Is it a trick? A puzzle?

Many people see it that way; the challenge of figuring it out and catching the Magician. Some even want to see me fail. Mostly I believe people want to see me succeed because they want the experience. 

But what is that experience? 

Movies and theater are magical; novels, paintings, music, all magical. Although they have the ability to transport us to another place you can also see the craft in them. You know your favorite actor did not really die in the movie. She is crafting an illusion. You know that Superman doesn’t really fly. It’s CGI. It’s crafted to feel like these things happened. 

That crafting helps you get lost in the journey and in that moment you’re on the ride and it doesn’t really matter that someone might be stealing your car at that moment.

For magic to work, the “secret” must not only be kept hidden -- it must not even be suspected. Because the moment you even suspect a sneaky move…POP! The bubble bursts and there’s no magical experience. No mystery. You are thrown out of the experience and you’ll never reach your destination.

This is a challenge I accept.

Inevitably a guest will exclaim, “My kid would love this!”

When I ask how old their child is, the answer is usually six or seven. 

Never mind that I’m appearing at a corporate event or social function in a sharp suit and engaging with challenging close-up magic or reading minds from the stage. It still happens.

Don’t mistake this for complaining. I’ve been passionate about magic since I was 10 years old and I’m grateful to have it as my profession for over 25 years.

I’m just wonder why.

My kids live in a world of wonder and joy. Everything they experience is magical. But eventually society will tell them it’s time to put childlike things away and grow up. Sadly, magic will be added to that box and buried in the backyard. 

“So remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and hold on to that childlike sense of wonder about what makes the universe exist.”

— Stephen Hawking

We grown-ups need magic now more than ever. That’s why we go to the theater, visit the museum, read a novel, or listen to music. These things pull us out of our daily grind. That’s the power of magic; it puts us face-to-face with a mystery. 

If only for a few moments and even if it’s a simple, well-executed card trick.

OAKLAND, California - “Magic thrives in Oakland” (Piedmont Living Magazine) as Dennis Kyriakos currently offers the only close-up magic show in the Bay Area, and fans have lined up to experience his CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close and Personal every month at the Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley.

For the past year, Kyriakos has been entertaining sold-out audiences at the Claremont with his high-caliber magic and mind reading. His one year anniversary show is scheduled for Thursday, May 25th at 7:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit conjuring.live.

“This is a one-of-a-kind experience in the Bay Area,” said the talented magician behind CONJURING WONDER. “There are only 30 seats available for this interactive close-up magic show so everyone has a front row seat. The magic happens in the hands, minds and hearts of the audience as they participate in the show.”

Join us May 25th to celebrate the one year anniversary and all guests (21 & over) receive a complimentary glass of champagne.

Kyriakos provides sophisticated entertainment at corporate meetings and conferences, incentive weekends, trade shows, hospitality suites and high-end private events across the country and around the world. For the past 25 years, he has been a featured performer and host of Monday Night Magic – New York City’s longest-running magic show – and Magical Nights at Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency – The Nightclub of New York.

Kyriakos has been a repeated guest lecturer at NYU's Psychology Department and at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California, talking about "Visual Perception in Magic" and "Lying and Deception." He has also been profiled on the popular website The Art of Manliness.

For more information about Kyriakos and to purchase tickets to CONJURING WONDER, visit conjuring.live. He can also be followed on Instagram at @conjuringwonder.

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“The show was really engaging and entertaining! I’m an astrophysicist with excellent perception and logical skills, yet I couldn’t figure out how Dennis did his illusions.”

— Alex Filippenko, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy, UC Berkeley

World-renowned professor Alex Filippenko experienced our March installment of CONJURING WONDER at the Claremont Club & Spa with his wife, Noelle, and questions the nature of the universe even more deeply now!

Sign up and be the first to hear about future dates for CONJURING WONDER at The Claremont Club & Spa.

Piedmont Living Magazine came to see the February installment of CONJURING WONDER and shared a brief interview with their readers in their March 2023 edition!

Up-Close & Personal: Magician Dennis Kyriakos

by Karen Silva

The exciting world of magic thrives in Oakland. Magician Dennis Kyriakos is presenting his one-man show, CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close & Personal. 

Dennis Kyriakos’ CONJURING WONDER amazes and delights audiences at the Claremont Club & Spa every month

Dennis said, “CONJURING WONDER is a rare, intimate experience of close-up magic presented in the stunning lobby bar of the Claremont Club & Spa. We limit seating to thirty guests, so you’re close enough to touch it. And people often do. It’s a wonderful evening out and a great date-night.” Dennis shared, “Working up-close is demanding and exciting but so is changing people’s perspective about what magic can be.”

Dennis has been steeped in magic for over 40 years. He said, “There were two moments when I was about 10 years old. I remember watching a magic show on Saturday morning TV and distinctly recall the feelings of wonder, astonishment, and joy.” 

“Magic thrives in Oakland....experience a delightful evening of mystery and wonder...”

— Piedmont Living Magazine

He stated, “Then I discovered a handful of old magic books at our local library and realized I could learn to create the same experience for others. So, first I was enchanted and then obsessed.

While magic might look easy to some, it requires dedication and practice.

Dennis said, “The real secrets of magic come from careful study, thoughtful practice, real-world experience, and they are passed along through mentorship and community. There’s no shortcut.” He stated, “For many years I worked at a weekly magic show in New York City and that became my training ground. It’s where I got close to a couple of the world’s greatest sleight-of-hand artists and magical thinkers who became my mentors and I'm fortunate to be part of that unbroken chain of sharing secrets with like minds.”

To experience a delightful evening of mystery and wonder, check out Dennis’ show at the Claremont. Visit www.conjuring.live for information and tickets.

CONJURING WONDER celebrates National Magic Week with a special performance on October 26th

OAKLAND, California — San Francisco Magician Dennis Kyriakos currently offers the only close-up magic show in the Bay Area. Fans are lining up to experience CONJURING WONDER – Magic: Up-Close & Personal each month at the Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley.

Since May, Kyriakos has been entertaining sold-out audiences at the Claremont with his high-caliber magic and mind reading show. His next performance is scheduled for Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 p.m. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit conjuring.live or watch the highlight video:

“To celebrate Halloween, our October 26th performance will feature an act rarely seen by modern audiences,” Kyriakos explained.

“More importantly October 25 - 31 is National Magic Week, which celebrates the charitable contributions made by the Society of American Magicians throughout the years. In that spirit, all proceeds of this month’s performance will go to the Jazy and Angel Scholarship Fund.”

Jazy and Angel Sotelo Garcia, two Berkeley HS students and brothers were shot and killed at a house party in Oakland on October 1st.

Asked why he decided to donate ticket sales, Kyriakos said, “I’d like those affected by this tragedy and our community to know that even though there may be darkness in the world, you will also find joy and wonder and light in equal measure.”

For the past 25 years, Kyriakos has provided entertainment at corporate meetings, incentive weekends, trade shows, fundraising gala, and high-end private events across the country and around the world.

He has been a featured performer and host of Monday Night Magic – New York City’s longest-running magic show – and Magical Nights at Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency – The Nightclub of New York. He has been a repeated guest lecturer at NYU's Psychology Department and at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, California, talking about "Visual Perception in Magic" and "Lying and Deception." He has also been featured on the popular website The Art of Manliness.

Kyriakos is available for interviews and demonstrations for reporters at television stations, radio, and newspapers.

For more information, visit conjuringwonder.com. He can also be followed on Instagram and Twitter at @conjuringwonder.

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Tickets for this SPECIAL EDITION of CONJURING WONDER are on sale now!

Excited to share the new promo video for CONJURING WONDER - Magic: Up-Close & Personal.

Join us monthly at The Claremont Club & Spa in Berkeley for The Bay Area’s Premiere Close-Up Magic Experience.

Tickets available at www.conjuring.live.

Oakland, CA - Dennis Kyriakos sells out the premiere performance of CONJURING WONDER at The Claremont Club & Spa, in Berkeley, CA.

Imagine making your way through the stunning lobby of the Claremont Club & Spa and unwinding with a glass of wine while mingling with other guests.

Take your seat around the table as a dapper gentleman is introduced and the mysteries unfold.

Suddenly, objects vanish and reappear before your eyes. Uncanny coincidences unfold. Secret thoughts are revealed.

You are left charmed, bewildered, and amazed.

CONJURING WONDER will be presented monthly at The Claremont Club & Spa. Stay informed when future tickets go on sale here.

Yes, we still continue to face challenges but I firmly believe that it’s important to occasionally look at where you’ve come from and acknowledge your success — and failure. Do this often enough and with the right spirit and a clear path emerges in the direction you’re heading.

Despite the uncertainty of 2021, I was fortunate to present Virtual Deceptions at 44 online events and make appearances at 20 in-person corporate, private, and fundraising events this past year.

Here’s a taste of some of the most memorable moments…

The Return of In-Person Events

My first in-person event happened in May 2021. A team-building dinner for my new friends at Saltmine.

The event took place at Taplin Cellars, one of the oldest family-owned vineyard in Napa and Sylvia Taplin is the consummate host. The entire experience felt like being home.

The entertainment portion of the evening was a surprise for the team, so the folks at Taplin put me up in their cottage which doubled as a greenroom. After a fantastic meal prepared by The French Laundry, I was introduced and performed al fresco overlooking the vineyard.

What a joy to be back!

The Cottage at Taplin Cellars

The Cottage at Taplin Cellars

Greenroom

Dinner by The French Laundry

Sylvia Taplin thanking our chef for the evening and introducing the performance

Trade Shows

We saw the trade show industry open up this year with shows — large and small — across the country. One of the last events I did before locking down was the RSA Conference in February 2020 and we had no idea when the industry would be back.

Nice to see trade shows coming back and organizers adjusting the circumstance.

Stopping traffic for W Brothers at the Institute of Real Estate Conference Orange County Chapter Conference and Trade Show

Presenting for Bitdefender at Connect IT 2021 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

Presenting for Bitdefender at Connect IT 2021 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas

In-Person Conferences

This year brought the opportunity to help a new client entertain conference attendees in Las Vegas and New Orleans.

Each reception included about 50 - 60 VIP conference attendees from across the country. And I designed a couple of customize presentations to get the client’s message across.

VIP Conference Reception at 1923 Prohibition Bar in Las Vegas

VIP Conference Reception at The Chicory in New Orleans

Speaking of Magic

As I mentioned at the top of this blog post, it’s important to look back and acknowledge success and failure. One of the things that kept me sane these past two years was finding a way to take the challenge we’re facing and do something positive with it.

“Every obstacle in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths.”

— Epictitus

Making Zoom Magic

The more Zoom meetings I had with clients the more I realized I had something to offer.

MAKING ZOOM MAGIC is a peek-behind-the-curtain to share the process of pivoting from performing at in-person events to crafting a highly-interactive and successful virtual magic performance for corporate events. I presented the talk to a handful of groups — virtually, of course! — and walked attendees through the nuts and bolts to making their next Zoom meetings amazing.

If you’d like to discuss bringing MAKING ZOOM MAGIC or another customize presentation to your group please drop me a note here.

The Speaker Spring Board Podcast

Alfred Poor invited me to be part of The Speaker Springboard Podcast. We talked about the business of doing magic, and what managers and leaders can learn from it.

Yeah, we jammed a lot into 10-minutes but Alfred it really good at what he does and apparently I have a lot to say on the subject.

And that’s no lie.

Listen to the episode here!

Virtual Conferences and Meetings

As challenging as it has been, there have also been some exciting opportunities to emcee and entertain at sales and kick-off meetings and opening receptions at virtual conferences for clients like Guidewire, SingleStore, Clarizen, DocuSign, SNUG World, Side reUnite, the Society for Technical Communication, and more!

The Battery

Thrilled to be back at my residency at The Battery this year. It was great to see the membership and staff again!

I’ve been the Resident Magician at The Battery since 2015, entertaining casually in The Musto Bar.

In November, I presented Psychic Illusions for approximately 80 club members. The performance ran 90 minutes in length and featured an act rarely seen today. What a treat to be back at the club!

The Oracle Act

The Parlor at The Battery

Thank you

We made it! We’re one year wiser, one year stronger.

Thank you for your loyalty and support.

May you find much WONDER & JOY in 2022. I’ll see you there!

Dennis

You ever find yourself somewhere and need to pinch yourself to see if you’re awake?

That’s how I felt all weekend while I was performing at Outside Lands, one of the biggest music festivals in the country, that happened August 9th - 11th at Golden Gate Park, in San Francisco.

I had the opportunity to work with three of my favorite magicians in the world; Jade, Jon Armstrong, and Karl Hein.

Cocktail Magic is an area within Outside Lands that features six local watering holes, each presenting artisan cocktails. We spent the weekend entertaining with close-up magic as festival attendees enjoyed their libations.

And throughout the weekend, we each performed sets on stage for gathering attendees.

Oh, and of course we got to enjoy concerts by Paul Simon, Childish Gambino, blink-182, The Lumineers, Kasy Musgraves, Lil Wayne, and many more.

It was awesome!