One hundred years ago, Asian magicians appeared to be the most popular entertainers on the Vaudeville circuit… but this was all an illusion! Most of these performers were white men pretending to be Oriental in order to seem more mystical. In this conversation, David Kwong shines a light on this little-known topic through historical stories, a thought-provoking conversation about race and Asian-American identity, and, of course, awe-inspiring magic tricks.

Despite astounding CEOs, TED Talk audiences, and thousands of other hyper-rational people and making them see, believe, and even remember what David wants them to, David doesn’t pretend to have superpowers in any way. As he outlines in his book Spellbound: Seven Principles of Illusion, he believes that all magic is science. It’s the science of fooling your brain. Illusion is an ancient art that centers on control, and understanding the fundamental principles of illusion will lead to more command and control in both life and work. Successful leaders—from Steve Jobs, Warren Buffet, and Ted Turner to President Obama, Megyn Kelly, and Jeff Bezos—are masters of control and command who understand how to sway opinions and achieve goals.

Magic does not have to be about deceiving people, but rather getting ahead of the competition. David Kwong explains this principle in an interview with PBS, “If you’re in a job interview, why not have seven different copies of your resume?” You can then present the resume that will be best received by your interviewer based on how the conversation plays out. “That’s no different than a magician and playing cards,” David says.

Takeaways:

• Bridge the gap between perception and reality to help increase your own powers of persuasion and influence.
• Learn the seven fundamental principles of illusion—rules anyone can learn to master.
• Discover a different way to sell your idea, product, or skills, and make your best shot better than everyone else’s.

In today’s modern world, we are bombarded with incessant new information and data. We’re constantly scrolling and updating news feeds; we’re sifting through a never-ending barrage of posts and emails. In this presentation, David demonstrates, through feats of magic and practical insight, how to:

• Organize vast amounts of data in your brain
• See the world through the eyes of a magician, puzzle designer, and producer
• Synthesize disparate bits of information into a holistic lifestyle

David illustrates how to take control of digital disorder in a way that only a New York Times crossword constructor and cerebral magician can do.

In this talk, David Kwong explores the complex relationship between boundaries and productivity. Limitations inspire innovation. David Kwong, New York Times crossword constructor and master Illusionist, explains how constraints give us the freedom to create. Kwong demonstrates how to communicate engaging stories through:

• The parameters of crossword puzzle construction
• The sensitive angles of a stage illusion
• Or the three act-structure of a screenplay

Inspire your audience with a new method of problem-solving through David’s groundbreaking puzzles and illusions.

As a world-class illusionist and creator of the critically acclaimed performance The Enigmatist, David Kwong is a creative, professional, and energizing MC for corporate events. Work with David to tailor his appearance to your company culture and occasion. At his appearances, David can perform any or all of the following:

• Master of Ceremonies services for your Awards Conference or Benefit
• 1:1 On-site Magic Performances for Executives or Small Teams
• A Company-wide Performance with Audience Participation

Log on, put on your thinking caps, and join in the fun.

It’s no wonder that Inside the Box is a Critic’s Pick by the New York Times. World-class illusionist David Kwong transports you to the exhilarating world of puzzles and games. Attendees join an entirely interactive show of puzzles, hosted and facilitated by David as he drops fascinating facts on puzzle-making throughout history. This is the perfect team-building event for your remote-working team, large or small. “Inside the Box” is a sensational virtual experience, praised by the Los Angeles Daily News for its power to bring lively energy to Zoom meetings.

“The perfect team event.” – Google. Businesses value David Kwong’s Puzzle Hunt for its power to create stronger teams and alleviate employee burnout. Work together in small groups to solve a collection of puzzles (not too hard!) with outside-the-box thinking. Challenge your brain in creative ways to figure out how all the puzzles link together to form the final answer.

David’s massive theatrical hit that started it all and sold-out The Kennedy Center in DC, The Geffen Playhouse in LA, and The Highline Hotel in New York. In this demonstration of illusion, puzzles, and cryptography, David regales his audience with the history of America’s first codebreakers, while performing feats of mentalism and cerebral gymnastics. The fun begins right away: audience members come early to the show to solve the “Puzzle Room,” four creative puzzles that tie into the show. The Enigmatist is interactive, brainy, and fun for all ages.

We live in a world where with one click of a button, generative AI can create an elaborate image, a persuasive term paper, or a complex melody. In his latest talk and performance hybrid, David Kwong poses the following: Despite our modern technological advancements, is there still room for wonder? Can we still experience awe and mind-blowing moments in the modern age of AI? ... His answer is a resounding yes! In fact, David believes we can experience more wonder because of our current technology. And he has a brand-new show, Mentalist vs. The Machine, to illustrate this.

David is leading his field with the integration of AI into magic. Recently in Davos, Switzerland, David spoke about the relationship of technology to wonder. His talk culminated with a ChatGPT illusion with CEO of Open AI, Sam Altman. In Mentalist vs. The Machine, David demonstrates wondrous digital miracles through tricks involving ChatGPT, Alexa, Wikipedia, and iPhones. The show culminates with David pitting his brain against The Machine’s, ultimately illustrating the power of human intellect and creativity.