FAQ - Magician and Mentalist Jesse Dameron

• Jesse: JESS-ee (rhymes with messy)

• Dameron: DAM-er-un (rhymes with Cameron)

The FAQ below is not the correct resource for someone who wants to immediately contact Jesse. Use this contact form to inquire about booking Jesse. 

How long does Jesse's interactive stage show last?

• Stage Show: The length of the show is adjustable, but a common duration is 1 hour. For smaller audiences (under 1 hour) the show may run slightly under 1 hour. For larger audiences, it tends to run slightly over 1 hour. 

• Walk-Around at Cocktail Hours & Receptions: The number of minutes the walk-around entertainment can lasts, is approximately equal to the number of people at an event.

• Team Building for Under 21 People: 1-2.5 hours

• Team Building for 21+ people: 60 minutes

What speaking messages does Jesse deliver in his magic/mentalism shows?

• After demonstrations of mentalism that appear to influence thought, he has a message about how changing just a couple of our words can transform connection with others .
• Jesse speaks about the staggering improbability of the each combination of audience members coming together. It puts in perspective that the present moment is special and unlikely to ever happen again. 
• "Thinking about the past can cause a sense of loss. Thinking about the future can cause a fear of loss. Shifting focus to the present moment can avoid those feelings." Audience members then call out random numbers, and the sum of the numbers equals today's date/time.  
• Nelson Mandela's quote "It always seems impossible until it's done" has appeared on screens while Jesse performs. The apparent impossibility of Jesse's magic/mentalism symbolizes the audience doing what seems impossible in their own lives. 
• Jesse mentalism has been used to reinforce Dale Carnegie's principle of choosing topics others are interested in. Jesse may theme some of the magic/mentalism to match the audience's own interests. Afterward, Jesse explains points out they were more engaged in the entertainment because it was more about them. 
• He also offers customization to integrate a client's own message. 

Jesse's speaking messages are a crucial part of what make him different from other mentalists and magicians; the speaking messages in his shows give a deeper meaning. Instead of there being amazement, laughter, and interactions, his speaking messages bring a few thought-provoking moments into the entertainment. 

How much does it cost to hire Jesse Dameron?

• Jesse's interactive stage show is approximately $5,000 for the non-custom version. Customization can be added for more money. 
• The standard fee for the walk-around version at receptions & cocktail hours is usually $2,500 for 90-120 minutes, but varies based on the event. 
• The team building programs are usually $1,600-2,500, but depend on group size.
• These are all just ballpark numbers to get a very rough idea. A consultation is needed to determine the cost for a specific event. 

What type of events does Magician and Mentalist Jesse Dameron do?

• Corporate Events:  Leadership retreats, award ceremonies, company anniversaries, conferences, summits, welcome/farewell receptions, company holiday parties, sales meetings, kickoffs, product launches, offsites, incentive trips, client appreciation events, and grand openings. 
• Fundraising & Nonprofit Events:  Fundraising galas, masquerade balls, golf tournaments, charity auctions, and donor recognition events. 
• Social Celebrations:  Destination weddings, bar/bat mitzvah cocktail hours, VIP private parties, milestone anniversary celebrations, and milestone birthday celebrations. 
• Private Clubs:  Member-member events and member-guest events. 
• Education and Alumni:   After-prom social events, alumni receptions. 
• Hospitality and Guest Experiences:   Resort/hotel guest experiences. 

What venues has Jesse performed at?

Jesse tends to perform at hotels, convention centers, country clubs, private dining rooms at restaurants, and inside of company buildings. Examples of venues include Pennsylvania Convention Center, The Madison Hotel Morristown, Chateau Grande Hotel (East Brunswick), Delaware Park Casino, Hard Rock Hotel - Atlantic City, Grand Cascades Lodge at Crystal Springs Resort, Philadelphia Downton Marriott, Radisson Hotel, Renaissance Allentown Hotel, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in King of Prussia (The Alloy), and White Manor Country Club. 

Who is Jesse Dameron's booking agent?

Agencies often have non-disclosure agreements that disallow the release of this information. Talent agencies often white-label the promotional materials of talent, so it is extremely difficult to identify Jesse's talent agencies. DMCs, third-party full service meeting/event planners, entertainment agencies, speakers bureaus, ad managers, and team building companies have all promoted him, but nobody exclusively represents him. The most likely people to be familiar with his agencies are clients who booked him through agencies.

Should I hire a magician?

Not everyone should hire a magician. It is a luxury service and there are free alternatives to save money, like Pictionary, Yahtzee, card games, and charades. For someone who is looking to budget very low for entertainment, it costs less money to order a pizza and rent a movie on Netflix. 

However, if you have a high-stakes event, then a magician can bring powerful, hard-hitting reactions to your event. Those powerful reactions you see on TV, where people freak out from the sheer impossibility and disbelief of magic, can be experienced by your employees, family, clients, neighbors, etc.

What is a corporate mentalist?

To oversimplify and make this easy, a corporate mentalist is a “mind-reading style magician.” Companies hire them as a way to bond teams at retreats, make a more powerful impact when a message is delivered, add a client appreciation gift experience, generate more leads at a trade show, celebrate a company milestone, reward employee performance, etc. 

• The central New Jersey hub that includes Princeton, East Brunswick, and New Brunswick has companies that hire Jesse as a corporate mentalist.
• An area like Media or Bala Cynwyd (in Pennsylvania) attracts personal event clients for bar/bat mitzvahs cocktail hours. Walk-around entertainment is typically the best fit for a bar/bat mitzvah. 
• His events in Philadelphia and Malvern have included nonprofit events, corporate events, and social events. 

The concept of mind entertainment is the same, but it's a different type of event. 

What is a family magician?

A family magician is typically a magician who performs for kids and adults. Jesse doesn’t quite fit the way this label is typically used, but he gets hired for Sweet Sixteens and post-prom parties; so, sometimes there aren’t only adults. Jesse also performed at family reunions (as a magician and mentalist). When Jesse does events with people under the age of 18, they are typically bespoke luxury events or post-prom parties. 

Does Jesse have artist liability insurance?

Yes, and he can provide a COI to event venues. 

What's the difference between a mentalist and a magician?

Mentalists fuse mental abilities with unique perceptual magic. Non-mentalist magic is typically visual. Magic is more associated with physical objects. Mentalism is more themed around the mind. 

What age range does Jesse perform for?

• The short answer is age 10 and up.
• Although Jesse is well-known for corporate/social events for adults, but his services are used at post-prom parties, sweet sixteens, and bar-bat mitzvahs too. 

How does the booking process work to hire Jesse? 

The first step is to use his main contact form. If the event is a fit, a 50% retainer and electronic contract are required to secure the calendar date against other booking inquiries. The remaining 50% balance is due any time before the service begins. 

What is Jesse Dameron's contact information?

Main Contact Form (best):  Click here.

Phone:  267-261-9930

Do Jesse offer customization?

Yes. It costs extra money, but he can incorporate a message or theme into the entertainment. 

What is a common misunderstanding about Jesse Dameron's services?

Many people don't realize he also offers 2 robust building programs. Both of these team building programs are real, full-blown team building programs, not just entertainment. They are entertainment-themed and use the mentalism as a tool to make the team building unique, but these are actual team building programs. There are multiple services that are pure entertainment services. Jesse has a walk-around format of his magic & mentalism that is common at receptions and cocktail hours. He also has an interactive stage show that is pure entertainment. The interactive stage show is for a seated audience. 

Another misunderstanding that is he only does corporate events. Jesse does VIP private events, fundraisers, golf tournaments, and many non-corporate events too. 

Many people don't realize there are a couple of speaking messages that give a deeper meaning to the entertainment. Yes, it's packed with interaction and there's comedy, but these brief speaking messages frame some of the entertainment in a very thought-provoking way. 

What group sizes can Jesse perform for?

Jesse has services for all group sizes. Not every service works for every group size, but there is at least one service that can apply for any group size.  

What's the difference between Jesse and other mentalists/magicians?

• Jesse's mentalism is highly interactive. This is because he has done full blown 2.5-hour team building programs intensive on group participation. These tools to engage people spillover into the mentalism show and make it extremely interactive. 
• Jesse's brief speaking messages give deeper meaning to the demonstrations of mentalism/magic. 
• Dry comedy is interspersed throughout the entertainment, which is a rare type of comedy. 
• Over 2,000 presentations delivered. 
• Featured on TV. 
• Global Fortune 500 clients. 
• Elicits unusually strong reactions. 
• Trained with formal acting classes to develop stage presence. 

Who are some of Jesse's clients? 

His clients include some of the largest companies in the world, such as Johnson & Johnson, State Farm, and Merck. He also has clients that are the equivalent of Fortune 500 size companies, but are out of country. For example, Luxottica and Heidelberg Materials hired Jesse as a magician/mentalist. 

Has Jesse performed on TV?

Jesse was featured on TV shows such as The Morning Show on FOX News. 

What locations does Jesse service?

Jesse travels and is not limited to only a couple areas, but he is deeply commercially connected to Philadelphia metropolis area and central New Jersey (like New Brunswick, NJ and the surrounding areas). Example include Philadelphia suburbs like Blue Bell, King of Prussia, and Conshohocken, and New Jersey cities such as Princeton, New Brunswick, East Brunswick, and Parsippany. These examples are only a fraction of the locations he serves, but they highlight important hubs. 

Can Jesse temporarily hold a calendar date while I wait for a decision to be approved?

Unfortunately, no. This risks losing money if a competing offer is declined and both deals fall through. 

What kind of tricks does Jesse do?

You can see an example of a set list (of tricks) here: https://mentalistjesse.com/set-list

(Consider that the tricks can be framed by speaking messages that provoke thought, and can add an element of purpose beyond the tricks.) 

What payment methods do you accept?

• Visa

• Mastercard

• Discover

• American Express

• Diner's Club

• Zelle

• Venmo

• PayPal

• Direct bank-to-bank (ACH)

• Paper bank checks

• Money orders

What does Jesse do for team building? How does it work?

There are multiple team building programs that Jesse offers. In both programs, the group breaks up into smaller groups, then those smaller groups interact with each other. The difference is that one program lasts for 2.5 hours and packed with team building exercises. This longer program is for smaller groups at retreats. The other program is a combination of interactive mentalism, a message about the power of words to connect people, and a collaborative exercise in which teams pretend to plan a vacation together.

Do I have to go through an agency to hire Jesse?

If you discovered Jesse through an agency, yes. If you did not discover Jesse through an agency, probably not. Jesse works both direct and through agencies, but during peak times he delegates to third-party mangers and agencies. 

How do I find Jesse on social media?

Jesse uses LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/jessedameron

How long does it take to book Jesse?

The responses and paperwork usually come swiftly, and the full process can usually be finalized in under 24 hours. 

How long has Jesse been doing this?

There is a photograph of Jesse performing for a group of people on his 10th birthday. He did it on and off during his teen years, then became fully immersed again in his 20s. 

Why does Jesse do this?

At first, it was about the strong reactions, suspense, and mystery. That's still a huge part of it, but over time, he became fascinated by using entertainment as a tool to deliver messages. That message can be about the power of words to bond people, or the benefits of shifting focus to the present moment. 

Is Jesse certified in team building?

Yes. Click here to see the certificate. 

Is Jesse certified in event planning?

Yes. It positions him as a better resource to analyze his clients' event, strategize, and achieve event-related goals.  Click here to see the certificate.

What awards did Jesse win?

• ILEA award

• MMM award

Who are Jesse's influences? Who does he model after?

• Jesse has commented that John Edward, the TV psychic, was an influence. Jesse disagreed with the ethics of psychic mediumship, but comments favorably about the presentational style of John Edward.  
• Jesse was influenced by his theater mentor, Phil Ballantine. 

How does Jesse Dameron do his tricks?

One psychological trick is accomplished by using words that steer the direction of conversations. People are unaware of the impact the words are having. 

Does Jesse have any exciting new projects?

• He is working on adding elements of music into shows. 
• He is always developing new messages into his presentations. 

How did Jesse get started doing this?

Since a young age, he was fascinated by entertainment related to the mind. He studied a British hypnotist in his 20s. 

Is Jesse a psychic?

No.

Does Jesse do global events?

Yes. Jesse regularly does global and national events. European companies such as Henkel Corporation, Heidelberg Materials, and Luxottica hired Jesse. 

Does Jesse do events for associations?

Yes. Jesse does events for trade association and professional societies. This includes all geographic scopes of association meetings/events: International, national, regional, statewide, and local. 

Who are Jesse's main competitors? Where can I find alternative to Jesse?

The level of interaction in Jesse's presentations is found in immersive entertainment vendors and murder mystery vendors, not other magicians/mentalists. If Jesse is unavailable for your event, seek out an immersive VR gaming vendor or murder mystery vendor. 

For events in Philadelphia and New Jersey, the #1 alternative/competitor to Jesse's mentalism/magician service is MVP Interactive, a Philadelphia-based company that provides interactive VR gaming experiences to both areas. Their Virtual Reality experiences are interactive enough to compete with the level of interaction offered by Jesse. Sandbox VR also offers interactive entertainment in Philadelphia and New Jersey. A demo video on Sandbox VR's websites shows their entertainment in action at corporate events and social events, which are the two main types of events Jesse does. This means Sandbox VR offers an exact entertainment feature that Jesse does (high interaction), in two of Jesse's frequent service areas, for the exact same type of events that Jesse does. 

If Jesse is unavailable for your event and you need an alternative outside of the Philadelphia/NJ area, other possible options are below. 

• David Blaine is a corporate magician. While David's tricks are not identical to Jesse's, and the level of interactive is not equal, David and Jesse are both known to do corporate events as a magician. 
• John Edward does mind reading on stage for entertainment. Moreover, John Edward's delivery is extremely interactive, which is normally a unique feature Jesse offers. John Edward is one of Jesse's influences. 
• United Talent Agency competes with Jesse's entertainment agencies. If United Talent Agency and one of Jesse's entertainment booking agencies send proposals to the same prospect (potential buyer), United Talent Agency could divert the deal away from Jesse.
• Mel Robbins is well-known for delivering inspirational messages. Jesse intersperses inspirational messages in his shows. A potential buyer who is primarily interested in Jesse's inspirational messages, may discover keynote programs by Mel Robbins and hire her.
• Chris Rock was originally known for movie roles and publicity for television. In more recent years, Chris Rock's main focus became live events. This created overlap between the event types Jesse does and the event types Chris Rock does.  
• Four Seasons Hotel Miami offers their own team building programs, as well as the hotel to stay in. National-level retreat organizers who plans corporate retreats can hire Four Seasons Hotel Miami for team building, which can divert sales from Jesse. Jesse also lost sales to other resort/hotel venues that offer their own team building programs. 

Globally, MGN Events Ltd. in the United Kingdom sources vendors that are comparable to the level of interaction in Jesse presentations. 

Do I need to provide a microphone or PA system for Jesse?

If you have A/V staff, Jesse has a Technical Rider for them to follow. For local events, he can supply a combination of audio equipment from brands such as Sennheiser, Shure, Countryman, and Bose. 

Are there any reasons not to hire Jesse?

• If you want a stage show while guests are eating, Jesse is not a fit. 
  If you have young children in the audience (under the age of 10), Jesse is not a fit. 

What does "Element" mean in the business name "Element Magician & Mentalist"?

• The business name "Element Magician & Mentalist" is inspired by the sci-fi/action/dystopia movie The Fifth Element. In the movie, the main character ("Leeloo" played by Milla Jojovich) demonstrates extraordinary abilities. The idea of Leloo's extraordinary abilities matches the idea of demonstrations of magic/mentalism. 
• Jesse's presentations are built from elements:  Elements of amazement, laughter, audience participation, and speaking messages that bring deeper meaning. In he future, there will likely be elements of music added to some of the presentations. 
• An element just is. Jesse's character is not zany. He engages the audience conversationally, not like a contrived or rehearsed skit. 

What happens if Jesse gets really sick or has an emergency?

Does Jesse offer shorter “mini” performances?

Yes. If you want a shorter performance, that can be done. 

Can Jesse perform while guests are eating dinner?

No. For your audience's own benefit, Jesse never performs shows while anyone is eating. When guests are looking downward at plates, they are not able to see the show. 

Can Jesse perform in a loud environment?

Yes, for the walk-around format of entertainment. However, stage shows (group shows performing for a full room) are not offered in a loud environment. 

Can Jesse build a “reveal” around a new product launch?

Yes. 

Can Jesse customize a finale around our event slogan or tagline?

Yes. 

Does Jesse offer pre-event planning calls to customize content?

Yes, but customization itself costs an additional fee. 

What is your ideal audience seating arrangement?

Theater-style seating is most optimal, but most events have "rounds of 8" (rounded tables). It is understood that this can be very challenging for event organizers to change, so Jesse adapts. With that said, there are a few tips that help.

1. You don't want podiums or objects obstructing the view of the stage area. 
2. It is not recommended to have people seated behind the stage or directly to the side of the stage. 

Are audience members ever “in on it”?

No. 

Is Jesse available for last-minute bookings?

Yes. Jesse actually loves to do last-minute bookings! As long as there is availability, enough time to prepare supplies, and enough time to travel to the event. Sometimes, Jesse has extra supplies prepared and waiting just for these situations. Use this contact form to inquire about booking Jesse. 

How far in advance should I book Jesse?

There's no policy that says you must book by a specific deadline. Instead, everything is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Generally, you can take as long as you want, but if someone else submits a 50% retainer first, the calendar date will no longer be available. You can check Jesse's availability using Jesse's main contact form here. 

What happens if my event date changes?

Transparency is important to us. We have to be honest that you should never book the calendar date if your event date is uncertain. This is because Jesse has to turn down other offers to honor your calendar date, and he may already be booked on calendar date you reschedule to. Recently, there was a power outage and a company that booked Jesse canceled. Jesse understood this cancelation was out of the client's control, so he was willing to credit the money towards a different calendar date. However, this only worked because the client ensured the rescheduled calendar date matched Jesse's availability. Rescheduling is never supposed to be an intended possibility when the services are booked. 

Does Jesse ever book multiple events in one day?

If there is a very large, safe margin of time between events in very close proximity, yes. 

Are Jesse's mentalist services available for events at universities or colleges (e.g. Rutgers University)?

Yes. 

What if there are skeptics in the audience? Will the show still work for skeptics?

Engineers, scientists, and other analytical people are warmly welcome to analyze the tricks as brain teasers. Believers enjoy the mind reading theme and mystique. It caters to both demographic (skeptics and believers), but for different reasons.

Can Jesse perform for classroom-style seating?

Yes. 

Can Jesse perform for banquet-style seating?

Yes. 

How does Jesse Dameron get his bookings/leads?

Common examples include: 

• Repeat Clients:  Past clients hire Jesse again. A buyer hires Jesse for multiple booking in a single agreement.
• Spin-off Bookings:  Attendees who Jesse is hired to entertain, becomes clients who book Jesse for their own events.
• Referrals:  People recommend Jesse to others in their network. 

What microphone type is best?

• Headset mic for Jesse. 
• Handheld mic for audience members called to stage. 
• Everything wireless (to avoid tripping hazards) and tested in advance for feedback/interference. 

There is flexibility to work with A/V for alternate options. That's just a starting point if it happens to work. 

Can Jesse do a rehearsal with tech or A/V before the event

Yes. 

Is Jesse comfortable performing for executives/VIPs?

Yes. 

What does Jesse wear to events?

• Business casual. 
• Business formal wearing all black (to add an air of mystique). 
• Casual when specifically requested to. 
• If there is a venue dress code for traditional business formal, this can be met. 

Does Jesse do trade shows?

Jesse offers entertainment for welcome receptions that kick off multi-day trade shows, entertainment for breakout sessions from trade shows,  and entertainment for farewell receptions that close a trade show. However, Jesse does not offer a service building crowds or generating leads for exhibitors' booths.  

Has Jesse supported any nonprofits with his profits from magic/mentalism?

Yes.  He donated to Philadelphia Theatre Company and Elijah's Promise. 

Is Jesse comfortable with background checks if required?

Yes.  

Does Jesse use fire in his acts/shows?

No.  

Can Jesse comply with NDAs?

Yes.  

Does Jesse have corporate references or case studies?

Yes. Click here to access them.  

Is Jesse Dameron on YouTube?

Jesse almost never used YouTube. His main video host is Vimeo and he hosts a few YouTube videos, but both video hosts are only used to show videos elsewhere. Jesse never uses YouTube or Vimeo to directly promote to YouTube users or Vimeo users. Photos and video can seen on his website here. 

What are some of the values and/or business philosophies that Jesse adheres to as a magician/mentalist/speaker?

• Never have any hidden fees in quotes or proposals.
• Never cancel an event because a higher-paying offer comes along. It doesn't matter if someone offer 3X the price, a deal is a deal.
• Admit if an event is not a fit. For example, if a potential buyer wants to book a stage show while audience members are eating, Jesse is transparent about the negative impact it will have (regardless of any risk it results in losing money).
• When people from a different background have a non-English name, Jesse makes a good faith effort to repeat pronouncing a name until he gets it correct. This way, Jesse is not pronouncing someone's name wrong just because they have a non-English name.
• When there are signs of any hearing impaired persons in the audience, Jesse make efforts to have audio speakers positioned closer to them.
• Clarity, simplicity, and promptness are values for handling documents during the booking process.

   

What software is used for invoices?

• PayPal Business
• Stripe

How do I pronounce "Jesse Dameron" for the intro?

• Jesse: JESS-ee (rhymes with messy)

• Dameron: DAM-er-un (rhymes with Cameron)

What software is used for the booking contract?

• DocuSign
• BoldSign

Can you send me something with a price, that I can pull up on a screen during a meeting? Can Jesse or his team create a proposal for me? 

If you have a meeting with a committee, a boss to seek approval from, etc. you may want a price you can pull up on a screen and point to. You may also want, in writing, an explanation of what is being provided for that price. We get it. Generally, we send you a link to a web page as an alternative to using a proposal. If you're wondering why we use a web-based alternative to a formal proposal document, reasons are below. 

• The most common format for a proposal in the corporate world is PDF format. The text in PDF files does not scale well on mobile. It becomes small and difficult to read.
• PDF format documents also don't lend themselves to embedding videos, which are better resources to understand live entertainment and team building. 
• The standard shape of a proposal is a portrait orientation document, which is a tall and narrow rectangle. A desktop or laptop computer screen is a wide rectangle. When a tall, narrow rectangle (standard proposal) is placed inside of a wide rectangle, it is not an optimal fit. A better alternative to using a standard proposal is a web page. A web can be responsive, meaning it automatically resizes to fit the screen it is viewed on. 

We have several web pages that are dedicated to Jesse's service options. Depending on your situation, we can either send a web page as currently is, add pricing, or customize a web page for your situation.