Paul Draper is an
anthropologist, academic, and an award-winning
mentalist,
magician, and
film maker. As an anthropologist and communications expert specializing in the cognitive science of religious beliefs, he has lectured at
Fortune 500 companies and universities. As the creator of the show Mental Mysteries, Draper blends his academic background as an anthropologist and communications expert with the arts of
mentalism and
magic. Draper performed live streaming shows during the
COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2][3]
Draper was elected to the leadership Council of
The Magic Circle in 2023, a London-based British organization and one of the oldest magical societies in the world.[5]
Early life
Born in
Utah in 1978, Draper first became interested in magic when family members discovered Showplace Magic and Novelty in
Salt Lake City.[6]
The first full-length magic show that he saw was at the 49th Street Galleria when he was 7 and then developed his own show and started performing for his grade school every year.[7]
Draper began performing magic for his friends at age 8 and continued performing throughout his school years, lettering in debate, choir, and drama.[6][8]
In his high school years, he also became a national debate champion in original oratory and a state drama champion in
pantomime.[6] At age 16, Draper watched
Michael Skinner perform at the
Golden Nugget in
Las Vegas, which propelled his interest in magic, which eventually led to his discovery of mentalism.[6]
In 2004, Draper gave up his full time academic career to follow his "childhood passion" of magic and mentalism.[11] At that time, he began working as the house magician at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
For Draper, these two career paths — anthropology and magic — coincide in the study of cognitive science, or how and why people believe what they do.[12][13][14]
In 2014, the International Magician's Society awarded Draper the prestigious Merlin Award for Best Corporate Performer.[15]
He has appeared at
Comic Con as a moderator in a celebrity panel interview.[24]
In addition to performing, Draper also works as a consultant and guest lecturer for businesses.[25]
He has designed special effects for theater and acted as a religious advisor for theater companies, drawing on his Jewish faith background.[26][27] Paul Draper was also featured in an article by Makezine on his historical knowledge of Houdini's Legacy and Magicians in the Maker community.[28][29]
He was profiled in a six-page cover story in the August 2021 edition of The Magic Circular Magazine in London, England, the publication of
The Magic Circle. He was previously profiled in a six-page cover story in the March 2017 edition of M-U-M Magazine, the publication of the
Society of American Magicians.[citation needed]
He is a member of the senior faculty of the McBride Magic & Mystery School.[30]
Draper sits on the board of directors for the Inclusion Center for Community and Justice.[31]
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic Draper began offering live magic shows over streaming platforms, and presented educational lectures to assist other performers.[1][2]
He has been an Adjunct Instructor at
Soka University of America for the following classes : Learning Cluster: The Art of Magic, Core 1: Enduring Questions of Humanity and Modes of Inquiry: Questioning and Exploring Truth.[32]