McCormick Place — The Largest Convention Center in North America
Comedy Hypnotist Chicago, IL
Richard Barker — McCormick Place, Navy Pier & All Chicago Venues
©02 — Comedy Hypnotist Chicago
Hire Richard Barker for Chicago Events
Richard Barker headlines Chicago corporate events, trade shows and university campus dates at McCormick Place — the largest convention center in North America — as well as Navy Pier, the Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hilton Chicago, Palmer House Hilton, Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, Fairmont Millennium Park and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont. Richard has headlined for IMTS, RSNA, NACS, Housewares and the Chicago Auto Show.
McCormick Place
Largest convention center in North America — 2.6M sq ft of event space
Trade Show Veteran
IMTS, RSNA, NACS, Housewares & Chicago Auto Show headline credits
100+ TV Credits
Today Show (NBC) · Late Late Show (CBS) · Entertainment Tonight
20+
Years Performing
6,000+
Live Shows
38
Countries
100+
TV Appearances
4.9★
200+ Reviews
©04 — Chicago Venues
Where Richard Performs in Chicago
Richard is available at every major Chicago convention centre, hotel ballroom and private event venue. Primary Chicago market venues:
- →McCormick Place (2.6M sq ft)
- →Navy Pier
- →Hyatt Regency Chicago
- →Hilton Chicago
- →Palmer House Hilton
- →Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk
- →Fairmont Millennium Park
- →Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (Rosemont)
- →Marriott Marquis Chicago
- →Loews Chicago Hotel
Why Event Planners Choose Richard
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TV-credentialed headliner — Today Show (NBC), Late Late Show with James Corden (CBS), Entertainment Tonight, 100+ total appearances
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$2M fully insured — commercial general liability, all documentation on request
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4.9★ / 200+ verified reviews — Fortune 500 VPs, university directors, convention organisers
✓
100% clean & corporate-safe — no adult content, no embarrassment, suitable for all audiences
✓
45–90 min running time — tailored to your event format and schedule
©05 — Show Types
Available for Every Chicago Event Format
The same headline performer — built for six completely different audiences.
🏢
Corporate Events
Sales kickoffs, awards nights, trade show entertainment, client appreciation events and holiday parties. 100% clean, brand-safe and professionally produced for Fortune 500 audiences. Learn more →
🎓
College & University
Orientation, homecoming, spring fling, family weekend and late-night programming. High-energy interactive comedy that generates conversation for weeks after the show. Learn more →
🎭
Theatre & Public Shows
Ticketed live theatre, festivals, casino entertainment and public events. Richard commands stages from 200 to 5,000 seats with equal ease. Learn more →
🥂
Private Events
Weddings, milestone birthdays, fundraising galas and VIP dinner parties. The most talked-about entertainment at any private event — guaranteed.
🎓
Grad Night & Project Graduation
Clean, sober and unforgettable all-night entertainment for high school Project Graduation events. Positive empowerment messaging built in. Trusted by school administrators, PTAs and parents across the USA. Learn more →
🎪
Fairs & Festivals
County fairs, state fairs, music festivals and outdoor public events. Richard has headlined hundreds of fair and festival main stages across the USA. Learn more →
©06 — Chicago Markets
Who Books Richard in Chicago
Trade Shows & Conventions
McCormick Place hosts IMTS, RSNA, NACS, the Chicago Auto Show and hundreds of national conventions. Richard headlines general sessions and private corporate receptions.
Corporate Events
Chicago’s Fortune 500 base — Boeing, Caterpillar, United Airlines, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Exelon — books Richard for sales kickoffs, holiday parties and awards nights.
College & University
University of Chicago, Northwestern, DePaul, Loyola, UIC and Illinois Tech all book Richard for campus entertainment. Chicago has one of the densest university markets in the USA.
©07 — Reviews
“Richard is one of the finest hypnotists working in the world today.”
— James Corden, Host · The Late Late Show, CBS
“Absolutely mind-blowing. Our entire executive team was convinced they’d witnessed something impossible. Best corporate entertainment we’ve ever booked.”
Amy McMullen · VP, Ford Motor Company
“Richard had 500 students on the edge of their seats the entire show. The kind of experience that gets talked about for the whole semester.”
Jack J. Rose · FL Collegiate DECA
“Signed Richard to a three-year contract after his first performance. He’s the most reliable, professional and genuinely incredible entertainer we’ve ever worked with.”
Roger Barnes · Monroe County Fair
©08 — FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions — Chicago
What venues in Chicago does Richard Barker perform at?
Richard performs at McCormick Place, Navy Pier, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Hilton Chicago, Palmer House Hilton, Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk, Fairmont Millennium Park and the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, among many others.
Has Richard performed at McCormick Place?
Yes. McCormick Place is the largest convention center in North America, and Richard has performed there for multiple national trade shows and corporate conventions including IMTS, RSNA and NACS.
Is the show appropriate for a large Chicago convention audience?
Yes. Richard’s comedy hypnosis show scales from 50 to 5,000+ attendees. McCormick Place general sessions, Navy Pier ballroom events and large hotel ballroom dinners are exactly the format Richard is built for.
Can Richard perform for a trade show private event at McCormick Place?
Absolutely. Private exhibitor parties, client entertainment events and staff appreciation shows at McCormick Place are a specialty. Richard works directly with your AV team and venue coordinator.
What Chicago universities has Richard performed at?
Richard has performed at University of Chicago, Northwestern, DePaul, Loyola Chicago, University of Illinois Chicago and other Illinois campuses for orientation, homecoming, spring fling and late-night programming.
How do I get a quote for a Chicago event?
Submit a booking inquiry at incrediblehypnotist.com/contact/ or email richard@incrediblehypnotist.com. Richard personally responds to every inquiry within 24 hours.
©09 — Book Now
Book a Comedy Hypnotist in Chicago
Available for corporate events, college shows, theatres and private events across Chicago and the IL market. Request an availability check and receive a personalised quote within 24 hours.