What do the world’s greatest magicians and the world’s most effective communicators have in common? Everything.
The Art of Influence is a series of corporate masterclasses and keynote experiences that use the psychology and technique of close-up magic to teach the communication, influence and leadership skills modern business needs most.
The Problem We Solve
Poor communication is costing UK businesses an estimated £257 billion a year in lost productivity, disengaged teams and missed opportunities (Learnlight, 2025). The average business loses £470,000 annually in increased staff turnover and absence alone (The HR Director).
And yet most communication training doesn’t work – because it feels like training.
The skills that matter most to business today are also the hardest to teach in a conventional classroom:
- Reading a room
- Spotting a hidden objection before it’s spoken
- Building trust with a stranger in seconds
- Making a pitch or presentation that actually sticks
- Shifting perspective to unlock strategic thinking
These are the exact skills that close deals, strengthen negotiations and build teams that communicate without silos. And they are the daily craft of a working magician.
What Is The Art of Influence?
Launched by Evolve Events in partnership with The Magicians Table, the critically acclaimed immersive magic experience at The Vaults, Waterloo, The Art of Influence is a new kind of corporate training: masterclasses delivered by world-class magicians, translating the psychology behind close-up illusion into practical influence, persuasion and leadership skills.
Less corporate workshop. More masterclass from people who make a living commanding attention, building instant trust with a stranger, and landing a message nobody forgets.
Delivered by an extraordinary line-up, including:
- A former World Open Champion for Close-Up Magic, who has performed for the late Queen Elizabeth II
- A magician who taught Jude Law sleight of hand for his role as Dumbledore
- A practising barrister who has appeared twice in the Supreme Court
(Full speaker biographies available on request.)
Formats & Timings. Built Around Your Business
Every session is tailored to your company’s objectives and can flex to suit groups of 20 to 200 people. Whether you need a single high-impact moment or a full strategic day, there’s a format to fit.
| Format | Ideal for | Typical length |
|---|---|---|
| Keynote / Re-set Session | Conference openers, energisers, all-staff meetings. A single unforgettable moment that resets energy and attention; the whole room learns a trick together as a live masterclass in presence and delivery. | High-energy, short-form (30–60 mins) |
| Workshops | Breakout sessions, team meetings, sales or leadership training slots. Fits neatly into an existing agenda while still delivering a focused, practical skill. Ideal where time is tight but impact can’t be. | 90 mins |
| Masterclasses | Leadership teams, sales teams, offsites, strategic away days. Deep enough to properly explore influence, persuasion and decision-making, with time for practice, discussion and application to real business scenarios. | Half day |
Core themes explored across sessions:
- Attention and decision-making
- The art of influence and persuasion
- Reading a room and spotting objections early
- Shifting perspective to unlock strategic thinking
- Presentation and communication skills, taught live through magic
Delivered wherever suits you:
- At The Vaults, the extraordinary underground space home to The Magicians Table beneath Waterloo station
- At your own offices, conference venue or offsite location
- As a keynote slot within an existing event
Don’t see the exact format you need? Every programme is designed around your brief. Tell us your objectives and we’ll build something bespoke.
Strategic Benefits & Outcomes
Participants don’t just enjoy the session, they leave with practical, measurable skills that transfer straight back to the business:
- Sharper reading of the room: spotting mood, resistance and buy-in in real time
- Objection-handling before it happens: identifying hesitation before it’s voiced, in negotiations, sales conversations and pitches
- Faster trust-building: techniques for building rapport with a stranger in seconds
- Messages that stick: presentation and storytelling techniques that make ideas memorable
- Stronger strategic thinking: through exercises in shifting perspective and decision-making
- More connected teams: breaking down silos through shared, memorable experience
“We’ve watched what happens when people experience The Magicians Table. Guards drop, conversations happen naturally and people genuinely connect. The skills these magicians use every night are exactly the skills companies are desperate to develop in their people. The Art of Influence delivers them in a way that’s engaging, memorable and nothing like a training day.”
Gary Peters, Director, Evolve Events
The Complete Day: Training Meets Extraordinary Entertainment
For a truly seamless experience, host your conference or away day at The Vaults in the morning, run The Art of Influence masterclass in the afternoon, then stay for the full Magicians Table show in the evening.
One venue. One day. Strategic development in the morning, extraordinary entertainment by night. Training and hospitality woven into a single unforgettable experience.
Praised by Derren Brown as “beautifully realised and huge, huge fun” and by London Theatre Reviews as “an absolute triumph and London’s must-see immersive night out.”
An Incentive Experience Like No Other
For top performers who’ve seen every five-star hotel and rooftop bar, an evening of world-class close-up magic in one of London’s most extraordinary hidden spaces is a reward that genuinely surprises.
Add real substance to your incentive programme with The Art of Influence, giving your best people the rare chance to learn the secrets behind the magic from those who perform it at the highest level in the world. Exclusive, experiential and impossible to replicate anywhere else.
Who Books The Art of Influence?
- Conferences and corporate events (keynote speakers)
- Leadership offsites and away days
- Sales team training and negotiation skills workshops
- Corporate incentive experiences and rewards programmes
- Team-building and culture initiatives
- Retreats and strategic planning days
Get Your Tailored Quote
Every business is different, and so is every Art of Influence programme. Tell us about your team, your objectives and your event, and we’ll come back with a bespoke proposal — from a single keynote speaker to a full-day immersive programme.
Available now for conferences, away days, leadership offsites, incentive experiences and retreats.
The Magicians Table is London’s critically acclaimed immersive magic experience, staged in the extraordinary underground setting of The Vaults beneath Waterloo station. Guests are drawn into close-up illusion, sleight of hand and world-class storytelling around the table itself. Ranked as TripAdvisor’s No. 1 London Experience.
The show is available for exclusive private hire, making it a standout choice for Christmas parties, end-of-year celebrations and client entertaining. A genuinely different alternative to the usual festive dinner, with the wonder and surprise built right in.