Simon Painter went from an unemployed classical violinist to creating and producing some of the biggest live entertainment shows in the world, including The Illusionists and Now You See Me Live.
He joins Ben Hanlin to reveal how he built a global theatre career, sold 42,000 tickets at the Sydney Opera House in just eight days, why he creates the poster before the show, the disastrous opening night of The Illusionists, and the lessons he’s learned about risk, creativity and giving audiences what they actually want.
This episode is for:
- Creatives (writers, performers, content creators)
- Business owners and entrepreneurs
- Speakers and presenters
- Anyone looking to improve communication and idea generation
---
About Ben Hanlin:
Ben is a magician, presenter, and keynote speaker who helps companies create engagement, connection, and memorable experiences. He hosts corporate events and interviews world-class creatives on this podcast.
About the podcast:
\"What’s The Trick?\" explores how creative people think, create, and turn ideas into reality.
Topics covered include creativity, communication, storytelling, content creation, performance, and building creative careers.
🎧 Listen / Watch:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BenHanlin
Apple Podcasts: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin
Spotify: https://linktr.ee/benhanlin
📩 Work with Ben:
https://www.benhanlin.com/
---
FOLLOW BEN:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0oXTRP-zWlJ_IiNykTLag
Instagram: http://instagram.com/benhanlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/benhanlin
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@benhanlin
Check out Now You See Me Live: https://londoncoliseum.org/events/now-you-see-me-live/
How do creative people turn ideas into reality?
Ben Hanlin breaks down the mindset, process, and decisions behind it.
","author_name":"Ben Hanlin"}