Magician/comedian to bring audience into his act

NEWTON — Since the age of six years old, illusionist Joel Meyers, has been performing magic. At 26 years old now, he has been performing professionally for more than 10 years.

Meyers will be at Sussex County Community College to perform his brand of magic on Thursday, Jan. 30.

Becoming a magician
"I've been doing magic since I was about six years old. I got a magic kit and I just did shows first and then at 11 or 12 I started to do my own magic shows and get paid for it," Meyers said. "I started differently than most people though. I traveled with my dad on business a lot when I was younger. We mostly went to the more touristy areas. So I would perform on street corners. I would just announce that there was going to be a show and then I would put on a show."

While billed as a magic/comedy show, Meyers considers his show to be more of a one man show.

"I think more than anything it is a one man show," he explained. "It is a comedy driven show with audience involvement. There is a magic part to the experience and right from the very beginning it is a show that involved the whole audience."

Inspiration
Meyers, like most performers, has been influenced by his predecessors.

"I was inspired by people that I saw on TV, David Copperfield and David Blaine," he said. "As I got older I drew inspiration from other people as well. People like Steve Martin and Steven Spielberg, just everywhere as I got older but magic-wise in the beginning it was the classic guys."

The show will not be his first in New Jersey, but that doesn't mean that audience members can expect the same old routine.

"The entire show is very involved. Right from beginning the audience is involved and I bring people up and perform with me," Meyers said. "The show would not work without the audience, without the people. There are bits in the show that are dependent on audience members so that dependence is what makes it different every time. That's what makes it exciting both for the audience and for me."

Something for everyone
Meyers says that while magic fans will certainly enjoy the show — there is something for everyone.

"I have been told that the show is actually best for people who don't like magic shows," Meyers said. "And it's been in articles that the show is so much more than just a magic show so everyone will enjoy it."

Tickets are available by telephone at 973-300-3171, online at sussex.edu or in person at the Box Office in the Health Sciences and Performing Arts Center building on campus.