I Spy Entertainment

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In the early ’70s, Major General Oleg Kalugin was attending New York’s Columbia University and working as a journalist. He was just like thousands of other young men his age, except for one thing — he was a K.G.B. spy. Today, instead of donning disguises and stealing secrets, he’s doing something quite different — sharing his story and the details of his life as a spy with groups around the country.

Part of a number of speakers collected by the International Spy Museum (www.spymuseum.com), Kalugin and five other former espionage experts are now on call to give in-depth, first-hand accounts of the secrets, history and future of spying. All former members of the CIA or K.G.B., this group can share stories about some of the most notorious intelligence scandals of all time and give your group a first-hand account of what it’s like to be a real-life James Bond.

This time, you can be sure nobody will be sneaking out halfway through the session.

Why Use Spies?

Before starting at the Spy Museum, Director of Marketing Noreen O’Dowd was in the hospitality industry. “I understand the proverbial ‘What to do at this event?’” she says.
Finding a speaker that will entertain, be unique and not break your budget is a major challenge for any event, but why use spies? What would a spy have to say to a room full of businesspeople or the spouses of insurance adjusters? Would a 500-person lecture session be interested in the Cold War? What about a 12-person luncheon for the board of directors?

O’Dowd says emphatically yes. “Not only can these people speak well, they cover a subject that most people find extraordinarily interesting. We can tailor presentations for just about any group: light, creative, pop culture-oriented or more academic.”

Most events are done on-site to take advantage of the museum, meeting space, and local food and beverage partners (fine dining provided by Zola), but off-site events have been done before and can be arranged under the right circumstances (offering a good venue for the museum’s brand is important). The most common venue is a small- to medium-size group (50 to 100 people) that allows some interaction between the speaker and the group, but unique opportunities such as dinner with a spy, personal tours of the museum and scavenger hunts can also be arranged.

Day at the Museum

The International Spy Museum is the only public museum in the United States solely dedicated to the tradecraft, history and contemporary role of espionage. It features the largest collection of international espionage artifacts ever placed on public display — from a 1777 letter by George Washington authorizing a New York spy network to a 1980s coat with a camera concealed in a button.

Either before or after the speaking event, attendees will be able to privately tour the museum. Among the permanent collections housed at the Spy Museum are:
• School for Spies — Introduces the world of espionage and essential spy skills and tools.

• The Secret History of History — Chronicles the history of spying from biblical times to the early 20th century.

• Spies Among Us — Profiles espionage in World War II, showcasing real-life spy stories.

• War of the Spies — Explores espionage during the Cold War.

• The 21st Century — Details the challenges now facing intelligence professionals.