Alex Ramon: Magic Man

Watch Alex Ramon perform magic!

Courtesy of alexramonmagic.com

Alex Ramon has never had any job but as a magician. After a two-year run as Ringling Bros.’ first-ever magician-ringmaster, the Richmond-raised illusionist created his own cabaret show, Illusion Fusion, at South Lake Tahoe’s Horizon Casino Resort. The family-friendly show mixes classic card, rope, and levitation tricks with contemporary illusions involving iPads and cell phones. Here are his thoughts on his unique calling.

I went to work with my dad one day when I was 13, and his coworker showed me a card trick. It was the most fascinating thing I had ever seen, and inspired me to make magic my hobby and career. Magic was all I wanted to do.

Adults can learn a magic trick and have a feeling of “I fooled you” when it works. But when you’re a kid and fool an adult, that’s an incredible, euphoric feeling. That’s magic.

I signed up for a semester at DVC after graduating from Berean Christian High in Walnut Creek. Just after classes started, Disney offered me a full-time job traveling all over the world. To get my money back from the DVC registrar, I had to show him a trick. I guess it worked; I got a full refund.

I was the ringmaster for Ringling Bros. for two years and lived on the circus train the whole time. I loved every minute of it, but it was less surreal than you might think. I had a nice little condo on the train, with a porch, full kitchen, bathtub, washer, and dryer. It wasn’t BART with clowns and animals.

My sister toured with me on Ringling Bros. Now, she is in Las Vegas in Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère show. Whenever I visit her in Vegas, I try to catch the David Copperfield show. He’s the best magician ever. He still fools me.

In Tahoe, I perform in a cabaret theater that the Rat Pack used to play, but my show is very contemporary. We designed all the props to look like Apple products; everything is silver, black, or white. I provide the color.

Alex Ramon performs at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek on December 8. His Tahoe show runs nightly, except Wednesdays. Find tickets and more info at alexramonmagic.com.