In February, Craig Karges made a return visit to the Treasure Island Resort and Casino in Minnesota for a special Wowitan (appreciation) event in the Indigo Bay Showroom. Treasure Island is a Prairie Island Mdewakanton Dakota Indian Community property and is located just south of the Twin Cities in Red Wing. Treasure Island was also the site of Craig’s first casino appearance in 1995.

The days leading up to this casino show are indicative of the diversity of the extraordinist’s tour schedule. Craig left his “home” airport (Pittsburgh International) and flew to Charleston, South Carolina where he provided entertainment for Sulzer’s North American Sales Conference Awards Dinner at the Riviera Theater Complex. The following morning Craig presented Ignite Your Intuition to a standing ovation as the closing general session for Sulzer at the Charleston Place Hotel. The extraordinist then jumped across the state for an appearance at Plowden Auditorium on the Winthrop University campus.

Craig was still in “Dixie” the following day for a sold-out show performed to a standing ovation at the Bartlett Performing Arts Center in Tennessee.

A flight to Florida found him presenting the opening general session for Global Healthcare Exchange’s annual meeting at the Marco Island Marriott Resort. As soon as he finished, he was whisked to the airport in order to catch a flight to Austin, Texas for an after-dinner presentation that same evening which garnered two standing ovations from the attendees of Burndy’s Americas’ Sales and Marketing Conference at the Lake Way Resort.

From Texas, Craig jetted to California for a campus date at Cal State Chico. The following day Craig was still in The Golden State at beautiful Pebble Beach appearing for SPX’s senior management retreat with attendees from Europe, Asia and North America. Craig kicked off the retreat (to another standing ovation) while comedian Dana Carvey provided entertainment the second evening and journalist Bob Woodward presented the closing general session.

Leaving California, it was on to The Land of 10,000 Lakes and the extraordinist’s return to Treasure Island and then back home to West Virginia after nine presentations in ten days covering over 8,000 miles.

After three days in “The WV,” Craig was back out on the road for more of the same beginning with a return appearance for marcus evans at Las Vegas’ Green Valley Ranch Resort. marcus evans produces the world’s leading business and economic summits for senior decision makers and this particular event was the Defense Manufacturing Summit with attendees like Northrup Grumman, Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

As you can tell from this sample itinerary, Craig fills the calendar each year with a variety of engagements ranging from corporate dates to campus shows to theater performances and even the occasional casino showroom. However in recent years, the corporate market has dominated his personal appearance schedule and the first six months of ‘08 were no exception. The extraordinist provided corporate presentations for a prestigious list of clients at a diverse number of geographical locations.
For example, he appeared at the Zermatt Resort and Spa (located on the other side of Deer Valley in Utah) for the CompHealth Symposium. The meeting was held during the peak of ski season allowing Craig two days of world class skiing before delivering the closing presentation of the conference. From the white capped Wasatch Mountains to the white sand beaches of Cancun, Mexico, where the extraordinist filled a return engagement for AT&T as the keynote presenter for the Diamond Club and Circle of Excellence recognition event with AT&T leadership and the top performers from throughout the United States in attendance. Craig kicked off the recognition event to a standing ovation with a two hour opening general session. The event ended two days later with a gala awards dinner featuring a concert by The Goo Goo Dolls. Craig also appeared at the Four Seasons on Maui for a life insurance recognition event; popped up in Key Largo at the Ocean Reef Club for a restaurant franchisee meeting and appeared at The Sanctuary on Kiawah Island for a fifth appearance for US Bank.

“Thank you very much for your wonderful performance at our Americas’ Sales & Marketing Meeting. We asked the attendees to complete a survey about various aspects of the meeting and the meeting in general and your performance rated the highest of all!”
Angela Toppazzini, Advertising Coordinator, FCI Burndy Products

“The 2008 NHIA Annual Conference is sure to be a success because of your outstanding presence, efforts, skill and expertise! Thanks so much Craig for presenting to our membership and for taking the time to learn so much about NHIA in advance, we greatly appreciate it!”
Russ Bodoff, Executive Director & Steve Jurich, VP of Operations, National Home Infusion Association

“You did it again, a third time no less... another outstanding and unforgettable performance that amazed the top AT&T performers at our recent business meeting in Cancun. Most guests are unenthusiastic about attending this portion of the incentive trip, however, you certainly changed that attitude very quickly. By the end of the session, they evidently couldn’t get enough of ‘Ignite Your Intuition.’ I can’t thank you enough for making this meeting an overwhelming success and for helping me look good. You are, hands down, one of the best I’ve had the pleasure to work with.”
Diane Quido, Corporate Events Manager, AT&T

“I must say Craig did a fantastic job and everyone was either dumbfounded, speechless or even a bit frightened but not one was let down by his performance. In fact, we had a group that wanted to hire him for a special project which obviously had something to do with making a miracle happen!”
Michelle Word, meeting planner, Wood Group ESP

“Thank you so much Craig - up until the last minute I left the office on Wednesday, you were still all anyone was talking about and I imagine they will continue to do so for quite some time. You were a hit!”
Hassan Rawas, Office of Saeed Dashti, Chairman of the KGL Group of Companies

“It was fantastic to work with you in Phoenix. You were a superb keynote for our Sports Turf Managers Association Conference in January. We truly appreciate your passion and commitment to connecting with our audience. It was amazing to experience your insight, people are still raving about it.”
Andrea Rollin, Show Producer, Sports Turf Managers Association

In 1985, Craig Karges launched his career on the college circuit with a showcase at the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) National Convention in Chicago. In February of 2008 in St. Louis, Craig worked his magic during his sixth NACA national showcase and walked away with enough signed contracts to qualify as the fifth most booked act on site.

NACA is the nation’s largest campus activities trade organization and the National Convention is the largest campus entertainment trade show in the country. This year more than 2,500 people attended the confab, including 430 schools and 170 entertainment agencies. Participants were able to choose from 93 different showcases and more than 100 educational sessions.

An eclectic blend of artists showed up in St. Louis and included a diverse trio of multi-platinum selling recording artists (Howie Day, ‘N Sync boy-band member Lance Bass and Darryl McDaniels - better known as DMC of rap group Run-DMC); along with actress and comedienne Caroline Rhea; author, actor, environmentalist and reality TV star Ed Begley, Jr.; and even the cast of Reno 911.

Craig played campus dates from coast -to - coast during the first six months of ‘08 including his thirteenth appearance at the University of Portland in Oregon and his third appearance in 18 months at West Chester University in eastern Pennsylvania. He also made his tenth appearance at Washington University in St. Louis as well as a fifth visit to Wake Forest University and a first time visit to Vanderbilt University.

Craig wrapped up the 2007-08 college season on May 1st to a standing ovation at the 1,100 seat South Dakota State University Performing Arts Center. He appeared with actor and comedian Hal Sparks (HBO’s Queer as Folk, former host of E!’s Talk Soup, commentator on VH1’s I Love the ‘70s, ‘80’s, ‘90s, etc.) who coincidentally was a finalist on VH1’s Celebracadabra, a celebrity competition reality TV show with a magic theme.

“Incredible... we have received so many compliments... thanks a million for one of the best shows that Special Events has ever sponsored!”
Leslie Watt, Special Events Chair, University Productions, Lehigh University

“Well once again your performance was mesmerizing!! I just looked through the evaluations and the kids were absolutely astounded. Our highest rating is 5 but you managed to score a 6, a 10, and my personal favorite... a 5 wtf! omg! Thanks again for your visit.”
Stacy Pearson, Office of Undergraduate Admissions, Washington University in St. Louis

“Simply amazing. The students loved him and have already asked for him to return next year.”
Trey Truitt, Assistant Director for Campus Student Events, Vanderbilt University

“Our best act this year.”
Tyson Kolsipher, VP of Programming, Southern Utah University

In order to sell books, promote personal appearances and build the Karges brand, Craig Karges continues to make major market television appearances as his schedule permits. The “’08 TV Season” kicked off in January with the extraordinist’s third appearance on Good Morning Arizona (GMAZ), the number one morning show in the Phoenix market airing on independent superstation KTVK-TV 3. What was originally scheduled to be one segment morphed into four as Craig floated tables, read minds, bent spoons and played a blindfolded game of hide and seek with a steel spike!

“Impressive!” Tara Hitchcock, anchor, GMAZ

“Wow! That is so cool!” Olivia Fierro, entertainment reporter, GMAZ

“Amazing! This is so much fun!” Dan Davis, anchor, GMAZ

Two days after his Phoenix TV guest spot, Craig was in Nashville appearing on WTVF-TV 5’s Talk of the Town. While this was his fifth appearance on the show, it was his first experience with the new HDTV set, the streamlined thirty minute format and new time slot. The long running show on the number one rated CBS affiliate in the country is getting its best ratings ever.

“Awesome! That was great.” Meryll Rose, host, Talk of the Town

While in St. Louis in February for the National Association for Campus Activities National Convention, Craig dropped by the KTVI-TV FOX 2 studios for a return appearance on the FOX 2 Morning News. The extraordinist once again played a game of hide and seek by trying to avoid smashing his hand on the one cup out of four hiding a sharp spike - while blindfolded!

“Back by popular demand... you’re freaking me out again!” John Pertzbum, anchor, FOX 2 Morning News

“He blew everyone’s mind!” Randi Naughton, anchor, FOX 2 Morning News

“Everyone loves you!” Angel James, producer, FOX 2 Morning News

March found Craig in Detroit making an appearance on another FOX 2 Morning News broadcast, this time over WJBK-TV. Craig shared in-studio guest duties with Jordan Zevon (the son of Grammy Award-winning rock singer-songwriter and musician the late Warren Zevon) who was in town promoting his debut CD Insides Out. Craig got inside the head of co-anchor Kam Carman who exclaimed “C’mon, you’re freaking me out! This is so wild! That was incredible, just amazing.” Craig’s appearance lived on in cyberspace when it was selected for the station’s website.

In April, Craig made his fifth television appearance in four months while performing in Texas when he appeared on Great Day San Antonio. The one hour local broadcast wins ratings while competing head-to-head with the likes of Live with Regis and Kelly, Maury and Rachel Ray. His segment warranted a replay at the end of the broadcast as well as a spot on the station’s website. Craig had a great time working with host, Bridget Smith, who was a bit freaked out by the extraordinist’s appearance!

“This is so weird. How did you know that? Oh my gosh! Wow, Craig Karges my man. That’s extraordinary.
I’m shaking. Thank you so much for being here, you’re wonderful.”
Bridget Smith, host, Great Day San Antonio, KENS-TV 5, CBS