Paul Draper can read your mind8212;and bend spoons with his.
After earning anthropology degrees in Utah, he moved to Las Vegas. Draper has spent much of the past seven years shocking audiences and traveling around the world in search of new ways to unlock the “mysteries of the mind.” But perhaps most interestingly, Draper continues his work as an anthropologist. While employed as a mentalist-magician at the Venetian on the Las Vegas strip, he was an instructor at UNLV. He is now working with Las Vegas Springs Preserve project, a noncommercial site designed to promote the rich cultural history of Nevada.
Next week, Draper is returning to the U for his first public performance in seven years. For three consecutive nights, he will give local audiences a chance to witness his unique abilities. But the show is also a rare opportunity to see the combination of entertainment by way of a specific education.
“Anthropologists are trained to understand people and cultures,” Draper said. “As a mentalist, I interact with participants from the audience and study them as a culture of one. It is like I am a mind reader and can reach in and pull out their most intimate thoughts.”
This openness in explaining how he does what he does is what separates Draper from others in the mind reading and illusion line of work. What many dismiss as “magic,” Draper said is more a power of observation, a focused awareness.
“Like a real-life Sherlock Holmes, there is so much information that I can know about an individual by utilizing my keen skills of observation coupled with my rich understanding of human universals and behavioral patterns,” he said.
These abilities have garnered Draper international attention. When it comes to discussing the art, business and science of mentalism, he is often called upon to share his knowledge on the subject. Groups from around the world hire him to teach their members the skills necessary to do what he does. The History Channel recently enlisted Draper for a show about Harry Houdini.
Even though he is internationally recognized, Draper’s roots are in Utah. His grandmother was a fine arts student at the U in 1937 and his grandfather, Calvin W. Taylor, taught in the psychology department for more than 30 years. Draper’s own time at the U in the 1990s makes returning for these performances even more personal.
The event will be held at the Marriott Center for Dance, Oct. 14-16. Tickets can be purchased for $23.50 at the Kingsbury Hall Box Office or online at www.kingtix.com.