Kitchener, Ontario
Spaenaur, a family-owned hardware company headquartered in Kitchener, hired Magician Sam Pearce to amaze their team of employees during their annual Christmas party. 100 employees, and their partners, gathered in the heart of Kitchener at the Victoria Park Pavilion to enjoy an evening of cocktails, dinner, and live entertainment.
Four hours before guests were expected for cocktails, Sam arrived onsite along with an AV technician to begin preparing for the night ahead. First, equipment was unloaded from the truck and moved inside the Victoria Park Pavilion, pictured right. The road cases were opened and everything needed for the show was unpacked. Theatrical lighting was mounted on stands on both sides of the stage and hoisted high into the air. High-quality speakers were set up at the front of the venue and carefully calibrated so everyone would be able to hear the performance while ensuring there was no audio feedback. Finally, bright blue stage curtains were set up on stage, covering up the venue’s boring old black curtain – look at the difference in the photo below! By the time guests arrived, cables were taped-down, cases were hidden away, and everything was ready to go.
The party kicked off with cocktails, featuring hors d’oeuvres serves by Little Mushroom Catering, and interactive Mingle Magic by Sam Pearce. While guests were enjoying freshly-made appetizers, Sam walked around the room welcoming everyone to the party and getting them excited by performing magic, up-close, in their hands. Along with Sam’s most-talked-about trick (magically bending a dinner fork) he performed an incredible illusion with two yellow rubber bands, and revealed signed playing cards in incredibly unlikely places. By the time Sam had finished his performance and headed to entertain another group, everyone was watching, laughing, and interacting – keeping them exciting for the evening to come.
Following cocktails, Spaenaur’s President greeted guests, welcoming everyone to the party and thanking them for their dedication to the company. With everyone sitting at their (nicely decorated) tables, dinner was served as instrumental holiday music played softly in the background – using Sam’s finely-tuned sound system.
After dinner, it was showtime!
The stage lights were turned on, the ambient room lighting lowered, and Sam was introduced by the emcee. Music boomed as Sam ran through the audience and up onto the stage to start the show. Before long, Sam had Spaenaur’s guests on stage, getting them to join in on his seriously silly antics.
Throughout the 60-minute show, Sam invited nearly a dozen randomly-chosen audience volunteers, and some good-natured company executives, on stage to take part in the show. During a tribute to Houdini, guests elicited roars of laughter while they strapped Sam into a straitjacket. Later, in an astonishing feat of teamwork, four guests magically levitated on stage as audience members jumped out of their seats to take photos.
As guests became entangled in Sam’s hilarious shticks, they unknowingly became the real stars of the show, creating memories for their co-workers and families that will surely bring a smile to their faces for many years to come.
