For 14 years, magician Eric Mead alternated nights with none other than magician Doc Eason at the legendary Tower Magic Bar in Snowmass, CO. Mead worked the Tower till it closed, in April 2004, and now keeps busy working corporate events.
In his first major book, “Tangled Web,” Eric Mead covers a wide range of magic and mentalism that’s drawn from his professional repertoire. The book has been lauded for its many routines for the bar, close-up, strolling, mentalism and stage, and there’s even two pieces for kids. The book also offers seven instructive essays and two chapters devoted to work with a memorized deck and a systematic approach to Vernon's "Trick That Cannot Be Explained".
Wayne N. Kawamoto: Please tell me how your interest in magic developed.
Eric Mead: I had the typical magic background as far as a childhood interest growing into a teenage obsession. I began at the age of six, was doing fairly advanced sleight-of-hand by the time I was ten and was already getting paid to do birthday parties and banquets around my home town of Ft. Collins, CO. I worked in a magic shop and performed tableside at a restaurant through high school.
Favorite books were "The Amateur Magician's Handbook," "Stars of Magic" and all the Paul Harris stuff, "Las Vegas Close-up," in particular. I was dreaming of a career on the stage, so I acted in plays, took part in talent competitions (a string of second and third place finishes--no blue ribbons), studied stagecraft and acting and thought about magic constantly.
After high school I hitch-hiked around the country performing street magic while trying to find a suitable college major. (This was REAL Street Magic--as exemplified by Jim Cellini, Gazzo, Johnny Fox and their ilk. Not the "random tricks for strangers" often referred to as “Street Magic” today.)
I tried business school, art and art history, settled on physics and then dropped out of college after 2 1/2 years to pursue a performing career full time. Comedy clubs, cruise ships, private parties and more street helped me to develop material and more importantly understand the importance of point of view and character.
In 1989, I was offered a job as "Magic Bartender" alongside my friend Doc Eason at the Tower Comedy/Magic Bar" owned by John Denver. I performed there for 14 years until it closed in 2004 and consider that time to constitute my undergraduate and advanced degrees in performance, audience management and everything important that goes with communicating mystery as a performing artist.
I continue to read anything and everything related to the art but I don't care much for DVDs as a learning tool. Most of my work these days comes from high-end private parties and corporate events. I am fortunate enough to be a busy professional, and travel extensively. I make my home just outside of Aspen, CO with my wife Shawn and our dog Gonzo.
