“Sometimes I nailed it; sometimes I fumbled; sometimes it was exquisite and sometimes it was exquisitely awkward.”
Intuitive Readings as Performance Art
Two chairs are in the front of the room. I sit in one of them; the other is empty. I invite a volunteer to join me. Then I close my eyes, take their hand, allow their emotions into my body, and express what I feel they’re feeling. You might be skeptical at first. But if you experience it, the skepticism drops away. I’ve performed everywhere from SXSW to Soho House to Facebook Headquarters to bookstores, yoga studios and private parties.
Interested in hosting a performance at your venue? Contact David.
“Want some empathy?” I’d ask folks ambling by.
Most ignored me or said no thanks, as if I were handing out free samples of vegetables. But some people stopped dead in their tracks. “Wait. What?”
Empath Popups
For two weeks in 2019, I turned a small store in the East Village into the Empath Popup. It was a place where people could wander in and receive empathy, connection and even love. And it was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life. I’d love for you to read the article I wrote about it:
Once Upon a Time, There Was a Store in the East Village That Offered Empathy
Interested in hosting a popup experience? Contact David.
"Profound yet understated…as much a reassurance as an affirmation of our power.”
–Emily Cordes, Theatre Is Easy
Empath the Play
From November 29 to December 8, 2018, “Empath: The Play” ran at Theaterlab in Manhattan. In the show, I recount the story of how I discovered I was an empath. The journey winds its way from depression to psychedelics to Burning Man, with a stop along the way to heal some inter-generational Jewish trauma. I close with readings with volunteers from the audience. The whole experience was a blast.
Interested in Empath the Play? Contact David.
Pictures by the great Mark Abramson: