Story & Lesson Highlights with Dennis Kim of Manhattan

Dennis Kim shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Dennis, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
As I get older, I find myself glad to not have acted in haste. Whether it’s a decision to commit to, or something to be said, taking an extra moment to think it through has saved me more often than not. Taking that extra moment has never led me to regret ending up at the same conclusion, but has always helped in wording something better, or considering all of the consequences or changes as a result of committing to something. There have been work opportunities such as gigs to negotiate rates on, to communicating tough work situations with team members clearly, that have all been instances I’ve been glad to have taken time to think through in so many different instances.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Dennis, and I am a professional magician. I perform at various events all throughout New York City, and sometimes out-of-state! I also creatively consult for live theater and virtual productions, where I design and improve magic tricks and illusions to ensure shows go smoothly and that the best version of certain magic moments come out for an audience to be amazed by.
The work that I offer has been unique in excelling through both worlds of performing in front of the spotlight, as well as running shows behind the scenes. With performing, I specialize in close-up magic, where I perform in more intimate settings right in front of small groups of people. Imagine a strolling magician during a cocktail hour at a wedding – that’s the format of magic that’s in my wheelhouse! It’s highly interactive, social, and most importantly, fun for everyone – including myself.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I was always curious about how to make something look impossible. I started learning magic when I was about 10 years old – and by that age, I think it’s fair to say that kids have a fair grasp at what should and shouldn’t be possible. Magic had an allure in that I got to pretend that I had powers to defy what’s physically and mentally possible, and demonstrate that in front of my friends at school.
I leaned hard into that sort of “playing pretend,” and I always got a kick out of being able to share that realm of imagination with others while blowing their minds through magic. This curiosity always stuck with me through the rest of adolescence, and was a creative avenue I always went down in my mind. I never found myself to be bored, because my head was occupied with ideas on new illusions to craft methods for!
Even as I got older and societal pressures of “what you’re supposed to do” started to be imposed on myself and everyone all around me, magic has always been the thing that stuck with me to rebel against being boxed into a conventional path, and I always dreamed about what it would look like to have the opportunity to pursue a life working as a magician.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely – one of the toughest things about being a full-time working artist is the emotional turmoil along the way. Any freelancer will tell you that the inconsistent pay can be both super rewarding as well as crippling. Those who can ride out the low tides and never give up are the ones who always seem to prevail and thrive, and so I keep this in mind whenever there are slow periods with work.
The COVID-19 pandemic was definitely a time when I felt like I should give up. It was tough on every industry in its own way, but one that’s overlooked by everyone outside of it is the entertainment industry. Unemployment benefits are at a bare minimum for freelancers, and live entertainment immediately shut down, with no exception, across the globe. It took a serious entrepreneurial hustle to adapt to the changing world around us and exert creative energy into building new unprecedented opportunities to continue working in the field.
It was easier said than done, because there were so many days when motivation was at an all-time low, with mental headspace not conducive to putting my best foot forward. But, everything turned out well because at the end of the day, we all have to learn to pick ourselves back up and make the best of the situations that present themselves in front of us.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What important truth do very few people agree with you on?
The less time you spend enjoying it, the better off you’ll be. I always lean towards living for the future and curating a life that I’ll look back on and be glad I put work into.
There are always opportunities to have fun – and without a doubt, I do spend evenings with friends and loved ones, as we all should to decompress, destress, and live life. I’m not saying we should work so hard that we’ll end up in a position where we look back with regret about how much we worked and missed out on life. The nuance of the sentiment I’m saying here is that there is much to do, and saying ‘yes’ to every hang out and every event to have fun at will lead to harder times down the road.
Perhaps it’s also a perspective stemming from the nature of my work – if I don’t put in the work, then the work doesn’t come to me. I know that the better place I’m in financially and opportunity-wise, the better the enjoyment will be during times when I can relax, socialize, and have fun.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope that people will remember me for being there for them and pouring into them. I keep my circle small, and that circle gets smaller as I get older. The level of concern I can afford gets tighter, and if I’m spread too thinly, then I can’t give all of my love and support the way I want to, to those who matter the most.
I learned last year that filling others’ buckets doesn’t always take from my own, and it was an important perspective to keep in mind when having intentions of being there for others during times of need. Everyone needs support, and no one can do it alone. Everyone can use a bit more encouragement, and I know for myself how appreciative I am when others uplift me.
I would not want to be remembered for my work, funnily enough – at least in the eyes of those in my personal life who know me for me, and not as a magician.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Photographers on Instagram:
@idoidonyc
@kim.boualavong
@baruchvsa

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