Dennis Watkins

"ASTONISHING"--Time Out Chicago***"MIND-BOGGLING"--Chicago Reader *** "MARVELOUS"--Chicago Sun Times***

LET ME HELP GIVE YOUR GUESTS, CLIENTS OR EMPLOYEES AND UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE WITH MIND-BLOWING MAGIC, ASTONISHING MIND READING AND RIOTOUS COMEDY!

THIRD-GENERATION MAGICIAN:

I grew up with magic. It's in my family. My late grandfather and teacher was a phenomenal close-up magician who ran one of this country's earliest mail-order magic shops for many years. I fell in love with magic watching him perform and feel honored that today I am able to continue the family tradition.

WORLD-CLASS PERFORMER:

With awards and honors from the Texas Association of Magicians, the Society of American Magicians, the International Brotherhood of Magicians and the Desert Magic Seminar, I bring the highest standard of live entertainment to events nation wide.

A classically trained actor (degrees in performance from SMU and the British American Drama Academy in London), my shows have wowed audiences in virtually every type of venue including The Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Chicago's United Center, Chicago's Navy Pier, dozens of Colleges and Universities, and countless private venues across the country.

TRUSTED ENTERTAINER:

My goal is to bring top-quality entertainment to your corporate or private event. Through highly visual sleight of hand, stage illusion, impossible mind-reading and unearthly feats of physical skill, I seek to ENTERTAIN with fast-paced comedy performances that are GUARANTEED to delight your audiences.

Whether I'm entertaining your employees at an awards dinner, pitching your product at a trade show, or wowing your family and friends, I personally GUARANTEE your satisfaction.

Here are some of the PERFORMANCE OPTIONS I offer for corporate events, private events and colleges nation wide:

STROLLING MAGIC

My strolling close-up magic is perfect if you want entertainment that can:

* catalyze conversation * create engagement among your guests * thoroughly entertain without overwhelming your event

Close-up magic happens right under your nose. This is some of the most stunning, visual and mind-bending magic you can imagine! My close-up magic is perfect for events where your guests are milling about, chatting, networking, etc. It transforms ordinary cocktail receptions, hospitality suites, banquets and other gatherings into absolutely unforgettable events.

As a strolling magician, I simply work my way through the event venue, performing close-up magic for small groups and individuals. As I move from group to group, everyone gets their own five to ten minute magic show!

The strolling magic I perform uses a great deal of audience participation, comedy, and mind-boggling magic. The magic is largely classical in that it uses cards, rings, borrowed objects, ropes, etc. Dollar bills float or end up stuffed inside oranges, signed cards switch places or end up in my wallet, one dollar bills magically turn into hundreds, my shoelaces come to life and tie themselves...and a great deal more!

CLOSE-UP MAGIC SHOWS

This kind of close-up sleight of hand magic can also be performed in a more formal setting where the audience is seated and watching the performance. Intended for audiences of 5-50, close-up magic shows are perfect for small private events, dinner parties and other social gatherings. Additionally, this kind of show is ideal for sales meetings and other presentations where you may want to revitalize and motivate your team through custom-scripted shows that feature your corporate message.

STAND-UP and STAGE MAGIC

My Comedy Magic Show is perfect if you want to:

* Feature your guests and clients in an exciting way * Create a truly unique event with no hassle and no production costs * Relax knowing you've produced a truly unforgettable event

My comedy magic shows run anywhere from 15 minutes to 55 minutes and are ideal for audiences of 25-500 people.

All shows are custom-tailored to feature you and your guests through hilarious physical comedy, astonishing magic and mind-blowing mentalism.

Performances include original, one-of-a-kind routines, such as a wild card illusion performed from inside a fully-inflated six-foot balloon!

Imagine the reaction from your audience when I read the minds of six people at the same time!

Picture a straight jacket escape in which I wager $100 with an audience member that I can not only escape in 30 seconds, but pick his or her pocket from INSIDE the straight jacket!

I specialize in making you and your guests the stars of the show. Would you like your special guest, VIP or CEO to appear from nowhere, be put in my six-foot guillotine, or be cut in half? Just let me know what you want to see!

"I have booked about 100 events in the last 5 years and I would use Dennis for every one of them if I could. Dennis is OUTSTANDING. If you are looking for someone to engage your audience of any kind–from black tie to personal friends and family–Dennis is an ideal fit."

Randall Dill, Adjungo Consulting

Anniversaries, Apres Ski Parties, Awards Nights, Bachelor Parties, Bachelorette Parties, Banquets, Bar Mitzvahs, Bat Mitzvahs, Birthday Parties, Children's Birthday Parties, Casinos, Celebrations, Christmas Parties, Clubs, Coffee Shops, Community Events, Conventions, Corporate Functions, Country Clubs, Cruise Ships, Dinner Dances, Festivals, Fraternity Functions, Fund Raisers, Graduation Parties, Grand Openings, Hotels, Picnic, Private Parties, Resorts, Restaurants, Reunions, Sorority Function, Weddings

• Awesome experience. Dennis was kind, professional, prompt at returning calls and answering questions from our first contact through his final perfomance. His show was a huge hit at our Blue and Gold Banquet, among both the scouts and parents. I would strongly recommend Dennis Watkins and look forward to using him again. -- Kassy P, Dundee, IL, 2/24/2007
• Dennis was wonderful, he performed everything the way I would have expected. He was on time for the event. Everything went very smoothly. I have no complaints at all, he was wonderful I would recomend him. -- Kristina L, Montgomery, IL, 11/25/2006
• Dennis was very entertaining to kids and adults at our function. Great Job. Thanks -- Gwen B, Arlington Heights, IL, 6/10/2007

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