McCauley literally means: Danger is Sweet. I am not kidding. Look it up.
This is my chance to pursue the projects, clients and personal endeavors that are most meaningful to me. The experiential medium is very powerful and I want to put it to good use.
Danger?
Many times the most positive projects are also some of the most complex, most difficult to produce and create the most trepidation. But that’s where Danger is Sweet comes from. Sometimes we have to embrace that fear, that risk, that sense of danger to do the very best work. We do so with a passion and embrace the danger to produce the sweetest results in the form of positive impact.
The Mike McCauley Story
Michael McCauley is born and bred in Chicago, with an extensive portfolio of some of the most high profile special events in Chicago, including the launch of “Sue” the dinosaur from Chicago’s Field Museum on live national television from the Field Museum.
Mike epitomizes the power of creativity in all facets. Mike has applied his creative thinking for some of today’s hottest brands including breakthrough event and strategic programs for: Target, VW, Intel, Sprint, CBS Television, Oprah Magazine, Ameriprise, JP Morgan Chase and others. He’s worked with and written a long list of notables including two U.S. Presidents, Colin Powell, Oprah Winfrey, Steadman Graham, Bill Gates, Lance Armstrong, Drew Carey, to name a few.
His special event experience includes benefit concerts for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, network television and a star studded presidential inaugural concert starring Beyonce for live television that Michael wrote and creative directed in just 10 days!
Michael has created altogether new and deeply immersive experiential programs such as the African Slum Experience, for “Feed the Children,” where he and his team traveled to the slums of Nairobi, Kenya, to document life there and recreate a scaled slum experience here on American soil.
Michael has deep involvement with numerous charities and foundations and is proud to have created the “Business4Better” movement, a global CSR campaign with events in Los Angeles, London and soon, the Pacific Rim. He has won national awards for his charitable video series for the Cristo Rey Jesuit Schools, and the LEARN Charter School network.
Mike is a past PCMA keynote speaker and Best-in-Class rated feature speaker for the live events industry.
The Turret Pub
I live in an old house with a turret in the front. In the basement, I built a pub in the turret, so it has a curved wall—hence the Turret Pub! It is a haven for creating community with neighbors, friends, coworkers, even clients. Many of the paintings, fixtures and decorations came from my fathers bar, the famed, “Emerald Isle Pub,” on Rush street in Chicago. The paintings are from the 1970’s and were all done in Ireland.
My Motorcycles
I think I am addicted to riding motorcycles. I live on the north shore, about 10 miles from the Chicago city limits, and the roads up here are incredible. Sheridan Road is a small two-laner that twists and turns all the way to Wisconsin. I think there is only one stoplight all the way up! I get on any of my bikes and suddenly I begin to think. As Clyde Fessler, the architect of Harley’s brand renaissance once told me, “Whenever I ride, it clears the cobwebs from my brain.” He is a genius and his live keynote presentations are inspiring and full of marketing brilliance.
Here’s what I am riding now:
1977 Vespa P200E
One of the greatest bikes ever built. The design, ergonomics, build quality, bulletproof reliability and sheer fun of riding make this a bike I will never sell. I have had so many adventures on this machine over the near twenty years I’ve had it. My friend Steve Carter bequeathed it to me upon his impending nuptials. After a paint job and some tuning it has been running perfectly ever since. My first date with my wife, Julie, was on this little Vespa. We’ve had it on so many dinner dates, Ravina runs, beach outings and on and on. There is a saying about Vespas in Italy: One motor, two wheels and two hearts.
2018 Janus Halcyon
Designed and hand-built in Goshen Indiana, the Janus is a superb motorcycle. The design takes its cues from 1930’s classic British bikes, like the Brough Superior. Hardtail frame, springer leather seat and anti-dive front forks make for a unique riding feel. A rock solid four stroke 250 motor thumps along mile after mile and never fails to start. These bikes are designed right there in Goshen, and all the components are sourced within 30 miles of the factory. In fact, the frame is built and welded by local Amish steel fabricators.
1991 BMW K75
Have you even ridden a K bike? This might be the most underrated motorcycle in recent history. They call it the “flying brick” because it has a block shaped, flat three cylinder engine. Because the placement of the engine at the very bottom of the bike, it has an incredibly low center of gravity. As such, the handling is just incredible. Even at low speeds, it just floats along and you can lean way in to even the most modest bends in the road. Ergonomically, it is supremely comfortable and you can ride all day with ease. I love the 90’s Bat Cycle design and the velvet smooth power deliver. With dual discs upfront, it brakes beautifully. The bike was maligned by the BMW “Airhead” faithful, but they probably never rode one. A fantastic long range sport-tourer for when I need a bit more range than my other bikes.