Mentalist vs. Magician: They Are Not Created Equal

Every thought about hiring a magician or a mentalist for an event?  Couldn't decide which was better, or do not know the difference between the two?  Don't worry, this is a common concern in the world of entertainment.  While a lot of people think that all mentalists are magicians, they are very wrong.  So what IS the difference?

Mentalists do not use traditional "magic" in their routines (Although some do. David Copperfield and David Blaine are examples) They claim to possess psychic powers, usually telepathy and clairvoyance to gain the audience's attention, however, most mentalists nowadays read body language to create the act.  Hypnosis is the most common form of Mentalism. 

Magic, on the other hand, uses illusions and trickery to make the audience believe that the magician has special abilities.  Popular "tricks" that magicians use are levitation, vanishing, and penetration.  Most people who have ever seen a magic show has seen one or all of these tricks.

Not sure what act to book?  Mentalists are good for the over 21 crowd; most use adult humor in their acts.  Magicians are always a good standby for kid's birthday parties, bar/bat mitzvahs and various other family oriented events.

Have a Fantastic Father's Day!

Believe it or not, Father's Day is rapidly approaching.  Feels like yesterday was just Mother's Day and now, in a month, we will be honoring our proud papas.  Since it never falls during football season or if you just hate watching baseball, you're probably looking for ways to entertain your Dad without him needing to take a nap in the recliner mid-day.

First, start off with a big lunch.  No father can turn down a big piece of barbecued meat and many companies are delivering just that.  Mountains of fresh tri-tip, chicken and ribs will be sure to please any discriminating palate.  We can't promise, however, that Dad won't sit around with his pants undone for the rest of the day.

Does your dad love NASCAR?  Then why not bring the racing action into your home or backyard.  Slot car racing is the next trend in party activities and allows kids and adults of all ages grab a controller and see who will win the next backyard Indy 500.  Complete with a race director and race certificates, Dad will no doubt spend hours watching his car race around the track.

Have a wanna-be professional poker player for a father? Create a casino in your own home!  Black jack, poker, roulette and craps tables are available for hire, including the dealers. Host a poker tournament or just let Dad roll around in a pile of casino chips.

With these fun ideas, no one will be left disappointed!

Take Team Building to New Heights

Sitting around a stuffy conference room on a Saturday watching people do "trust falls" is not my idea of a fun afternoon.  Ever since the creation of corporate team building events, people have working tirelessly to improve the experience, using their imaginations to produce memorable events.

Need some new ideas that are sure to impress?  No one will be bored with these options:

1. Bridge building.  Teams work together to create a fully functioning bridge out of cardboard, sturdy enough to hold a golf cart with two individuals.
2. Chili Cook Off.  New to the world of team building, this activity is great for foodies and novices alike.  Employees team up to create the best chili, judged by a panel of undiscriminating judges.
3. Bike Building.  This activity not only promotes team work, but also benefits the community as a whole.  Teams get together and assemble working bikes, then donate the goods to local charities, children or adults who can benefit from their use.
4. CSI Re-enactments.  Employees don't need to be a fan of the show to have a great time!  Teams assemble and examine the evidence to solve "crimes" and find a murdered.  Like a live action game of CLUE!

Company Picnics

Bored with the same old company picnic?  Tired of sweating potato salad and sack races?  Then we have just the thing to turn the "ho-hum" into the "how fun!".

Never settle for the lame boxed lunch.  Catering companies all across Orange and Los Angeles counties have specially prepared menus for such events.  Gone are the days of turkey sandwiches and chips and in are Taco Carts (with a designated cook and all the toppings) and gourmet food trucks (such as Kogi and the Grilled Cheese Truck) which will bring the food to you, where ever you may be.

As talked about in earlier blogs, one event idea that is gaining popularity is hiring MC's to host games not commonly found at company picnics.  Scavenger hunts and Geocaching are quickly replacing water balloon tosses and egg races at many events.  So go ahead: get creative!