Kat the Acrobat’s Neighborhood

Holiday Party Planning Hints and Tips

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

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

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

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

Additional Money Saving Hints:

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

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

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

Magic Consulting and recent Hollywood magic performances

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

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We also had another Hollywood performance.

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

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San Francisco Tradeshow Magician & another Bay Area Magic Award

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

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Tradeshow magician

California Summer Camp - Gold Arrow Camp

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

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

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

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Small business consulting - Increasing your bottom line in this economy

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

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

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

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

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

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

Establish yourself as a leading authority in your field.

Improve your negotiation tactics.

Discover how to get your competition work for you

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

Create an effective ad, and business card.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Discover your limiting beliefs.

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

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

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

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

Renegade Juggling Supply - Santa Cruz Juggling Festival

Being a part of the unique community and subculture of jugglers I got to experience something special today. I had the opportunity to attend the first annual Santa Cruz juggling festival. I taught an intermediate four and five ball site-swap workshop. Many familiar faces and friends were there. In attendance were, Chris Garcia, Matt & Lisa Hall, Noah. While I was there a Fox affiliate in Monterey County asked me for a short on camera interview. Afterwards we headed over to Renegade juggling store. It's actually more of a warehouse / manufacturing facility. At their facility the manufacture all sorts of things from clown noses, rings, clubs, and diabolos.

Here are some of the pictures I took:

Bian Lian - King of Mask - Change of Face

Press Release:

Dan Chan has secretly acquired a priceless three century old National Chinese Treasure: Bian Lian. In January of 2009, Dan moved to Asia to learn this secretive art form from a Bian Lian Master who chose to train only Chan. After studying day and night for what seemed like a decade – he’d mastered the 300 second living presentation art.   Biàn Liǎn; literally "Face-Changing" is an ancient Chinese dramatic art, where Chan is adorned in brightly colored costumes, moving to quick, dramatic music, while flourishing his arms and head–His vividly colored face (masks) changes miraculously in the blink of an eye over and over again--you must experience Chan to believe these transformations possible.

Witness Chan performing at exclusive Bay Area society and Corporate Events Internationally. Chan is referred to as the “Billionaire Magician” (having performed for 187 billionaires to date), is often featured at events for Yahoo, Google, George Lucas, John Madden and Hollywood’s exclusive Magic Castle. Chan will present and preserve this secret Chinese art form for the rest of his life.

Bian Lian Change of Face and Change of Mask by Dan Chan

變臉 Bian Lian Artist - Mask Changer - Chinese Cultural Performance

You can also check out the movie title "The King of Masks" to see a great movie made about Bian Lian.

The streets of 1930’s Sichuan province set the stage for this award-winning tale of hope and transformation in the face of poverty and loneliness. As a rare master of an ancient art, the skills of “The King of Masks” are sought out by even the most beloved star of the esteemed Chinese Opera. But tradition dictates that the aging master’s trade only be passed on to a male heir. Desperate for his art to survive, “The King of Masks” finds an apprentice in a destitute child purchased on the black market. When the child reveals an unexpected secret, their relationship is suddenly tested by both the old man’s stubborn sense of tradition and the established customs of China.

Gold Arrow Camp with Dan Chan and Kat the Acrobat

Announcing Magic Camp at Gold Arrow Camp.

Dan Chan the Magic Man will be teaching a series of Magic Lessons at Gold Arrow Camp the week of August 15th through the 19th.

During the summer months of 1997 I was a lifeguard, archery, sailing, and windsurfing instructor at Gold Arrow Camp. It was such a great summer filled with new friends and exciting activities such as jet-skiing, waterskiing, archery, rifelery, canoeing, archery, rock climbing and more. It was also the year I really learned to use the diabolo or chinese yo-yo. My friends at Gold Arrow Camp invited us to perform and give a few magic workshops. Join us this year at Gold Arrow Camp. When inquiring about camp please tell them you are specifically interested in joining magician Dan Chan.

What can your child gain from Gold Arrow Camp?

Campers gain valuable life skills from their experiences at camp. The independence, perseverance, and confidence they build at camp benefit them beyond camp in all areas of their lives. Through their participation in our structured program of over 20 different non-competitive watersports and traditional camp activities, campers are encouraged to try new things, build their skills, and take risks. The result is improved confidence and a “can do” attitude.

In a beautiful setting on Huntington Lake, in the heart of the Sierra National Forest, campers have a chance to enjoy a traditional outdoor camp, complete with rustic living and nightly campfires. The break from television, computers, telephones, and other electronics is one of the things that makes their time at camp so special. Campers have a chance to bond with others, build their social skills, and have fun just being a kid.

Magic or Juggling Lesson - Learn powerful and effective transformation mechanisms. Learn to present yourself effectively and boost self-esteem. Magic can be a great ice-breaker and open up many doors. Properly taught, your children will be fooling and entertaining your friends with MBA's and PHD's. Your children will fool you badly. Personally I've traveled the world, entertained, and created memories for life, all because of magic.

Also I would like to announce the launch of CEO Executive Magic Lessons - Are you kept up countless hours thinking about how Dan does his tricks? Want to ask questions like, "How'd you do it?" Ask how it's done and not get the response "If I told you I'd have to kill you" Not only will he reveal all the tricks of the trade, Dan will teach you how to frame the effect and present it like a professional. A great follow up gift. EVERYTHING IS REVEALED. NOTHING IS HELD BACK.

Inversions - Ambigrams

My job as a magician is to distort the way people perceive things and present it as art. Inversions do the same thing. An inversion is a word or a name written so it reads more than one way. I initially discovered inversions from reading the Vernon Touch during my trip to Malaysia. I was excited about it and wanted to show Kat the concept. Coincidentally, Kat discovered them for herself at the same time while I was away. To check out more facinating inversions check out Scott Kim's site.

Below are some of the inversions Kat has drawn:

Katherine looks exactly the same when inverted.

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Chinese New Year Celebration

Between birthday parties, Boy Scouts Magic Month and Chinese New Year's celebrations, it's been a busy season. Due to the slowing economy the majority of bookings were referrals and repeat bookings. It was quite challenging trying to out do ourselves from previous years. I had to come up with new tricks to impress the same crowd. It was especially hard because the audience size was 500-1000 people in 3 of these celebrations. We had to do things that played bigger! Perhaps next year we'll have to do a few full sized illusions. Wish I had pictures of the crowds at these events. We did 2 shows at Washington High School with the bleachers completely packed out with people spilling out onto the gymnasium floor. For added flair, we added fire juggling and costume changes to really make it a visual show. I've got several more scouting events and Chinese New Years events still coming up and hope to post photos of those events.