Member of the Month: Jesse Dameron
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Hi everyone. My name is Jesse Dameron. I’m a magician and mentalist who enhances milestone birthday celebrations, team-building retreats, fundraisers (e.g., the Annual Phillies Banquet), destination weddings, and bar and bat mitzvahs by making them more memorable, engaging, and interactive for both guests and hosts.
4 Building Blocks of the Interactive Stage Magic & Mentalism Show
Gasps in Awe: Feelings of awe when you experience what seems impossible. Personality reading is combined with the magic to go deeper inside the audience's minds.
Audience Interaction: Everyone participates directly from their seats, ensuring high engagement and group involvement, making each guest feel included and making the event more dynamic.
Laughter: Bits of dry comedy are interspersed throughout the show.
Deeper Meaning: Thought-provoking messages provide guests with insight and conversation starters beyond entertainment, adding deeper value to any event.
Walk-Around Format of Magician Service for Receptions and Cocktail Hours
It’s not always practical to stop everything going on during an event and have all guests sit. Sometimes, event organizers just want to have a reception or cocktail hour, without changing much, and add entertainment to what’s already going on. That's where the walk-around format of magic fits in.
During a reception or cocktail hour, I perform for one small group of 2-8 guests at a time, up close. This allows the event to continue exactly as scheduled, without extra planning.
Reverence for Philadelphia
Most people I know get a sense of peace from nature's scenery, the rivers and woods. I get my reverence from the skyscrapers and impressive industrialization in Philadelphia.
One time, when I was hired as the magician for a bat mitzvah, I was being extremely careful to make it to that event on time. So, even though I was somewhat close to the event, I still stayed at the Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia - Penns Landing because it was directly next to the venue. The hotel room I stayed in was on a very high floor. When I looked out the window at night and saw all the city lights of the many buildings, it felt magical (no pun intended).
Q&A with Jesse
CCBA: What book are you reading right now?
Jesse: I'm reading Sound and Music for the Theatre by Deena Kaye and James Lebrecht. While it's about theater, its ideas for matching sounds and music apply well to my magic shows.
CCBA: What is your favorite spot in Philadelphia to disappear for some alone time?
Jesse: Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown on North 17th Street is a perfect place to bring a laptop and get some work done. They serve food, but it’s quieter than a restaurant. There is almost always parking in their own garage, and their parking is open to non-guests. In the rare event that their own parking lots are full, there is a parking garage directly across the street.
CCBA: What is the first place you’d recommend to someone who’s never been to our city?
Jesse: Fashion District Philadelphia comes paired with Round1 Bowling & Arcade, which has a movie theater, arcade, and bowling alley. I’d start with the movie theater and bowling alley there. After that, the Universal Sphere at the Comcast Center Campus is a great place to swing by. You literally walk into a large sphere. Then it feels like you’re in a 3D world. It’s free if you register in advance, Steven Spielberg’s thinking went into it, and it lasts under 10 minutes (to avoid overdoing movies after the movie at Round1).
If someone is hired as a magician like me, then I’d say the Philadelphia Convention Center is an adventurous place to do the event. The architecture is impressive, and there are plenty of places within the building where you can spend time. That’s really nice when you arrive early and have to wait before performing magic. Reading Terminal Market is also close by and offers a number of great food options, so that’s another advantage in that general area.
CCBA: What is a non-profit that you support? Other than CCBA?
Jesse: I’ve sponsored the Philadelphia Chapter of Meeting Professionals International and donated to Philadelphia Theatre Company.
CCBA: What is your favorite app right now?
Jesse: Go Button manages sound cues during my magic shows.
CCBA: What is your best networking tip?
Jesse: Standard tips like listening, adding value, and consistent attendance at events are important. However, here's a less common tip: It rarely moves the needle to look at a list of contacts in your phone and ask for introductions. At best, that will lead to introductions to random people rather than targeted, optimal connections. It's much easier to compile a list of ideal people you'd love to connect with, and then research if you know anyone who can introduce you. In other words, work backwards – starting with identifying the most ideal people you’d like meet.
Jesse Dameron
Jesse Dameron, Magician & Mentalist
100 N 18th Street, Floor 3
Philadelphia PA 19103
267-261-9930
info@mentalistjesse.com
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