Thursday, August 13, 2009

Zingmaster Alex Ramon Zing Zang Zoom!

World class llusionist Alex Ramon summons over a decade of magic experience to bring an unexpected twist to the American circus as he joins the cast of Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® presents ZING ZANG ZOOM Starring as the magical Zingmaster, Alex astounds audiences with his incredible mastery of illusions, all while keeping his nemesis, Mr. Gravity and his gang of Heavies from causing trouble.

A true principal of his craft, Alex earned many top awards and honors for his phenomenal magic, including San Francisco Bay Area's Best Stage Magician, the coveted Lance Burton award, given to the National Teenage Champion Magician by the World Magic Seminar in Las Vegas, and the National Stage Magic Champion award.

But even a master magician can’t learn to make an elephant disappear overnight. So like the tourist who asks directions to Carnegie Hall, Alex says the answer is to practice, practice, practice. But to him, practicing magic is a labor of love.

Raised in Richmond, California, Alex developed a deep connection with magic when he was just 13 years-old. His father’s colleague, a magician, often showed Alex magic tricks, and Alex dedicated hours learning and perfecting his technique. Alex’s father took notice of his son’s growing passion and natural talent for magic and bought him a 370-page magic book for Christmas that allowed Alex to take his talent to the next level.

With performance in his heart, Alex began entertaining friends and family. His first successful magic show at a family gathering impressed and astounded so many, Alex decided he wanted perform in front of more audiences. Soon after, he was hired at a local restaurant to perform close-up magic for guests. Alex continued to refine his skills as an entertainer, gained confidence in his abilities, and entered his first competition at the age of 16. Alex, one of the youngest competitors, won second place and began to make a name for himself as a talented magician in the Bay Area.

Seen as a popular and acclaimed magician, Alex was asked to be the spokesperson for a popular, state-wide library showcase. Alex could not turn this opportunity down as he had a strong connection to books; Alex learned the art of magic by reading. The admired teenage magician traveled across the state of California and performed in more than 250 magic shows a year.

When Alex returned to Las Vegas in 2005, he auditioned for Disney Live! presents Mickey’s Magic Show, and skillfully won a spot as a professional illusionist alongside Master Magician Mickey Mouse. Alex traveled the globe with the world’s most famous mouse for two and a half years, seeing 14 countries, four continents, 656 shows and more than a million people.

“Magic is universal. It transcends language. At a restaurant in China, I made a coin disappear in front of a little boy. The kid’s face just lit up. I taught him how to perform the trick and he gave me a note written in Chinese that I later learned said “I will practice what you have taught me.” When you see a performer who really loves what they do, they’re not doing it. It’s happening.”

Alex’s talent and dedication put him top of mind when producers Kenneth Feld and Nicole Feld imagined a magical circus– one in which an elephant disappears and a man turns into a tiger.

“Here I am in The Greatest Show on Earth. You don’t get any bigger than this. But I’m waiting for the day a kid, maybe 10 years from now, says, you know, ‘I saw you in Ringling Bros. show ZING ZANG ZOOM and now I’m a magician and it’s my passion.’ ”

Ready to showcase his remarkable abilities, Alex can’t wait to enthrall and mesmerize Children Of All Ages across the U.S.

Ringling Brothers Zingmaster, Alex Ramon, gives a very touching account of his supportive mother and does some "close magic" for an audience of children at Los Angeles' Magic Castle.