David Hira – Magic

Being a magician means that I have the ability to do what others think is impossible while creating wonder, astonishment and disbelief. For years I learned to do this through the tricks that I learned, practiced and performed.

Over time, a wonderful thing began to happen. In the midst of my performances people started saying, “These aren’t just tricks, are they?” What they meant was that I wasn’t just some guy trying to fool them. Instead, I was creating such impressionable moment for them that they actually got to believe, just for a moment, that anything was really possible.

Hurray! This is what I strived to achieve. Indeed, for all of us, anything IS possible. Note that I did not say “everything is possible”. What is the difference? Focus. When we focus individually or focus as a team on a result it most certainly can be achieved!

We all have the capability to do what others think is impossible. My job is to remind and reinforce to each person that I meet that this is indeed true. Find a way you can do it, not reasons why you can’t. Focus on what you wish to achieve and then make it so. Do something every day to reach your goal, our dream, your vision. Then, one day, it will happen. Then, you too, will find that one of life’s greatest joys is doing what others said was “impossible”.

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It’s time to hire entertainment for your fall events and holiday parties! Here are some tips…

David Hira Productions

How to hire the perfect entertainment for your holiday party:

Oh, great. You’ve been put in charge of putting on your company’s Christmas holiday party and finding the perfect entertainment. Now what?

Relax! It’s actually pretty easy to get it all together and book the perfect entertainment, whether that be “mingling” entertainment for an open house event, music, or an after dinner show.

The first thing to know is that the internet is only partially your friend. Some of the best entertainers in your area aren’t professional marketers and may not be on the “first page” of Google. Many of those who are marketing-savvy may not be the best fit for your group and their needs. Don’t worry. I’ll share the secret to finding just the right entertainment in just a moment!

What should you consider when choosing the right entertainment?

• Will this be for adults only are are families…

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The PERFECT Valentine’s Day Gift for Her

Gift ideas for Valentine’s Day

Guys, guys, guys… Flowers? Chocolates? Really? Okay, sure. Why not? But in addition to the usual, why not take it to the next level?

If you want to really reach a woman’s heart let her know that you understand (and are paying attention) to what she loves. Don’t try to “reinvent the wheel” when it comes to getting her a present. Don’t risk it! Instead, take what you KNOW she likes and repackage it.

Here are just a few ideas to get you thinking…

 

1. Put her favorite songs on a new iPod that is for her bedside or for working out or for whatever she does for her “me time”.
2. Take her favorite photos and place them beautifully in a nice album. Take her to a special and picturesque place where you can give it to her AND take some new photos of the both of you to add to the last page of the album.
3. Surprise her by telling her you’re taking her out on a date then surprise her with her favorite restaurant’s food delivered (or picked up for home) and have dinner in front of her favorite movie (DVD) on TV for an “at home” date night.
4. Find her favorite pair of shoes that are worn out and have them refinished at a shoe repair shop. Present them to her along with a night out for her to break them in all over again.
5. Set up an appointment at the counter of her favorite cosmetics at Nieman Marcus (or similar) for a makeover and the purchase of all new makeup. Bring wine and cheese in a small cooler when you take her. Make it special (and be prepared for the sticker shock of what good makeup really costs!)
6. Her favorite restaurant and meal? Learn how to make it and surprise her by cooking it at home. Even a bad attempt will be appreciated. Make your dining area look like the restaurant. Type up a menu. Dress like a waiter. Make it fun!
7. Fly in her best friend that she hasn’t seen in a long time for a visit with her. Nothing is more appreciated than you arranging time for her with a missed friend. Give THEM a night out (without you) at a hotel so then can “girl talk” and catch up.
8. Many women love a good massage. If you really want to treat her have the masseuse come to your home. Secretly set up a room at home to look like a spa room. There is nothing greater than getting a massage and not having to get in a car to drive home.

These are just some suggestions. Think about the things she loves the most. The places she likes. Then, repackage them in an unexpected way.

Give gifts that are from the heart and not the wallet. These are the gift’s that will capture her heart and that she’ll tell her friends about for years…

About the Author: David Hira is both an entertainer and a keynote motivational speaker. David connects people’s heads to their hearts and has them care about any job or task that is before them. Learn more about David at www.DavidHira.com

David Hira Productions

After a recent show I called my client to say thank you and to get feedback. “They all love you and your show… we’re glad we didn’t go with a comedian.” Ah, I hear this all to often. What is the reason behind this common thread?

Safety.

Corporate events and customer appreciation events are all about having fun and adding a little excitement. The last thing anyone wants is there to be that “oh no…” moment when a performer says the wrong (stupid) thing in front of the crowd that the corporation is trying to “win over”. Suggestive or sexual humor or innuendos are never appropriate. Keeping it clean, fun, upbeat and positive is my motto. Political humor, religious humor, ethnic references or references to the economy is neither funny nor appropriate at a corporate gathering.

The client continued, “We once had a comedian and had to tell them to…

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David Hira’s Prime Rib Roast Recipe

David Hira’s FAMOUS Prime Rib Roast

This is the most delicious prime rib roast you will ever have! That said, you can’t leave out a step. The right roast makes a big difference. The 3 days of dry aging? Imperative. The seasoning? Don’t skip or add anything! Most of all, check your oven’s temperature with a thermometer days in advance to be sure that it the oven is accurate. Lots of ovens are not accurate. It is a MUST. Good luck!

Needed:

• One 6-7 lb. Prime Rib Roast (no bones) preferably from the loin end. Look for it to be well marbled with fat throughout the meat. I use Costco’s Prime Rib Roast.
• Canola oil or Olive oil, to coat roast
• 3 large carrots – cut into 1” pieces
• 2 yellow onions – quartered
• 2 cups of water
• Horseradish for serving to your guests (I like creamy myself!)

Seasoning Mixture: (combine these in a small bowl)

• 1 tablespoon dried thyme.
• 1 1/2 tablespoon dried CRUSHED rosemary
• 4 tablespoons freshly cracked tri-color pepper
• 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated or powdered garlic
• 1 1/2 tablespoons granulated or powdered onion
• 3 tablespoons kosher salt

Au Jus (Gravy):

• 3/4 Cup of Red Wine (Any kind – I use pinot noir)
• 1 Beef Bouillon Cube dissolved in 1 cup of boiling water
• 4 Fresh Sage leaves OR 2 tablespoons of crushed sage spice
• Pan drippings MINUS the onions and carrots
• 1/4 cup of flour

3 Full Days prior to cooking: Age the Meat

This is the most important step! “Aging” is a natural way to breakdown the chewy fibers and muscle that may be in the meat. Aging is simple: Remove any plastic wrapping or butcher’s paper from the roast. Place the standing rib roast upright onto a half sheet pan fitted with a rack. (A “broiler pan” works fine.) The rack is essential. Place dry paper towels on top of the roast to help to draw moisture away from the meat. Place in a refrigerator at approximately 50 to 60 percent humidity and between 34 and 38 degrees F. (measure with a refrigerator thermometer.) Change the towels daily for 3 days days. The meat will become dark and dry on the 3rd day. You’ll notice the difference! (Note: No foil, no plastic wrap. Just cover with ONE layer of paper towels.)

3 Hours Prior to Cooking (6-7 hours prior to serving)
Gently slice 1/2” deep lines across the entire roast creating a “diamond pattern” (approximately 1-1/2” inches apart). Do this on all sides and on the ends. Rub the roast down with oil on all sides. Then rub the seasoning mixture all over the roast and INTO the slits. This rub should be plentiful and thick all around the roast and into the slits.
Important: Once seasoned let the roast sit out on the broiler pan or rack for 2-3 hours prior to putting it in the oven. Meat should always be room temperature before cooking.

Cooking the Roast
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Make sure the oven is at 250 degrees prior to putting the roast in the oven.

On a deep cookie sheet or in a large roasting pan, spread out the carrots and onions to about the size of your roast. Set the roast ON the carrots and onions with the FAT SIDE OF THE ROAST UP. Add 2 cups of water into the pan.

Place a GOOD meat thermometer into the the thickest part of the roast. Place the pan with the roast into the oven with the dial of the thermometer facing the oven’s window so you can see it without having to open the oven. Close the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 200 degrees.

Note about cooking times:
My 6.12 lb. roast (weight prior to aging) took approximately 3 hours to cook up to 125 degrees internal temperature. I recommend an electronic meat thermometer with an external probe reader. The probe goes in the meat and the probe is attached to a cord that comes out of your oven and sits on top of your oven. It can be set to “beep’ when the roast reaches 125 degrees internally. This is for a rare/medium rare roast.

NOW WHAT?
When the roast has reached 125 degrees on the thermometer, carefully remove the roast on the pan. Set it somewhere safe and immediately cover it loosely with foil. (This important. The meat is still cooking even though it is out of the oven. Do NOT remove the thermometer!)

Let the roast “rest” like this for about 15 -20 minutes UNTIL THE INTERNAL TEMPERATURE RISES AND HITS 135 DEGREES. (The temperature will continue to rise while on out of the oven.) Carefully remove the meat thermometer (juice may spurt out). While the roast is “resting”, turn up the oven to 500 degrees.

When the thermometer says 135 degrees do two things:

1. Drain the liquid from the pan into a frying pan.
2. Remove the foil and return the roast to the hot oven for 15 minutes

You’ll be making the au jus once your return the roast to the oven.

Au Jus: This is NOT traditional, but it works!

• Pan drippings from roast, about 1 1/2 cups
• 3/4 cup red wine
• 1 cup of beef boullion dissolved in boiling water OR beef stock
• 1/4 cup of flour
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• 4 sage leaves OR 2 tablespoons of crushed sage (spice)

Into the roast pan’s drippings that you’ve poured into the frying pan, crinkle the sage leaves in your hands and then add it (or the crushed sage) to the liquid. Bring to a boil on the stove. Whisk in the flour slowly. Turn down the heat to medium-low and constantly stir for about 5 minutes. Slowly add in the beef bouillon (or beef stock) and the red wine. Keep stirring. Crack in some black pepper. Put into a gravy boat for guests to “add their own”.

Now that the roast has been at 500 degrees pull it from the oven. (Careful!) Move the roast to a cutting board (I put my cutting board into a larger baking pan to catch the juices.) Carefully cut your roast into whatever thickness you’d like!

Serve with creamy horseradish on the side and your au jus. We like a salad, potato (mashed garlic or baked) and brussels sprouts with our prime rib. Try making easy “popovers” to serve with this too! It’s a “bread” that is perfect for sopping up the juices from the prime rib.

Leftovers? Eat the meat cold on Hawaiian King rolls with horseradish or some cold au ju OR on english muffins instead of Canadian bacon for Eggs Benedict. Good luck!

David

How to hire the perfect entertainment for your holiday party.

How to hire the perfect entertainment for your holiday party:

Oh, great. You’ve been put in charge of putting on your company’s Christmas holiday party and finding the perfect entertainment. Now what?

Relax! It’s actually pretty easy to get it all together and book the perfect entertainment, whether that be “mingling” entertainment for an open house event, music, or an after dinner show.

The first thing to know is that the internet is only partially your friend. Some of the best entertainers in your area aren’t professional marketers and may not be on the “first page” of Google. Many of those who are marketing-savvy may not be the best fit for your group and their needs. Don’t worry. I’ll share the secret to finding just the right entertainment in just a moment!

What should you consider when choosing the right entertainment?

• Will this be for adults only are are families included?
• Will this be formal, semi formal or casual?
• Where will the event be held? Your office, a restaurant or special event venue or at a hotel ballroom?
• Is there a social hour, is this a mixer, will there be food (buffet or seated)?
• Are you having speeches, awards or other presentations? When?
• Do you want people to go away laughing, smiling and saying “WOW!” or simply saying, “what a nice night?”
• Do you want some live music during the beginning of the event? During the meal? As a featured attraction after the lunch or dinner?
• Do you want people to dance or do you want them to enjoy a fun and entertaining show?
• Is it important that no one in your group be offended with any suggestive humor, political jokes, religious or ethnic references?

It is my experience that every event should be viewed as a “story”. There should be a beginning, a middle and an end.

The Beginning
People should arrive and have things happening from the start! Music, mingling entertainment such as a terrific sleight-of-hand magician and/or a silhouette artist making keepsakes. This is the time where people get acquainted with spouses and guests. You need an “icebreaker” to help people introduce one another and keep things festive. Having name badges pre-made when the arrive helps everyone from feeling awkward. This should be done OUTSIDE of the dinner area in a separate room if possible.

The Middle
This is when people move to their tables for your meal whether a buffet or seated dinner or lunch. Having place cards so that people know where to sit takes care of uncertainty and keeps from having one lone couple stuck at a table all by themselves. The dinner should always open with a welcome from the host, a prayer if appropriate, and then the meal itself. Have light dinner music (no words, instrumental only) playing lightly during the meal. At the end of the meal and during the dessert is the BEST TIME to give out your awards and give a SHORT speech if necessary.

The End
Now is the time to WOW your group with a terrific show. My opinion? Make people laugh, get them engaged, have a real “production” that gets people involved and clapping like never before. Think variety acts like a great comedy magic show, a comedy hypnotist or a high-level ventriloquist. Think “cruise ship entertainment”. Variety entertainers can customize their show with your company name or motto and include people in their acts to make it even more personal. Make sure that you insist that it be “clean and politically correct” to keep you out of trouble. At the end of the show, simply thank everyone for coming and bid them a good night. If you can have a small parting gift for everyone as they leave, so much the better. Even a small box of chocolates nicely wrapped is that “something extra” that makes people say “awe…”

So where can you find what you need to pull off such an event? I said that the Internet is only “partially our friend”. I suggest that you find a reputable event planner or talent agency in your town. Both can help you not only find great entertainers and other vendors but they can help find the perfect MATCH for your group and event. They have the experience and know what will work and what won’t. Tell them what the “look and feel” is that you are going for, but listen to what they have to say. They do this day in and day out. Trust them!

Then, create your “to do list” broken down by week. Finding your entertainment and venue is a BIG priority. They are the first to get booked by others. Get this done first, then everything else.

Most of all, learn to delegate to others. If you don’t have the staff don’t worry. A great event planner can either assist you and your team or do everything for you. Don’t forget, you’ll want to enjoy your party too!

About the author: David Hira is a nationwide entertainer, magician and motivational speaker. He has worked over 400 events a year for small and large companies and has worked with dozens of event planners and talent agencies. For more information on David Hira, go to www.DavidHira.com or email David at david@DavidHira.com

I have a choice…

The last few weeks have been tough. I have so many friends that are experiencing tragedy. Not inconveniences. Tragic, horrible, life-changing events.

Bear with me…

One of my closest performing buddies, with whom I perform over 30 times a year, had a heart attack 2 weeks ago. Open-heart surgery was successful. The next day, he suffered a full stroke, then a blood clot, then swelling of the brain. He’s not in good shape. Actually, he’s worse.

Then there are my longtime local friends whose 15-year-old daughter simply dropped dead in their home. Brain aneurism, out of nowhere. Bam. A girl full of life just died.

My longtime local friends’ 21-year-old son, a college kid, got in a horrific auto accident. His body is battered but his brain took the real beating. Picture a strapping young man with energy and smarts now struggling to give a “thumbs up” sign, struggling to sit on the side of the bed, and unable to communicate anything but pain. His prognosis? Much of the same…

Then there’s my father in law this past week. You don’t want to hear my thoughts on him. But, let me just say that he has challenged everyone in the family as he has been moved out of his house and into a long term care facility. This simply change in life is causing friction between every family member and creating stress on so many wonderful people.

Not the usual cheerful stuff you read from me, is it? It is life. We all have struggles, are facing struggles or sharing the struggles of others. For me, this was a LOT to bear. This has all happened during one of the busiest times in my business life. 14 magic shows, 2 cocktail parties with “mingling magic” and 2 major keynote motivational speaking presentations… all in 5 days. (They all went great, thank you!)

What was the choice I had? I could choose to go into an emotional black hole and shake; shutter and cry like I did one night… or I could stop and say, “How fortunate am I to have so many friends with whom I can share their pains? How fortunate am I to have so many friends who know they can turn to me? How fortunate am I that I can be there, in times of need, when friends need someone by their side?

At the funeral viewing, the wake, the night before 15-year-old Kaitlyn’s funeral I hugged her parents for an eternity. “We’re in a nightmare,” the mother wailed. “Yes, yes you are…” was my reply. I apologized for not being a better magician, a real one, who could make things different.

I don’t have the power to wave my magic wand and change life. I do have the power, however, to choose how I look at the situation I’m in, the situation that others are in, and be there. “You can fake like you care but you can’t fake being there.” I can’t do everything, but I could do something. And, in the end, I could simply find contentment and happiness in the fact that I had friends and family to love and who loved me back.

What will you choose today? Good and bad things are happening all around us. I choose to find the best in every situation. To see the blessings in every tragic situation. But, most of all, I choose to plug in and be there, not retreat, from my friends and family when the going gets rough. Like a marriage vow, I pledge to love them for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, ’till death do us part…

Sibling Rules on Property

If I like it, it’s mine.
If I’m holding it, it’s mine.
If I can take it from you, it’s mine.
If I had it a little while ago, it’s mine.
…If I’m chewing something up, all the pieces are mine.
If it’s mine, it must never appear to be yours anyway.
If it just looks like mine, it’s mine.
If you are playing with something and you put it down, it automatically becomes mine.

If Its Broken , Its Yours …

From David and Angela’s Kitchen: Watermelon Cucumber Salad

Watermelon Cucumber Salad

Try this exactly as described. The mint with the cucumbers and the watermelon with the red pepper flakes that took me by surprise. Really, this is awesome…You and your guests will be HOOKED on this wonderful summer side dish!

Ingredients:
• 1/4 cup rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 tbsp fresh mint (very important)
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (very important)
• 2 cups seedless watermelon
• 2 cups cucumber, seeded (cut out the middle section) & thinly sliced into half moons
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion

Directions:
• Whisk the first four ingredients together until sugar dissolves.
• Add the rest of the ingredients, toss and coat.
• Serve CHILLED!

Japan Earthquake and Tsunami – Personal Thoughts

I’m a native born American of Japanese and Dutch decent. Our family house has been in Nagano prefecture in northern Japan for over 800 years. It is close to the earthquakes. That said, I no longer have relatives in Japan.

The images of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan are beyond words. It doesn’t matter what your heritage, your ethnicity nor your history of where you’ve lived. This is a human tragedy.

I have friends in Japan. One is a magician, one is a missionary and one is the exchange student “daughter” of one of my best friends in Texas. We have heard from the first two. They are fine. We have not yet heard from the exchange student daughter. We are hopeful that her electricity and communication are simply not working. We hope. We pray.

What can you do or I do? If you believe in prayer, pray. Until things become more clear I say “wait” on sending money. There are many established organizations that we can trust. But until the authorities can assess the needs, wait to give. That said, we can try to purchase items that are made in Japan. You can plan a trip to other areas of the country so that your tourism dollars are added to the tax base. As for our extended family we are planning a ten day trip to Japan this summer. We hope to have 25 of us going.

The next best things we can do? Take inventory of your home. What supplies and plan do you have in place should you loose electricity and water for six weeks? There are lots of web sites that can guide you of what you should have and where you can find the supplies. Start stocking up. It’s another way to show your family that you love them.

These are my thoughts. I hope that none of us are every faced with anything like we have seen in Japan. Pray, support their economy and prepare your household.

Looking forward…

David Hira

Valentine Magic – Chocolate Covered Strawberries

I recently was a guest at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I was hired to be the closing motivational keynote speaker for U.S. Foodservice and spoke to their top sales people. That evening, I entertained as the “world’s greatest magician” with expert sleight of hand for their social hour.

I noticed the chocolate covered strawberries from The Broadmoor’s kitchen right away. With a bit of coaxing, their awesome chef happily shared their secret to making these gems at home. I thought that I’d share this recipe with you for Valentine’s Day. Yes, you could buy these already made, but show your loved one how much you care by making them yourself.

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES DARK & WHITE CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES  Chef Remy Fünfrock, Executive Pastry Chef at The Broadmoor Makes 10 Strawberries INGREDIENTS 10 oz. High Quality Dark Chocolate – 70% Cocoa 4 oz. High Quality White Chocolate 10 Ripe Strawberries 1 Candy Thermometer 1 Baking Sheet Lined with Parchment Paper or Aluminum Foil 1 Pastry Bag Fitted with a Small Round Tip DIRECTIONS Melt the dark chocolate over a double boiler.  Stir consistently making sure                                                                             the temperature of of the chocolate doesn’t exceed 88° F. Melt the white chocolate the same way as the dark chocolate except that                                                                                 the temperature should be 84° F. Dip a strawberry in the dark chocolate and place it on the lined baking sheet.                                                                     Repeat for all of the strawberries. Fill the pastry bag with the white chocolate.  Drizzle white chocolate over                                                                                 the strawberries  making thin lines. Refrigerate with until set. Serve with a Liquid Love cocktail… TIPS FROM CHEF REMY Use good dark chocolate for this- Ghiradelli or Nestle work great. When melting the chocolate, go back and forth over the double boiler to avoid                                                             overheating the chocolate. Never add water to thin out chocolate.  If it is too thick, it probably isn’t a good                                                                 quality chocolate. If you choose to use milk chocolate instead of dark, work with it the same way as                                                                   the white chocolate.

So there you have it. Give it a whirl. Don’t just tell people you love them… SHOW them you love them. This should do the trick!