It’s the early 2000s, and I’m between sessions at the TEDx conference. As I go to grab a coffee, I notice this crowd forming nearby. Naturally curious, I wander over there to see what the fuss is about.

In the middle of this crowd is a guy with a deck of cards doing a magic trick. But it’s not just the trick itself that’s amazing; it’s the effect it’s having on everyone around him. None of us can take our eyes off of him. It’s like we’re collectively holding our breath being caught in the moment as he performs trick after trick after trick.

Like everyone else around me, I’m completely captivated, marveling at what’s happening. “How does he do this?” I think to myself. I don’t know how one person with just a deck of cards can make an entire group of strangers feel so connected, so in awe together.

I realize at this point that it’s not all about the magic. It’s like this magician has created a shared experience of wonder for all of us and telling a story without even saying a single word.

He wraps up the show, the crowd disperses, and I go stand in line to get my coffee still buzzing from the experience. I turn to my husband Mark and ask, “Who is that guy?” Mark smiles and says, “That’s David Blaine.”

Wow, I was completely unaware that I’d been watching one of the most famous magicians in the world! Yet what sticks with me, even all these years later, isn’t just who he is; it’s that unforgettable feeling of awe he created for everyone in that moment.

So many magicians have that same capacity to captivate their audience. Rick Gerber is a professional magician who has been spending his entire life performing in multiple countries and every state in the U.S. In this episode of the Storytelling School Podcast, you’ll hear about how thinking like a magician can help you discover creative solutions that’ll create astonishing stories that linger in people’s minds. You’ll also get answers to questions such as:

In what ways can you creatively engage with your audience to enhance the storytelling experience? How can you get into the flow state as you perform your Talk or story? And how can embracing the unexpected lead to surprising discoveries that create unforgettable stories for your audience?

What you will learn in this episode:

How closely observing your audience for clues benefits your storytelling
How you can captivate your audience with a shared experience at the very beginning
Why you need to know your audience to set the right tone from the start

Who is Rick?

For over 40 years, Rick Gerber has been traveling the world creating laughter and gasps of astonishment at high-profile special events, trade shows, and as the headliner aboard some of the world’s most prestigious cruise ships. He has performed his incredible magic in all fifty states and over forty-five countries. Presidents, kings, and megastars in movies, TV, and music have witnessed firsthand his ability to distort reality before their watchful eyes.

Rick became the youngest performer at the world-famous Magic Castle in Hollywood at 10 years old. At age 21, he was put under contract with Budweiser and performed for them full-time at trade shows and special VIP events around the globe for decades. Most recently, he was elected by his magician peers to the Board of Directors of the prestigious Academy of Magical Arts--home at the World-Famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, CA.

Today, Rick’s Fortune 500 clients read like a Who’s Who of the corporate world--Monster Energy, T-Mobile, GE, Acura, DIRECTV, Coca-Cola, Dell Technologies, Nestlé, and hundreds of smaller businesses as well. Whether it's attracting crowds and gathering leads at trade shows, performing at special events, mingling in VIP hospitality suites, producing magic-themed events, or performing his stage show at corporate sales meetings for hundreds or thousands of attendees, companies can always count on him to deliver.

Links and Resources

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