The Factory, a co-working space located at 77 Monroe Center ST NW ste 600 in the heart of Grand Rapids, is home to more than just super fast wifi, unlimited coffee, private offices, day-use desks, and podcast studios, and it’s also home to a unique “non-corporate” culture unlike anything else. Whether it’s the weekly open invitation games during lunches, visits to Rosa Parks Circle food trucks, monthly special events–like a recent scavenger hunt, or quarterly Expert Series presented by The Factory’s diverse members. There is something for everyone at The Factory.
Today, The Factory hosted “Magician Surge,” and about a half dozen of us assembled in the large, skyline-facing conference room.
If there is one tip that members of The Factory’s community took away from today’s Expert Series lunch chat with Magician Surge, it would have to be “know your audience.” During A Wallet, a Card and a Positive Contact, we noticed how the magician’s role is as much about connecting with the audience as it is about performing tricks. Sergio demonstrated the importance of getting acquainted with one’s audience before engaging with them.
As a successful magician, he blended showmanship, humor, and interpersonal skills to engage our eight diverse co-working professionals, including computer programmers, accountants, marketing, communications, and an attorney.
Surge greeted us as we filed into our large conference room at The Factory, as he set out the tricks of his trade: a solid piece of white rope, three squishy orange foam balls, an uneventful bowl, a small wooden box, and a Crown Royal bag containing who knows what. First, he warmed things up with the piece of rope that ended up in multiple sections, including a few knots, and more. He was a master at acing the old coin in the hand trick, as none of us could figure out how he did it. He mentioned that “practice makes perfect” and admitted to practicing his techniques at family gatherings and while watching TV. His card shuffling put all of ours to shame, and he didn’t seem to mind us all checking out his card deck before each trick. How he managed to get all cards aligned is beyond anyone’s guess!
During today’s 30-minute lunch session, Surge the Magician went around the table to learn a little about each of us and what we wanted to take away from our brief time together. Did we want 30 minutes of entertainment or a half-hour of something we could use in business? Our audience today was nearly divided on the topic!
Interestingly, Surge managed to pull off both, just as he expertly pulled off trick after trick while we sat within a few feet of him. How he inserted a 3 of Hearts card featuring a Sharpie drawing of a palm tree into a fresh, whole lemon is a story for another time!
Surge’s entertaining time with us today reminds us all that human connection is just as important as technical skills in many professions.
7 Expert Series Takeaways from Meeting Surge the Magician:
- Make a point to know your audience
- Engage with your audience
- Excite and delight your audience
- Try to be a person in the room who evokes warmth, self-awareness, and not just power
- It takes about 6-7 shuffles of a card deck to randomize them
- Watching a magic show during a lunch break can be as much fun as watching magic come to life on Duval Street in Key West (well, almost as much fun)
- Know that no matter how hard you try to watch for the sleight of hand revealing a master magician’s tricks, it is nearly impossible!
A Magical Conclusion:
As Surge the Magician captivated us with his blend of sleight of hand and personable charm, he reminded us of the power of connection in our daily interactions. Whether it’s through a well-timed joke, a shared experience, or a simple gesture of understanding, the human element is what truly makes any skill come to life.
At The Factory, we’re not just a community of professionals—we’re a group of individuals who thrive on these connections, and today’s experience was a perfect example of that. So, as we head back to our desks, let’s carry a little of that magic with us, knowing that the next great trick might just be in how we connect with those around us.
If you are interested in being a part of our community and joining us for our Expert Series whether in person or online, consider becoming a member of The Factory!