S9E2: Empirically Impossible: Neil Patrick Harris & Jonathan Bayme, Box Two

" Am I really playing with Neil Patrick Harris?"

In keeping with the theme of Box Two, Neil Patrick Harris is back for his second appearance on our podcast. And not only that, he also brought a friend. Jonathan Bayme, CEO of theory11, is a longtime collaborator and Neil's bestie. They first met at a magic show Jonathan created for the Nomad Hotel in New York. Neil and Jonathan quickly bonded over a shared passion for elevating the art of magic, a deep appreciation for fine craftsmanship, and creating experiences full of wonder and joy.

Jonathan created his company, theory11, with the goal of crafting magic tricks and playing cards that not only worked flawlessly, but were also beautiful to look at. Jonathan worked with Neil to produce Box Two, which was created with a very similar aesthetic and vibe. They very candidly explained the thought process behind design decisions such as relying on an online chat interface, and how they achieved certain magical effects. Box Two is gorgeous, with hefty props that felt good and looked good. I especially enjoyed hearing about the playtesting and mechanical process behind producing such a complicated boxed game.

Jonathan also shares his secret to networking. Whether it's about tracking down JJ Abrams, or writing weekly emails at twelve years old to David Copperfield's longtime executive producer, I really enjoyed his stories of perseverance when it comes to making connections. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to check out our first interview with NPH in Season 2, Episode 1.

 

Full Show Notes

 

Episode Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors: Weldwood Marketing, Buzzshot, COGS by Clockwork Dog, Hive: The Race to Save Time Puzzle Hunt, and Patreon supporters like you. 

 

Weldwood Marketing

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Buzzshot

Buzzshot is Escape Room Software, Powering Business Growth, Player Marketing, and improving the Customer Experience. They offer an assortment of pre and post game features including robust waiver management, branded team photos, and streamlined review management for Yelp, TripAdvisor, Google Reviews, and Morty. Buzzshot now has integration with the other REPOD sponsors: Morty and COGS.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners get an extended 21-day free trial plus 20% off your first 3 months, with no set-up fees or hidden charges. Visit buzzshot.com/repod to learn more about this exclusive offer.

 

COGS

COGS by Clockwork Dog is an easy to use software/ hardware platform for running interactive events, including escape rooms, and other immersive experiences. They have plug & play hardware that seamlessly integrates with their software so you can create a show with lighting and sound cues without having to write a single line of code. Map all kinds of inputs to outputs by building up simple logic steps which determine what you want to happen and when.

Special Offer for REPOD Listeners:

REPOD listeners can get the COGS Starter Set for only $130 + free shipping to the USA. This bundle is usually valued at $257. You can learn more and purchase your Starter Set at cogs.show. Use code REPOD at checkout.

 

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