Today the NY Times ran an amusing story titled, “Calling Steven Cohen. No, Not That One.” The article states that there are too many famous Steve Cohens involved in politics and academia, and as a result they frequently get confused in the media. I was surprised to find that I was briefly mentioned in the article, along with other Steve Cohens: a wrestler, a soccer player, and (most famous of all) a hedge fund trader.
Hedge fund billionaire Steven A. Cohen (shown above, with me and his charming wife Alex) has been to my show in NYC, and has also invited me to perform privately in Connecticut. We first met at […]
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[This article was originally published on the website ArtOfManliness.com and draws heavily from my book Win The Crowd. I think everyone should read it.]
by Brett & Kate McKay, ArtOfManliness.com
We’ve probably all seen those men who can enter any room and instantly command it. I’m not talking about the loud and boisterous dolt who makes a scene with obnoxious alpha-male jackassery. I’m talking about the man who exudes a silent magnetic charisma that electrifies the entire room just by his presence. People feel better when this type of man is around and they want to be near him.
The benefits of being able to walk into any social situation and completely own it are innumerable. The man who can command a room is more persuasive in his business presentations, easily meets and makes friends, and attracts more women. While many men are born with the ability to charismatically command a room, it can also be learned. Below we’ve provided a few tips to get you started on being El Capitan of any social or professional situation.
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Way back in 2002, just a couple of years after starting up my show, CNN correspondent Jeanne Moos came to visit me at the Waldorf. She brought her camera crew and did a feature story about Chamber Magic. The show has changed a lot since then, but it’s fun to see what she found interesting enough to discuss with Anderson Cooper, Jack Cafferty and Paula Zahn, in a roundtable at the end.
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The guests who come to Miracles at Midnight always dazzle me. The show has been running for less than two years, but has apparently been whispered about into the right people’s ears. Russian oligarchs, Saudi royals, tech billionaires, and philanthropists have all visited me for an unforgettable night of magic. The Miracles at Midnight audience is limited to only twenty guests. And for that reason, they get to know each other well during the evening. The show has transformed into a networking opportunity for high net-worth individuals.
Guests to Miracles at Midnight usually dress to the hilt, and that extends to their jewelry. If you know me, you know I’m a watch fanatic. Last weekend I was impressed by a very handsome watch worn by a gentleman in the front row. Since we were in such close proximity, I could see the watch peeking out from his sleeve cuff. After the show he allowed me to examine it – an A. Lange & Sohne Zeitwork. I’ve long been an admirer of this German watchmaker, but had never seen a watch quite like this.
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I’m excited to announce a completely redesigned website, which pushed “live” today. The URL is the same as my previous site: www.chambermagic.com
The major difference is that it is an HTML site that runs on Wordpress, as opposed to my prior site which ran on Flash. Now, even iPhone and iPad users are able to view the site (since Flash isn’t supported by Apple portable devices), and it’s super fast and much easier to navigate.
Please poke around, and let me know what you think!
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Yesterday marked my first site visit to Carnegie Hall, where I am planning to present my new stage show at the end of 2011. This is a major paradigm shift for me – a close-up magician – to appear on the giant stage. Just look at this panorama view that I snapped on my camera […]
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The Making of The Millionaires’ Magician
by Jonathan Fields
Last year, I stumbled upon a fascinating article in The New York Times about Steve Cohen, a magician who offered exclusive shows out of a suite at the Waldorf Astoria and was flown around the world to give private shows for heads of state, captains of industry and celebs.
The story struck me because here was a guy making a serious living doing something very cool that most others would consider a hobby or a side-job. He’s a classic example of a Career Renegade. […]
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A piano with a two-foot cutaway hole stood alone on the mezzanine of MOMA, New York’s Museum of Modern Art. I asked a security guard what the piano was for — he replied, “For performances. Come back later.” My family and I wandered off to enjoy other exhibits, and later rushed back to the mezzanine when we saw a large crowd surrounding the piano.
There was a person standing INSIDE the piano. Right inside the hole.
She was playing the piano and walking around the open floor, rolling the instrument in wide arcs. Her body was bent forward at the waist, at a full ninety degree angle, and her hands were flying up and down at a breakneck pace. […]
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Genii: Why do you call yourself “The Millionaires’ Magician?” Doesn’t that turn some people off? It sounds kind of snooty.
Cohen: Nice way to start the interview!
Genii: It’s my prerogative: I remember teaching you and Mark Sicher how to shave when you were both kids.
Cohen: So you did. To answer your question, an upscale magazine in New York City wrote a feature story about me, and that was the headline: “The Millionaires’ Magician.” I’m at The Waldorf Towers every Friday and Saturday night for my show Chamber Magic. But the other five days of the week I travel around the world to perform at people’s mansions and private islands. They pick me up in luxury cars and put me up in fine hotels in Switzerland, London, Paris, the Caribbean, Boca Raton, Aspen, all over the place.
Genii: You’ve clearly figured out a great niche for yourself.
Cohen: To be honest, there are at least three million millionaires in America, and in my geographic region—New York City—it seems like everyone I know is a millionaire. So when I call myself “The Millionaires’ Magician,” it’s simply a description of my market. Now, I find myself contacted only by people—event planners, corporate groups, and individuals—who can afford my current rates. They kind of know what they’re jumping into when they call me, so there’s no sticker shock when they hear my prices.
Genii: How many shows per year do you perform? […]
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Making Magic
by Liz Gunnison
Originally published Nov 26 2008 on Portfolio.com
Steve Cohen, the “Millionaire’s Magician,” shares some tips for winning over a well-heeled audience, including why you should never wing it and the importance of having backup plans.
Few tasks can cast dread into the heart of an otherwise self-assured executive like delivering a presentation to a room full of power players. Commanding the attention of an important audience—whether they be investors, clients, or your superiors—demands a level of charisma and confidence that not everyone can easily marshal.
Giving presentations to powerful people is what Steve Cohen (not to be confused with hedge-fund billionaire Stevie Cohen) does for a living. […]
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