Draft:Robert Strong (magician)
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Comment: Hello. Most of the references are either affiliated with the subject or are directory listings that mention him. Before resubmitting, find more reliable sources that are independent of the subject to establish notability. 🌀Hurricane Wind and Fire (talk) (contribs)🔥 14:27, 13 November 2025 (UTC)
- Comment: The title of this draft either has been disambiguated or will need to be disambiguated for acceptance.If the title of this draft has been disambiguated, submitters and reviewers are asked to check the disambiguated title to see if it is the most useful disambiguation, and, if necessary, rename this draft. If this draft is accepted, the disambiguation page will need to be edited. Either an entry will need to be added, or an entry will need to be revised. Please do not edit the disambiguation unless you are accepting this draft.The disambiguation page for the primary name is Robert Strong.You may ask for advice about disambiguation at the Teahouse. Robert McClenon (talk) 00:22, 4 November 2025 (UTC)
Robert Strong is an American magician, comedian, author, and corporate speaker based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is known for combining comedy, sleight of hand, and business communication, and has performed for audiences in more than forty countries. He has appeared at institutions such as Stanford University and The Commonwealth Club of California, and was recognized as a 2024 Smart Speaker Award winner by Smart Meetings magazine.[1]
Early life and background
[edit]Public information about Strong’s early life and education is limited. A 2006 profile in the East Bay Times described him as blending "magic plus comedy—a truly strong combination," highlighting his early career touring corporate events.[2]
Career
[edit]Magic and comedy
[edit]Strong’s performances merge stand-up comedy and interactive illusion. CBS News San Francisco listed him first among the “Best Local Magicians in San Francisco,” citing his ability to create unique theatrical experiences.[3]
He has headlined corporate events for major technology companies. The Nob Hill Gazette reported that he “teaches magic at Google and has performed in over 40 countries.”[4]
He has appeared as a contestant on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, at events such as TEDx New Wall Street,[5] TED AI 2023,[6] and Stanford University’s Chemistry Unleashed: The Chemistry of Awe program, where he demonstrated “the neuroscience of magic.”[7]
At The Commonwealth Club of California, he appeared alongside neuroscientist Adam Gazzaley to explore how the brain perceives illusion.[8]
Strong serves on the Wonderfest Board of Directors,[9] and is listed as faculty for the NextMed Health conference series.[10]
Books and speaking
[edit]Strong co-authored Amaze & Delight: Secrets to Creating Magic in Business, a book connecting stage-magic principles to audience engagement and leadership communication.[11]
He also founded Speak About AI, a speakers bureau launched to meet growing corporate demand for artificial-intelligence-related keynotes.[12]
Notable events
[edit]In 2015, Strong co-produced the official Houdini Séance in San Francisco, an event covered by the Wild About Houdini website[13] and the Love Letters Live podcast.[14]
Awards and recognition
[edit]- Best Local Magician in San Francisco – CBS News Bay Area[3]
- Smart Speaker Award 2024: Best of Stage – Smart Meetings Magazine[1]
- Best of the Bay: Arts & Entertainment – 48 Hills / SF Bay Guardian[15]
Style and themes
[edit]Profiles in Punch Magazine and Smart Meetings describe Strong’s style as “experiential and participatory,” combining humor, misdirection, and audience engagement to illustrate psychological and business principles. His talks frequently reference cognitive science and neuroscience, focusing on curiosity, empathy, and storytelling.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "2024 Smart Speaker Awards". Smart Meetings. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Magic plus comedy a truly strong combination". East Bay Times. 27 December 2006. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ a b "Best Local Magicians in San Francisco". CBS News Bay Area. 22 July 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Robert Strong teaches magic at Google and has performed in over 40 countries". Nob Hill Gazette. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Robert Strong". TEDx New Wall Street. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Robert Strong". TED AI. 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Chemistry Unleashed: The Chemistry of Awe with Magician Robert Strong". Stanford University Events. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Adam Gazzaley and Robert Strong: The Neuroscience of Magic". The Commonwealth Club of California. August 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Wonderfest. 24 August 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Faculty". NextMed Health. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ a b "The Magician and the Message". Punch Magazine. 2 April 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "New Bureau Launches to Meet High Demand for AI Speakers". Skift Meetings. 7 February 2024. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Report: Official Houdini Séance 2015". Wild About Houdini. 1 November 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Robert Strong, magician, is bringing a séance to San Francisco on Halloween Night". Love Letters Live. October 2023. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
- ^ "Best of the Bay 2016 – Arts & Entertainment". 48 Hills. October 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2025.
External links
[edit]