Meet the Maker: David Ranalli
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Photos: Courtesy of David Ranalli
Meet David Ranalli, an Indianapolis-based magician, entertainer and corporate speaker who believes magic can inspire and empower people in a distracted world.
The inspo: When he was 13, he snuck backstage at a show in his hometown of Chicago to meet David Copperfield, and that sparked his formal training. Within a year, he was booking regular gigs at restaurants and parties.
- He also drew inspiration from magicians like David Blaine.
- "I feel like magic became the thing that really helped me level up as a person," he told Axios. "I was very shy as a kid. Seeing that (Copperfield) show just blew me away, and I think it really brought out of me the understanding that magic gives me the opportunity to go be something special."
Zoom in: Ranalli also credits studying speech communication and philosophy at Southern Illinois University for adding another layer of depth to his performances.
- "As somebody who understands those concepts of communication, I can kind of hack those," he said. "While most people are worried about their phone getting hacked, I get to hack other things more deeply rooted in how people really behave."
What he's making now: His latest show, "DECEPTION: An Evening of Magic & Lies," plays monthly at Feinstein's at Hotel Carmichael in Carmel through the end of the year.
Check him out: On his website, YouTube, Instagram, X or Facebook.
Do you know a maker we should meet? Tell us about them at [email protected].