Meet Dennis Kim

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dennis Kim. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Dennis with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

I believe the roots of my work ethic stem from an anxiety-ridden place. The first-generation Asian American experience is almost unanimously the same in being raised under high academic pressure, where it put us to the test to really define what it means to “do your best.”

Although it’s an unfortunate hurdle that didn’t foster an ideal situation for mental well-being in many chapters of adolescence, I’ve looked back in retrospect over the recent years to find merit in my past circumstances.

Having pursued an unconventional career performing magic and consulting in illusion design, I found myself problem solving in ways that mirrored moments where my younger self had to push boundaries. As an adult, I knew there was no longer an external pressure to succeed looming over me, and that the drive had to come from within.

It was freeing to recognize that the voice pushing me to thrive and succeed did not have to be one that comes from a negative place, nor did it have to fueled by an anxiety of bringing disappointment and shame to my family.

I remember the enormous amounts of pressure in the academic setting to excel, moments that made my brain feel fried. But those were moments that created results that made me proud to accomplish what I thought I couldn’t.

With that in mind, I’ve been able to gauge what I’m truly capable of doing in my career, and recognize when I could do more. The rewards I’ve reaped over the years in my career are a result of me pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to “do my best,” and so I continue.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

My name is Dennis Kim, and I am a magician based in New York City. I perform magic for all sorts of events, from wedding cocktail hours to private dinner parties to non-profit sponsored events! I’m very open to all inquiries looking to elevate upcoming events with magic.

I am very versatile in my performance, and can provide what fits the occasion, whether it be close-up magic for small groups at a time, or stage magic for larger audiences altogether.

I am also a consultant for theory11 on live theater productions in New York. Currently, I am working on ‘The Magician at Fotografiska’ featuring Dan White, a two-act theater show held every weekend as a returning iteration of ‘The Magician at the Nomad Hotel’ after the pandemic.

During the show as a consultant, I strive to ensure the production goes smoothly every single show so that the audience experience is as good as it can be. Outside of showtime, I develop ways of making the magic even better!

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

One skill that has been most impactful in my journey is being able to paint a picture of what my performance will do for an event for prospective clients. Magic is an uncommon amenity to a live event, and there are more people interested in booking a magician for their event than there are people familiar with doing so. In what way or format will the magician interact with guests? What kind of magic does the magician perform? Will this be a worthwhile investment? How will this make the event more memorable? These are all implicit questions that prospective clients have, and being able to answer these and putting clients’ minds at ease about their decision to book a magician has paid dividends. I’m sure the same can be applied to any other freelancer’s services in entertainment.

Writing e-mails and being a great communicator over phone calls to coordinate with clients through the process are also crucial skills. As silly as writing e-mails sounds, it’s something that a lot of people can get better at in so many ways, from efficient language to formatting, and is a game changer for those who excel at writing great e-mails.

Another crucial skill is the ability to network within the industry. I’m grateful to be able to say I’ve developed a myriad of incredible relationships with fellow magicians – colleagues. I’ve realized that high performers know how to ask the right questions to the right people. When you expand your network and allies within your field, you expand your potential opportunities, resources, friendships, and motivation. It’s a give-and-take type of thing, so being resourceful to them as you find them to be for you is essential.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

Workout and meditate! No matter how much we may feel the urge to seek out a magical answer that’s never been heard of before, we seldom find them to reliably apply to our lives.

Exercise is so important for not just physical well-being, but mental well-being too. I find myself thinking more slowly, and even more negatively when I haven’t worked out enough in a week. Everything in the body is connected, and the more we take care of it, the better the engines of these physical vessels we’re bound to will run!

Meditation is important to collect thoughts and observe what comes to mind. Every time I meditate, I surprise myself in gaining a lot more clarity than I anticipated to find the root causes for my stress and the answers on how to mitigate and solve those stresses. There are so many ways to meditate, so “meditation” is quite a broad term, but it doesn’t have to be a huge commitment. Sometimes, a few moments of steady mindfulness and conscious breathing is all it takes to get through tougher moments.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Thomas Koslo
Yoko Haraoka
Jonathan Bayme

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