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Rick Saldan is an excellent
inspirational speaker who tailored the seminar to the needs of the
individual students being instructed. This office thanks the Mayors Office
of Information Services for having such a vendor.
Timothy K. Lynch
Office of Fleet Management
City of Philadelphia
Rick has a magical approach that provides a clear and
concise message specifically designed to the needs of his
audience. Rick will provide all the motivational magic you
will ever need, propelling your organization to the next
level of greater success.
Thomas Mulhern
Frontier Communications
Rick Saldan is a compelling and absorbing motivational speaker and
magician. I have been to five of his
Motivational Magic presentations and it is amazing how he keeps our
college audiences on the edge of their seats.
A highly entertaining performer with great comedy flair. Rich content to
increase students' productivity, peak performance and motivation. If you
need an outstanding motivational speaker for colleges, Rick is definitely
one of the world's greatest speakers and magicians!
Dr. Rob Gilbert, Sport Psychologist,
Montclair State University
Rick Saldan has the wit, wisdom and sorcery of a wizard. He
has a dynamic personality, and all will enjoy his
captivating stories, comedy and magic!
Dennis Slaughter
Credit Suisse First Boston
Rick Saldan delivers a first-class show! A pro in every
sense of the word. Funny, unique, entertaining and polished.
Brian Letscher, Actor
Hawaii Five-O, NCIS, Cold Case, Law & Order and The Mentalist.
Rick Saldan is a wonderful combination of master magician, comic
improviser and first class speaker. The audience loved his program, which
was music to our ears. If you love celebrity motivational speakers such as
Tom Hopkins, Dale Carnegie and Zig Ziglar, then you'll love Rick!
Dottie Burman, President
Burtley Productions, Inc.
Rick Saldan
is an incredibly talented performer and motivational speaker with great insight. He shares many powerful
motivational messages that will enhance your life for the better!
Jack Murray, President
Dream Illusions
Rick is one of the best inspirational speakers on
the scene today. Funny, fun loving and highly energetic. If you want to
make your next event into an extraordinary one, then invite professional
speaker Rick Saldan and his amazing Motivational Magic.
Andres Lara, President
Inspiration Times Magazine
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The Pocono Record
Dale Carnegie course, magic changed shy,
introverted Richard Saldan
CAROL O'NEILL
Pocono Life Writer
In his 20s, Saldan fell upon hard times. Unemployed and broke,
he took a Dale Carnegie course in 1992 that set him on the path
to success.
"Dale Carnegie changed my life," Saldan
said.
Before learning the principles of the Dale Carnegie corporate
training program, Saldan was shy and introverted. After taking
the course, he volunteered as a trainer at the Dale Carnegie
sales institute in Washington, D.C., for eight years and then
became a certified instructor for Dale Carnegie.
In 1998, Saldan launched Motivational Magic and began
incorporating magic tricks into his motivational presentations.
"When you're making doves appear and disappear, people want to
listen," Saldan said. "By the time the third or fourth dove is
coming out, jaws are dropping and they want to listen to
everything you say."
Doves have been part of Saldan's show for the past 12 years. He
said it takes about six to eight months before a dove is ready
for the big time.
"You have to get them accustomed to you. Mine are very relaxed
around me," Saldan said.
As a special treat after each performance, Saldan gives his
doves a bird bubble bath. "That's their reward. They enjoy
performing. I can tell."
Saldan used to include "Bucky the Duck" in his act.
"Bucky was a smart duck," Saldan recalled. "He understood
English. When I said, get back in your cage, he went back into
his cage."
When people at a show in the Bronx offered to buy Bucky with the
intention of eating him, Saldan refused. "We've been in some
rough areas."
Even when performing magic as pure entertainment, Saldan makes
sure to include a motivational message.
"If you don't attach meaning to it, you lose the power it
has," Saldan said. |
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Magician and motivational
speaker Richard Saldan, left, unveils a cage where he made
his assistant, Maureen Hollenback of Tunkhannock, suddenly
appear in what was previously an empty cage during a
performance at the Labor of Love USA's Studio 191 in
Stroudsburg.
MARK A. GENITO/Pocono Record |
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Magician and motivational
speaker Richard Saldan takes a bow for the crowd after a
performance at the Labor of Love USA's Studio 191 in
Stroudsburg.
MARK A. GENITO/Pocono Record |
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At left, volunteer 18-year-old
Luke DiFrancisco of East Stroudsburg, watches as Magician
and motivational speaker Richard Saldan pulls an endless
stream of paper out of his mouth during a performance at the
Labor of Love USA's Studio 191 in Stroudsburg.
MARK A. GENITO/Pocono Record |
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Magician and motivational
speaker Richard Saldan pushes a sword through a box where
his assistant is lying inside during a performance at the
Labor of Love USA's Studio 191 in Stroudsburg.
MARK A. GENITO/Pocono Record |
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Now Saldan is teaching the art of magic to
teenagers in his neighborhood.
"Performing magic builds confidence and self-esteem," Saldan
said. "Plug teenagers into something that builds their
confidence and self-esteem and they'll have confidence for the
rest of their lives."
The magic bug bit 16-year-old Frank Hollenback after seeing
Saldan perform a gospel magic show at his church two years
ago.
Saldan began teaching Frank the art of magic — card tricks,
rope tricks and the coloring book trick. Frank, then 14,
suggested they bring the show to area nursing homes to
entertain the residents.
"Frankie had a very inspired idea," Saldan said. "He started
calling nursing homes."
With Frank assisting, Saldan has performed free magic shows at
several area nursing homes.
"Every magic trick applies to a lesson," Saldan said.
The doves are a big hit at nursing homes where Saldan takes
them around for residents to pet.
Now 16, Frank is still enjoying his role as Saldan's
assistant, and his sisters, Sarah Hollenback, 14, and Millie
Hollenback, 19, are also learning and becoming part of the
act.
"I saw my brother doing it and thought, that's cool. I want to
do that," Sarah said.
ON A RECENT FRIDAY NIGHT, Saldan and the Hollenbacks presented
a magic show at Studio 191, a coffeehouse in Stroud Township.
It was Sarah's first time performing live.
Saldan said the Hollenbacks' dedication paid off. "The show
was 98 percent perfect."
It took a lot of practice to master the art of levitation
using the microphone stand suspension, but Sarah managed to
spend a few seconds horizontal to the floor with nothing —
apparently — holding her up. "That's an attention getter,"
Sarah said.
When people in the audience asked her how she did it, Sarah
said her answer was, "I don't know. I don't pay attention."
Also making her debut, Millie Hollenback appeared magically in
the fire cage and in the shadow box and volunteered to be
folded up in the origami box.
"I like that one because I get to stick swords in my sister,"
Sarah said smiling.
As for Frank, Saldan said, "He's the glue of the show. He
keeps us on target. He's come up with new magic ideas."
"A lot of tricks have the same basic idea," Frank said. "You
try to figure out better ways to make it look more realistic."
Saldan's wife Jewel is the choreographer for the shows and
also does the booking for Motivational Magic shows.
"I see it as an art form," Jewel Saldan said. "I always
appreciate every performance. Every magician is an artist."
Saldan will be performing his magic program, "You Can Do the
Impossible," at 6 p.m. Sunday, March 12, at Pocono Mountain
West High School on Route 940, Pocono Summit.
How does he do that?
Here is a summary of effects and illusions Richard Saldan
uses in his Motivational Magic show.
• Microphone Stand Suspension: Saldan brings out an
assistant and a microphone stand. Assistant is able to
levitate and be suspended in the air, with only the
microphone stand to support her. Saldan talks about how we
all have hidden potential and gifts that we do not even know
we have.
• The Fire Cage: Saldan brings out an empty cage. Puts a
cloth over it for a split second, pulls off the cloth and
there is a girl inside the cage.
• The Shadow Box: A large empty box is shown, and the
lights are dimmed. Saldan has a bright light bulb, and shows
that the box is empty on the inside and outside. The doors
are closed. The shadow of a girl suddenly shows an assistant
coming out of the floor and appearing in the box. Saldan
talks about the illusions of life, how the things we
perceive are often not real. We need to use discernment to
expose reality from illusion.
• The Origami: Saldan brings out a 3-foot box on a table. An
assistant climbs into the box. The box is shrunk down to a
cubic foot. If that weren't amazing enough, swords are stuck
into the box. The box is reopened and the assistant comes
out unharmed. Saldan talks about the necessity to "think
inside the box" contrast with 'think outside the box', and
the need for conducting an inventory and assessment of our
skills and strengths.
• Newspaper to Dove: Saldan shows a newspaper on both sides,
crumbles it up into a ball. Saldan talks about the media
being full of constant bad news, and we have to learn the
art of reaching inside of ourselves and pulling out a little
magic. A dove is produced from the crumbled up ball.
• Candle to Dove: Saldan shows a red silk on both sides.
Produces a candle and lights it. Vanishes the candle, and a
dove appears. Saldan talks about how we can learn how to be
enthusiastic no matter what our circumstances are. Things
can come along to snuff out our enthusiasm, and yet we can
still reach deep inside and pull out even more magic
• Saran Wrap to Dove: Saldan shows a box of saran wrap, and
pulls off a piece. Shows the saran wrap, audience can see it
is fully transparent. Saldan crumbles the saran wrap up into
a ball, then opens it up and there is a dove. Saldan talks
about how we need to be authentic, and stop wearing masks.
Instead, to let our own gifts shine, and be true to
ourselves.
• Coloring Book: Saldan shows a coloring book, all of its
pages are blank. First, pictures suddenly appear on the
blank pages. Then, when shown again, the pictures are all
now colored in. Saldan talks about how sometimes we feel our
lives are empty, but that we can fill our lives and bring a
new dimension of full living color to our everyday
experiences.
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"Rick's presentation is thoroughly inspiring, entertaining
and wonderful!"
Elizabeth O'Keeffe
Random House Publishing |
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"Rick Saldan has the wit, wisdom and sorcery of a
wizard. He has a dynamic personality, and all will enjoy
his captivating stories, comedy and magic!"
Dennis Slaughter
Credit Suisse First Boston |
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"Rick has
given of his time, energy and talents to all kinds; from the
needy elderly to convicts, from terminally ill patients to
runaways. He has strengthened and edified the lives of
many."
Captain Ross Schwalm,
United States
Marine Corps |
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"The
oohs and ahhs could be heard for miles as magician and
motivational speaker Rick Saldan taught students at the
Clarence B. Lamb School how to be possibility thinkers."
Dana Forde
The New Egypt Press
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You can pause the slideshow by hovering your mouse over the pictures
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