The appeal between the two
The keynote finishes, the room is with you, and that is the emotional peak of the night. Make the ask there, then I come back and send everybody out lighter than they came in.
For fundraisers and galas
It has to end generous.
That one sentence is the whole reason this program is built the way it is.
A talk about loss will move a room. That is the point of it. But it also leaves people sitting quietly with their own thoughts, and a quiet room is a difficult room to ask for money in.
I have watched event committees solve this the hard way, by putting something loud on afterward that has nothing to do with the evening, and the night ends up feeling like two different events stapled together.
So I do both halves myself.
I open with the keynote. The story, told with magic, thirty to sixty minutes depending on what your program needs. Then I come back later and do the comedy magic I have been doing since 1991, and your guests go home laughing.
One performer, one booking, one evening that holds together.
That is your decision, not mine, but it is worth thinking about before the run of show is set.
The keynote finishes, the room is with you, and that is the emotional peak of the night. Make the ask there, then I come back and send everybody out lighter than they came in.
Keynote, then the show, then the ask while the room is warm and awake. This works better when your audience needs to relax before they will open a checkbook.
Tell me which way you are leaning and I will build the keynote to land in the right place.
David Bible organized the American Heart Association fundraiser where I performed in August 2026.
I have had the pleasure of knowing Carroll Baker for approximately ten years. We first met aboard the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer, where I was thoroughly impressed by his engaging, entertaining, and truly remarkable magic show. His performance made such a lasting impression that I subsequently hired him to perform at a corporate event for my organization.
Carroll was exceptional. His professionalism, talent, and ability to captivate an audience made the event a tremendous success, and my staff absolutely loved his performance.
More recently, I had the opportunity to sponsor a fundraiser for the American Heart Association Heart Walk and asked Carroll to serve as the opening act. Once again, he exceeded expectations and delivered an outstanding performance that had the audience thoroughly engaged and entertained.
I can wholeheartedly recommend Carroll Baker for any event. He is a talented and professional magician who brings energy, personality, and an unforgettable experience to every performance. I would not hesitate to hire him again and highly recommend him to anyone looking for exceptional entertainment.
David Bible. Hired me for a corporate event, and ten years later as the opening act for his American Heart Association Heart Walk fundraiser.
Carroll put on a great show at our fundraising Gala Event. Our guest loved it! Would highly recommend Carroll Baker. Jeff C., nonprofit gala
Saw Carroll Baker at Greenlawn Cemetery fundraiser for the Crypt and he was awesome. In fact my kids (both under 10 at the time) and I thought he was much better than the headliner. Elizabeth W., Greenlawn Cemetery fundraiser
I have also performed at the Buckeye Cruise for Cancer, the Kick Cancer's Butt Show, and for Pelotonia here in Columbus.
Justin Zwick and Craig Krenzel, both former Ohio State quarterbacks, after a show on the 2017 Buckeye Cruise for Cancer.
Say so early and we will work it out. Charity budgets are what they are, and I would rather have the honest conversation in the first email than have you quietly cross me off.
The route that works best, and the one I suggest first: ask a local business to sponsor the entertainment. They cover it, your budget stays with the cause, and their name goes on the part of the night people actually talk about afterward. I am happy to be listed as sponsored by them.
If that is not possible, tell me what you have to work with.
Who is going to be in the room, what the evening has to do, and what you are worried about. I will tell you honestly whether this is the right fit, and if it is not, I will say so.
Or just call. I would rather have the conversation. 614-800-8909