The one your guests will still be talking about on Monday.
I’m Zach Waldman. I read minds for a living. I know how that sounds.
Here’s the pitch in plain English: I’m a mentalist. Mentalism is the branch of magic that looks like mind reading — picking the word you’re thinking, finding the card you hid, knowing which colleague you met in 2007. It’s not psychic. It’s a craft people have spent centuries refining, and I’ve spent 25 years getting obnoxiously good at it.
I’m also a working stand-up comedian. That matters because most magicians are not. Most magicians tell you something is amazing and you’re supposed to clap. I make you laugh hard, then do something that shouldn’t be possible, then you clap on your own because you can’t help it.
Your room is full of adults. They’ve been to a lot of corporate events. They can smell a cheese ball from three rows back. Give them something they haven’t seen.
Why a mentalist hits harder than a magician at corporate events
It plays any room. Twelve execs around a table. Two thousand at a user conference. A cocktail hour. A trade show floor. Same act, re-scaled to the moment. I don’t need a stage, I don’t need a soundcheck week, I don’t need a truck.
Nobody gets made to look stupid. Volunteers help, they don’t suffer. Your CEO walks out looking smarter than when they walked in. That matters more than most entertainers understand.
It doesn’t fight your agenda. If you’ve got a brand theme, a message, a keynote you’re building toward — I weave the show around it instead of cutting across it. I’m entertainment, not a distraction.
Formats
Stand-up mentalism, 25–60 min. My most-booked format. After-dinner, awards night, conference general sessions. 80% mind reading, 20% magic that feels like mind reading, 100% stand-up comedy as the engine.
Close-up / strolling. Cocktail hour, hospitality suites, VIP receptions. I move table to table. People record it on their phones. They tell me I’m cheating. They love it.
Trade show draws. Your booth becomes the booth. I stop prospects, work your product into the act, and hand warm leads back to your team. I’ve been paying for my own booths for twenty years, so I know what actually moves the needle.
The full corporate night. Cocktails with close-up, dinner, stage show after. If you can get your budget there, this is the package that wins the internal awards and gets me rebooked.
Where I perform
Based in Los Angeles. Fly everywhere. The cities I end up in most often: LA, San Diego, Seattle, Salt Lake City. Regularly in New York, Chicago, Las Vegas, Austin, Houston, Miami, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Portland, DC, Orlando, and New Orleans. Your city not listed? Ask. I probably go there.
Clients
I’ve performed for Google, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, Meta, UPS, and hundreds of other companies — Fortune 500s to small businesses. A few also invite me back every year, which is the only metric that matters.
“Zach was the best. We hired him to be in our show booth for one evening to draw people in, entertain them, and have fun. He incorporated our products and services into his performances and really engaged with our customers. People were laughing, smiling, entertained, and genuinely had a great time. He went above and beyond by doing his research on our company and delivering a few special mentalism moments that pointed to our products as the reveal. His presence became a memorable event that attendees are still talking about and will associate with our company, Bay Insulation Systems. We also had branded decks of playing cards made up to hand out, and Zach did an amazing job of using those decks for some really cool card tricks, incorporating our company name into his routines. He drew a crowd all evening and was the hit of the event. We highly recommend Zach Waldman.”
— David Tomchak, Bay Insulation Systems
“We had the pleasure of having Zach perform at our open house event for our plastic surgery center in Newport Beach, and he was absolutely incredible. His magic was sophisticated, fun, and perfectly suited for a professional yet lively crowd. Our guests were completely captivated, and he brought so much energy and laughter to the evening. Not only was the magic itself amazing, but his personality and professionalism made him a dream to work with. He seamlessly interacted with guests, created memorable moments, and added that perfect ‘wow’ factor that made our event stand out. We received endless compliments from attendees about how entertaining and unique the experience was. We can’t recommend Zach enough for any event; he truly elevated our open house and made it unforgettable.”
— Alix Lopez
How to book
- Check the date. Form below or call 310-935-3684.
- Ten-minute call. I learn your event, your guests, what you’re trying to pull off. You get a proposal with real numbers, not a range.
- Show day. I arrive early, need almost nothing, and handle everything else. Your job is to introduce me. That’s it.
FAQ
Is this real mind reading?
No. If I could actually read minds I would not be doing corporate events. Mentalism is a performance craft — part psychology, part misdirection, part twenty-five years of practice, all dressed up as something that feels impossible. Enjoy the impossibility; the secret is less interesting than the experience.
What’s the difference between a magician and a mentalist?
Magicians do things with objects — cards, coins, silks, rabbits if you’re at the wrong show. Mentalists do things with your mind — what you’re thinking, what you’re about to say, what’s in your wallet. Mentalism tends to hit adults harder because nothing has to be “magic.” It just has to be impossible. I do both; I mostly get hired for the mentalism.
How much does a corporate mentalist cost?
My corporate minimum is $5,000. Trade shows run about $5,000 per day. A full corporate night (cocktail hour close-up + stage show) sits higher. Whatever you get, it’s custom — I don’t run a fixed package off the shelf, because your event isn’t off the shelf.
What audience size works?
Twelve to several thousand. I’ve done both. The size doesn’t change whether it works; it changes what format we pick. Tell me the room and I’ll tell you the show.
Do I need a stage, a sound system, a rider the size of a phonebook?
No rider. The real list is short and it comes from watching hundreds of rooms go right or sideways. I need the audience seated facing me and close to the performance area — no dance floor, no 20-foot gap, no “the tables are over there and you’re over here.” A room with a chasm between performer and audience will kill any show before it starts. I need a sound system, because asking people to hear mentalism over dinner chatter is a losing fight. I need guests done eating when I start — a room that’s still cutting into entrées isn’t watching, and mentalism needs attention. Good lighting helps but isn’t required. Give me those four things and the show runs itself.
Will the show work for a multinational or multi-lingual audience?
Yes. Most of what I do is visual and situational. My comedy leans on tone and timing more than wordplay, which travels. I’ve performed for international audiences in the US and abroad without issue.
Can you customize for our brand or theme?
Yes. Not as a gimmick — as an actual piece of the show. If your company is launching a product, celebrating a milestone, closing a quarter, making a point — we can build a piece that lands on it. The only rule: it has to be good. No forced slogans.
How far in advance should I book?
The good dates go first. Holiday-party season (October, November, December) fills up months ahead. Sales kickoffs in January and Q1 trade shows fill up by early fall. Anything else, give me 4–8 weeks when possible. Last-minute sometimes works. Ask.
Where can I see you perform live?
Promo videos can be found here. If you want to see me live before booking, I’m a member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood and perform there periodically. Ask and I’ll let you know next time I’m on.
Ready when you are
Fill out the form. Or call 310-935-3684. Either works.