Changes
Added new television appearance and additional biographical details from recent journal article
{{Infobox person
| name = Kostya Kimlat
| image = Kostya Kimlat, Sleight-of-Hand Magician & Keynote Speaker.jpg
| caption = Kimlat delivers his "Think Like a Magician" keynote
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1983}}
| birth_place = [[Kiev]], [[Ukraine]]
| residence = [[Orlando]], [[Florida]]
| occupation = magician & speaker
| known_for = [[Sleight of Hand]] Magic and [[Mentalism]]
| television = ''[[Penn & Teller: Fool Us]]''
| website = {{URL|kostyakimlat.com}}
}}
'''Kostya Kimlat''' is a [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]]-American magician, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and business consultant who uses [[magic (illusion)|magic]] to help companies train employees.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Kostya Kimlat uses magic to help companies train employees - Orlando Business Journal|url = http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/print-edition/2013/07/05/kostya-kimlat-uses-magic-to-help.html?page=all|website = Orlando Business Journal|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> As a speaker, he helps groups understand the importance of perception in their daily lives through the art of magic and sleight of hand.<ref name="Sleight of Hand - Smart Meetings">{{Cite web|title = Sleight of Hand - Smart Meetings|url = http://www.smartmeetings.com/trends/12528/sleight-of-hand|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref>
In January 2006, he became the youngest magician to be featured in a ''[[Magic (magazine)|Magic Magazine]]'' cover story<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Kostya Kimlat hosts Orlando Magic Mansion|url = http://www.heritagefl.com/story/2014/10/17/news/kostya-kimlat-hosts-orlando-magic-mansion/3453.html|website = Heritage Florida Jewish News|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> centered upon his technical skills and early business success.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url = http://kostyakimlat.com/images/Kostya-Kimlat-MAGIC-Magazine.pdf |title = Kostya Kimlat MAGIC Magazine |website = kostyakimlat.com|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref>
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."<ref name="community.ew.com">{{Cite web|title = 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us' recap: The best fooler yet|url = http://community.ew.com/2015/08/18/penn-teller-favorite-card-trick/|website = EW.com|accessdate = 2015-08-18}}</ref>
== Early life ==
Kimlat was born in [[Kiev|Kiev, Ukraine]] in 1983, and immigrated to [[Orlando, Florida]] with his parents, sister, and grandmother in 1992.<ref name=":1" /> His parents wanted a life away from [[Communism]] and the lingering effects of the [[Chernobyl disaster]], and a life in which the family's [[Judaism]] would no longer be called into question.<ref name=":2" /> Both of his parents, Irina and Boris, had earned master's degrees in engineering in the Soviet Union. Boris had received two such degrees and held multiple engineering patents. According to Kimlat, "...that didn’t matter when we got here. So they just started all over."<ref name="JLife">{{cite journal |last1=Slater Tate |first1=Allison |title=Fool Me Once |journal=J Life Magazine |date=1 September 2018 |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=24-27 |url=https://www.lakemarylife.com/filerepository/archives/JLIFEFALL18/index.html |accessdate=25 September 2018}}</ref>
Kimlat first became interested in magic when he was 12 years old from watching ''[[The World's Greatest Magic]]'' on television.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title = Story of a… Magician|url = http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/May-2014/Story-of-a-Magician/|website = www.orlandomagazine.com|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> At age 14, he was regularly working in restaurants and at private events as a sleight-of-hand magician.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name=":1" />
He attended the [[University of Central Florida]], where he studied philosophy, psychology, and literature. Kimlat graduated with an honors degree, after completing a thesis on the connection between philosophy and magic.<ref name="JLife" />
== Business Highlights ==
Kimlat is the CEO of Event Magic International LLC, including sub-brands [http://www.seemagiclive.com See Magic Live], Restaurant Magic Business, and [http://www.thinkmagic.com/ ThinkMagic].<ref name=":0" />
=== Businesses ===
==== Keynote Speaking ====
Kimlat travels the country delivering corporate and sales trainings and keynotes of his trademarked Think Like A Magician™ presentation<ref>{{cite web |title=US Trademark Office |url=http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4802:95d5gu.2.1 |accessdate=25 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="Sleight of Hand - Smart Meetings"/>, which combines his magic talents with business-focused presentations.<ref name=":1" />
<blockquote>"The biggest lesson for businesses, or really, for anybody, is that you have the ability to influence people’s perception with your language, the way you walk, the way you talk, the way you present yourself," Kimlat said. "Everything we do creates perception. In order to avoid miscommunication and misperceptions, we have to be able to see things from our audience’s point of view, whether that audience is a client, a customer, a patient, a child, or a spouse."<ref name="JLife" /></blockquote>
==== 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.<ref name=":0" /> They perform regularly for fans at [[Orlando Magic]] NBA games.<ref name=":1" />
==== Restaurant Magic Business ====
Restaurant Magic Business places performing magicians in restaurants, consults restaurant operators, and trains staff on customer service.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Abracadabra! Better customer service!|url = http://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/improving-operations/ideas/articles/abracadabra-better-customer-service|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref>
=== Book ===
''Think Like a Magician'' is the title of Kimlat's best-known keynote presentation and forthcoming book.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Schwartz — Kimlat {{!}} Baltimore Jewish Times|url = http://jewishtimes.com/33965/schwartz-kimlat/|website = jewishtimes.com|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> Kimlat helps businesses drive relationship-based growth by using the lessons of magic to see things from another person's perspective.<ref name=":3" />
== Television Appearances ==
Kimlat appeared on Season 2 of ''[[Penn & Teller: Fool Us]]'' on The [[The CW|CW Network]] and fooled Penn & Teller.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title = Did Kimlat fool Penn & Teller?|url = http://heritagefl.com/story/2015/05/08/Features/Did-Kimlat-fool-Penn-%2526amp%253B-Teller%253F/4400.html|website = Heritage Florida Jewish News|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> 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 Jillette|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 (magician)|Teller]] reacted with delight, emitting audible giggles (rare for the typically silent performer).<ref name="community.ew.com"/><ref>{{Citation|title = Penn & Teller: Fool Us Video - Penn's Favorite Card Trick {{!}} Watch Online Free|url = http://www.cwtv.com/shows/penn-teller-fool-us/penns-favorite-card-trick|accessdate = 2015-08-18}}</ref>
[[Penn Jillette|Penn]] highlighted Kimlat's performance on his podcast, ''Penn's Sunday School'':
<blockquote>We did that exact trick on [[Today (U.S. TV program)|The Today Show]]. [[Teller (magician)|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 [[Today (U.S. TV program)|The Today Show]]? I'm now gonna show you how it's done.' When [[Teller (magician)|Teller]] saw his name pop on the introduction…I saw [[Teller (magician)|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.<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://pennsundayschool.com/episodes/|title = Episode 175 - Jonathan Ross|last = Jillette|first = Penn|date = 2015-07-05|journal = Penn's Sunday School|doi = |pmid = |access-date = 2015-08-18}}</ref></blockquote>
Kimlat returned to ''[[Penn & Teller: Fool Us]]'' in 2018. This time, he performed an effect in which he "dribbled," or cascaded a deck of cards from his hand down to the table. From the middle of the falling deck, he plucked out [[Penn Jillette|Penn]]'s chosen card. The duo correctly guessed that Kimlat was not, in fact, performing a "trick," but displaying a talent of skill. [[Penn Jillette|Penn]] said, "We don’t think there was a trick. We think you actually did what you actually said you were going to do."<ref name="JLife" /><ref name="YT" /> In reference to not fooling [[Penn Jillette|Penn]] & [[Teller (magician)|Teller]] the second time, Kimlat said:
<blockquote>"It was a huge compliment. I selected this trick, knowing that if they figured it out, they would essentially be acknowledging to the world the time and effort that went into it. This was the rare opportunity to have the method be acknowledged publicly and serve a greater purpose—to showcase to the public the work that goes into perfecting a magic effect.<ref name="JLife" /></blockquote>
After the "bust," [[Penn Jillette|Penn]] & [[Teller (magician)|Teller]] left their seats to shake Kimlat's hand on stage, an honor typically reserved for those magicians who fool them. While walking back to their judge seats, [[Penn Jillette|Penn]] told the audience, "He's better than you think, I'm telling you that."<ref name="YT">{{cite web |title=Penn & Teller Fool Us: Kostya Kimlat's IMPOSSIBLE Card Trick // Season 5 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx1P1YA2rlA&t=5s |website=YouTube |accessdate=25 September 2018}}</ref>
== Community Involvement ==
Kimlat's team of See Magic Live magicians regularly perform at Orlando-area non-profit fundraisers. His team also has taught magic summer camps and classes for the [[Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts]] in [[Downtown Orlando]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = You can do magic: Kostya Kimlat to lead magic classes at Dr. Phil summer camp|url = http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2015/04/24/you-can-do-magic-kostya-kimlat-to-lead-magic-classes-at-dr-phil-summer-camp|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kimlat, Kostya}}
[[Category:Professional magicians]]
[[Category:Sleight of hand]]
[[Category:American magicians]]
[[Category:American motivational speakers]]
[[Category:Motivational speakers]]
[[Category:Soviet emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Soviet magicians]]
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Winter Park High School alumni]]
[[Category:University of Central Florida alumni]]
| name = Kostya Kimlat
| image = Kostya Kimlat, Sleight-of-Hand Magician & Keynote Speaker.jpg
| caption = Kimlat delivers his "Think Like a Magician" keynote
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1983}}
| birth_place = [[Kiev]], [[Ukraine]]
| residence = [[Orlando]], [[Florida]]
| occupation = magician & speaker
| known_for = [[Sleight of Hand]] Magic and [[Mentalism]]
| television = ''[[Penn & Teller: Fool Us]]''
| website = {{URL|kostyakimlat.com}}
}}
'''Kostya Kimlat''' is a [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]]-American magician, motivational speaker, entrepreneur, and business consultant who uses [[magic (illusion)|magic]] to help companies train employees.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title = Kostya Kimlat uses magic to help companies train employees - Orlando Business Journal|url = http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/print-edition/2013/07/05/kostya-kimlat-uses-magic-to-help.html?page=all|website = Orlando Business Journal|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> As a speaker, he helps groups understand the importance of perception in their daily lives through the art of magic and sleight of hand.<ref name="Sleight of Hand - Smart Meetings">{{Cite web|title = Sleight of Hand - Smart Meetings|url = http://www.smartmeetings.com/trends/12528/sleight-of-hand|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref>
In January 2006, he became the youngest magician to be featured in a ''[[Magic (magazine)|Magic Magazine]]'' cover story<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title = Kostya Kimlat hosts Orlando Magic Mansion|url = http://www.heritagefl.com/story/2014/10/17/news/kostya-kimlat-hosts-orlando-magic-mansion/3453.html|website = Heritage Florida Jewish News|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> centered upon his technical skills and early business success.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url = http://kostyakimlat.com/images/Kostya-Kimlat-MAGIC-Magazine.pdf |title = Kostya Kimlat MAGIC Magazine |website = kostyakimlat.com|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref>
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."<ref name="community.ew.com">{{Cite web|title = 'Penn & Teller: Fool Us' recap: The best fooler yet|url = http://community.ew.com/2015/08/18/penn-teller-favorite-card-trick/|website = EW.com|accessdate = 2015-08-18}}</ref>
== Early life ==
Kimlat was born in [[Kiev|Kiev, Ukraine]] in 1983, and immigrated to [[Orlando, Florida]] with his parents, sister, and grandmother in 1992.<ref name=":1" /> His parents wanted a life away from [[Communism]] and the lingering effects of the [[Chernobyl disaster]], and a life in which the family's [[Judaism]] would no longer be called into question.<ref name=":2" /> Both of his parents, Irina and Boris, had earned master's degrees in engineering in the Soviet Union. Boris had received two such degrees and held multiple engineering patents. According to Kimlat, "...that didn’t matter when we got here. So they just started all over."<ref name="JLife">{{cite journal |last1=Slater Tate |first1=Allison |title=Fool Me Once |journal=J Life Magazine |date=1 September 2018 |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=24-27 |url=https://www.lakemarylife.com/filerepository/archives/JLIFEFALL18/index.html |accessdate=25 September 2018}}</ref>
Kimlat first became interested in magic when he was 12 years old from watching ''[[The World's Greatest Magic]]'' on television.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|title = Story of a… Magician|url = http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/May-2014/Story-of-a-Magician/|website = www.orlandomagazine.com|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> At age 14, he was regularly working in restaurants and at private events as a sleight-of-hand magician.<ref name=":2" /> 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.<ref name=":1" />
He attended the [[University of Central Florida]], where he studied philosophy, psychology, and literature. Kimlat graduated with an honors degree, after completing a thesis on the connection between philosophy and magic.<ref name="JLife" />
== Business Highlights ==
Kimlat is the CEO of Event Magic International LLC, including sub-brands [http://www.seemagiclive.com See Magic Live], Restaurant Magic Business, and [http://www.thinkmagic.com/ ThinkMagic].<ref name=":0" />
=== Businesses ===
==== Keynote Speaking ====
Kimlat travels the country delivering corporate and sales trainings and keynotes of his trademarked Think Like A Magician™ presentation<ref>{{cite web |title=US Trademark Office |url=http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4802:95d5gu.2.1 |accessdate=25 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="Sleight of Hand - Smart Meetings"/>, which combines his magic talents with business-focused presentations.<ref name=":1" />
<blockquote>"The biggest lesson for businesses, or really, for anybody, is that you have the ability to influence people’s perception with your language, the way you walk, the way you talk, the way you present yourself," Kimlat said. "Everything we do creates perception. In order to avoid miscommunication and misperceptions, we have to be able to see things from our audience’s point of view, whether that audience is a client, a customer, a patient, a child, or a spouse."<ref name="JLife" /></blockquote>
==== 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.<ref name=":0" /> They perform regularly for fans at [[Orlando Magic]] NBA games.<ref name=":1" />
==== Restaurant Magic Business ====
Restaurant Magic Business places performing magicians in restaurants, consults restaurant operators, and trains staff on customer service.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Abracadabra! Better customer service!|url = http://www.restaurantbusinessonline.com/improving-operations/ideas/articles/abracadabra-better-customer-service|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref>
=== Book ===
''Think Like a Magician'' is the title of Kimlat's best-known keynote presentation and forthcoming book.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Schwartz — Kimlat {{!}} Baltimore Jewish Times|url = http://jewishtimes.com/33965/schwartz-kimlat/|website = jewishtimes.com|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> Kimlat helps businesses drive relationship-based growth by using the lessons of magic to see things from another person's perspective.<ref name=":3" />
== Television Appearances ==
Kimlat appeared on Season 2 of ''[[Penn & Teller: Fool Us]]'' on The [[The CW|CW Network]] and fooled Penn & Teller.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title = Did Kimlat fool Penn & Teller?|url = http://heritagefl.com/story/2015/05/08/Features/Did-Kimlat-fool-Penn-%2526amp%253B-Teller%253F/4400.html|website = Heritage Florida Jewish News|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref> 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 Jillette|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 (magician)|Teller]] reacted with delight, emitting audible giggles (rare for the typically silent performer).<ref name="community.ew.com"/><ref>{{Citation|title = Penn & Teller: Fool Us Video - Penn's Favorite Card Trick {{!}} Watch Online Free|url = http://www.cwtv.com/shows/penn-teller-fool-us/penns-favorite-card-trick|accessdate = 2015-08-18}}</ref>
[[Penn Jillette|Penn]] highlighted Kimlat's performance on his podcast, ''Penn's Sunday School'':
<blockquote>We did that exact trick on [[Today (U.S. TV program)|The Today Show]]. [[Teller (magician)|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 [[Today (U.S. TV program)|The Today Show]]? I'm now gonna show you how it's done.' When [[Teller (magician)|Teller]] saw his name pop on the introduction…I saw [[Teller (magician)|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.<ref>{{Cite journal|url = http://pennsundayschool.com/episodes/|title = Episode 175 - Jonathan Ross|last = Jillette|first = Penn|date = 2015-07-05|journal = Penn's Sunday School|doi = |pmid = |access-date = 2015-08-18}}</ref></blockquote>
Kimlat returned to ''[[Penn & Teller: Fool Us]]'' in 2018. This time, he performed an effect in which he "dribbled," or cascaded a deck of cards from his hand down to the table. From the middle of the falling deck, he plucked out [[Penn Jillette|Penn]]'s chosen card. The duo correctly guessed that Kimlat was not, in fact, performing a "trick," but displaying a talent of skill. [[Penn Jillette|Penn]] said, "We don’t think there was a trick. We think you actually did what you actually said you were going to do."<ref name="JLife" /><ref name="YT" /> In reference to not fooling [[Penn Jillette|Penn]] & [[Teller (magician)|Teller]] the second time, Kimlat said:
<blockquote>"It was a huge compliment. I selected this trick, knowing that if they figured it out, they would essentially be acknowledging to the world the time and effort that went into it. This was the rare opportunity to have the method be acknowledged publicly and serve a greater purpose—to showcase to the public the work that goes into perfecting a magic effect.<ref name="JLife" /></blockquote>
After the "bust," [[Penn Jillette|Penn]] & [[Teller (magician)|Teller]] left their seats to shake Kimlat's hand on stage, an honor typically reserved for those magicians who fool them. While walking back to their judge seats, [[Penn Jillette|Penn]] told the audience, "He's better than you think, I'm telling you that."<ref name="YT">{{cite web |title=Penn & Teller Fool Us: Kostya Kimlat's IMPOSSIBLE Card Trick // Season 5 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx1P1YA2rlA&t=5s |website=YouTube |accessdate=25 September 2018}}</ref>
== Community Involvement ==
Kimlat's team of See Magic Live magicians regularly perform at Orlando-area non-profit fundraisers. His team also has taught magic summer camps and classes for the [[Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts]] in [[Downtown Orlando]].<ref>{{Cite web|title = You can do magic: Kostya Kimlat to lead magic classes at Dr. Phil summer camp|url = http://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2015/04/24/you-can-do-magic-kostya-kimlat-to-lead-magic-classes-at-dr-phil-summer-camp|accessdate = 2015-06-23}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kimlat, Kostya}}
[[Category:Professional magicians]]
[[Category:Sleight of hand]]
[[Category:American magicians]]
[[Category:American motivational speakers]]
[[Category:Motivational speakers]]
[[Category:Soviet emigrants to the United States]]
[[Category:Soviet magicians]]
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Winter Park High School alumni]]
[[Category:University of Central Florida alumni]]
