Winning Over a Tough Corporate Crowd | From the Gig Journal
Last night I performed at a CEO’s retirement party at one of the most beautiful venues in St. Louis, the Missouri Botanical Garden. Winning over a tough crowd at a corporate event like this is part of the job, but also where the real lessons live. When you get started as a working magician, this is one of those gigs you dream about. Beautiful setting, perfect weather, incredible food by Catering St. Louis, and a guest list full of people who don’t exactly hand out easy laughs. Here’s how to win over a tough crowd when everyone in the room is a boss.
I’ve worked the Spink Pavilion many times before for weddings and corporate events. Usually, it’s easy to pull the car right up to the pavilion. Not last night. The whole street was under construction, which meant I had to park in the public lot and haul my gear at least a quarter mile through the lobby and across the gardens’ winding paths.
Here’s the thing about nights like that: you have to roll with the punches. Getting frustrated about parking doesn’t do you any good, because ten minutes later, you’ve got to walk in and be amazing. If there’s nothing you can do, you accept the circumstances and make the best of it. Remember, to the audience, you’re magic. It still has to look like you appeared out of nowhere, cool, calm, and ready to go.
Luckily, I’ve got a folding hand truck that carries everything in one trip. If you’re working in hotels, convention centers, or big banquet halls, wheels are the only way to go. And if you can manage it, make it in one trip. The less energy you waste before the show, the more you’ve got for the performance.
The venue itself is incredible. A long glass pavilion that opens onto a huge stone patio, with a reflecting pond stretching out toward the rest of the gardens. That’s where the party was set up. One of those nights that feels special before you even start.
How to Win Over a Tough Crowd
I’ve done plenty of these kinds of events before, so I knew exactly what I was walking into. Every guest was from the C-suite. CEOs, CFOs, COOs. They can be a tough crowd. They don’t waste time, and they don’t hand out approval easily.
Here’s what works for me when it comes to winning over a tough crowd:
Start by making it about the audience. My magic is always about the people I’m performing for, not me.
Let others see the fun. When one table is laughing and having a good time, the rest of the room takes notice.
Stay engaged the whole time. There’s no off switch once the gig starts. If you check your phone or drift off, they see it.
Give them space to warm up. Sometimes, the most serious people just need a little time to observe before they decide to jump in.
That’s really the key. I win them over. I’ve even had people tell me I can get the most stoic person to join in. It’s about showing them the fun and letting them decide to be part of it.
Last night was proof of that. Beautiful venue, serious crowd, but by the end it was all laughs, smiles, and a strong finish to a memorable night.
Here’s the Thing
You have to meet people where they are. These are serious people with a lot of responsibility, and sometimes they need a little time to ease in. If you let them observe for a bit and see the effect you’re having on the room, they’ll usually come around. Once they do, the whole night shifts and they’re right there in the middle of it.
Of course, winning over a tough crowd only matters if you’re actually getting in the room. If bookings feel slow, grab my free resource, 7 Reasons You’re Not Getting Booked.
