Kostya Kimlat

Kostya Kimlat

Kimlat delivers his "Think Like a Magician" keynote
Born 1983
Kiev, Ukraine
Residence Orlando, Florida
Occupation Corporate Magician & Speaker
Known for Sleight of Hand Magic and Mentalism
Television Penn & Teller: Fool Us
Website kostyakimlat.com

Kostya Kimlat is a Ukrainian-American magician, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and business consultant who uses magic to help companies train employees.[1] As a speaker, he helps groups understand the importance of perception in their daily lives through the art of magic and sleight of hand.[2]

In January 2006, he became the youngest magician to be featured in a Magic Magazine cover story[3] centered upon his technical skills and early business success.[4]

In August 2015, Kimlat fooled the legendary magician duo Penn & Teller with an original card trick on their TV show, Penn & Teller: Fool Us. The appearance was notable for the duo's extreme reaction of bewilderment, with Entertainment Weekly describing Kimlat as the series' "best fooler yet."[5]

Early life

Kimlat was born in Kiev, Ukraine, and immigrated to Orlando, Florida with his parents, sister, and grandmother in 1992.[3] His parents wanted a life away from the lingering effects of the Chernobyl disaster.[4]

Kimlat first became interested in magic when he was 12 years old from watching The World’s Greatest Magic on television.[6] At age 14, he was regularly working in restaurants and at private events as a sleight-of-hand magician.[4] By age 18, after graduating Winter Park High School, Kimlat had written his first book of magic and toured the United States lecturing to other magicians.[3]

Business Highlights

Kimlat is the CEO of Event Magic International LLC, including sub-brands See Magic Live, Restaurant Magic Business, and ThinkMagic.[1]

Businesses

See Magic Live

Based in Orlando, Florida, See Magic Live is a company of magicians that performs for corporate events, non-profit galas, trade shows, and private celebrations throughout the country.[1] They perform regularly for fans at Orlando Magic NBA games.[3]

Restaurant Magic Business

Restaurant Magic Business places performing magicians in restaurants, consults restaurant operators, and trains staff on customer service.[7]

ThinkMagic

Kimlat travels the country delivering corporate and sales trainings and keynotes through his company ThinkMagic,[2] which combines his magic talents with business-focused presentations.[3]

Book

Think Like a Magician is the title of Kimlat’s best-known keynote presentation and forthcoming book.[8] Kimlat helps businesses drive relationship-based growth by using the lessons of magic to see things from another person’s perspective.[6]

Television Appearances

Kimlat appeared on Season 2 of Penn & Teller: Fool Us on The CW Network and fooled Penn & Teller.[9] On the episode, Kimlat performed a card trick using an original method, which involved shuffling a deck face-up-into-face-down, and then making all of the cards instantly face the same direction, except for Penn & Teller's selected cards. Penn, failing to understand how the trick worked, reacted with mock anger, lifting his stool over his head and throwing cards in Kimlat's face, while Teller reacted with delight, emitting audible giggles (rare for the typically silent performer).[5][10]

Penn highlighted Kimlat's performance on his podcast, Penn's Sunday School:

"We did that exact trick on The Today Show. Teller and I know every method of doing that trick. We know it inside out. That was [Kimlat's] kind of 'oh well, that trick you did on The Today Show? I'm now gonna show you how it's done.' When Teller saw his name pop on on the introduction…I saw Teller just go, 'we've lost.' You know he's just that good. And when I finally found out how he did it, I was so much more amazed. I wanted to run up and tell people, 'do you know that he actually did this?' It's mind-blowing."[11]

Community Involvement

Kimlat’s team of See Magic Live magicians regularly perform at Orlando-area non-profit fundraisers. His team also teaches magic summer camps and classes for the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts in Downtown Orlando.[12]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Kostya Kimlat uses magic to help companies train employees - Orlando Business Journal". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  2. 1 2 "Sleight of Hand - Smart Meetings". Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Kostya Kimlat hosts Orlando Magic Mansion". Heritage Florida Jewish News. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  4. 1 2 3 "http://kostyakimlat.com/images/Kostya-Kimlat-MAGIC-Magazine.pdf" (PDF). kostyakimlat.com. Retrieved 2015-06-23. External link in |title= (help)
  5. 1 2 "'Penn & Teller: Fool Us' recap: The best fooler yet". EW.com. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  6. 1 2 "Story of a… Magician". www.orlandomagazine.com. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  7. ↑ "Abracadabra! Better customer service!". Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  8. ↑ "Schwartz — Kimlat | Baltimore Jewish Times". jewishtimes.com. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  9. ↑ "Did Kimlat fool Penn & Teller?". Heritage Florida Jewish News. Retrieved 2015-06-23.
  10. ↑ Penn & Teller: Fool Us Video - Penn's Favorite Card Trick | Watch Online Free, retrieved 2015-08-18
  11. ↑ Jillette, Penn (2015-07-05). "Episode 175 - Jonathan Ross". Penn's Sunday School. Retrieved 2015-08-18.
  12. ↑ "You can do magic: Kostya Kimlat to lead magic classes at Dr. Phil summer camp". Retrieved 2015-06-23.
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