Invivo: Imagine Together
On January 7th, I was invited to participate in the 1st ever Invivo event. This party was started to celebrate the Denver art community and become a fundraiser for the Museum of Contemporary Art. The party was thrown in collaboration with Invisible City and Ryan Hickman of Rally Day Partners and Civico at the Spaces collaborative workspace in Cherry Creek.
The party took over the 2nd floor and transformed the meeting and office spaces into an epic party and event. The party was hosted by over 50 performers, bartenders, and international musicians to create a truly unforgettable night. The space included a dance floor in a conference room, a full-service bar, a silent disco, a popcorn station, a pb&j station, and, my favorite, a ball pit tucked into a back hallway with an accordion playing lifeguard.
The party was reminiscent of the events I performed at as the resident magician at Invisible City, a former synagogue in Lakewood, CO, turned event space from 2017 to 2020.
The goal is simple. Connect all of the individuals that make up the fabric of Denver. A convergence of characters will occur, and you are invited to participate.
Instead of just being a dance floor with a DJ, the event itself included a litany of performances and activities to make it a truly immersive experience. You were greeted by a zebra and bellhops that would welcome you into the space. Followed by dancers with disco balls on their heads, hula hoopers, and ring leaders welcoming you into a different world. A truly immersive party experience.
Tony Smith
“We are sitting right here! There is no way any of that just happened.”
As you made your way through the party, dance floor, pb&j station, and bar, you would come across a ring leader who would see you and ask if you had seen “the show.” She would then lead you to a sitting room.
Upon entering the room you and 6 other strangers would sit very close on the couch with a few lamps barely lighting the room and soft rag-time music playing in the air. Gone was the bustling energy of the party. your small group was transported to a little speakeasy only known to you.
Once you were sat down and the mood was set, the ring leader would announce the show. “Welcome the illustrious James Lopez”
Instead of strolling magic, at Invivo, we decided to leverage the allure of secret places within the party and transform a waiting room into a tiny little close-up magic venue. Here I was able to enter, akin to the close-up room at the magic castle, and perform for a small group giving them a memorable experience that no one else could offer. With a deck of cards and a few coins, I wanted to create intimate moments to give reprieve at the party and something genuinely transformative.
Pretty soon, word got around about the magic, and we had a line through the party of people waiting to enter. Throughout the night, I performed for over 200 people.
What made this such a special performance was that we created a whole space for individuals to come and experience a performance rather than taking away from other experiences. We created a unique space just for them at that moment. When I come to perform at an event or party, my goal is to leave people with something unique that highlights them as a spectator. It makes them feel included and honors them for taking the risk and spending some time with me.
Please reach out if you want to create a truly memorable experience within experience. I would love to create beautiful, magical moments for your next party or event.
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