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  • Steal My Tricks 2: Stocking Your Own Home Bar

    Steal My Tricks 2: Stocking Your Own Home Bar

    Whether you are preparing for a private party, or determining a plan for a small cocktail event – I want to make your bar set up easier! Take it from a former professional bartender, event planner, and home mixologist – my tricks will help you save time and money when it falls to you to stock the bar!


    First off, tailor your drink choices to your guests. What I’m about to lay out are solid guidelines for the general public. However, they may not apply to your particular group. If you are hosting folks who work in the brewing industry, you might want want to focus on upgrading the quality and variety of beer offerings.

    But generally:

    WINE

    One red, one white.


    Those are the only options you need to offer your guests. After that, it is simply scaling quality and quantity. The fewer varietals of wine you offer, the easier your evening becomes.


    I would recommend a Pino Noir and a Sauvignon Blanc. These two cover all your bases. You can also opt for a red blend and a white blend. Other solid choices for red wines would be Cabernet Sauvignon, Tempranillo, or a Merlot if you must. As far as Whites, Chardonnay and Pino Grigio are safe choices.


    Oh yeah, and do not forget a wine key or corkscrew! Many a gathering has been ruined by the absence of such a tiny instrument.


    BEER

    Heineken.


    Nobody loves Heineken, but nobody hates it either. It’s also cheap, making it the perfect party beer. Avoid stocking only Bud Light or stouts since they can be polarizing for some. If you wish to offer a variety, I’d go with a wheat bear such as Blue Moon and an IPA such as Lagunitas.


    Do not forget a bottle opener!


    COCKTAILS

    Unless you already stock a full bar at your home or venue, don’t attempt to do so for a single evening. Just to cover a basic range of cocktails, you’re talking hundreds of dollars worth of spirits, mixes, and sodas.


    I recommend picking one signature cocktail for the evening and investing in that. I personally recommend Moscow Mules. They are super simple, very tasty, and can be modified with various extra flavors or spirits if you wish. Plus they are only four ingredients: vodka, lime, ginger beer, and ice. (You don’t need to buy the fancy copper cups unless you really want to.) They also do not require any special equipment such as a martini shaker, muddler, or blender. You just need a knife to cut the limes. (I highly recommend using fresh lime juice. Compared to the bottled stuff, there is just no comparison as far as flavor).


    You can serve up your signature cocktail to order, have guests make them themselves, or prepare a big batch ahead of your guests arrival! (Don’t make the Moscow Mules too early though because the ginger beer will go flat).
    Obviously, you do not have to do Moscow Mules. Other fantastic cocktail choices include margaritas, Manhattans, mimosas, and sangria.


    If your event is casual enough, your guests may bring their own spirits to contribute to the bar. Even if you have a signature cocktail, it is good to have some simple mixes on hand for them to enjoy a Rum & Coke or Vodka Cranberry. At minimum I would recommend Coke, Diet Coke, and lemon-lime soda. You can also add orange juice, cranberry juice, tonic water, soda water, and sour mix if you wish. (Coke is the standard for cocktails. Nobody orders a Jack and Pepsi).


    And one final cocktail party tip: stock up on ice! You will need lots of it. The days leading up to the event, start making extra trays of ice cubes and dumping them into a big bowl in your freezer. Even then, you may want to pick up more ice at the store.


    NON ALCOHOLIC

    There has been a recent and sharp rise in the demand for quality non-alcoholic drinks. You do not have to do anything fancy, but making sure that there is something tasty available for your non-drinking guests is important. A high quality lemonade, iced tea, novelty soda, or other beverage should suffice. Your mixes behind the bar can also double for this role if someone just wants a Diet Coke.


    ICE

    Did I mention ice? Does ice deserve its own category?

    Yes!


    Do not underestimate the importance of having enough ice for every guests’ first, second, and third round of drinks. You do not want to be rationing ice cubes at the end. There are few things sadder than a lukewarm Gin and Tonic with a single ice cube slowly bobbing away into nothingness.


    Even if you are only doing beer and/or wine, that means you are likely using coolers to chill your inventory. That means ICE!

  • Steal My Tricks : Virtual Meeting Welcome Playlists

    Steal My Tricks: Virtual Meeting Welcome Playlists

    I want you to be a superstar!


    We are all finding ourselves in virtual meetings these days. Some work entirely remote, while others have a monthly check-in with the larger team.

    One of my easiest and most impactful tricks to start a virtual meeting off right is playing music while my guests log in. I wanted to share this resource with you.


    Since I present a high energy virtual experience, my personal playlist is filled with upbeat music to get people excited. I find this helps encourage interaction. However, I’ve also linked a few of my other favorite playlists which you can play at the top (or throughout) your meetings to make them stand out.


    Ryan Kane’s Top 3 Pre-Meeting Playlists


    Oh! One final super important tip for streaming music to your meeting participants. You will want to turn the music WAY down on your end. It always broadcasts louder than it should be. You want a level where people can hear the music, but still be able to comfortably talk over it.


    [Each virtual meeting platform has a slightly different way to share music. In Zoom, all you need to do is click the “Share Screen” button on the bottom of the screen, select “Advanced” at the top of the popup window, select “Computer Audio,” and click “Share” in the bottom right corner of the popup window.]

  • Post Trade Show Checklist

    The team is back home, the expo carpeting is been pulled up, and the dust has settled on the convention floor. Congrats on another fantastic show!

    But it isn’t time to shut the book on this year’s conference just yet. You have a bit more work to do. Luckily, this is the fun part where you get to reap the rewards of all your efforts

    Here is the Post Trade Show Checklist to help you capitalize on all of the hard work that you put in on the floor of your recent expo.

    1 How did we do compared to last year?

    Did you gather more leads than last year? How about sales? What were the the differences in budget and was that money well spent? The more metrics you can assess, the better you can prepare for future shows.


    2 Did we meet our goals for this year?

    Did you gather as many leads as you expected? Were you able to qualify them thoroughly enough? Did you stay on budget? What new strategies helped in achieving these goals, and which fell short?


    3 Did you have enough marketing materials and giveaways for everyone who came to your booth?

    Hopefully you have a few left over, but not too many. And fingers crossed that you didn’t run out before the end of the show! Reflecting on inventory gives a good sense on what giveaways and strategies are working, while also identifying places for improvement.


    4 Follow up with your leads!

    It is imperative that you follow through with all of the connections you made on the show floor. Fulfill any promises including sending information packets, scheduling meetings, or providing estimates. Remember, you weren’t the only booth they visited on the floor, so keep the conversation going. Even a simple “thank you for stopping by the booth,” can go a long way in keeping a conversation from going cold.

    Hope this helps, and see you on the trade show floor!

    About the Author

    Ryan Kane – Trade Show Presenter and Magician

    Interested in keeping your expo booth busy and buzzing? Ryan Kane combines sleight-of-hand magic, humor, and your company’s messaging to draw massive crowds to your trade show booth. He has presented at some of the largest trade shows in the world (RSA, VMWorld, CES) and in cities all over the world (London, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Barcelona).

  • Things You Should Know Before Booking a Virtual Magician

    Things You Should Know Before Booking a Virtual Magician

    By Virtual Magician Ryan Kane

    You’ve done the virtual happy hour. You’ve escaped the virtual puzzle room a few times. You’ve been through a million break out sessions of Two Truths and a Lie. It is time to bring in the big guns and book virtual entertainment for your virtual team meeting.

    Perhaps you are already considering a virtual magic show for your team. Or maybe this is the first you’ve heard of such a concept. Here are four things you should know before you book a virtual magician for your virtual happy hour event.

    They Are Going To Want Cameras On

    Not all virtual magicians are the same (more on that later) but one thing all can agree on is that the more people with their cameras on, the better the show!

    Everyone wants to see smiling faces and looks of astonishment on the virtual crowd. It is the best way to check in that everyone is having a great time. It also allows for your virtual magician to better connect, relate, and interact with your guests and team members.

    Make sure to prime your team to have their cameras on. Every company’s virtual culture is different. If you and your group generally chat with the camera off, you will need to go out of your way to remind them to clean up their backgrounds and change into a clean shirt of the magic show.

    Use Their Recommended Platform

    Zoom is the standard platform for virtual magic shows, and most virtual entertainment. The tools and ease of use that Zoom provides just make it superior to the other apps.

    Unless there is a strict company policy or firewall that keeps you and your team from using Zoom (or whatever platform your booked virtual magician recommends), go with their choice.

    You want to set your virtual magician up for success. While most virtual magicians can adapt to WebEx or Microsoft Teams or even the dreaded Google Meet, you will likely get the most polished performance over Zoom.

    BONUS TIP: Double check your virtual magician’s recommended settings before the show. They may want host controls or chat enabled/disabled. Always make sure you are set up ahead of time, since changing some of these options once the virtual meeting has started can be challenging and time consuming.

    Not All Virtual Magic Shows Are Created Equal

    Just as all magicians are different, virtual magic experiences vary. Some are high energy visual bombasts great for children. Others are slower paced and introspective. Others are packed with comedy and engagement.

    Make sure you book the right virtual magic show for your group. The best way to find out if a virtual magician is right for you is to watch video and read reviews from their past clients. Don’t just look at their client list, but actually read what others have to say about their virtual experiences with the magician.

    Get Your Team Excited

    While you may think holding onto the news that you’ve booked a virtual magician for your remote meeting will make for a nice surprise, you will want to get people hyped early! Rarely do people have a reason to look forward to a virtual meeting, so let them in on the secret that a real virtual magician will be joining your group!

    The virtual magic show may even require the participants to bring items to the virtual experience, so this makes communicating those requirements easier. Plus, you can more easily prepare everyone to have their cameras on and thier kids in the room if they know that it is for a virtual magic show!

    About the Author

    Ryan Kane is a virtual magician, comedian, and author based in New York City.
    Companies including Louis Vuitton, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Costco, Intel, and more have called upon Ryan Kane’s engaging magic, charming wit, and professional guidance to make their events successful. As a virtual magician he can provide that missing element to your virtual event.
    Are you or something you know in need of stellar entertainment for their virtual event? Contact Ryan Kane to learn more about what he can do you for you.

    Get Your FREE eBook

    Looking to appear more professional on your Zoom and virtual calls? This FREE eBook by virtual magician Ryan Kane will give you all of the tools to become the superstar of your next virtual team meeting or video call.

    Click Here to Get Your Free eBook

  • New Virtual Magic Experience for Holiday 2021

    New Virtual Magic Experience For Holiday 2021

    As we enter into the second season of virtual events, I am announcing that NEW magic will be coming to my virtual magic experience.


    Depending upon how recently you last booked my virtual magic experience, you can expect 50 – 80% brand new material for the holiday season 2021.


    Plus, there’s better lighting, more music cues, and additional technical improvements to make sure that my virtual show isn’t only the best magic show you can find on Zoom – it’s the best virtual entertainment experience, period!Whether you’ve invited me to your Zoom meeting before, or this will be the first time sharing the wonder and laughter with your team – now is the time to book your Virtual Holiday Magic Experience!


    I want to hear about your upcoming virtual celebration, remote offsite, Zoom conference, virtual award gala, or end of the year Zoom party! Together, we can find the best way to weave in a magical virtual experience that your guests and team will absolutely LOVE.

    Check Availability Now

  • How Long is the Perfect Virtual Event?

    How Long is the Perfect Virtual Event?

    By Virtual Magician Ryan Kane

    Zoom fatigue is real, particularly after a year of hosting and attending virtual meetings and Zoom events – people get tired. When invited to a virtual event, whether it is a remote team meeting, a virtual happy hour, a virtual performance, or a class – one question is on everyone’s mind. How long will this take?

    So, how long should a virtual event last?

    Earlier this month, I asked the over 800 members of my Mostly Magicians Virtual Open Mic community a simple question:

    Since the group is (as the name suggests) mostly magicians such as myself, I was expecting suggestions of hour long virtual events. And there were some. But most of the responses looked like this:

    So there you have it. The consensus seems ot be that the entire virtual event should be less than an hour long. The main activity, such as a virtual magic show, seems to last for about 40 minutes of that time.

    However, as others have pointed out – some events may need to be longer. You cannot learn how to paint a canvas in less than an hour, and certain talks, lectures discussions will need to be longer.

    But for your virtual happy hour or remote meeting, the key is keep it short! (Here are some additional tips on avoiding Zoom fatigue.)

    About the Author

    Ryan Kane is a virtual magician, comedian, and author based in New York City.
    Companies including Louis Vuitton, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Costco, Intel, and more have called upon Ryan Kane’s engaging magic, charming wit, and professional guidance to make their events successful. As a virtual magician he can provide that missing element to your virtual event.

    Planning an Upcoming Virtual Meeting or Event?

    Are you or something you know in need of stellar entertainment for their virtual event? Contact Ryan Kane to learn more about what he can do you for you.

  • A Magician’s Guide to the Perfect Wedding Favors

    As a wedding magician, I am blessed to have an inside perspective of countless weddings and wedding receptions. Because I work closely with brides, grooms, and wedding planners – I hear the ideas that make it, and don’t make it, to the big day.

    I think and reflect constantly about how all of the elements of a wedding come together – right down to the wedding favors that guess grab on their way out the door.

    Here is a Wedding Magician’s Guide to the Perfect Wedding Favors ideas.

    Play With Your Theme

    Your wedding theme will guide you towards fantastic wedding favor ideas. Are you throwing a roaring 20s wedding? Engraved shot glasses, custom flasks, or cute flappers’ headbands are perfect wedding favors.

    Remember- style is often dictated by what something is not, just as much as what it is. Some wedding favors will just not match up right with your theme. Those custom sunglasses are cute, but do they really reflect your elegant chic theme? Likewise, you probably shouldn’t be sending your guests home with anything prepackaged at your Farm to Table themed wedding.

    Embrace the Pun

    Spoken aloud, puns often get groans (do not include them in your wedding speech). But in written form, they often illicit smiles and a small burst of euphoric recognition.

    Adding a cute pun such as “Thanks for BEAN here” to the packaging of your chocolate covered espresso beans can elevate a simple wedding favor into something more handcrafted and special.

    Remember, the goal with puns is never to get a laugh. Think of it as a miniature puzzle for your guests to solve. Their champagne filled brains will appreciate the tiny burst of endorphins when they piece together the meaning.

    Go Classic, Go Novel, Avoid Practical

    Chocolates and candies are classics for a reason. Same with engraved glassware.

    Succulents are fun and (surprisingly easy) way for your guests to remember your special day. A custom caricature drawing ticks the novel wedding favor box nicely as well.

    But do you know what people don’t need? Measuring spoons engraved with your initials on them. Similarly, your guests either already have enough coasters in their home – or they don’t use them.

    Avoid practical wedding favors and always opt for the fun or the classic.

    About the Author

    Ryan Kane is a wedding magician based out of New York City.
    Sophisticated and fun loving wedding couples and wedding planners turn to him to make their wedding receptions stand out as something special.

    His focus on human connection through close-up magic unites the guests of both sides of the family into one big joyous party.

    Getting Married in New York?

    Are you or something you know planning an upcoming wedding in New York or the surrounding area? Contact Ryan Kane to learn more about what he can do you for you.

  • Over A Year of Virtual Open Mics

    What project lead you to the most unexpected outcomes?

    When I started The Mostly Magicians Virtual Open Mic in June of 2020, I did it for selfish reasons. I needed to create a virtual magic show from scratch. Creating a virtual space where I could debut 7 minutes of new material each week seemed like a good way to achieve that goal.

    And it worked! If anything, I now have too much virtual material! I wasn’t the only one. As time went on, and more and more performers filtered through the virtual doors. Many would frequent the mic for a few months, developing and polishing the pieces of their virtual show (just as I had) before venturing off into the internet’s void to perform their own virtual gigs.After a year and half of these silly open mics, my reasons for continuing to produce it have shifted. It’s no longer about me and my show. It’s about the community. It’s about friends coming together. It’s about new faces performing in front of a ring light for the first time. It’s about the random superstars of magic who pop in randomly to try out one quick thing. It’s about growth. Watching people get better and learn is beautiful.T

    Thanks for watching. Thanks for performing.

    -Ryan Kane


    If you are not a part of The Mostly Magicians Virtual Open Mic, you can join the Facebook Group here.

    If you are interested in learning more about the lessons learned after a year of hosting a virtual open mic, you can attend my free virtual lecture on that exact topic here.

  • 4 Tips to Avoid Zoom Fatigue For Virtual Event Planners

    4 Tips to Avoid Zoom Fatigue for Virtual Event Planners

    By Virtual Magician Ryan Kane

    It has never been easier to tune out of a meeting than in remote meetings and conferences. After more than a year of working remotely, Zoom fatigue has begun to set in on us all.

    Below are some helpful tips to help you and your team combat Zoom fatigue at your next virtual event.

    Be Polished

    We’re more than a year into this. Viewers and participants at Zoom and remote events have little patience for virtual presenters who don’t understand the technology or fumble around with basic things such as switching to gallery view or finding the mute button.

    Make sure that your virtual event is being handled by professionals, because these errors can get people to mentally switch off at the top of a meeting and stay tuned out for its duration.

    There are plenty of fantastic free resources for learning the basics of virtual meetings.

    Keep It Short

    Get in, get out. Seventy-five minutes tops. That includes waiting for late comers and your greeting or introduction. But honestly, most virtual activities can (and probably should) take less time.

    Speaking from my own experience, most clients book a forty-five minute virtual magic show. This keeps the whole event under an hour, since we have five minutes to wait for latecomers, and ten minutes for any other company related intros or outros.

    If you absolutely must plan a lengthier Zoom event, remote conference, or virtual seminar – avoid stringing long segments of meetings back to back. Throwing in brief moments of interactive fun between larger presentations or classes can do wonders to keep the fatigue from setting in. Consider free Zoom activities for your meeting or bringing in a professional virtual presenter or emcee.

    Make It Interactive

    The only reason to choose Zoom vs prerecorded video is the interactive element. So lean into that. Ask questions, respond to others, and invite discussion. This keeps people on their toes, while also encouraging them to pay attention and remain alert.

    Pick activities that the whole family can enjoy and take part in. Parents don’t have to be pulled away from the Zoom meeting if their kids can also watch the activity as well.

    About the Author

    Ryan Kane is a virtual magician, comedian, and author based in New York City.
    Companies including Louis Vuitton, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Costco, Intel, and more have called upon Ryan Kane’s engaging magic, charming wit, and professional guidance to make their events successful. As a virtual magician he can provide that missing element to your virtual event.

    Planning an Upcoming Virtual Meeting or Event?

    Are you or something you know in need of stellar entertainment for their virtual event? Contact Ryan Kane to learn more about what he can do you for you.

  • Best Times for Strolling Wedding Magic

    Best Times for Strolling Wedding Magic

    by New York Wedding Magician Ryan Kane

    Picture the perfect wedding. The wedding couple is glowing, surrounded by their family, friends, and magic! Not magic from a stage with a clunky performer covered in sequins. Instead, a personable and suave magician effortlessly moves among the wedding guests spreading smiles and joy through close-up magic.

    This is what strolling wedding magic, and it is one of the most impactful ways to guarantee a blast of a wedding reception. Already an established part of weddings in the UK and Europe, more and more American weddings are starting to feature close-up wedding magicians.

    But when and where do you utilize the power of close-up wedding magic? Here are the best times to schedule your strolling wedding magician at your upcoming wedding reception.

    As Guests Arrive at the Reception

    Get your wedding celebration started strong. Wedding strolling magic jumpstarts a festive atmosphere and provides a catalyst for guests to meet each other. Think about it

    While the Wedding Couple is Taking Photos

    There are two people at a wedding that everyone knows, and that’s the wedding couple. But when they are off posing for photos, who is there to keep the reception going? That’s where a personable wedding magician comes in. They keep the conversations going while the wedding couple is busy posing with the rest of the bridal party.

    As The Wedding Couple Does the Rounds

    As the wedding couple greets and mingles on one side of the venue, your wedding magician keeps the other side of the room laughing and smiling with close up magic.

    For the Wall Flowers

    Not everyone has an interest in dancing. Close up magic provides a fun, interactive activity everyone can enjoy while Grandma tears up the dance floor. Close up magic acts as a hunter seeker missile for bored people at a party. Weddings are no different. Once the alcohol starts flowing and the DJ gets going, your wedding magician can entertain those pockets of people who have interest in neither.

    About the Author

    Ryan Kane is a magician, comedian, and author based in New York City.
    Companies including Louis Vuitton, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Costco, Intel, and more have called upon Ryan Kane’s engaging magic, charming wit, and professional guidance to make their events successful. As a virtual magician he can provide that missing element to your virtual event.

    Getting Married in New York?

    Are you or something you know planning an upcoming wedding in New York or the surrounding area? Contact Ryan Kane to learn more about what he can do you for you.