I help event planners give their group a unique perspective on performance, problem solving and decision making. My entertaining programs provide audiences with insight into their own hidden illusions so they can elevate their performance, solve their problems, and achieve their goals.
With my background as a former professional magician, I engage audiences with a fun and entertaining experience. I share an illusionist's perspective on how the mind fools us with inner shortcuts, false assumptions, distortions, and cognitive biases.
Whatever problems your audience members are currently struggling with, I help them develop a clear, unbiased, and objective approach to solving them.
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Price Range: Contact for rates
Gig Length: 30 - 90 minutes
Languages: English
Insurance: $2,000,000 - Commercial general liability insurance through Specialty Insurance Agency.
Event professionals often need to make a choice between two options when selecting keynote speakers for their event - speakers who deliver insightful content with practical take-aways, OR entertaining speakers who can captivate an audience and create a memorable experience.
My diverse backgrounds in both the corporate and entertainment arenas give me the ability to do both. I use demonstrations of magic and illusion to illustrate how the mind is easily fooled - even by its own subconscious processes and cognitive biases.
Audiences can expect:
- Useful insights from the fields of psychology, behavioral science and neuroscience
- Entertaining illusions that create wonder, surprise and amazement
- techniques and take-aways backed by case studies, statistics, and surprising research
- personal stories that are funny, heart warming, and relatable
- Customized content that illustrates how the insights connect to the audience's industry or domain
Steve Haffner is a professional speaker and mind performance strategist. He multifaceted career started with 30 years in the corporate arena as a programmer, systems engineer, executive and business analyst for companies such as EDS, Mercer, Humana, and others.
In 2011 Steve launched and developed his own business as a magician, mentalist and speaker. He presents entertaining keynote and workshop programs to associations and businesses throughout the U.S. on reaching performance potential, the value of high-trust relationships, and successfully navigating through major disruptions.
Steve’s experiences as a corporate professional, business owner, and magician give him a unique perspective on performance. He discovered how the same subconscious shortcuts, reflexes and distortions that magicians manipulate to create entertaining illusions also influence our everyday thinking, problem solving and decision making as well.
Technical requirements are generally minimal but do include:
- a lapel or headset microphone for myself, and a wireless handheld microphone for use with audience members
- a screen for displaying my PowerPoint slides.
- I prefer to use my own laptop computer but can use the venue or A/V team's computer, if required.
- A confidence monitor in "presenter mode" is appreciated, but not required.
Staging
- The stage area and audience should be well-lit
- the entire audience must be seated in front of the stage area - not directly to the sides or behind.
I am primarily influenced by thought leaders, scientists, and entrepreneurs who demonstrate effective critical thinking and problem solving skills, such as:
Seth Godin
Adam Grant
Stephen M.R. Covey
Dan Heath and Chip Heath
Dan Ariely
Naval Ravikant
No additional requirements (see technical notes)
New York City, NY 
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