Employee Engagement : Surveys consistently show that employees want to feel valued and inspired. Bland gatherings do the opposite. Return on Investment : Events cost time, money, and effort. If participants come away unenlightened or uninspired, that ROI plummets. 2. What Exactly Is a Corporate Mentalist? Defining Mentalism: Mentalism is an art form that focuses on the mind rather than sleight-of-hand illusions. Unlike a typical Corporate Magician who might do card tricks or saw a volunteer in half, a mentalist appears to delve into the realm of thought itself—decoding emotions, revealing hidden knowledge, and creating interactive, mind-bending moments that leave audiences stunned. How It Differs from Magic Psychology Over Props : While a Magician for Company Party might rely on flashy illusions or gimmicks, mentalists use suggestion, observation, and psychological techniques. Audience-Centered : Shows are highly immersive, requiring volunteers and active engagement. Mind Over Matter : It’s more about revealing secrets of human behavior than visual spectacle. Dive Deeper: For a more in depth look at what a corporate mentalist really is and does please follow this link! https://www.christophergracelive.com/post/what-is-a-corporate-mentalist Why Companies Can’t Get Enough: A mentalist’s performance often resonates on a deeper level, making it an instant conversation starter. Suddenly, employees are no longer standing around nibbling on stale appetizers, juggling drinks and plates. They’re locked in lively debates about how the mentalist could possibly have known a volunteer’s childhood pet’s name. 3. The Rise of the Corporate Mentalist: Why Now? Shifting Audience Expectations: Corporate culture has evolved. Today’s workforce expects more than a monotone PowerPoint. You’ve probably Googled “Corporate Entertainment Ideas” to spruce up your next conference. In that search, you might have noticed a surge of articles recommending mentalists as a solution. Here’s why: Novelty : Mentalism is still unique enough that most attendees haven’t seen a live performance before. Social Media Gold : Mind-blowing moments tend to go viral, amplifying your event’s reach. Interactive Fun : People love participating in experiences rather than just watching from the sidelines. Aligning with Modern Values: Companies now place a premium on engagement, innovation, and personal development. A mind reading show for business events can weave those values directly into its performance—demonstrating the power of focus, observation, and empathy. 4. How a Mentalist Like Christopher Grace Steals the Show Who Is Christopher Grace: Christopher Grace is a mentalist and mind reader and is considered the epitome of “in-demand” corporate entertainers. With nearly 30 years of professional experience and a flair for riveting storytelling, he’s mastered the subtle art of reading minds and amazing audiences! What truly sets him apart, though, is his ability to seamlessly integrate a company’s message into his act. Key Points: Almost 30 Years of Experience : Thousands of performances all over the world! Professional Yet Entertaining : Balances refined showmanship with friendly humor. Customizable Approach : Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or launching a product, Christopher can tailor his performance to your objectives. Why Audiences Rave High Engagement : Christopher invites participants on stage for personal demonstrations, ensuring the crowd is actively involved. The show is 100% interactive, fun and friendly. Unbelievable Mind Reading : Whether it’s revealing a thought-of playing name or disclosing a guest’s dream vacation, Christopher’s skills astonish even the most cynical observer. Memorable Impact : People talk about it for weeks, months, or even years—“How did he know it?” becomes the question on everyone’s lips. 5. Why a Mentalist for Hire Is the Perfect Solution to Corporate Event Woes 1. Instant Engagement: A mind reader for corporate events never have to worry about losing the audience’s attention. From the moment a mentalist steps on stage, the tension skyrockets. Everyone wants to know who will be called up next or how he’ll manage to read minds in real time. 2. Adaptable Settings: Whether you’re hosting a grand gala, a team-building retreat, or a cocktail networking mixer, a corporate mentalist can scale any event accordingly. That makes it a versatile option for: Boardroom Presentations Holiday Parties Client Appreciation Nights Conferences and Trade Shows Hospitality Suites Cocktail Events Private Home Functions 3. Icebreaker Mentalism: Let’s say you have employees from various branches, or you’ve invited VIP clients who barely know each other. A mentalism act serves as the perfect icebreaker, giving people a common ground to chat about. It’s an easy conversation-starter, especially when guests witness or participate in the act themselves. 4. Boost Morale and Motivation: A mentalist can (if you want) weave motivational messages into their routine. These subtle morale boosters align with the entertainment, turning an average event into a moment of genuine personal insight and corporate pride. They can also just provide some killer entertainment that blows minds! 6. Beyond the Stage: Additional Benefits of Booking a Mentalist Workshops and Seminars: Did you know that some mentalists also offer interactive workshops or breakout sessions? They can teach employees the basics of body language, observational techniques, and more. When you’re looking to hire a mentalist, consider the additional value of a mentalist’s psychological insights for team-building exercises. Trade Show Magnet: If your company attends trade shows, picture a mentalist drawing crowds to your booth. Instead of wrestling for attention, your stand becomes the place where visitors are lining up to be amazed. This not only amplifies brand awareness but also secures new leads—everyone wants to talk to the “mind-reading booth.” And you want have anyone trying to avoid "the guy doing card tricks." High-Level Networking: Having a mentalist at an exclusive networking session can distinguish your company from competitors. Clients or partners who experience a mentalist’s performance tend to remember the hosting brand more vividly. That memorability can convert into long-term professional relationships. 7. The Booking Process: Securing a Mentalist or Magician for Company Party Ready to jump on the mentalism bandwagon? Here’s a step-by-step guide to ensure you find the perfect mentalist for hire like Christopher Grace. Define Your Event Goals Are you trying to improve team cohesion? Impress prospective clients? Just celebrate a successful quarter? Knowing your objectives helps mentalists tailor their performances effectively. Determine Your Budget Costs for a corporate mentalist can range widely based on experience, travel requirements, and customization. Remember, you get what you pay for. Prioritize quality for unforgettable results. Shortlist Potential Performers Search online, ask for recommendations, or consult event planners. Look for demo videos to gauge performance style and audience engagement. Check References and Reviews Legitimate corporate mentalists will have ample client testimonials. Don’t hesitate to request references—reputable performers are proud to share. Discuss Customization If you'd like to add some custom elements: Ask how the mentalist can incorporate your company’s message or theme. Provide them with necessary background info about your guests, industry, and goals. Finalize Logistics Confirm audio-visual setup, stage area, and show duration. Make sure everyone knows their roles (e.g., who’s introducing the act, who’s helping with the audience if needed). Plan a Follow-Up A top-tier performer usually does a quick meet-and-greet, giving attendees time for photos, small tricks and light conversation. This personal touch enhances the overall brand experience. Dig Deeper : For even more information on how to book a corporate mentalist, read our full article here: https://www.christophergracelive.com/post/how-to-hire-a-corporate-mentalist-for-your-next-event 8. Frequently Asked Questions: Everything You Need to Know Q1: Is a Mentalist the Same as a Magician for Company Party? Not exactly. While a magician focuses on visual illusions, a mentalist specializes in reading minds, predicting decisions, and leveraging psychological techniques. Some mentalists also perform light magic, but the core of their show is about mind-blowing revelations rather than big box illusions or card tricks. Q2: Do I Need a Large Venue? Nope! A mentalist’s act can adapt to various settings—from small boardrooms to large theaters and even living rooms in homes. The key requirement is that the audience can clearly see and hear the performer, as mentalism relies heavily on subtle interactions. Q3: What If My Colleagues Are Skeptical? Skeptics are often the best participants! Mentalists thrive on skeptical audiences, proving their feats even more astonishing. In fact, skeptics frequently become the biggest fans. Q4: How Long Should the Performance Last? Typical interactive entertainment for corporate events can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour or even longer depending on the event. For more flexible schedules, mentalists can also do multiple shorter segments throughout an event. Q5: Will It Be Family-Friendly? Many mentalists offer clean, professional shows suitable for a broad demographic. If your event is family-friendly, just let the performer know in advance so they can adjust the tone and content accordingly. 9. Making Your Event a Mind-Reading Marvel Still debating if a mind reading show for your business is the right choice? Here’s how to ensure a seamless experience that leaves your attendees raving: Give Guests a Teaser Build anticipation by hinting at a mysterious act during pre-event promotions. Encourage employees to bring an open mind and maybe even a “secret” for the mentalist to uncover. Optimize the Stage Setup Position chairs so everyone has a clear line of sight. Consider lighting that highlights the performer’s face—facial expressions matter in mentalism. Coordinate with Other Activities Schedule the mentalist’s performance at a time when people aren’t rushing to check emails or hungry for dinner. Never have a mentalist or any visual act for that matter go on during dinner or any kind of food service. Avoid overshadowing the mentalist with high-noise distractions, like loud music or food service. Make sure if there is ambient music that it is turned off! (not just turned down) Debrief & Engage Afterward If available: Provide a space—like a lounge area—where attendees can discuss the show or chat with the mentalist. Collect feedback. Many people love to share how they felt or guesses about the performer’s techniques. 10. The Future of Corporate Events: Why Mentalism Isn’t Just a Fad Some might question if a corporate mentalist is just another passing trend in the world of corporate entertainment ideas. But here’s why mentalism has a bright future: Ever-Evolving Techniques : Mentalists constantly adapt, experimenting with new illusions, psychological tricks, and technology. Universal Appeal : Curiosity is a human constant—everyone, from interns to CEOs, can be spellbound by mind reading. Memorable Impact : In an age saturated with digital content, a live, genuine experience stands out more than ever. Final Word : Companies that incorporate interactive performances into their events foster deeper employee engagement, stronger brand identity, and a more vibrant corporate culture. Mentalism, in particular, channels the universal wonder of human potential—something that resonates in every industry. In Conclusion Now, you have the inside scoop: it’s the corporate mentalist. By stepping away from the predictable and embracing a mind-blowing experience, you can transform any lackluster event into a thrilling success. Whether you’re looking to hire a magician or mentalist, host an engaging mind reading show for your business, or simply spark fresh interactive entertainment for corporate events, mentalism delivers on all fronts. Looking for a seasoned professional with the expertise to captivate any crowd? Christopher Grace is your guy—renowned for his uncanny ability to merge corporate messages with jaw-dropping illusions. Next time you’re planning a function—be it a mind reader for a corporate event, a big holiday bash, a mentalist for company party, or a major trade show—remember that a mentalist’s performance can bring the perfect blend of spectacle, intellect, and heartfelt interaction. Why settle for the ordinary? With the right mentalist on stage, your guests won’t just be attending an event; they’ll be part of an immersive, unforgettable journey into the bounds of human potenital. The Event Equation © Agent 86 Magic Productions, LLC. www.christophergracelive.com Want to read this article on our LinkedIn newsletter? Click the LinkedIn icon below:

Below you will find a detailed list on how you as an organizer can build, coordinate and properly execute your next corporate party, function or special event. These tips will help facilitate your process to make your job easier and your event successful. New York City Corporate Events! STEP 1: HAVE A CLEAR PLAN Starting with planning an event can be a daunting task. How much is my budget? Should I hire entertainment? How much food will we need? It can be very overwhelming. It's best to clearly plan out exactly what tasks you need to accomplish. In order of priority if possible. For example: 1. Confirm venue details with your catering contact (confirm your date first, time that you need, then go over the day's schedule) (Most hotels use a catering manager to host all of their events. This person will be your go-to contact 99% of the time.) 2. Bullet point your schedule. Be meticulous. Leave nothing unaccounted for. For example: - Guests arrive 5:30PM - Cocktail reception - 5:45 - 6:15PM - Dinner - 6:30 - 8PM - Desert & Coffee - 8:05PM - Speeches - 8:30 - 8:45PM - CEO introduces end of evening entertainment - 9PM - 10PM - Raffles/ Door Prizes - 10:15PM - Final Thank You - 10:30PM - Gift Bags - 10:35PM 3. Make sure your dinner has the proper options. (vegetarian, meat, fish, etc.) - Confirm if anyone has major food allergies and alert the catering manager - Finalize the menu with the catering manager - Pay deposit to the venue & for your food and beverage 4. Secure any staging, podiums, entertainer requirements, mics, backdrops, etc. - Confirm with venue what they can supply and at what additional cost(s) - Determine if an outside AV or staging company will be necessary 5. Confirm any live entertainment and pay necessary deposits. Do this at least a month in advance or sooner. - Entertainers need time to organize their calendar, coordinate staffing if necessary and block the time off for your event. - Double check the performer's technical rider. They may require lavaliere mics over handheld ones. They may need chairs, or small tables or access to power outlets. - Confirm with the performer the length of the performance, and any other details that may make the show longer. (this happens more often than not) The point is do not let yourself stress out. The more organized you are, the easier the day of will be. Additionally, you'll be praised for your commitment to the events excellence and your organization skills. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed, it's a slippery slope! STEP 2: UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE Is this event for executives? Maybe it's just for truck drivers? Maybe it's a family welcomed Christmas party? Having a clear understanding of Who is coming to your event will greatly reduce the amount of stress you face in the planning. If there are children invited, then your menu will be affected. Is your buffet suitable for kids to reach by themselves? Probably not. Take these details into consideration. It may not sound important. but the attention to detail is ultimately what makes events successful. Maybe this event is for guests from all over the world. Now you're talking possible language barriers, dietary restrictions, even religious restrictions that could drastically impact your event. Is your entertainer visual so they can work well with all cultures? Take these details into account. Tip: Most live entertainment can work well with all language barriers and cultural differences. For example Mentalist Christopher Grace is primarily a mind reader. But his performances can play to ALL languages. Even though Christopher only speaks English.. and bad Spanish. STEP 3: THE ROOM! A step that a lot of people do not consider is how the room you're using is set up. Are you using round tables? Are they seating 8, 10, 12 people? Is the buffet in the room or outside? Will your cocktail reception take place in the same place you have dinner? Is there a huge dance floor in the middle of the room? Will the entertainment be in the same room as dinner? See how it can get overwhelming fast? Let's start from the first question. Round tables are the most common for 99% of corporate events. Depending on how many people you're expecting, it will determine what size banquet round you'll need. If it's a small group, then maybe you only need 2 or 3 eight or ten foot long rectangular tables. Determine what you need based on the size of your group. Sounds simple right? It is! How is dinner being served? If you are doing a buffer it will most likely be in the same room as where you actually eat. If this is the case, make sure the band, the mentalist, etc. is nowhere near the food. (or the bar for that matte) Keep these elements in their own sections. It will prevent unnecessary clutter, confusion and potential accidents. If you're doing a plated dinner, it's much easier as everything is coming out of the kitchen. Double check that the wait staff and catering management understand what you have planned and to be cautious of cables, extension cords, or unexpected items like cases, boxes or bags. Dance Floors! In the entertainer world, dance floors are usually accompanied by table surrounding them. This will create a great place to dance. The DJ or band is at one end and everyone else is on the floor. Sounds great right? Well now imagine you bring in a speaker, or a performer. Now this person is trapped at one end of a huge dance floor with this ocean of emptiness between them and the audience. Performers collectively refer to this as the DOD or Dance Floor of Death. Meaning, it's capable to killing a performance. So you think, well why don't they move down closer to the edge of the floor? That would be a good idea if Everyone in the room was behind that line. If you have guests on three sides of you, now the performer is playing to only 1/3 of the audience. The point here is if you're having a stationary performer, or speaker. e.g someone that does not move around the room. Considering having the venue set up theater style seating on the dance floor. It's not a huge deal for catering teams and you'll be amazed at how fast some of these crews can clear hundreds of chair. Literally minutes. Please, please, please take this point into consideration if you're having entertainment. (which you absolutely should by the way.) STEP 4: THE ENTERTAINMENT! Hiring entertainment can be a daunting task all by itself. Who should I hire? Are they good? Do they have good reviews? How are their videos? Are they professional? Do they respond and communicate in a timely manner. That last point is very important as your schedule is most likely time sensitive. Unless you're planning a year in advance. (yay for you being ahead of 90% of all other corporate events.) Let's start in reverse order this time. Does your entertainment communicate in a timely manner? If you're booking an individual person - they should communicate quickly. Usually within a day or sooner. Most performers will get back to you quickly. Do not take this as a sign of desperation. Their time is as valuable as yours and their schedules are often unpredictable and chaotic. In most cases, if you found a good performer - you'll probably get calls, texts and emails from them while they're AT another event. Again - do not take this as a negative. Or a sign of disrespect to the client with whom they're currently working with. Bands, speakers, even mentalists or magicians all take necessary breaks during their performances. When Christopher Grace is performing strolling mentalism at corporate events. He will usually take a 5 minute break every 45 minutes or so to regroup and reset for his next round with the guests. If he's performing a full length show, which is usually an hour or longer from start to finish. He will not return a call in the middle. That's just crazy and would be Very disrespectful. Is your performer professional? This can be tricky (no-pun intended) as professionalism is subjective. Here are a few good things to look out for when considering someone's professionalism. - Do they have a clean, clearly designed and easily navigable website? - Do they dress appropriately for your specific event? (not a hard and fast rule to follow as most performers dress in a variety of levels depending on event requirements. But keep it in mind for general first impressions on their website. What they choose to display in images on their websites is going to be 99% of what they wear on stage. - Are they groomed well? Seriously. Nobody wants a smelly magician wandering around their cocktail party for executives. You can tell how much they take care of themself by looking at their pictures. Especially on social media. Look at fan pages and see if you can spot any live performance photos they've posted. Are they cleanly shaved? If they have a beard, is it trimmed and well kept? Are their clothes neat and unwrinkled? If they wear a tuxedo t-shirt run for the hills! The point here is use your own judgement but don't let your personal biases get in the way. The Videos! You absolutely, 100% want to see or hear what this person can do and will most likely be doing at your corporate event. Now please bear in mind the following: - Most performers do not travel with AV or recording crews. - 99% of performers use house mics, sound systems and staging. - Almost all performers have little to no control on how the room is set up Take those points into account when you're viewing performance videos. Watch the show, not the room. And most importantly, to see if a video of a performer is good. Watch the reactions of the guests! To understand this point better watch Christopher Grace's videos here . You will get a clear understanding of how a video will and should look and how to watch them. Make your judgments on how the audience responds, not how you do! The Reviews! Reviews and testimonials are huge in making decisions. However, the best way to find out if this performer is going to be a good fit for your next event is to actually speak to former clients. Ask the performer for a written list of his or hers 10 most recent clients. Do not let the date at which these events took place sway you. Some performers intentionally only work 10-20 times a year. Some work 200! The date is not important. The comments are! You wouldn't hire a person at your company without checking references right? Same thing here. Call, inquire and get a recommendation from the past clients. The performer should provide a name, phone number, email address, company or applicable website and some event details. (when, where, for how many, etc.) Are they any Good? Well, again this is going to depend on a couple of things. Do they have a good rapport with the audience? Are they engaged, smiling and applauding? Are You impressed by some of the things they are doing? For example, mentalism can often times look like someone is just speaking without doing much in the form of moving around, using props, etc. Key point here is to watch and listen! You'll be amazed at some of the things possible using only speech! Who should you hire? Ah, this question. It's an important one don't get us wrong. But it's never an easy one. You'll wonder if they'll fit in with your group. If they're funny, not funny or not funny enough. Are they clean or are you looking for a more R-rated or PG-13 act? Are they accomplished enough to even be in the same room as fortune 500 executives? All of these questions you'll ask yourself on a conscious and subconscious level. Some of which you'll think about and decide on instantly from the viewing of one image, or video. The best way to find out if they're any good is to talk to them! Call them directly, speak and let them speak. Say "tell me about how you'll make our company party a success." and then simply be quiet and let them talk. Ask a question from time to time. Don't try and trip them up but ask things that are not common. For example ask: - What do you do if your show runs long? - How much interaction do you anticipate for the show? - Do you meet the audience before or after the show? - Do you travel with your own sound equipment or do you need us to provide that? What kind of mic do you use? - Can you perform during dinner? (this is a sneaky question. NEVER EVER have a performer go on During a dinner. It's at the top of the worst things you can do list. You're audience will not care who is on stage when food is on the table. Trust us.) The reason you ask this question is because you want the performer to say: "No! I will perform during the cocktail hour, strolling the room. Or immediately after desert." Make sure they say desert as it's usually part of the meal. Use your own judgement of course, but these tips will help you make the right decisions on hiring live entertainment. Oh and if you're going with a live band, they can and most likely will have no problem performing during dinner. STEP 5: BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER! Putting your corporate event, retreat or special on is a challenge. A couple of things to keep in mind. - Things will not turn out how you envisioned them! - You have to be flexible when working with other people! - Have backups and plan B's for Everything! - Only work with people you trust! (your team that is.. don't do everything yourself.) - DON'T DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF! Delegate, bring in trusted associates who you can put smaller tasks on so you don't get overwhelmed. If you're a seasoned corporate event planner, then you probably won't be reading any of this anyways. Most importantly, remember this event is for you as well. Don't let yourself become the person running around the room all night making everything perfect. Nothing will ever be perfect. Do not strive for perfection down into the minutia or you will be disappointed. Have a great team and communicate regularly. Before you get into your event, create a simple battle plan for the evening. Enjoy yourself and everyone else will as well. Happy Planning! Christopher Grace www.christophergracelive.com

Below you will find a detailed list on how you as an organizer can build, coordinate and properly execute your Chicago Corporate Events, function or special event. These tips will help facilitate your process to make your job easier and your event successful. STEP 1: HAVE A CLEAR PLAN Starting with planning an event can be a daunting task. How much is my budget? Should I hire entertainment? How much food will we need? It can be very overwhelming. It's best to clearly plan out exactly what tasks you need to accomplish. In order of priority if possible. For example: 1. Confirm venue details with your catering contact (confirm your date first, time that you need, then go over the day's schedule) (Most hotels use a catering manager to host all of their events. This person will be your go-to contact 99% of the time.) 2. Bullet point your schedule. Be meticulous. Leave nothing unaccounted for. For example: - Guests arrive 5:30PM - Cocktail reception - 5:45 - 6:15PM - Dinner - 6:30 - 8PM - Desert & Coffee - 8:05PM - Speeches - 8:30 - 8:45PM - CEO introduces end of evening entertainment - 9PM - 10PM - Raffles/ Door Prizes - 10:15PM - Final Thank You - 10:30PM - Gift Bags - 10:35PM 3. Make sure your dinner has the proper options. (vegetarian, meat, fish, etc.) - Confirm if anyone has major food allergies and alert the catering manager - Finalize the menu with the catering manager - Pay deposit to the venue & for your food and beverage 4. Secure any staging, podiums, entertainer requirements, mics, backdrops, etc. - Confirm with venue what they can supply and at what additional cost(s) - Determine if an outside AV or staging company will be necessary 5. Confirm any live entertainment and pay necessary deposits. Do this at least a month in advance or sooner. - Entertainers need time to organize their calendar, coordinate staffing if necessary and block the time off for your event. - Double check the performer's technical rider. They may require lavaliere mics over handheld ones. They may need chairs, or small tables or access to power outlets. - Confirm with the performer the length of the performance, and any other details that may make the show longer. (this happens more often than not) The point is do not let yourself stress out. The more organized you are, the easier the day of will be. Additionally, you'll be praised for your commitment to the events excellence and your organization skills. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed, it's a slippery slope! STEP 2: UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE Is this event for executives? Maybe it's just for truck drivers? Maybe it's a family welcomed Christmas party? Having a clear understanding of Who is coming to your event will greatly reduce the amount of stress you face in the planning. If there are children invited, then your menu will be affected. Is your buffet suitable for kids to reach by themselves? Probably not. Take these details into consideration. It may not sound important. but the attention to detail is ultimately what makes events successful. Maybe this event is for guests from all over the world. Now you're talking possible language barriers, dietary restrictions, even religious restrictions that could drastically impact your event. Is your entertainer visual so they can work well with all cultures? Take these details into account. Tip: Most live entertainment can work well with all language barriers and cultural differences. For example Mentalist Christopher Grace is primarily a mind reader. But his performances can play to ALL languages. Even though Christopher only speaks English.. and bad Spanish. STEP 3: THE ROOM! A step that a lot of people do not consider is how the room you're using is set up. Are you using round tables? Are they seating 8, 10, 12 people? Is the buffet in the room or outside? Will your cocktail reception take place in the same place you have dinner? Is there a huge dance floor in the middle of the room? Will the entertainment be in the same room as dinner? See how it can get overwhelming fast? Let's start from the first question. Round tables are the most common for 99% of corporate events. Depending on how many people you're expecting, it will determine what size banquet round you'll need. If it's a small group, then maybe you only need 2 or 3 eight or ten foot long rectangular tables. Determine what you need based on the size of your group. Sounds simple right? It is! How is dinner being served? If you are doing a buffer it will most likely be in the same room as where you actually eat. If this is the case, make sure the band, the mentalist, etc. is nowhere near the food. (or the bar for that matte) Keep these elements in their own sections. It will prevent unnecessary clutter, confusion and potential accidents. If you're doing a plated dinner, it's much easier as everything is coming out of the kitchen. Double check that the wait staff and catering management understand what you have planned and to be cautious of cables, extension cords, or unexpected items like cases, boxes or bags. Dance Floors! In the entertainer world, dance floors are usually accompanied by table surrounding them. This will create a great place to dance. The DJ or band is at one end and everyone else is on the floor. Sounds great right? Well now imagine you bring in a speaker, or a performer. Now this person is trapped at one end of a huge dance floor with this ocean of emptiness between them and the audience. Performers collectively refer to this as the DOD or Dance Floor of Death. Meaning, it's capable to killing a performance. So you think, well why don't they move down closer to the edge of the floor? That would be a good idea if Everyone in the room was behind that line. If you have guests on three sides of you, now the performer is playing to only 1/3 of the audience. The point here is if you're having a stationary performer, or speaker. e.g someone that does not move around the room. Considering having the venue set up theater style seating on the dance floor. It's not a huge deal for catering teams and you'll be amazed at how fast some of these crews can clear hundreds of chair. Literally minutes. Please, please, please take this point into consideration if you're having entertainment. (which you absolutely should by the way.) STEP 4: THE ENTERTAINMENT! Hiring entertainment can be a daunting task all by itself. Who should I hire? Are they good? Do they have good reviews? How are their videos? Are they professional? Do they respond and communicate in a timely manner. That last point is very important as your schedule is most likely time sensitive. Unless you're planning a year in advance. (yay for you being ahead of 90% of all other corporate events.) Let's start in reverse order this time. Does your entertainment communicate in a timely manner? If you're booking an individual person - they should communicate quickly. Usually within a day or sooner. Most performers will get back to you quickly. Do not take this as a sign of desperation. Their time is as valuable as yours and their schedules are often unpredictable and chaotic. In most cases, if you found a good performer - you'll probably get calls, texts and emails from them while they're AT another event. Again - do not take this as a negative. Or a sign of disrespect to the client with whom they're currently working with. Bands, speakers, even mentalists or magicians all take necessary breaks during their performances. When Christopher Grace is performing strolling mentalism at corporate events. He will usually take a 5 minute break every 45 minutes or so to regroup and reset for his next round with the guests. If he's performing a full length show, which is usually an hour or longer from start to finish. He will not return a call in the middle. That's just crazy and would be Very disrespectful. Is your performer professional? This can be tricky (no-pun intended) as professionalism is subjective. Here are a few good things to look out for when considering someone's professionalism. - Do they have a clean, clearly designed and easily navigable website? - Do they dress appropriately for your specific event? (not a hard and fast rule to follow as most performers dress in a variety of levels depending on event requirements. But keep it in mind for general first impressions on their website. What they choose to display in images on their websites is going to be 99% of what they wear on stage. - Are they groomed well? Seriously. Nobody wants a smelly magician wandering around their cocktail party for executives. You can tell how much they take care of themself by looking at their pictures. Especially on social media. Look at fan pages and see if you can spot any live performance photos they've posted. Are they cleanly shaved? If they have a beard, is it trimmed and well kept? Are their clothes neat and unwrinkled? If they wear a tuxedo t-shirt run for the hills! The point here is use your own judgement but don't let your personal biases get in the way. The Videos! You absolutely, 100% want to see or hear what this person can do and will most likely be doing at your corporate event. Now please bear in mind the following: - Most performers do not travel with AV or recording crews. - 99% of performers use house mics, sound systems and staging. - Almost all performers have little to no control on how the room is set up Take those points into account when you're viewing performance videos. Watch the show, not the room. And most importantly, to see if a video of a performer is good. Watch the reactions of the guests! To understand this point better watch Christopher Grace's videos here . You will get a clear understanding of how a video will and should look and how to watch them. Make your judgments on how the audience responds, not how you do! The Reviews! Reviews and testimonials are huge in making decisions. However, the best way to find out if this performer is going to be a good fit for your next event is to actually speak to former clients. Ask the performer for a written list of his or hers 10 most recent clients. Do not let the date at which these events took place sway you. Some performers intentionally only work 10-20 times a year. Some work 200! The date is not important. The comments are! You wouldn't hire a person at your company without checking references right? Same thing here. Call, inquire and get a recommendation from the past clients. The performer should provide a name, phone number, email address, company or applicable website and some event details. (when, where, for how many, etc.) Are they any Good? Well, again this is going to depend on a couple of things. Do they have a good rapport with the audience? Are they engaged, smiling and applauding? Are You impressed by some of the things they are doing? For example, mentalism can often times look like someone is just speaking without doing much in the form of moving around, using props, etc. Key point here is to watch and listen! You'll be amazed at some of the things possible using only speech! Who should you hire? Ah, this question. It's an important one don't get us wrong. But it's never an easy one. You'll wonder if they'll fit in with your group. If they're funny, not funny or not funny enough. Are they clean or are you looking for a more R-rated or PG-13 act? Are they accomplished enough to even be in the same room as fortune 500 executives? All of these questions you'll ask yourself on a conscious and subconscious level. Some of which you'll think about and decide on instantly from the viewing of one image, or video. The best way to find out if they're any good is to talk to them! Call them directly, speak and let them speak. Say "tell me about how you'll make our company party a success." and then simply be quiet and let them talk. Ask a question from time to time. Don't try and trip them up but ask things that are not common. For example ask: - What do you do if your show runs long? - How much interaction do you anticipate for the show? - Do you meet the audience before or after the show? - Do you travel with your own sound equipment or do you need us to provide that? What kind of mic do you use? - Can you perform during dinner? (this is a sneaky question. NEVER EVER have a performer go on During a dinner. It's at the top of the worst things you can do list. You're audience will not care who is on stage when food is on the table. Trust us.) The reason you ask this question is because you want the performer to say: "No! I will perform during the cocktail hour, strolling the room. Or immediately after desert." Make sure they say desert as it's usually part of the meal. Use your own judgement of course, but these tips will help you make the right decisions on hiring live entertainment. Oh and if you're going with a live band, they can and most likely will have no problem performing during dinner. STEP 5: BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER! Putting your corporate event, retreat or special on is a challenge. A couple of things to keep in mind. - Things will not turn out how you envisioned them! - You have to be flexible when working with other people! - Have backups and plan B's for Everything! - Only work with people you trust! (your team that is.. don't do everything yourself.) - DON'T DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF! Delegate, bring in trusted associates who you can put smaller tasks on so you don't get overwhelmed. If you're a seasoned corporate event planner, then you probably won't be reading any of this anyways. Most importantly, remember this event is for you as well. Don't let yourself become the person running around the room all night making everything perfect. Nothing will ever be perfect. Do not strive for perfection down into the minutia or you will be disappointed. Have a great team and communicate regularly. Before you get into your event, create a simple battle plan for the evening. Enjoy yourself and everyone else will as well. Happy Planning! Christopher Grace www.christophergracelive.com

Below you will find a detailed list on how you as an organizer can build, coordinate and properly execute your next corporate party, function or special event. These tips will help facilitate your process to make your job easier and your Hartford Corporate events successful. STEP 1: HAVE A CLEAR PLAN Starting with planning an event can be a daunting task. How much is my budget? Should I hire entertainment? How much food will we need? It can be very overwhelming. It's best to clearly plan out exactly what tasks you need to accomplish. In order of priority if possible. For example: 1. Confirm venue details with your catering contact (confirm your date first, time that you need, then go over the day's schedule) (Most hotels use a catering manager to host all of their events. This person will be your go-to contact 99% of the time.) 2. Bullet point your schedule. Be meticulous. Leave nothing unaccounted for. For example: - Guests arrive 5:30PM - Cocktail reception - 5:45 - 6:15PM - Dinner - 6:30 - 8PM - Desert & Coffee - 8:05PM - Speeches - 8:30 - 8:45PM - CEO introduces end of evening entertainment - 9PM - 10PM - Raffles/ Door Prizes - 10:15PM - Final Thank You - 10:30PM - Gift Bags - 10:35PM 3. Make sure your dinner has the proper options. (vegetarian, meat, fish, etc.) - Confirm if anyone has major food allergies and alert the catering manager - Finalize the menu with the catering manager - Pay deposit to the venue & for your food and beverage 4. Secure any staging, podiums, entertainer requirements, mics, backdrops, etc. - Confirm with venue what they can supply and at what additional cost(s) - Determine if an outside AV or staging company will be necessary 5. Confirm any live entertainment and pay necessary deposits. Do this at least a month in advance or sooner. - Entertainers need time to organize their calendar, coordinate staffing if necessary and block the time off for your event. - Double check the performer's technical rider. They may require lavaliere mics over handheld ones. They may need chairs, or small tables or access to power outlets. - Confirm with the performer the length of the performance, and any other details that may make the show longer. (this happens more often than not) The point is do not let yourself stress out. The more organized you are, the easier the day of will be. Additionally, you'll be praised for your commitment to the events excellence and your organization skills. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed, it's a slippery slope! STEP 2: UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE Is this event for executives? Maybe it's just for truck drivers? Maybe it's a family welcomed Christmas party? Having a clear understanding of Who is coming to your event will greatly reduce the amount of stress you face in the planning. If there are children invited, then your menu will be affected. Is your buffet suitable for kids to reach by themselves? Probably not. Take these details into consideration. It may not sound important. but the attention to detail is ultimately what makes events successful. Maybe this event is for guests from all over the world. Now you're talking possible language barriers, dietary restrictions, even religious restrictions that could drastically impact your event. Is your entertainer visual so they can work well with all cultures? Take these details into account. Tip: Most live entertainment can work well with all language barriers and cultural differences. For example Mentalist Christopher Grace is primarily a mind reader. But his performances can play to ALL languages. Even though Christopher only speaks English.. and bad Spanish. STEP 3: THE ROOM! A step that a lot of people do not consider is how the room you're using is set up. Are you using round tables? Are they seating 8, 10, 12 people? Is the buffet in the room or outside? Will your cocktail reception take place in the same place you have dinner? Is there a huge dance floor in the middle of the room? Will the entertainment be in the same room as dinner? See how it can get overwhelming fast? Let's start from the first question. Round tables are the most common for 99% of corporate events. Depending on how many people you're expecting, it will determine what size banquet round you'll need. If it's a small group, then maybe you only need 2 or 3 eight or ten foot long rectangular tables. Determine what you need based on the size of your group. Sounds simple right? It is! How is dinner being served? If you are doing a buffer it will most likely be in the same room as where you actually eat. If this is the case, make sure the band, the mentalist, etc. is nowhere near the food. (or the bar for that matte) Keep these elements in their own sections. It will prevent unnecessary clutter, confusion and potential accidents. If you're doing a plated dinner, it's much easier as everything is coming out of the kitchen. Double check that the wait staff and catering management understand what you have planned and to be cautious of cables, extension cords, or unexpected items like cases, boxes or bags. Dance Floors! In the entertainer world, dance floors are usually accompanied by table surrounding them. This will create a great place to dance. The DJ or band is at one end and everyone else is on the floor. Sounds great right? Well now imagine you bring in a speaker, or a performer. Now this person is trapped at one end of a huge dance floor with this ocean of emptiness between them and the audience. Performers collectively refer to this as the DOD or Dance Floor of Death. Meaning, it's capable to killing a performance. So you think, well why don't they move down closer to the edge of the floor? That would be a good idea if Everyone in the room was behind that line. If you have guests on three sides of you, now the performer is playing to only 1/3 of the audience. The point here is if you're having a stationary performer, or speaker. e.g someone that does not move around the room. Considering having the venue set up theater style seating on the dance floor. It's not a huge deal for catering teams and you'll be amazed at how fast some of these crews can clear hundreds of chair. Literally minutes. Please, please, please take this point into consideration if you're having entertainment. (which you absolutely should by the way.) STEP 4: THE ENTERTAINMENT! Hiring entertainment can be a daunting task all by itself. Who should I hire? Are they good? Do they have good reviews? How are their videos? Are they professional? Do they respond and communicate in a timely manner. That last point is very important as your schedule is most likely time sensitive. Unless you're planning a year in advance. (yay for you being ahead of 90% of all other corporate events.) Let's start in reverse order this time. Does your entertainment communicate in a timely manner? If you're booking an individual person - they should communicate quickly. Usually within a day or sooner. Most performers will get back to you quickly. Do not take this as a sign of desperation. Their time is as valuable as yours and their schedules are often unpredictable and chaotic. In most cases, if you found a good performer - you'll probably get calls, texts and emails from them while they're AT another event. Again - do not take this as a negative. Or a sign of disrespect to the client with whom they're currently working with. Bands, speakers, even mentalists or magicians all take necessary breaks during their performances. When Christopher Grace is performing strolling mentalism at corporate events. He will usually take a 5 minute break every 45 minutes or so to regroup and reset for his next round with the guests. If he's performing a full length show, which is usually an hour or longer from start to finish. He will not return a call in the middle. That's just crazy and would be Very disrespectful. Is your performer professional? This can be tricky (no-pun intended) as professionalism is subjective. Here are a few good things to look out for when considering someone's professionalism. - Do they have a clean, clearly designed and easily navigable website? - Do they dress appropriately for your specific event? (not a hard and fast rule to follow as most performers dress in a variety of levels depending on event requirements. But keep it in mind for general first impressions on their website. What they choose to display in images on their websites is going to be 99% of what they wear on stage. - Are they groomed well? Seriously. Nobody wants a smelly magician wandering around their cocktail party for executives. You can tell how much they take care of themself by looking at their pictures. Especially on social media. Look at fan pages and see if you can spot any live performance photos they've posted. Are they cleanly shaved? If they have a beard, is it trimmed and well kept? Are their clothes neat and unwrinkled? If they wear a tuxedo t-shirt run for the hills! The point here is use your own judgement but don't let your personal biases get in the way. The Videos! You absolutely, 100% want to see or hear what this person can do and will most likely be doing at your corporate event. Now please bear in mind the following: - Most performers do not travel with AV or recording crews. - 99% of performers use house mics, sound systems and staging. - Almost all performers have little to no control on how the room is set up Take those points into account when you're viewing performance videos. Watch the show, not the room. And most importantly, to see if a video of a performer is good. Watch the reactions of the guests! To understand this point better watch Christopher Grace's videos here . You will get a clear understanding of how a video will and should look and how to watch them. Make your judgments on how the audience responds, not how you do! The Reviews! Reviews and testimonials are huge in making decisions. However, the best way to find out if this performer is going to be a good fit for your next event is to actually speak to former clients. Ask the performer for a written list of his or hers 10 most recent clients. Do not let the date at which these events took place sway you. Some performers intentionally only work 10-20 times a year. Some work 200! The date is not important. The comments are! You wouldn't hire a person at your company without checking references right? Same thing here. Call, inquire and get a recommendation from the past clients. The performer should provide a name, phone number, email address, company or applicable website and some event details. (when, where, for how many, etc.) Are they any Good? Well, again this is going to depend on a couple of things. Do they have a good rapport with the audience? Are they engaged, smiling and applauding? Are You impressed by some of the things they are doing? For example, mentalism can often times look like someone is just speaking without doing much in the form of moving around, using props, etc. Key point here is to watch and listen! You'll be amazed at some of the things possible using only speech! Who should you hire? Ah, this question. It's an important one don't get us wrong. But it's never an easy one. You'll wonder if they'll fit in with your group. If they're funny, not funny or not funny enough. Are they clean or are you looking for a more R-rated or PG-13 act? Are they accomplished enough to even be in the same room as fortune 500 executives? All of these questions you'll ask yourself on a conscious and subconscious level. Some of which you'll think about and decide on instantly from the viewing of one image, or video. The best way to find out if they're any good is to talk to them! Call them directly, speak and let them speak. Say "tell me about how you'll make our company party a success." and then simply be quiet and let them talk. Ask a question from time to time. Don't try and trip them up but ask things that are not common. For example ask: - What do you do if your show runs long? - How much interaction do you anticipate for the show? - Do you meet the audience before or after the show? - Do you travel with your own sound equipment or do you need us to provide that? What kind of mic do you use? - Can you perform during dinner? (this is a sneaky question. NEVER EVER have a performer go on During a dinner. It's at the top of the worst things you can do list. You're audience will not care who is on stage when food is on the table. Trust us.) The reason you ask this question is because you want the performer to say: "No! I will perform during the cocktail hour, strolling the room. Or immediately after desert." Make sure they say desert as it's usually part of the meal. Use your own judgement of course, but these tips will help you make the right decisions on hiring live entertainment. Oh and if you're going with a live band, they can and most likely will have no problem performing during dinner. STEP 5: BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER! Putting your corporate event, retreat or special on is a challenge. A couple of things to keep in mind. - Things will not turn out how you envisioned them! - You have to be flexible when working with other people! - Have backups and plan B's for Everything! - Only work with people you trust! (your team that is.. don't do everything yourself.) - DON'T DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF! Delegate, bring in trusted associates who you can put smaller tasks on so you don't get overwhelmed. If you're a seasoned corporate event planner, then you probably won't be reading any of this anyways. Most importantly, remember this event is for you as well. Don't let yourself become the person running around the room all night making everything perfect. Nothing will ever be perfect. Do not strive for perfection down into the minutia or you will be disappointed. Have a great team and communicate regularly. Before you get into your event, create a simple battle plan for the evening. Enjoy yourself and everyone else will as well. Happy Planning! Christopher Grace www.christophergracelive.com

Below you will find a detailed list on how you as an organizer can build, coordinate and properly execute your next corporate party, function or special event. These tips will help facilitate your process to make your job easier and your event successful. STEP 1: HAVE A CLEAR PLAN Starting with planning an event can be a daunting task. How much is my budget? Should I hire entertainment? How much food will we need? It can be very overwhelming. It's best to clearly plan out exactly what tasks you need to accomplish. In order of priority if possible. For example: 1. Confirm venue details with your catering contact (confirm your date first, time that you need, then go over the day's schedule) (Most hotels use a catering manager to host all of their events. This person will be your go-to contact 99% of the time.) 2. Bullet point your schedule. Be meticulous. Leave nothing unaccounted for. For example: - Guests arrive 5:30PM - Cocktail reception - 5:45 - 6:15PM - Dinner - 6:30 - 8PM - Desert & Coffee - 8:05PM - Speeches - 8:30 - 8:45PM - CEO introduces end of evening entertainment - 9PM - 10PM - Raffles/ Door Prizes - 10:15PM - Final Thank You - 10:30PM - Gift Bags - 10:35PM 3. Make sure your dinner has the proper options. (vegetarian, meat, fish, etc.) - Confirm if anyone has major food allergies and alert the catering manager - Finalize the menu with the catering manager - Pay deposit to the venue & for your food and beverage 4. Secure any staging, podiums, entertainer requirements, mics, backdrops, etc. - Confirm with venue what they can supply and at what additional cost(s) - Determine if an outside AV or staging company will be necessary 5. Confirm any live entertainment and pay necessary deposits. Do this at least a month in advance or sooner. - Entertainers need time to organize their calendar, coordinate staffing if necessary and block the time off for your event. - Double check the performer's technical rider. They may require lavaliere mics over handheld ones. They may need chairs, or small tables or access to power outlets. - Confirm with the performer the length of the performance, and any other details that may make the show longer. (this happens more often than not) The point is do not let yourself stress out. The more organized you are, the easier the day of will be. Additionally, you'll be praised for your commitment to the events excellence and your organization skills. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed, it's a slippery slope! STEP 2: UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE Is this event for executives? Maybe it's just for truck drivers? Maybe it's a family welcomed Christmas party? Having a clear understanding of Who is coming to your event will greatly reduce the amount of stress you face in the planning. If there are children invited, then your menu will be affected. Is your buffet suitable for kids to reach by themselves? Probably not. Take these details into consideration. It may not sound important. but the attention to detail is ultimately what makes events successful. Maybe this event is for guests from all over the world. Now you're talking possible language barriers, dietary restrictions, even religious restrictions that could drastically impact your event. Is your entertainer visual so they can work well with all cultures? Take these details into account. Tip: Most live entertainment can work well with all language barriers and cultural differences. For example Boston Corporate Events Mentalist Christopher Grace is primarily a mind reader. But his performances can play to ALL languages. Even though Christopher only speaks English.. and bad Spanish. STEP 3: THE ROOM! A step that a lot of people do not consider is how the room you're using is set up. Are you using round tables? Are they seating 8, 10, 12 people? Is the buffet in the room or outside? Will your cocktail reception take place in the same place you have dinner? Is there a huge dance floor in the middle of the room? Will the entertainment be in the same room as dinner? See how it can get overwhelming fast? Let's start from the first question. Round tables are the most common for 99% of corporate events. Depending on how many people you're expecting, it will determine what size banquet round you'll need. If it's a small group, then maybe you only need 2 or 3 eight or ten foot long rectangular tables. Determine what you need based on the size of your group. Sounds simple right? It is! How is dinner being served? If you are doing a buffer it will most likely be in the same room as where you actually eat. If this is the case, make sure the band, the mentalist, etc. is nowhere near the food. (or the bar for that matte) Keep these elements in their own sections. It will prevent unnecessary clutter, confusion and potential accidents. If you're doing a plated dinner, it's much easier as everything is coming out of the kitchen. Double check that the wait staff and catering management understand what you have planned and to be cautious of cables, extension cords, or unexpected items like cases, boxes or bags. Dance Floors! In the entertainer world, dance floors are usually accompanied by table surrounding them. This will create a great place to dance. The DJ or band is at one end and everyone else is on the floor. Sounds great right? Well now imagine you bring in a speaker, or a performer. Now this person is trapped at one end of a huge dance floor with this ocean of emptiness between them and the audience. Performers collectively refer to this as the DOD or Dance Floor of Death. Meaning, it's capable to killing a performance. So you think, well why don't they move down closer to the edge of the floor? That would be a good idea if Everyone in the room was behind that line. If you have guests on three sides of you, now the performer is playing to only 1/3 of the audience. The point here is if you're having a stationary performer, or speaker. e.g someone that does not move around the room. Considering having the venue set up theater style seating on the dance floor. It's not a huge deal for catering teams and you'll be amazed at how fast some of these crews can clear hundreds of chair. Literally minutes. Please, please, please take this point into consideration if you're having entertainment. (which you absolutely should by the way.) STEP 4: THE ENTERTAINMENT! Hiring entertainment can be a daunting task all by itself. Who should I hire? Are they good? Do they have good reviews? How are their videos? Are they professional? Do they respond and communicate in a timely manner. That last point is very important as your schedule is most likely time sensitive. Unless you're planning a year in advance. (yay for you being ahead of 90% of all other corporate events.) Let's start in reverse order this time. Does your entertainment communicate in a timely manner? If you're booking an individual person - they should communicate quickly. Usually within a day or sooner. Most performers will get back to you quickly. Do not take this as a sign of desperation. Their time is as valuable as yours and their schedules are often unpredictable and chaotic. In most cases, if you found a good performer - you'll probably get calls, texts and emails from them while they're AT another event. Again - do not take this as a negative. Or a sign of disrespect to the client with whom they're currently working with. Bands, speakers, even mentalists or magicians all take necessary breaks during their performances. When Christopher Grace is performing strolling mentalism at corporate events. He will usually take a 5 minute break every 45 minutes or so to regroup and reset for his next round with the guests. If he's performing a full length show, which is usually an hour or longer from start to finish. He will not return a call in the middle. That's just crazy and would be Very disrespectful. Is your performer professional? This can be tricky (no-pun intended) as professionalism is subjective. Here are a few good things to look out for when considering someone's professionalism. - Do they have a clean, clearly designed and easily navigable website? - Do they dress appropriately for your specific event? (not a hard and fast rule to follow as most performers dress in a variety of levels depending on event requirements. But keep it in mind for general first impressions on their website. What they choose to display in images on their websites is going to be 99% of what they wear on stage. - Are they groomed well? Seriously. Nobody wants a smelly magician wandering around their cocktail party for executives. You can tell how much they take care of themself by looking at their pictures. Especially on social media. Look at fan pages and see if you can spot any live performance photos they've posted. Are they cleanly shaved? If they have a beard, is it trimmed and well kept? Are their clothes neat and unwrinkled? If they wear a tuxedo t-shirt run for the hills! The point here is use your own judgement but don't let your personal biases get in the way. The Videos! You absolutely, 100% want to see or hear what this person can do and will most likely be doing at your corporate event. Now please bear in mind the following: - Most performers do not travel with AV or recording crews. - 99% of performers use house mics, sound systems and staging. - Almost all performers have little to no control on how the room is set up Take those points into account when you're viewing performance videos. Watch the show, not the room. And most importantly, to see if a video of a performer is good. Watch the reactions of the guests! To understand this point better watch Christopher Grace's videos here . You will get a clear understanding of how a video will and should look and how to watch them. Make your judgments on how the audience responds, not how you do! The Reviews! Reviews and testimonials are huge in making decisions. However, the best way to find out if this performer is going to be a good fit for your next event is to actually speak to former clients. Ask the performer for a written list of his or hers 10 most recent clients. Do not let the date at which these events took place sway you. Some performers intentionally only work 10-20 times a year. Some work 200! The date is not important. The comments are! You wouldn't hire a person at your company without checking references right? Same thing here. Call, inquire and get a recommendation from the past clients. The performer should provide a name, phone number, email address, company or applicable website and some event details. (when, where, for how many, etc.) Are they any Good? Well, again this is going to depend on a couple of things. Do they have a good rapport with the audience? Are they engaged, smiling and applauding? Are You impressed by some of the things they are doing? For example, mentalism can often times look like someone is just speaking without doing much in the form of moving around, using props, etc. Key point here is to watch and listen! You'll be amazed at some of the things possible using only speech! Who should you hire? Ah, this question. It's an important one don't get us wrong. But it's never an easy one. You'll wonder if they'll fit in with your group. If they're funny, not funny or not funny enough. Are they clean or are you looking for a more R-rated or PG-13 act? Are they accomplished enough to even be in the same room as fortune 500 executives? All of these questions you'll ask yourself on a conscious and subconscious level. Some of which you'll think about and decide on instantly from the viewing of one image, or video. The best way to find out if they're any good is to talk to them! Call them directly, speak and let them speak. Say "tell me about how you'll make our company party a success." and then simply be quiet and let them talk. Ask a question from time to time. Don't try and trip them up but ask things that are not common. For example ask: - What do you do if your show runs long? - How much interaction do you anticipate for the show? - Do you meet the audience before or after the show? - Do you travel with your own sound equipment or do you need us to provide that? What kind of mic do you use? - Can you perform during dinner? (this is a sneaky question. NEVER EVER have a performer go on During a dinner. It's at the top of the worst things you can do list. You're audience will not care who is on stage when food is on the table. Trust us.) The reason you ask this question is because you want the performer to say: "No! I will perform during the cocktail hour, strolling the room. Or immediately after desert." Make sure they say desert as it's usually part of the meal. Use your own judgement of course, but these tips will help you make the right decisions on hiring live entertainment. Oh and if you're going with a live band, they can and most likely will have no problem performing during dinner. STEP 5: BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER! Putting your corporate event, retreat or special on is a challenge. A couple of things to keep in mind. - Things will not turn out how you envisioned them! - You have to be flexible when working with other people! - Have backups and plan B's for Everything! - Only work with people you trust! (your team that is.. don't do everything yourself.) - DON'T DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF! Delegate, bring in trusted associates who you can put smaller tasks on so you don't get overwhelmed. If you're a seasoned corporate event planner, then you probably won't be reading any of this anyways. Most importantly, remember this event is for you as well. Don't let yourself become the person running around the room all night making everything perfect. Nothing will ever be perfect. Do not strive for perfection down into the minutia or you will be disappointed. Have a great team and communicate regularly. Before you get into your event, create a simple battle plan for the evening. Enjoy yourself and everyone else will as well. Happy Planning! Christopher Grace www.christophergracelive.com

Adding live entertainment to your next corporate party can greatly increase its retention on your guests. Many organizers have commented that they've received questions and inquiries if they'll have entertainment again, and more often than not. The same entertainment as before. Here are 10 benefits you'll get when you add a Mentalist to your next company party in New York City! 1. IT'S DIFFERENT! - How many events have you been to where it's just cocktails, dinner, desert, speeches and you leave? It's boring, repetitive and expected. When you add in a live performance by a professional corporate entertainer it elevates your event, change the pace and causes the group to remember the event much longer. Especially when the entertainment is good! 2. BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ! - Live entertainment has the wonderful ability to bring a group (especially a group where everyone does not know everyone in the room) together. For example, a mentalist reads the minds of the audience in a fun and entertaining way. Often there are demonstrations where the entire audience (no matter the size) participates together. This allows for a sense camaraderie to form amongst the group. Mentalist Christopher Grace specializes in providing experiences that specifically bring people together in ways that are fun, interesting different then what you've seen in every team building seminar you've ever been to. 3. IT HELPS WITH THE SCHEDULE! - Remember how many things you have to do when you plan an event? Wouldn't it be nice to have an hour or 90 minutes off where you can get awards ready, coordinate end of night speeches, or maybe eat.. since you've been running around all night? Adding some entertainment allows you to plan things out and not get overwhelmed. For more information on making your corporate event a success check out our article here . 4. THE MENTALIST! - No, not the tv show. A mentalist is a magician of the mind. Specializing in audience connections through a conjurors form of mind reading and psychic entertainment. The mentalist, such as Christopher Grace will perform directly with the audience from start to finish. Which means the show is 100% interactive! Everyone gets involved in a fun, friendly and completely corporate clean way. A mentalist does not embarrass people, hypnotize anyone to dance or be ridiculous in front of their friends and co-workers. Something beneficial when you consider how long people work with each other and how long it would take live down the fact that Janice from marketing sang Cher songs while leap frogging Bill from accounting. A mentalist focuses on audience connection and camaraderie. You won't see a bare stage with a guy pulling doves from silks. Instead, you'll see a mind reader literally telling people what they're thinking, describing what kind of car they drive, where they went to school, their kids names and how much cash they have on them at that very moment. All without ever having met them before! A mentalist is enticing because it's not about him or her, it's about the audience! They're the stars while the mentalist is the conduit that makes them so. Consider this when looking for live entertainment at your next corporate event. 5. A MENTALIST IS EASY! - If you've ever seen a mentalist before you've probably realized how little equipment they carry. When you read minds for a living all you really need is a notepad, some pens and paper and at least two minds. By eliminating huge cases, dangerous wires and electrical equipment you create a safer environment and ultimately save time. A quick set up and breakdown takes minutes not hours. A mentalist has the ability to set up within 5 minutes and break down even faster. Usually requiring a couple chairs and maybe a table (even though professionals often bring their own fold away table) the professional corporate mentalist can set a briefcase down, open and be ready to go. 6. IT MAKES YOU LOOK GOOD! - A mentalist like Christopher receives a lot of great comments after his shows. But the real person to get the glory is the one who brought him in in the first place! You'll be thanked for having a unique and different event constantly. And more often than not, you'll hear "I didn't know what to expect but that was amazing!" or "I had no idea what a mentalist was so I was scared he was going to hypnotize me! But it was awesome!" When you bring in the entertainment, they bring the audience together, you get all the credit! 7. EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT THEMSELVES! - Let's face it, we're all human and we love being told things about ourselves. (as long as it's not embarrassing or uncomfortable of course) A mentalist has the ability to connect directly with an audience and engage with them on a personal level. Imagine a man on stage, who posses control over the human mind to look into yours (see only what you let him see by the way) and tell you about yourself. Your loves, passions, connections and details that only a close few should know. Like what dorm you were in while in college, where you're thinking of going on vacation, whether you will get the promotion you deserve or not and so much more you wouldn't believe without seeing it done live! According to Psychology Today: "Well, according to one study, talking about oneself activates the same areas of the brain that light up when eating good food, taking drugs and even having sex. Simply put, self-disclosure is gratifying. It gives us a neurological buzz." 8. REQUIREMENTS AT A MINIMUM - Most mentalists provide everything they need. And even though this was lightly covered earlier, it warrants it's own spot on this list. A mentalist is low-prop and equipment. Usually coming with a small suitcase or road case. The mentalist will provide all materials he needs to make his show a success. Unless otherwise agreed upon by him or herself and client. When it comes to music, and sound. A mentalist almost always (if they use music) comes equipped with at least 2 or 3 ways to play their music. Either buy bringing their own sound system (rare for professionals) or an iPad, USB drive or even an old school CD (we know.) For vocal sound, a mic should be discussed ahead of time by the mentalist and the client. Usually (not always) but usually a mentalist will bring his own backup mic when the house or provided system doesn't work, has problems or to be honest is just old and outdated. Quality sound greatly impacts the performance as most of the show is verbal and needs to be heard clearly by everyone in attendance. Other than these few things, a mentalist is by far the most compact and easy performer that is not a sole public speaker. 9. IT'S CLASSY! - A mentalist is different. Seriously, a mentalist immediately conveys a sense of upper level entertainment. Now most mentalists come from being a magician, so we have nothing against magicians as mentalists . But a mentalist has the ability to connect with people on a deeper level than a magician. The main reason is because the show is rarely if ever about the mentalist him or herself. When a person connects with another it creates a sense of trust and compassion. This elevates how the audience views the performance and makes them think about it on another level. 10. THEY WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASY! - A mentalist is very low maintenance. They (usually) do not need fancy dressing rooms, long set-up times or a bowl of green M&M's. Once you've hired a mentalist you receive a contract, and technical rider. This will include the absolute basic things needed by a mentalist. Most often they'll need a chair or two (depends on the performer), a small table sometimes and whatever sound and AV requirements are necessary. By not being a huge pain asking for things and connecting constantly when you are busy, a professional mentalist will be ready to go once the first phone call or email ends. We're pros for a reason, we know how to make your event a success and how to manage crisis if they do come up. Always, always, always hire a professional. Don't know a professional from an amateur? Read this article to determine how to tell the difference. These 10 benefits for hiring a mentalist will greatly help you when you're planning your next corporate event in New York City! For more corporate event planning articles please visit our full blog here!

Adding live entertainment to your next corporate party can greatly increase its retention on your guests. Many organizers have commented that they've received questions and inquiries if they'll have entertainment again, and more often than not. The same entertainment as before. Here are 10 benefits you'll get when you add a Mentalist to your next company party in Chicago or Illinois. 1. IT'S DIFFERENT! - How many events have you been to where it's just cocktails, dinner, desert, speeches and you leave? It's boring, repetitive and expected. When you add in a live performance by a professional corporate entertainer it elevates your event, change the pace and causes the group to remember the event much longer. Especially when the entertainment is good! 2. BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ! - Live entertainment has the wonderful ability to bring a group (especially a group where everyone does not know everyone in the room) together. For example, a mentalist reads the minds of the audience in a fun and entertaining way. Often there are demonstrations where the entire audience (no matter the size) participates together. This allows for a sense camaraderie to form amongst the group. Mentalist Christopher Grace specializes in providing experiences that specifically bring people together in ways that are fun, interesting different then what you've seen in every team building seminar you've ever been to. 3. IT HELPS WITH THE SCHEDULE! - Remember how many things you have to do when you plan an event? Wouldn't it be nice to have an hour or 90 minutes off where you can get awards ready, coordinate end of night speeches, or maybe eat.. since you've been running around all night? Adding some entertainment allows you to plan things out and not get overwhelmed. For more information on making your corporate event a success check out our article here . 4. THE MENTALIST! - No, not the tv show. A mentalist is a magician of the mind. Specializing in audience connections through a conjurors form of mind reading and psychic entertainment. The mentalist, such as Christopher Grace will perform directly with the audience from start to finish. Which means the show is 100% interactive! Everyone gets involved in a fun, friendly and completely corporate clean way. A mentalist does not embarrass people, hypnotize anyone to dance or be ridiculous in front of their friends and co-workers. Something beneficial when you consider how long people work with each other and how long it would take live down the fact that Janice from marketing sang Cher songs while leap frogging Bill from accounting. A mentalist focuses on audience connection and camaraderie. You won't see a bare stage with a guy pulling doves from silks. Instead, you'll see a mind reader literally telling people what they're thinking, describing what kind of car they drive, where they went to school, their kids names and how much cash they have on them at that very moment. All without ever having met them before! A mentalist is enticing because it's not about him or her, it's about the audience! They're the stars while the mentalist is the conduit that makes them so. Consider this when looking for live entertainment at your next corporate event. 5. A MENTALIST IS EASY! - If you've ever seen a mentalist before you've probably realized how little equipment they carry. When you read minds for a living all you really need is a notepad, some pens and paper and at least two minds. By eliminating huge cases, dangerous wires and electrical equipment you create a safer environment and ultimately save time. A quick set up and breakdown takes minutes not hours. A mentalist has the ability to set up within 5 minutes and break down even faster. Usually requiring a couple chairs and maybe a table (even though professionals often bring their own fold away table) the professional corporate mentalist can set a briefcase down, open and be ready to go. 6. IT MAKES YOU LOOK GOOD! - A mentalist like Christopher receives a lot of great comments after his shows. But the real person to get the glory is the one who brought him in in the first place! You'll be thanked for having a unique and different event constantly. And more often than not, you'll hear "I didn't know what to expect but that was amazing!" or "I had no idea what a mentalist was so I was scared he was going to hypnotize me! But it was awesome!" When you bring in the entertainment, they bring the audience together, you get all the credit! 7. EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT THEMSELVES! - Let's face it, we're all human and we love being told things about ourselves. (as long as it's not embarrassing or uncomfortable of course) A mentalist has the ability to connect directly with an audience and engage with them on a personal level. Imagine a man on stage, who posses control over the human mind to look into yours (see only what you let him see by the way) and tell you about yourself. Your loves, passions, connections and details that only a close few should know. Like what dorm you were in while in college, where you're thinking of going on vacation, whether you will get the promotion you deserve or not and so much more you wouldn't believe without seeing it done live! According to Psychology Today: "Well, according to one study, talking about oneself activates the same areas of the brain that light up when eating good food, taking drugs and even having sex. Simply put, self-disclosure is gratifying. It gives us a neurological buzz." 8. REQUIREMENTS AT A MINIMUM - Most mentalists provide everything they need. And even though this was lightly covered earlier, it warrants it's own spot on this list. A mentalist is low-prop and equipment. Usually coming with a small suitcase or road case. The mentalist will provide all materials he needs to make his show a success. Unless otherwise agreed upon by him or herself and client. When it comes to music, and sound. A mentalist almost always (if they use music) comes equipped with at least 2 or 3 ways to play their music. Either buy bringing their own sound system (rare for professionals) or an iPad, USB drive or even an old school CD (we know.) For vocal sound, a mic should be discussed ahead of time by the mentalist and the client. Usually (not always) but usually a mentalist will bring his own backup mic when the house or provided system doesn't work, has problems or to be honest is just old and outdated. Quality sound greatly impacts the performance as most of the show is verbal and needs to be heard clearly by everyone in attendance. Other than these few things, a mentalist is by far the most compact and easy performer that is not a sole public speaker. 9. IT'S CLASSY! - A mentalist is different. Seriously, a mentalist immediately conveys a sense of upper level entertainment. Now most mentalists come from being a magician, so we have nothing against magicians as mentalists . But a mentalist has the ability to connect with people on a deeper level than a magician. The main reason is because the show is rarely if ever about the mentalist him or herself. When a person connects with another it creates a sense of trust and compassion. This elevates how the audience views the performance and makes them think about it on another level. 10. THEY WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASY! - A mentalist is very low maintenance. They (usually) do not need fancy dressing rooms, long set-up times or a bowl of green M&M's. Once you've hired a mentalist you receive a contract, and technical rider. This will include the absolute basic things needed by a mentalist. Most often they'll need a chair or two (depends on the performer), a small table sometimes and whatever sound and AV requirements are necessary. By not being a huge pain asking for things and connecting constantly when you are busy, a professional mentalist will be ready to go once the first phone call or email ends. We're pros for a reason, we know how to make your event a success and how to manage crisis if they do come up. Always, always, always hire a professional. Don't know a professional from an amateur? Read this article to determine how to tell the difference. These 10 benefits for hiring a mentalist will greatly help you when you're planning your next corporate event in Chicago! For more corporate event planning articles please visit our full blog here!

Adding live entertainment to your next corporate party can greatly increase its retention on your guests. Many organizers have commented that they've received questions and inquiries if they'll have entertainment again, and more often than not. The same entertainment as before. Here are 10 benefits you'll get when you add a Mentalist to your next company party. 1. IT'S DIFFERENT! - How many events have you been to where it's just cocktails, dinner, desert, speeches and you leave? It's boring, repetitive and expected. When you add in a live performance by a professional corporate entertainer it elevates your event, change the pace and causes the group to remember the event much longer. Especially when the entertainment is good! 2. BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ! - Live entertainment has the wonderful ability to bring a group (especially a group where everyone does not know everyone in the room) together. For example, a mentalist reads the minds of the audience in a fun and entertaining way. Often there are demonstrations where the entire audience (no matter the size) participates together. This allows for a sense camaraderie to form amongst the group. Mentalist Christopher Grace specializes in providing experiences that specifically bring people together in ways that are fun, interesting different then what you've seen in every team building seminar you've ever been to. 3. IT HELPS WITH THE SCHEDULE! - Remember how many things you have to do when you plan an event? Wouldn't it be nice to have an hour or 90 minutes off where you can get awards ready, coordinate end of night speeches, or maybe eat.. since you've been running around all night? Adding some entertainment allows you to plan things out and not get overwhelmed. For more information on making your corporate event a success check out our article here . 4. THE MENTALIST! - No, not the tv show. A mentalist is a magician of the mind. Specializing in audience connections through a conjurors form of mind reading and psychic entertainment. The mentalist, such as Christopher Grace will perform directly with the audience from start to finish. Which means the show is 100% interactive! Everyone gets involved in a fun, friendly and completely corporate clean way. A mentalist does not embarrass people, hypnotize anyone to dance or be ridiculous in front of their friends and co-workers. Something beneficial when you consider how long people work with each other and how long it would take live down the fact that Janice from marketing sang Cher songs while leap frogging Bill from accounting. A mentalist focuses on audience connection and camaraderie. You won't see a bare stage with a guy pulling doves from silks. Instead, you'll see a mind reader literally telling people what they're thinking, describing what kind of car they drive, where they went to school, their kids names and how much cash they have on them at that very moment. All without ever having met them before! A mentalist is enticing because it's not about him or her, it's about the audience! They're the stars while the mentalist is the conduit that makes them so. Consider this when looking for live entertainment at your next corporate event. 5. A MENTALIST IS EASY! - If you've ever seen a mentalist before you've probably realized how little equipment they carry. When you read minds for a living all you really need is a notepad, some pens and paper and at least two minds. By eliminating huge cases, dangerous wires and electrical equipment you create a safer environment and ultimately save time. A quick set up and breakdown takes minutes not hours. A mentalist has the ability to set up within 5 minutes and break down even faster. Usually requiring a couple chairs and maybe a table (even though professionals often bring their own fold away table) the professional corporate mentalist can set a briefcase down, open and be ready to go. 6. IT MAKES YOU LOOK GOOD! - A mentalist like Christopher receives a lot of great comments after his shows. But the real person to get the glory is the one who brought him in in the first place! You'll be thanked for having a unique and different event constantly. And more often than not, you'll hear "I didn't know what to expect but that was amazing!" or "I had no idea what a mentalist was so I was scared he was going to hypnotize me! But it was awesome!" When you bring in the entertainment, they bring the audience together, you get all the credit! 7. EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT THEMSELVES! - Let's face it, we're all human and we love being told things about ourselves. (as long as it's not embarrassing or uncomfortable of course) A mentalist has the ability to connect directly with an audience and engage with them on a personal level. Imagine a man on stage, who posses control over the human mind to look into yours (see only what you let him see by the way) and tell you about yourself. Your loves, passions, connections and details that only a close few should know. Like what dorm you were in while in college, where you're thinking of going on vacation, whether you will get the promotion you deserve or not and so much more you wouldn't believe without seeing it done live! According to Psychology Today: "Well, according to one study, talking about oneself activates the same areas of the brain that light up when eating good food, taking drugs and even having sex. Simply put, self-disclosure is gratifying. It gives us a neurological buzz." 8. REQUIREMENTS AT A MINIMUM - Most mentalists provide everything they need. And even though this was lightly covered earlier, it warrants it's own spot on this list. A mentalist is low-prop and equipment. Usually coming with a small suitcase or road case. The mentalist will provide all materials he needs to make his show a success. Unless otherwise agreed upon by him or herself and client. When it comes to music, and sound. A mentalist almost always (if they use music) comes equipped with at least 2 or 3 ways to play their music. Either buy bringing their own sound system (rare for professionals) or an iPad, USB drive or even an old school CD (we know.) For vocal sound, a mic should be discussed ahead of time by the mentalist and the client. Usually (not always) but usually a mentalist will bring his own backup mic when the house or provided system doesn't work, has problems or to be honest is just old and outdated. Quality sound greatly impacts the performance as most of the show is verbal and needs to be heard clearly by everyone in attendance. Other than these few things, a mentalist is by far the most compact and easy performer that is not a sole public speaker. 9. IT'S CLASSY! - A mentalist is different. Seriously, a mentalist immediately conveys a sense of upper level entertainment. Now most mentalists come from being a magician, so we have nothing against magicians as mentalists . But a mentalist has the ability to connect with people on a deeper level than a magician. The main reason is because the show is rarely if ever about the mentalist him or herself. When a person connects with another it creates a sense of trust and compassion. This elevates how the audience views the performance and makes them think about it on another level. 10. THEY WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASY! - A mentalist is very low maintenance. They (usually) do not need fancy dressing rooms, long set-up times or a bowl of green M&M's. Once you've hired a mentalist you receive a contract, and technical rider. This will include the absolute basic things needed by a mentalist. Most often they'll need a chair or two (depends on the performer), a small table sometimes and whatever sound and AV requirements are necessary. By not being a huge pain asking for things and connecting constantly when you are busy, a professional mentalist will be ready to go once the first phone call or email ends. We're pros for a reason, we know how to make your event a success and how to manage crisis if they do come up. Always, always, always hire a professional. Don't know a professional from an amateur? Read this article to determine how to tell the difference. These 10 benefits for hiring a mentalist will greatly help you when you're planning your next corporate event in Boston! For more corporate event planning articles please visit our full blog here!

Adding live entertainment to your next corporate party can greatly increase its retention on your guests. Many organizers have commented that they've received questions and inquiries if they'll have entertainment again, and more often than not. The same entertainment as before. Here are 10 benefits you'll get when you add a Mentalist to your next company party. 1. IT'S DIFFERENT! - How many events have you been to where it's just cocktails, dinner, desert, speeches and you leave? It's boring, repetitive and expected. When you add in a live performance by a professional corporate entertainer it elevates your event, change the pace and causes the group to remember the event much longer. Especially when the entertainment is good! 2. BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER ! - Live entertainment has the wonderful ability to bring a group (especially a group where everyone does not know everyone in the room) together. For example, a mentalist reads the minds of the audience in a fun and entertaining way. Often there are demonstrations where the entire audience (no matter the size) participates together. This allows for a sense camaraderie to form amongst the group. Mentalist Christopher Grace specializes in providing experiences that specifically bring people together in ways that are fun, interesting different then what you've seen in every team building seminar you've ever been to. 3. IT HELPS WITH THE SCHEDULE! - Remember how many things you have to do when you plan an event? Wouldn't it be nice to have an hour or 90 minutes off where you can get awards ready, coordinate end of night speeches, or maybe eat.. since you've been running around all night? Adding some entertainment allows you to plan things out and not get overwhelmed. For more information on making your corporate event a success check out our article here . 4. THE MENTALIST! - No, not the tv show. A mentalist is a magician of the mind. Specializing in audience connections through a conjurors form of mind reading and psychic entertainment. The mentalist, such as Christopher Grace will perform directly with the audience from start to finish. Which means the show is 100% interactive! Everyone gets involved in a fun, friendly and completely corporate clean way. A mentalist does not embarrass people, hypnotize anyone to dance or be ridiculous in front of their friends and co-workers. Something beneficial when you consider how long people work with each other and how long it would take live down the fact that Janice from marketing sang Cher songs while leap frogging Bill from accounting. A mentalist focuses on audience connection and camaraderie. You won't see a bare stage with a guy pulling doves from silks. Instead, you'll see a mind reader literally telling people what they're thinking, describing what kind of car they drive, where they went to school, their kids names and how much cash they have on them at that very moment. All without ever having met them before! A mentalist is enticing because it's not about him or her, it's about the audience! They're the stars while the mentalist is the conduit that makes them so. Consider this when looking for live entertainment at your next corporate event. 5. A MENTALIST IS EASY! - If you've ever seen a mentalist before you've probably realized how little equipment they carry. When you read minds for a living all you really need is a notepad, some pens and paper and at least two minds. By eliminating huge cases, dangerous wires and electrical equipment you create a safer environment and ultimately save time. A quick set up and breakdown takes minutes not hours. A mentalist has the ability to set up within 5 minutes and break down even faster. Usually requiring a couple chairs and maybe a table (even though professionals often bring their own fold away table) the professional corporate mentalist can set a briefcase down, open and be ready to go. 6. IT MAKES YOU LOOK GOOD! - A mentalist like Christopher receives a lot of great comments after his shows. But the real person to get the glory is the one who brought him in in the first place! You'll be thanked for having a unique and different event constantly. And more often than not, you'll hear "I didn't know what to expect but that was amazing!" or "I had no idea what a mentalist was so I was scared he was going to hypnotize me! But it was awesome!" When you bring in the entertainment, they bring the audience together, you get all the credit! 7. EVERYONE WANTS TO HEAR ABOUT THEMSELVES! - Let's face it, we're all human and we love being told things about ourselves. (as long as it's not embarrassing or uncomfortable of course) A mentalist has the ability to connect directly with an audience and engage with them on a personal level. Imagine a man on stage, who posses control over the human mind to look into yours (see only what you let him see by the way) and tell you about yourself. Your loves, passions, connections and details that only a close few should know. Like what dorm you were in while in college, where you're thinking of going on vacation, whether you will get the promotion you deserve or not and so much more you wouldn't believe without seeing it done live! According to Psychology Today: "Well, according to one study, talking about oneself activates the same areas of the brain that light up when eating good food, taking drugs and even having sex. Simply put, self-disclosure is gratifying. It gives us a neurological buzz." 8. REQUIREMENTS AT A MINIMUM - Most mentalists provide everything they need. And even though this was lightly covered earlier, it warrants it's own spot on this list. A mentalist is low-prop and equipment. Usually coming with a small suitcase or road case. The mentalist will provide all materials he needs to make his show a success. Unless otherwise agreed upon by him or herself and client. When it comes to music, and sound. A mentalist almost always (if they use music) comes equipped with at least 2 or 3 ways to play their music. Either buy bringing their own sound system (rare for professionals) or an iPad, USB drive or even an old school CD (we know.) For vocal sound, a mic should be discussed ahead of time by the mentalist and the client. Usually (not always) but usually a mentalist will bring his own backup mic when the house or provided system doesn't work, has problems or to be honest is just old and outdated. Quality sound greatly impacts the performance as most of the show is verbal and needs to be heard clearly by everyone in attendance. Other than these few things, a mentalist is by far the most compact and easy performer that is not a sole public speaker. 9. IT'S CLASSY! - A mentalist is different. Seriously, a mentalist immediately conveys a sense of upper level entertainment. Now most mentalists come from being a magician, so we have nothing against magicians as mentalists . But a mentalist has the ability to connect with people on a deeper level than a magician. The main reason is because the show is rarely if ever about the mentalist him or herself. When a person connects with another it creates a sense of trust and compassion. This elevates how the audience views the performance and makes them think about it on another level. 10. THEY WILL MAKE YOUR LIFE EASY! - A mentalist is very low maintenance. They (usually) do not need fancy dressing rooms, long set-up times or a bowl of green M&M's. Once you've hired a mentalist you receive a contract, and technical rider. This will include the absolute basic things needed by a mentalist. Most often they'll need a chair or two (depends on the performer), a small table sometimes and whatever sound and AV requirements are necessary. By not being a huge pain asking for things and connecting constantly when you are busy, a professional mentalist will be ready to go once the first phone call or email ends. We're pros for a reason, we know how to make your event a success and how to manage crisis if they do come up. Always, always, always hire a professional. Don't know a professional from an amateur? Read this article to determine how to tell the difference. These 10 benefits for hiring a mentalist will greatly help you when you're planning your next corporate event! For more corporate event planning articles please visit our full blog here!

Below you will find a detailed list on how you as an organizer can build, coordinate and properly execute your next corporate party, function or special event. These tips will help facilitate your process to make your job easier and your event successful. STEP 1: HAVE A CLEAR PLAN Starting with planning an event can be a daunting task. How much is my budget? Should I hire entertainment? How much food will we need? It can be very overwhelming. It's best to clearly plan out exactly what tasks you need to accomplish. In order of priority if possible. For example: 1. Confirm venue details with your catering contact (confirm your date first, time that you need, then go over the day's schedule) (Most hotels use a catering manager to host all of their events. This person will be your go-to contact 99% of the time.) 2. Bullet point your schedule. Be meticulous. Leave nothing unaccounted for. For example: - Guests arrive 5:30PM - Cocktail reception - 5:45 - 6:15PM - Dinner - 6:30 - 8PM - Desert & Coffee - 8:05PM - Speeches - 8:30 - 8:45PM - CEO introduces end of evening entertainment - 9PM - 10PM - Raffles/ Door Prizes - 10:15PM - Final Thank You - 10:30PM - Gift Bags - 10:35PM 3. Make sure your dinner has the proper options. (vegetarian, meat, fish, etc.) - Confirm if anyone has major food allergies and alert the catering manager - Finalize the menu with the catering manager - Pay deposit to the venue & for your food and beverage 4. Secure any staging, podiums, entertainer requirements, mics, backdrops, etc. - Confirm with venue what they can supply and at what additional cost(s) - Determine if an outside AV or staging company will be necessary 5. Confirm any live entertainment and pay necessary deposits. Do this at least a month in advance or sooner. - Entertainers need time to organize their calendar, coordinate staffing if necessary and block the time off for your event. - Double check the performer's technical rider. They may require lavaliere mics over handheld ones. They may need chairs, or small tables or access to power outlets. - Confirm with the performer the length of the performance, and any other details that may make the show longer. (this happens more often than not) The point is do not let yourself stress out. The more organized you are, the easier the day of will be. Additionally, you'll be praised for your commitment to the events excellence and your organization skills. Don't let yourself get overwhelmed, it's a slippery slope! STEP 2: UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE Is this event for executives? Maybe it's just for truck drivers? Maybe it's a family welcomed Christmas party? Having a clear understanding of Who is coming to your event will greatly reduce the amount of stress you face in the planning. If there are children invited, then your menu will be affected. Is your buffet suitable for kids to reach by themselves? Probably not. Take these details into consideration. It may not sound important. but the attention to detail is ultimately what makes events successful. Maybe this event is for guests from all over the world. Now you're talking possible language barriers, dietary restrictions, even religious restrictions that could drastically impact your event. Is your entertainer visual so they can work well with all cultures? Take these details into account. Tip: Most live entertainment can work well with all language barriers and cultural differences. For example Mentalist Christopher Grace is primarily a mind reader. But his performances can play to ALL languages. Even though Christopher only speaks English.. and bad Spanish. STEP 3: THE ROOM! A step that a lot of people do not consider is how the room you're using is set up. Are you using round tables? Are they seating 8, 10, 12 people? Is the buffet in the room or outside? Will your cocktail reception take place in the same place you have dinner? Is there a huge dance floor in the middle of the room? Will the entertainment be in the same room as dinner? See how it can get overwhelming fast? Let's start from the first question. Round tables are the most common for 99% of corporate events. Depending on how many people you're expecting, it will determine what size banquet round you'll need. If it's a small group, then maybe you only need 2 or 3 eight or ten foot long rectangular tables. Determine what you need based on the size of your group. Sounds simple right? It is! How is dinner being served? If you are doing a buffer it will most likely be in the same room as where you actually eat. If this is the case, make sure the band, the mentalist, etc. is nowhere near the food. (or the bar for that matte) Keep these elements in their own sections. It will prevent unnecessary clutter, confusion and potential accidents. If you're doing a plated dinner, it's much easier as everything is coming out of the kitchen. Double check that the wait staff and catering management understand what you have planned and to be cautious of cables, extension cords, or unexpected items like cases, boxes or bags. Dance Floors! In the entertainer world, dance floors are usually accompanied by table surrounding them. This will create a great place to dance. The DJ or band is at one end and everyone else is on the floor. Sounds great right? Well now imagine you bring in a speaker, or a performer. Now this person is trapped at one end of a huge dance floor with this ocean of emptiness between them and the audience. Performers collectively refer to this as the DOD or Dance Floor of Death. Meaning, it's capable to killing a performance. So you think, well why don't they move down closer to the edge of the floor? That would be a good idea if Everyone in the room was behind that line. If you have guests on three sides of you, now the performer is playing to only 1/3 of the audience. The point here is if you're having a stationary performer, or speaker. e.g someone that does not move around the room. Considering having the venue set up theater style seating on the dance floor. It's not a huge deal for catering teams and you'll be amazed at how fast some of these crews can clear hundreds of chair. Literally minutes. Please, please, please take this point into consideration if you're having entertainment. (which you absolutely should by the way.) STEP 4: THE ENTERTAINMENT! Hiring entertainment can be a daunting task all by itself. Who should I hire? Are they good? Do they have good reviews? How are their videos? Are they professional? Do they respond and communicate in a timely manner. That last point is very important as your schedule is most likely time sensitive. Unless you're planning a year in advance. (yay for you being ahead of 90% of all other corporate events.) Let's start in reverse order this time. Does your entertainment communicate in a timely manner? If you're booking an individual person - they should communicate quickly. Usually within a day or sooner. Most performers will get back to you quickly. Do not take this as a sign of desperation. Their time is as valuable as yours and their schedules are often unpredictable and chaotic. In most cases, if you found a good performer - you'll probably get calls, texts and emails from them while they're AT another event. Again - do not take this as a negative. Or a sign of disrespect to the client with whom they're currently working with. Bands, speakers, even mentalists or magicians all take necessary breaks during their performances. When Christopher Grace is performing strolling mentalism at corporate events. He will usually take a 5 minute break every 45 minutes or so to regroup and reset for his next round with the guests. If he's performing a full length show, which is usually an hour or longer from start to finish. He will not return a call in the middle. That's just crazy and would be Very disrespectful. Is your performer professional? This can be tricky (no-pun intended) as professionalism is subjective. Here are a few good things to look out for when considering someone's professionalism. - Do they have a clean, clearly designed and easily navigable website? - Do they dress appropriately for your specific event? (not a hard and fast rule to follow as most performers dress in a variety of levels depending on event requirements. But keep it in mind for general first impressions on their website. What they choose to display in images on their websites is going to be 99% of what they wear on stage. - Are they groomed well? Seriously. Nobody wants a smelly magician wandering around their cocktail party for executives. You can tell how much they take care of themself by looking at their pictures. Especially on social media. Look at fan pages and see if you can spot any live performance photos they've posted. Are they cleanly shaved? If they have a beard, is it trimmed and well kept? Are their clothes neat and unwrinkled? If they wear a tuxedo t-shirt run for the hills! The point here is use your own judgement but don't let your personal biases get in the way. The Videos! You absolutely, 100% want to see or hear what this person can do and will most likely be doing at your corporate event. Now please bear in mind the following: - Most performers do not travel with AV or recording crews. - 99% of performers use house mics, sound systems and staging. - Almost all performers have little to no control on how the room is set up Take those points into account when you're viewing performance videos. Watch the show, not the room. And most importantly, to see if a video of a performer is good. Watch the reactions of the guests! To understand this point better watch Christopher Grace's videos here . You will get a clear understanding of how a video will and should look and how to watch them. Make your judgments on how the audience responds, not how you do! The Reviews! Reviews and testimonials are huge in making decisions. However, the best way to find out if this performer is going to be a good fit for your next event is to actually speak to former clients. Ask the performer for a written list of his or hers 10 most recent clients. Do not let the date at which these events took place sway you. Some performers intentionally only work 10-20 times a year. Some work 200! The date is not important. The comments are! You wouldn't hire a person at your company without checking references right? Same thing here. Call, inquire and get a recommendation from the past clients. The performer should provide a name, phone number, email address, company or applicable website and some event details. (when, where, for how many, etc.) Are they any Good? Well, again this is going to depend on a couple of things. Do they have a good rapport with the audience? Are they engaged, smiling and applauding? Are You impressed by some of the things they are doing? For example, mentalism can often times look like someone is just speaking without doing much in the form of moving around, using props, etc. Key point here is to watch and listen! You'll be amazed at some of the things possible using only speech! Who should you hire? Ah, this question. It's an important one don't get us wrong. But it's never an easy one. You'll wonder if they'll fit in with your group. If they're funny, not funny or not funny enough. Are they clean or are you looking for a more R-rated or PG-13 act? Are they accomplished enough to even be in the same room as fortune 500 executives? All of these questions you'll ask yourself on a conscious and subconscious level. Some of which you'll think about and decide on instantly from the viewing of one image, or video. The best way to find out if they're any good is to talk to them! Call them directly, speak and let them speak. Say "tell me about how you'll make our company party a success." and then simply be quiet and let them talk. Ask a question from time to time. Don't try and trip them up but ask things that are not common. For example ask: - What do you do if your show runs long? - How much interaction do you anticipate for the show? - Do you meet the audience before or after the show? - Do you travel with your own sound equipment or do you need us to provide that? What kind of mic do you use? - Can you perform during dinner? (this is a sneaky question. NEVER EVER have a performer go on During a dinner. It's at the top of the worst things you can do list. You're audience will not care who is on stage when food is on the table. Trust us.) The reason you ask this question is because you want the performer to say: "No! I will perform during the cocktail hour, strolling the room. Or immediately after desert." Make sure they say desert as it's usually part of the meal. Use your own judgement of course, but these tips will help you make the right decisions on hiring live entertainment. Oh and if you're going with a live band, they can and most likely will have no problem performing during dinner. STEP 5: BRINGING IT ALL TOGETHER! Putting your corporate event, retreat or special on is a challenge. A couple of things to keep in mind. - Things will not turn out how you envisioned them! - You have to be flexible when working with other people! - Have backups and plan B's for Everything! - Only work with people you trust! (your team that is.. don't do everything yourself.) - DON'T DO EVERYTHING YOURSELF! Delegate, bring in trusted associates who you can put smaller tasks on so you don't get overwhelmed. If you're a seasoned corporate event planner, then you probably won't be reading any of this anyways. Most importantly, remember this event is for you as well. Don't let yourself become the person running around the room all night making everything perfect. Nothing will ever be perfect. Do not strive for perfection down into the minutia or you will be disappointed. Have a great team and communicate regularly. Before you get into your event, create a simple battle plan for the evening. Enjoy yourself and everyone else will as well. Happy Planning! Christopher Grace www.christophergracelive.com Corporate Event Entertainment

How to Sell Anything.. Like a Corporate Mind Reader! The world of sales can be frustrating, stressful and incredibly challenging... when you don't know what you're doing. Sales tricks and tips articles, blog posts and videos are a dime a dozen buried online. Nine out of ten times, the author is trying to sell a book or sales course. Not in this case! The author here is a professional mind reader and corporate mentalist, specializing in performances, and speaking engagements for over two thousand clients in the past 20 years. Spending a lifetime on stage reading people's minds, he has developed an interesting and unexpected skillset as a master salesman. Selling a performance is inherently difficult as it is essentially an invisible product that you do not see until after you've paid and won't know what to expect until the show is already over. With a car, you can test drive it, go over features and trim packages and make calculated financial decisions. Booking a mentalist for your company party, banquet or trade show is somewhat riskier. Most people can determine a professional from an amateur performer, but it still takes a considerable amount of sales expertise to make the booking and get the deposit. This article will show you a variety of psychological maneuvers you can use in your sales strategies that have been cultivated over two decades from a working mentalist. Disclaimer: You will not actually be able to read minds... I mean really? Strategy 1: LIMIT THE OPTIONS Have you ever been overwhelmed shopping before? Looking at a thousand similar products and eventually you just get so fed up you walk away? It happens often. Never flood your prospect with a multitude of options right at the start. If you're selling a car, insurance, stocks, etc. always start small, with the basics. You'll notice good car salesman only start talking about added features once you've already chosen the vehicle and trim package. Now they can add on the extended warranty (that can only be used at their dealership...) or the door guard that costs $300 and will prevent massive damage to your doors if someone opens theirs without looking and dents you! Or perhaps the unlimited oil changes and maintenance if you pay $1,000 up front now. They trickle in, one at a time. Some salesman make mistakes and lose a client completely by bombarding them with options. Even if they're great, reasonably priced and provide a necessary and needed service. You'll likely lose your customer if you drop everything on them at once. Instead, pace it out. Have certain points in your sale where you can casually bring up additional services. And Never, ever bring up a service or added cost during critical parts of the sale. For example. Do not recommend extended warranties during a test drive. Instead, wait until after you've had the drive. Walk to their current vehicle and ask them about the maintenance history of their car. Say things like "What do you normally do for maintenance?" and "How often do you remember to get your oil changed or tires rotated?" - the key here is to never ask "yes or no" questions. Once you've gone in with a direct answer question, you're at their mercy. They will most likely say no because they'll smell a sales pitch coming. Instead ask open-ended questions that can start an organic conversation. From here you can do what mind readers and mentalists call "cold reading." Basically you can determine what their habits and routines are like and can then tailor your responses to fit their particular situation. For example: "So how often do you get your oil changed?" "Oh whenever the light goes on." "Oh of course.. duh. Is it expensive? Your current car must call for full synthetic, I bet it's like $90-100 every time." "Yeah something like that, but I get 9-10k miles between changes." "Right, thats why full synthetic is great. But so expensive. Even if you are saving a little bit by not going every 3-4k miles." "Yeah that's true." "You know, the reason I love this place is because they'll call and remind you to get your service taken care of, and the best part is - they rotate your tires, do your alignment, top fluids, check brakes and rotors, replace wipers and broken bulbs. And it's all in one service. That's why I always come here." And then Stop talking about it. Go back inside and change the subject completely. Let all that groundwork you laid get stronger in their minds. They know what you were doing, people are not stupid. But because you didn't come right and say "Man you really need this extended warranty.. it's so blah blah blah." they will have a little more respect for the process and be easier to pitch to more directly later on. Some sales specialists believe in layering options in a package deal. This can work in some cases but overall you're going to run into the same overwhelm affect. I prefer the stagger and build mindset. It may seem more risky, but when you've proven the supreme benefit over their fear of spending more, you will make the sale. So do the following: 1. Never offer too much up front 2. Always ask open-ended (not yes or no) questions 3. Don't layer or package unless absolutely necessary 4. Lay the ground work before you make the pitch (sometimes this will require extra layers - which bring us to...) 5. Read their mind! Well, not really but cold read their mind. As in pay attention to how they react, respond, and communicate. Once you have an understanding of a person's vocal behavior and overall body language you will be so far ahead of them it will almost be unfair. Side Note: this can all be done over the phone, through email or even a video chat if necessary. If you can hear their voice, you're half done. Strategy 2: The "FOMO" Fear of missing out. This one is tricky and usually called something like "loss aversion" or something equally technical sounding. The basic premise is simple to understand. Do it now, because you can't later and you'll be losing X because of Y. It's an old strategy, and even though this kind of sounds like I'm against it. I am not. It has its place in sales. However you have to be very careful and particular when using it. Some people don't care if they're missing out on some great added benefit or feature. Example: Let's say you sell personal training sessions at a gym. You'll most likely offer a complimentary session to get the person to see what it's like and then hopefully pitch them on more sessions at the end. Now you will have to time this right. If you do pitch them on more sessions at the end of the free one, you're going to be in a position where they start to question the quality. They will then think "hmm.. this one was good but I'm just so out of shape it'll take forever to see results and will cost me a fortune with the trainer." or the opposite "hm.. this guy/girl is good but I'm already in great shape and I think I can save money and just continue to do what I'm doing by myself." Instead sell the additional sessions at a discount in conjunction with the free one. Using the FOMO strategy you can justify the lower cost of the sessions now. If they wait, they will lose the discount. The discount is only available one time per person, no exceptions. Also consider the psychological effect here. If they book the free sessions and a package of paid ones, the free one will be much more effective when they know they have paid ones coming up. It will go from "hmm.." to "That wasn't bad" or "Man I hope I can get through the next two better." or they might hate it and say "phew.. thankfully I only bought two more" So do the following: 1. Sell the fear of loss, not the product itself 2. Explain the benefits, not what they physically get (they get tired and sore.. No! Sell they get healthier fast with an experts help. They get a motivation boost and a solid, perfected workout with someone who's sole job is to whip your butt into shape!) 3. Never say "You need this!" - Immediate reaction is "No I don't, shut up." 4. Be genuinely helpful. Never offer too much up front (see strategy 1) - and only offer what you think they can actually benefit from. 5. Using FOMO, never make it do or die and don't push when they've said no more than twice. Let them miss out if they're stubborn. The worst thing to be is a pushy, greasy salesman/woman. Quick Sales Tips: 1. Always look people in their eyes - make a personal connection from the very beginning. You'll be seen from then on as non-threatening, friendly and warm. 2. Use gentle touching (don't be creepy!) - handshake, hand on shoulder, lean in and get close to mention a nice feature. "hey you know, the gas mileage on this car is by far my favorite part." 3. Always dress neatly, be well groomed, and for the love of all things holy - brush your teeth!" 4. Don't dress overly fancy. The sleazy car salesman can be seen a mile away in his pin-stripe suit, leather loafers and gold bracelet. You can almost smell the chest hair.... gross. 5. Be casual, relaxed up front and then shift your body posture, demeanor and vocals to match your customers. Do they talk fast? Talk fast but not as fast as them. Do they make jokes a lot? Make small jokes and keep it clean. Do they smell like waffles? "Man I love Denny's! If we have a great day here, Moons over MyHami on me after!" 6. Never push people! It's tacky, sleazy and the quickest way to burn a sale. 7. If customers are hesitant, ask them to tell you why. What's their reasoning? You're not looking to catch them out and say "Shut up Jim, here's why your wrong!" You want to know a person's thought process. Once you know how they think, you can tailor your pitch, presentation or sale to fit within their mindset. This is major part of the mentalist & mind readers professional skillset. Sometimes people will just Tell You what they're thinking! 8. Study and understand body language. Read books on how people act the way they act. What certain postures, hand positions or facial expressions typically mean. Learning and understanding how to read a person's body will give you a Huge advantage over them. Again - not in a deceptive or intentionally treacherous way. 9. Never, ever fake anything. Do not fake handshakes, smiles or interests in people. In sales you have to always be on your A-game or you'll mist out, which results in missed commissions, lower performance for the quarter, loss of job, homelessness, eating dog food .. you get the idea. Instead, be honest. If you're having a crummy day, use it to your advantage. But don't go all sob-story on them! Remember, match them as much as possible without being overtly obvious. 10. Treat everyone with the utmost respect. When you give you get. It's and old line but it's 100% true. Be rude, expect rudeness in return. Be kind, expect kindness. Now that's not to say sometimes you'll be as sunny as a May afternoon and be met with someone who just got rear-ended and now needs to buy a new car. That guy is having a bad day. Be helpful, courteous and considerate. You're there to help them, not sell to them. 11. Let them sell to you! What most salespeople forget is that people want to buy, but hate being sold to. Let them sell to You why they want to buy from You. Ask them why they want to buy, whats going on in their lives where they need to workout, buy insurance, buy a car, buy a new home, etc. Gently, make them give you reasons why You should sell to them. "What brings you to me today?" - "How do you think I can help you?" - "Where do you want our meeting today to end up?" - Not only will you throw them psychologically, you'll endear yourself to them by showing that you care! Because remember, you do! Bonus : Incite Reciprocity! When you give away something, whether it's free tires, a personal training session, back taxes review, or whatever. There is a natural human instinct to return the favor through reciprocity. Now this can get tricky as you might try and use it to make the full sale. But that's not what we're talking about here. Don't offer free windshield wipers and expect the sale of a car. Or don't offer complimentary tire-rotation if they do an AC recharge. You need to offer value and benefit, not item or service. It may be a good benefit for them if they got the first 3 car washes completely free when they buy a year package. Maybe money is tight and they need a clean car when they meet new clients. That value affects them on a psychological level instead of a financial one. It shows you care and want to help. Because remember, you do! Overall, remember to work with the client. Don't be over-focused on making the sale right away and then onto the next one. Make the connection, and have a customer not once, but for life. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in sales for a long time to say the best customer is the one that comes back. Christopher Grace is an expert mind reader, magician and sales trainer. He travels nationally and internationally performing for and speaking to corporations large and small on how to grow their business, maximize sales and turn their staff into competent selling machines. For more information on Corporate Mind Reader Christopher Grace's intensive psychological sales training seminar please email bookings@christophergracelive.com & visit www.christophergracelive.com

How Mentalism Builds Team Connection and Boosts Morale at Corporate Events Corporate Events & Boosting Morale! In today’s fast-paced, competitive business world, fostering strong relationships and boosting team morale is essential for achieving success. While traditional team-building activities like retreats, workshops, or ice-breaker exercises are commonly used, many companies are now turning to something more unconventional—live entertainment, specifically mentalism at their next corporate event. Often associated with magicians and sleight of hand artisits. A mentalist can be an effective and engaging way to build connection, spark creativity, and elevate the overall atmosphere of your corporate event. Mentalism is the art of using psychological demonstrations, suggestion, and verbal and visual manipulation to appear as though one can read minds, predict behavior, and influence decisions. When applied in a corporate setting, mentalism goes beyond entertainment—it has the power to unite employees, improve communication, and increase morale. Here’s how mentalism can benefit corporate teams: 1. Create a Shared Experience of Wonder One of the primary benefits of mentalism at a corporate event is its ability to create a shared experience of awe and wonder. In a typical team-building exercise, employees may feel disconnected, as it often focuses on individual performance. In contrast, mentalism brings people together in a collective moment of surprise, where participants work together to make sense of the seemingly impossible. This moment of shared intrigue encourages bonding, communication, and positive group dynamics. Example Case Study : At a recent leadership conference for a Fortune 500 company, corporate mentalist Christopher Grace was brought in as part of the entertainment for the closing gala. Employees from various departments were invited on stage to help with the performance. As Christopher revealed impossible to know details about some of the employees - an atmosphere of unity was created. "It was unlike anything we had experienced before," said Sarah McCallister, the Director of Corporate Relations. "It wasn’t just a fun activity; it felt like a team effort. Everyone was talking about it the next day, and it really broke down barriers between different teams." she added Corporate Entertainment & Engagement Specialist Christopher Grace 2. Enhancing Team Collaboration Mentalism often involves mind-reading routines that require participants to work together. For instance, a mentalist like Christopher Grace may ask two or more individuals to silently communicate with each other or think of a specific word, place or image, which he will then reveals. This gently forces employees to collaborate, even if it's in a subtle, non-verbal way. When employees witness the power of collective thought in action, they’re more likely to carry this sense of unity into their day-to-day tasks. Example : At a recent corporate retreat for a tech company, Christopher conducted an interactive session where team members had to synchronize their thoughts to achieve a common goal of figuring out how Christopher was able to accomplish the feat he just presented on stage. This exercise highlighted the importance of shared mental focus in problem-solving. The great news is they were right! And Christopher then proceeded to explain exactly what he did, confirning their collective participation did indeed provide quality and accurate results. "It was incredible how quickly the whole group came together," said Mark Redding, Chief Operating Officer. "Seeing the results of teamwork on a completely different level made me rethink how we collaborate in the office." he continued. 3. Boosting Employee Morale and Confidence One of the most powerful aspects of mentalism is the sense of accomplishment it instills in participants. When employees are able to contribute to the success of a mind reading performance—whether by divining the correctly chosen word or providing a crucial piece of information—they feel empowered and valued. This boosts their confidence and leaves them with a lasting positive impression. The experience of seeing their involvement in the performance reinforces a sense of agency and self-worth. Expect Comment : John Williams, an event planner specializing in corporate events, explains, “Mentalism creates a unique kind of atmosphere at corporate events. It’s not just about entertainment, but about involving employees in a truly magical experience where they feel like they’re part of something bigger. The confidence boost they get from participating can have a real, lasting effect on their attitude toward work.” 4. Encouraging Creative Thinking The nature of mentalism requires participants to think in unusual ways. The mentalist's demonstrations often rely on subtle cues, psychological manipulation, and creative methods of observation, along with classic skills of a traditional magician. By engaging in mind reading routines, employees are made to approach problems from new angles and challenge their typical thinking patterns. This fosters creativity and open-mindedness, qualities that are essential for innovation in the workplace. Case Study : At a creative agency’s team-building event, Christopher Grace was used as a tool to get employees to think outside the box. Chrisopher performed an exercise where participants had to think of abstract concepts and communicate them non-verbally. The results were astonishing—ideas flowed freely, and the group’s collective creativity reached new heights. “I’ve never seen our team collaborate so effortlessly before,” said Julia Kline, the agency’s Creative Director. "Christopher helped us tap into new ways of thinking. It made the team more dynamic." Unforgettable & Unique Corporate Event Entertainment & Engagement! 5. Building Trust and Communication Skills Mentalism often relies on a sense of trust between the performer and the participants. In many routines, the performer needs the cooperation of audience members to make the illusion succeed. This act of trust is a metaphor for workplace relationships, where open communication and mutual support are key. In a corporate environment, trust is a vital component of effective teamwork, and mentalism can serve as a fun and engaging way to highlight its importance. Industry Leader Comment : “Trust is the foundation of any successful team,” says Alex Carter, HR Manager at a global consulting firm. “Incorporating Christopher's presentation into our team-building activities opened up new discussions about trust and communication. Employees began to realize how subtle cues and clear communication can lead to remarkable outcomes. It was an eye-opening experience for many.” 6. Increasing Engagement and Retention Employees are more likely to stay with a company that invests in their personal and professional development, particularly when the company takes an innovative and fun approach to team-building. A mentalist, interactive speaker or other participatory events can add an element of excitement to traditionally stale corporate events and will make them much more memorable. Engaged employees are more likely to feel connected to their company’s goals and culture, improving overall retention rates. Industry Insight : According to a report by Gallup, highly engaged teams are 21% more productive than disengaged teams, and engaged employees are more likely to stay with their organization. Incorporating entertainment, such as a mentalist into corporate events can serve as a unique way to foster engagement, sparking enthusiasm and pride among employees. The unique nature of a mentalist offers the audience a chance to engage in the experience in a way they are not used to in a typical corporate event setting. Conclusion Mentalism is more than just a form of entertainment; it can be a transformative tool for enhancing team connection, boosting morale, and fostering creativity in the workplace. By engaging employees in collaborative activities that require trust, focus, and communication, companies can strengthen their internal relationships and improve performance. The magic of mentalism lies not just in the routines or demonstrations, but in its ability to bring people together, spark curiosity, and elevate the overall team spirit. As mentalism continues to gain popularity in corporate settings, more companies are recognizing its potential as a catalyst for positive organizational change. By incorporating mentalism into corporate events, companies can build stronger, more cohesive teams—while offering a memorable and fun experience that employees will cherish for years to come. Mentalists like Christopher Grace make it a point to provide unique and unforgettable entertainment while engaging the audience in non-invasive, fun ways. Corporate Team Building and Engagement Specialist For more information on how to book Corporate Mentalist Christopher Grace please contact: Agent 86 Magic Productions, LLC. bookings@christophergracelive.com www.christophergracelive.com