CoolKay interviews David Merlin – Paranormalist about how he got started and why he does in his career.
interview with David Merlin
CoolKay: County Fairgrounds and cool Do I have the one David Merlin on the line with me
David: That would be me
CoolKay: Hi David How are you doing today
David: Oh I’m doing great
CoolKay: You’re a paranormalist What does that mean?
David: Um I’m basically an illusionist that does a paranormal themed show
CoolKay: Well you know I talk to a lot of entertainers and I always ask how you got into this and how you get started Have you ever done anything else?
David: Uh I mean I’ve worked the normal jobs way back in the day but for the past uh 30 years I’ve been into magic and illusion and building and designing props for you know di different magicians and illusionists around the world
CoolKay: So how how did you? How did you ever I mean most people don’t get into this stuff How did you get into it
David: It was just kind of by accident I was actually a musician growing up So I was into music I played drums and guitar and you know work the normal jobs anybody would uh um I was in the National Guard I uh had a couple of years of college and then I was working on a job and one of my friends was uh he was a magician and he invited me to to uh to start going to the local magic club in Birmingham Alabama. So um I started doing that and got really into it and um and then it just kind of evolved into stage illusions and
and to do shows at comedy clubs and things like that And and before you know it I I went uh into magic professionally you know full time and uh moved from Alabama to San Diego California to work with the world’s top fire artists
So I worked with him a couple of years out there
CoolKay: OK – Um Are you a married man?
David: Uh No um hopefully again one day but I’ve been single for me I’ve been single for many years and I was also a cruise ship performer So I did that for many years all over the world.
CoolKay: Do you remember what your first performances were like and where they were?
David: Um. Of course when I first got into it you know you start with the you know real simple shows like uh birthday parties and you know small little uh office parties and things like that But with me it it evolved pretty quickly Um Within a couple of years I was in well I would say within three years I was already performing in comedy clubs. So the uh the comedy clubs were uh especially the one in Birmingham we have like one of the biggest in the country. And uh so that was kind of a milestone for me to to jump to there. And uh but of course when I moved out to San Diego we had all kind of opportunities and uh we did the the David Letterman show a couple of times and uh comic relief in Hollywood So I was exposed to working with a lot of celebrities you know only just a few years after getting into magic.
CoolKay: Oh, so did you have any bad experiences Do you remember some of those early things?
David: Um You know not really Um everything’s always been pretty good. Um, I’ve never had really had anything go wrong during the shows Um …It for me that’s pretty much all good experiences.
CoolKay: Ok Well that sounds that sounds good So you know I always ask you there’s a lot of places you do you have performed – are there places you would like to perform that you have not had the opportunity to do so?
David: Uh Of course I you know I got to do the David Letterman show a couple of times I did America’s got talent I did um Germany’s got talent you know Comedy Central Um And I actually I helped uh …. uh, producers at Universal – pitch the uh, Harry Potter Theme Park Attraction and that was way back in 2000 when uh I think the third Harry Potter book was about to come out and I had never even heard of it – when they asked me to help them come up with a concept to pitch. So I had to build this presentation around this producer I – I had like three weeks so I was working 16 hours a day pretty much seven days a week – to get this presentation to to do at Universal Studios Hollywood And and many years went by I didn’t think anything was gonna come of it and then you know
I forgot how many you know 15 years ago? however long it was and here comes the wizarding world of Harry Potter So you know it finally happened But uh so that that was a that was pretty amazing. Um – as far as places that I would like to perform Um -I don’t know Um I’m I’m still pretty much open to any kind of television shows. Um- I’ve done a lot of television shows around the world – but um -right now um – I’m gonna be doing shows for um I’m actually doing something the weekend of Halloween at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut I’m gonna be doing the Lorraine Warren uh Fantasma. And of course if you heard the name Ed and Lorraine Warren they were the number one paranormal investigators in the world and all the movies like the Conjuring and Annabelle all that was based upon their case files and I’m friends with Warren’s or Judy Warren the daughter of Lorraine and her husband Tony. So I’m gonna be doing that big – Uh it’s like a big
so I’m gonna be up there I think it’s the 27th and 28th of October. And then people they they had it last year and I think they had about 6000 attendees. So we’re gonna be up there and people will actually have the opportunity to be next to the real Annabelle doll behind glass Oh
CoolKay: sounds scary not all magicians and I have interviewed and I have interviewed a lot of magicians Not all magicians become paranormalist, How did how did you manage to do that?
David: I – I mean I’ve always been interested in the paranormal and uh you you know ghost haunted houses UFO S you name it anything unusual I’ve always had an interest in and uh of course when I became friends with the Warrens – um – and then the their radio talk show host uh Art Bell from Nevada – um – I really gained an interest in it and just one day out of the blue I thought you know I’m gonna change this normal magic and illusion show into more of a a spookier uh paranormal like like show and uh where it would involve like mental and telekinesis of moving objects and uh and ghosts. So that’s what I’ve done and I’m one of probably one of the few that does anything like this and uh- it it’s going over really really well especially with all the the paranormal shows that you see on television right now I I actually did uh the big paranormal convention out in Las Vegas last year at the MGM Grand So ok
CoolKay: All right So you’ve performed in Las Vegas then right?
David: Yeah I actually lived in Las Vegas uh for I guess a couple of years and um I’m from Alabama – So right now I’m – I’m calling you from or we’re talking I’m in Alabama – Um, but I’ve lived in San Diego and Las Vegas and used to do a lot of corporate work out there and of course got into the cruise ship industry performing all over the world and – I still do um a lot of theater shows and um – and I – I think you’re associated with the with all the fairs? I actually did a fair but it’s been it’s been a number of years back – I think it was out in um was that in Arizona Parker Arizona Gosh probably – I don’t know 17 or18 years.
CoolKay: I cover – I cover a lot of fairs There’s a lot of fairs across the country but I also cover a lot more than just county and state fairs. There’s all kinds of festivals on my on on our site and we’re actually pretty big into Halloween too And I’ve never interviewed a paranormalist before. You’re the – I have to admit that you’re the first one that I ever ever ever interviewed .So so when you go out to do a stage show – That’s what you’re doing now, – Is that kind of stuff?
David: Well well right now I mean I’m still I’m still performing but uh not as much at the moment because I am actually started transitioning into the world of uh movies. And my manager is Stacy Johnson And Stacy Johnson is the niece of Dick Van Dyke and she’s been she’s been doing um – uh she’s been an actress since four years old on Sesame Street So she was an actress singer dancer. And so for over gosh over four decades she’s probably been involved with I think it’s like 250 films or television shows in front of and behind the camera and producing and the directing. And we’re currently working on a a sci-fi horror film called The Alien List.
CoolKay: OK
David: And we’re working on it at one of her homes there in North Carolina. And um we’ve got some pretty big names It’s gonna be announced here pretty soon. A couple of them that are kind of big in the horror realm. Yeah – Uh we’re not really allowed to say who it is yet but – ok – two female actresses that have been in two iconic films that they’ve starred in So uh so we’re really excited about that and, uh we’re hoping to start filming as soon as this uh this actor strike is over.
CoolKay: Yeah Well we’re waiting
David: Yeah – Yeah Well I mean we we’ve got the script ready and uh we’re uh We’re gonna start advertising it you know here pretty soon and uh of course I’m still gonna be performing um – you know while this stuff’s going on. Um – and I may be going on tour with uh Mickey Thomas of of the band starship in February So we’re talking to Mickey because actually my manager Stacy
uh – she’s actually toured with Mickey as his background vocalist. So – uh -she she does so many different things She just like she’s like me She likes to kind of get out there and do a lot of different things for fun
CoolKay: Ok So so you basically don’t do your own bookings and you you’re telling me you’ve got somebody that does bookings for you?
David: she books for me and then of course they can’t they can come to me directly My my website is DavidMerlin.com
And uh so
CoolKay: David David are you playing a magician in this movie?
David: Um in the movie As a matter of fact I am gonna be playing – uh – I’m gonna be playing myself in this movie. Oh that’s cool That’s about all I can say. But um – but I’m I’m actually the the lead writer and – um 11 of the the lead roles – I would say there’s gonna be probably six lead people in the movie and I am I’m one of those six. Um – and we’re gonna have probably five or six names that people will know Uh There’s there’s the three of them they’re gonna know for sure once they get signed on.
But I we can’t release the info yet until so these people have signed their uh NDAS
CoolKay: Yeah – So when when will this movie be released? Not this year I would presume?
David: Uh no – not in 2023 Uh – it’s we’re hoping sometime in 2024 which she also works with HBO So just depending on what happens um with the strike and stuff I mean it’s a possibility that this thing could even go to movie theaters If not it might it might go directly to streaming We’re we’re just not sure yet – but – we’re uh we’re planning on putting it in some film festivals and if it is ready in time we’re hoping to get get it into a Sundance film festival/
CoolKay: Sounds like you’re really excited about this and really enthused
David: Yeah like I went from music to magic to movies. Uh – So you know unusual career. So I’ve been pretty blessed to be able to do a lot of different things that that I enjoy. And uh – for Stacey if people are fans of horror um I don’t know how many people listening – saw the the new Stephen King It movies chapter one and chapter two – but it’s based on you know the clown Penny wise um Bill Scars Guard was the actor that played the penny wise clown And the original it was Tim Curry But uh Stacey was actually like the
also the penny wise clown and a couple of iconic scenes And one of them was probably the one that people remember most of the clown down in the manhole at the beginning of uh chapter one – And a lot of people thought it was a little scars guard but it’s but if you look real close you can see it’s like a feminine you know feminine features of the clown. So um if you go back and watch the movie look at that scene and then and look at different you know views of Bill Scars Guard as the clown and you’ll see that there’s a difference But and I always asked her well why didn’t they give you the credit And she goes they paid me more money
Yeah She’s been in so many things that she wasn’t so worried about it She’s worked behind the scenes and even all the newer Halloween movies Uh some of the scream movies Uh – there was one with Geral Butler that came out a couple of years ago called Greenland Kind of a sci-fi Um She worked on the television show Ozark and Heroes Um – She’s just done so many different things
CoolKay: Hey David Yeah I have I have to ask you this question – You wanna believe – Do you believe in
ghosts?
David: Well when I was younger I had one – one encounter that I still can’t explain where I was in I had a light lie down in the bed uh still awake just kind of thinking about things- the lights were out. And uh all of a sudden the bed started I thought somebody like my dad had came in I thought and had sat down on the bed because he was notorious for doing that. Um back in the day because he would be – he worked for the power company and sometimes he would be – he would work late – come in he’d always come in The room Doesn’t matter if I’m awake or asleep – I’m sleep he’s gonna wake me up you know just kinda ask me about the day or whatever. That’s just the way he was. So one night I had just laid down and just kinda turned sideways and then I felt the bed push in like it normally does when he would sit there. And because normally he would you know call my name and say hey are you asleep. But this particular time
I felt it sink down – and I turned over and I’m thinking why didn’t they ask if I’m awake. And um then all of a sudden I could kind of see through – there was enough light I guess coming in from like the street light or whatever that that it wasn’t completely pitch dark but almost and I could feel the bed pushed down and I could feel like some like somebody up against my thigh. Of course I was just like terrified at that moment. And I was I was probably 17 18 years old – and then I just kind of froze and close my eyes And then
all of a sudden the bed started like lifting back up like somebody was getting back off the bed
and I used to have these like back then it was like some kind of box spring that was really loud I mean you could really hear it when somebody sat on that thing or or got back up So that was that was my one experience with you know anything ghostly. But I but- I had many friends that have had all kind of experiences. I’ve become friends with a lot of people from around the world that are really you know really into this stuff.
CoolKay: Have you performed overseas I would imagine so
David: Oh yeah Yeah Yeah -Yeah -I performed gosh all over Asia South America Mexico Uh Of course I did uh Germany’s got talent you know not that long ago. Mmm – Um gosh I’m trying to think Yeah of course on the cruise ships I was I was all over the world I mean I’ve been to places like Bora Bora Tahiti.Um – uh all of course in all around the States up in Alaska – you know pretty pretty much everywhere But back then I was just doing more of a mainstream kind of illusion show more like David Copper Film. Other things I cut myself in or cut back in those days I would cut girls in half or you know – or whatever But in my new show a lot of the stuff happens to me like I’m cut in half or I levitate or out you know we I levitate somebody from the audience I read the people’s minds from the audience Just random people you know and you always have the people that think well they gotta be you know plants are set up But what I do is I throw an object out into the audience and have them throw it around and on the third catch of like a little ball or something
That’s who I’ll ask the questions to So it’s just random people
And uh yeah once you once you see it I mean it’s it’s really hard to believe because your mind just can’t comprehend that someone’s able just to cold read you like that. And uh and then of course my new segment uh I do like a like live on stage
and um even like manifest a ghost right in front of everybody and that’s that’s been pretty frightening for people
CoolKay: Ok So uh you’ve told me that there’s really not any place that you would really like to perform that you have not had the opportunity to – But so you’re you’re gonna keep doing this right?
David: Oh yeah Yeah I love it Yeah I love it And even if the you know even if the the movie career kind of starts taking off which um which Stacy’s already told me after this first script she likes it so much Like she she was really shocked that you know I’ve never written written a movie script and never acted in a movie. But when I did you know auditions for her you know months and months ago
uh she was just like stunned like – she couldn’t understand how I was able to go into these different characters And uhand to tell you the truth I don’t know how I do it. It’s just something that I’ve always been able to do I can I’ve been able to do voices um you know different characters for stage – of course you know being uh an illusionist -you you’re basically a stage actor. So but of course the movies it is different Some people can’t make that transition Some people they’re either on screen actors or they’re you know performers in plays and uh they they can’t cross over it just doesn’t work. But um – you know fortunately this is all just kind of come easy for me and then the never written the script and but I have written my routines and what I say on stage – So = um it’s just like I know what to say and I and a big movie buff So it just came asshole for me So she’s already ready for me to start uh working on the next one and So the next one is gonna actually be a more um just ghost horror but this one is alien horror. So mm – Hey
David: That would be me
CoolKay: Hi David How are you doing today
David: Oh I’m doing great
CoolKay: You’re a paranormalist What does that mean?
David: Um I’m basically an illusionist that does a paranormal themed show
CoolKay: Well you know I talk to a lot of entertainers and I always ask how you got into this and how you get started Have you ever done anything else?
David: Uh I mean I’ve worked the normal jobs way back in the day but for the past uh 30 years I’ve been into magic and illusion and building and designing props for you know di different magicians and illusionists around the world
CoolKay: So how how did you? How did you ever I mean most people don’t get into this stuff How did you get into it
David: It was just kind of by accident I was actually a musician growing up So I was into music I played drums and guitar and you know work the normal jobs anybody would uh um I was in the National Guard I uh had a couple of years of college and then I was working on a job and one of my friends was uh he was a magician and he invited me to to uh to start going to the local magic club in Birmingham Alabama. So um I started doing that and got really into it and um and then it just kind of evolved into stage illusions and
and to do shows at comedy clubs and things like that And and before you know it I I went uh into magic professionally you know full time and uh moved from Alabama to San Diego California to work with the world’s top fire artists
So I worked with him a couple of years out there
CoolKay: OK – Um Are you a married man?
David: Uh No um hopefully again one day but I’ve been single for me I’ve been single for many years and I was also a cruise ship performer So I did that for many years all over the world.
CoolKay: Do you remember what your first performances were like and where they were?
David: Um. Of course when I first got into it you know you start with the you know real simple shows like uh birthday parties and you know small little uh office parties and things like that But with me it it evolved pretty quickly Um Within a couple of years I was in well I would say within three years I was already performing in comedy clubs. So the uh the comedy clubs were uh especially the one in Birmingham we have like one of the biggest in the country. And uh so that was kind of a milestone for me to to jump to there. And uh but of course when I moved out to San Diego we had all kind of opportunities and uh we did the the David Letterman show a couple of times and uh comic relief in Hollywood So I was exposed to working with a lot of celebrities you know only just a few years after getting into magic.
CoolKay: Oh, so did you have any bad experiences Do you remember some of those early things?
David: Um You know not really Um everything’s always been pretty good. Um, I’ve never had really had anything go wrong during the shows Um …It for me that’s pretty much all good experiences.
CoolKay: Ok Well that sounds that sounds good So you know I always ask you there’s a lot of places you do you have performed – are there places you would like to perform that you have not had the opportunity to do so?
David: Uh Of course I you know I got to do the David Letterman show a couple of times I did America’s got talent I did um Germany’s got talent you know Comedy Central Um And I actually I helped uh …. uh, producers at Universal – pitch the uh, Harry Potter Theme Park Attraction and that was way back in 2000 when uh I think the third Harry Potter book was about to come out and I had never even heard of it – when they asked me to help them come up with a concept to pitch. So I had to build this presentation around this producer I – I had like three weeks so I was working 16 hours a day pretty much seven days a week – to get this presentation to to do at Universal Studios Hollywood And and many years went by I didn’t think anything was gonna come of it and then you know
I forgot how many you know 15 years ago? however long it was and here comes the wizarding world of Harry Potter So you know it finally happened But uh so that that was a that was pretty amazing. Um – as far as places that I would like to perform Um -I don’t know Um I’m I’m still pretty much open to any kind of television shows. Um- I’ve done a lot of television shows around the world – but um -right now um – I’m gonna be doing shows for um I’m actually doing something the weekend of Halloween at Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut I’m gonna be doing the Lorraine Warren uh Fantasma. And of course if you heard the name Ed and Lorraine Warren they were the number one paranormal investigators in the world and all the movies like the Conjuring and Annabelle all that was based upon their case files and I’m friends with Warren’s or Judy Warren the daughter of Lorraine and her husband Tony. So I’m gonna be doing that big – Uh it’s like a big
so I’m gonna be up there I think it’s the 27th and 28th of October. And then people they they had it last year and I think they had about 6000 attendees. So we’re gonna be up there and people will actually have the opportunity to be next to the real Annabelle doll behind glass Oh
CoolKay: sounds scary not all magicians and I have interviewed and I have interviewed a lot of magicians Not all magicians become paranormalist, How did how did you manage to do that?
David: I – I mean I’ve always been interested in the paranormal and uh you you know ghost haunted houses UFO S you name it anything unusual I’ve always had an interest in and uh of course when I became friends with the Warrens – um – and then the their radio talk show host uh Art Bell from Nevada – um – I really gained an interest in it and just one day out of the blue I thought you know I’m gonna change this normal magic and illusion show into more of a a spookier uh paranormal like like show and uh where it would involve like mental and telekinesis of moving objects and uh and ghosts. So that’s what I’ve done and I’m one of probably one of the few that does anything like this and uh- it it’s going over really really well especially with all the the paranormal shows that you see on television right now I I actually did uh the big paranormal convention out in Las Vegas last year at the MGM Grand So ok
CoolKay: All right So you’ve performed in Las Vegas then right?
David: Yeah I actually lived in Las Vegas uh for I guess a couple of years and um I’m from Alabama – So right now I’m – I’m calling you from or we’re talking I’m in Alabama – Um, but I’ve lived in San Diego and Las Vegas and used to do a lot of corporate work out there and of course got into the cruise ship industry performing all over the world and – I still do um a lot of theater shows and um – and I – I think you’re associated with the with all the fairs? I actually did a fair but it’s been it’s been a number of years back – I think it was out in um was that in Arizona Parker Arizona Gosh probably – I don’t know 17 or18 years.
CoolKay: I cover – I cover a lot of fairs There’s a lot of fairs across the country but I also cover a lot more than just county and state fairs. There’s all kinds of festivals on my on on our site and we’re actually pretty big into Halloween too And I’ve never interviewed a paranormalist before. You’re the – I have to admit that you’re the first one that I ever ever ever interviewed .So so when you go out to do a stage show – That’s what you’re doing now, – Is that kind of stuff?
David: Well well right now I mean I’m still I’m still performing but uh not as much at the moment because I am actually started transitioning into the world of uh movies. And my manager is Stacy Johnson And Stacy Johnson is the niece of Dick Van Dyke and she’s been she’s been doing um – uh she’s been an actress since four years old on Sesame Street So she was an actress singer dancer. And so for over gosh over four decades she’s probably been involved with I think it’s like 250 films or television shows in front of and behind the camera and producing and the directing. And we’re currently working on a a sci-fi horror film called The Alien List.
CoolKay: OK
David: And we’re working on it at one of her homes there in North Carolina. And um we’ve got some pretty big names It’s gonna be announced here pretty soon. A couple of them that are kind of big in the horror realm. Yeah – Uh we’re not really allowed to say who it is yet but – ok – two female actresses that have been in two iconic films that they’ve starred in So uh so we’re really excited about that and, uh we’re hoping to start filming as soon as this uh this actor strike is over.
CoolKay: Yeah Well we’re waiting
David: Yeah – Yeah Well I mean we we’ve got the script ready and uh we’re uh We’re gonna start advertising it you know here pretty soon and uh of course I’m still gonna be performing um – you know while this stuff’s going on. Um – and I may be going on tour with uh Mickey Thomas of of the band starship in February So we’re talking to Mickey because actually my manager Stacy
uh – she’s actually toured with Mickey as his background vocalist. So – uh -she she does so many different things She just like she’s like me She likes to kind of get out there and do a lot of different things for fun
CoolKay: Ok So so you basically don’t do your own bookings and you you’re telling me you’ve got somebody that does bookings for you?
David: she books for me and then of course they can’t they can come to me directly My my website is DavidMerlin.com
And uh so
CoolKay: David David are you playing a magician in this movie?
David: Um in the movie As a matter of fact I am gonna be playing – uh – I’m gonna be playing myself in this movie. Oh that’s cool That’s about all I can say. But um – but I’m I’m actually the the lead writer and – um 11 of the the lead roles – I would say there’s gonna be probably six lead people in the movie and I am I’m one of those six. Um – and we’re gonna have probably five or six names that people will know Uh There’s there’s the three of them they’re gonna know for sure once they get signed on.
But I we can’t release the info yet until so these people have signed their uh NDAS
CoolKay: Yeah – So when when will this movie be released? Not this year I would presume?
David: Uh no – not in 2023 Uh – it’s we’re hoping sometime in 2024 which she also works with HBO So just depending on what happens um with the strike and stuff I mean it’s a possibility that this thing could even go to movie theaters If not it might it might go directly to streaming We’re we’re just not sure yet – but – we’re uh we’re planning on putting it in some film festivals and if it is ready in time we’re hoping to get get it into a Sundance film festival/
CoolKay: Sounds like you’re really excited about this and really enthused
David: Yeah like I went from music to magic to movies. Uh – So you know unusual career. So I’ve been pretty blessed to be able to do a lot of different things that that I enjoy. And uh – for Stacey if people are fans of horror um I don’t know how many people listening – saw the the new Stephen King It movies chapter one and chapter two – but it’s based on you know the clown Penny wise um Bill Scars Guard was the actor that played the penny wise clown And the original it was Tim Curry But uh Stacey was actually like the
also the penny wise clown and a couple of iconic scenes And one of them was probably the one that people remember most of the clown down in the manhole at the beginning of uh chapter one – And a lot of people thought it was a little scars guard but it’s but if you look real close you can see it’s like a feminine you know feminine features of the clown. So um if you go back and watch the movie look at that scene and then and look at different you know views of Bill Scars Guard as the clown and you’ll see that there’s a difference But and I always asked her well why didn’t they give you the credit And she goes they paid me more money
Yeah She’s been in so many things that she wasn’t so worried about it She’s worked behind the scenes and even all the newer Halloween movies Uh some of the scream movies Uh – there was one with Geral Butler that came out a couple of years ago called Greenland Kind of a sci-fi Um She worked on the television show Ozark and Heroes Um – She’s just done so many different things
CoolKay: Hey David Yeah I have I have to ask you this question – You wanna believe – Do you believe in
ghosts?
David: Well when I was younger I had one – one encounter that I still can’t explain where I was in I had a light lie down in the bed uh still awake just kind of thinking about things- the lights were out. And uh all of a sudden the bed started I thought somebody like my dad had came in I thought and had sat down on the bed because he was notorious for doing that. Um back in the day because he would be – he worked for the power company and sometimes he would be – he would work late – come in he’d always come in The room Doesn’t matter if I’m awake or asleep – I’m sleep he’s gonna wake me up you know just kinda ask me about the day or whatever. That’s just the way he was. So one night I had just laid down and just kinda turned sideways and then I felt the bed push in like it normally does when he would sit there. And because normally he would you know call my name and say hey are you asleep. But this particular time
I felt it sink down – and I turned over and I’m thinking why didn’t they ask if I’m awake. And um then all of a sudden I could kind of see through – there was enough light I guess coming in from like the street light or whatever that that it wasn’t completely pitch dark but almost and I could feel the bed pushed down and I could feel like some like somebody up against my thigh. Of course I was just like terrified at that moment. And I was I was probably 17 18 years old – and then I just kind of froze and close my eyes And then
all of a sudden the bed started like lifting back up like somebody was getting back off the bed
and I used to have these like back then it was like some kind of box spring that was really loud I mean you could really hear it when somebody sat on that thing or or got back up So that was that was my one experience with you know anything ghostly. But I but- I had many friends that have had all kind of experiences. I’ve become friends with a lot of people from around the world that are really you know really into this stuff.
CoolKay: Have you performed overseas I would imagine so
David: Oh yeah Yeah Yeah -Yeah -I performed gosh all over Asia South America Mexico Uh Of course I did uh Germany’s got talent you know not that long ago. Mmm – Um gosh I’m trying to think Yeah of course on the cruise ships I was I was all over the world I mean I’ve been to places like Bora Bora Tahiti.Um – uh all of course in all around the States up in Alaska – you know pretty pretty much everywhere But back then I was just doing more of a mainstream kind of illusion show more like David Copper Film. Other things I cut myself in or cut back in those days I would cut girls in half or you know – or whatever But in my new show a lot of the stuff happens to me like I’m cut in half or I levitate or out you know we I levitate somebody from the audience I read the people’s minds from the audience Just random people you know and you always have the people that think well they gotta be you know plants are set up But what I do is I throw an object out into the audience and have them throw it around and on the third catch of like a little ball or something
That’s who I’ll ask the questions to So it’s just random people
And uh yeah once you once you see it I mean it’s it’s really hard to believe because your mind just can’t comprehend that someone’s able just to cold read you like that. And uh and then of course my new segment uh I do like a like live on stage
and um even like manifest a ghost right in front of everybody and that’s that’s been pretty frightening for people
CoolKay: Ok So uh you’ve told me that there’s really not any place that you would really like to perform that you have not had the opportunity to – But so you’re you’re gonna keep doing this right?
David: Oh yeah Yeah I love it Yeah I love it And even if the you know even if the the movie career kind of starts taking off which um which Stacy’s already told me after this first script she likes it so much Like she she was really shocked that you know I’ve never written written a movie script and never acted in a movie. But when I did you know auditions for her you know months and months ago
uh she was just like stunned like – she couldn’t understand how I was able to go into these different characters And uhand to tell you the truth I don’t know how I do it. It’s just something that I’ve always been able to do I can I’ve been able to do voices um you know different characters for stage – of course you know being uh an illusionist -you you’re basically a stage actor. So but of course the movies it is different Some people can’t make that transition Some people they’re either on screen actors or they’re you know performers in plays and uh they they can’t cross over it just doesn’t work. But um – you know fortunately this is all just kind of come easy for me and then the never written the script and but I have written my routines and what I say on stage – So = um it’s just like I know what to say and I and a big movie buff So it just came asshole for me So she’s already ready for me to start uh working on the next one and So the next one is gonna actually be a more um just ghost horror but this one is alien horror. So mm – Hey
CoolKay: mm – Hey – maybe you maybe you’re possessed and you just don’t know it
David: I hope not I’m a Christian faith but you know I still there’s things out there I can’t explain. Like I’ve like I’ve seen a a UFO in 97 still don’t know what that was.
CoolKay: Uh like I said maybe you’re possessed and you just don’t know it
David: Yeah I hope I hope not
CoolKay: Ok So I take it you never had any kids Right?
David: No I I’ve got a niece uh she’s autistic and she’s actually having a birthday tomorrow That’s why I’m back in Alabama uh visiting her where I could be with her for her birthday because that’s she’s pretty much like a daughter to me I’ve taken her all over the country and took her and my mom for many years and my mom had just passed away back in April She was 89 So she’s got to go a lot of places and that’s probably one of the reasons I didn’t have kids because I was so busy you know spending time with with my niece
and just you know showing her a good life that that it was kind of and all the traveling that I did it just kind of hard to settle down you know Uh but I’m still optimistic that you know hopefully one day I can do that
CoolKay: So what does she think of your magic? I have to ask you that
David: Oh my niece Yep Oh yeah Yeah She loves it and she loves it. She’s actually gonna have a little part in the movie
CoolKay: Oh that’s cool
David: she’s gonna play the lead actresses niece and she’s gonna play an autistic niece So she’s basically playing herself So that’s how that’s yeah – that’s cool She’s very excited about that.
CoolKay: So there’s nothing that you’ve done in your career that you that that has made you regret the direction that you’ve gone in
David: Um not really I mean uh of course my goal when I was younger is you know I wanted to be a rock star you know Uh
So I played guitar and drums but I was mainly a drummer back in those days and I mean when I was 17 years old I was even playing in nightclubs. Oh so I was used to being on stage you know at a young age. Um – and I I guess that’s why it was just so easy you know for me – Um but yeah I wanted to be a rock star but then I quickly found out that there’s so many talented musicians
that it it’s just a hard industry to get into. Um so when I got into magic and that also came natural to me. I – I thought well there you know this there’s not near the competition and magic that there is in music. So I kept drifting more and more toward the magic And then
you know before I knew it just after being in a a few years I’m already on the David Letterman show I’m out in Hollywood working with you know Dan or you know John Goodman Different people So it was kinda it was kind of surreal coming out of a small town I’m from a town called Silica Alabama and it’s the home of gym neighbors Um – and it’s a population maybe 13,000 and we’re we’re known for a couple of things like the world’s whitest marble and the only town of person has been struck by a meteorite.
Ok So I so I came out of this and you know right into – uh kind of the Hollywood lifestyle So it it was that was kind of shocking you know you see all these people on television and then all of a sudden you’re sitting there in a green room with them So that
yeah for that was a little small period of time I was star struck by all that you know I just couldn’t believe it
And then you know slowly you get used to it and you and you you’re like you know they’re just like me
CoolKay: Yeah I’ve interviewed a lot of um famous musicians and uh they tell interesting stories too. So
um ok All right Well it was nice talking to you – I hope everybody enjoys the interview – I hope you enjoy what we talked about and and we’ll get it up. And so again do you wanna leave how people can contact you if they want to.
David: Yeah definitely Uh for any type of event just go to my website and that’s David and it’s Merlin M er lin dot com And there’s my email and there’s a phone number there on the web page and then also be on the look out next year for a movie called The
Who knows They might be here before that The aliens. Hey I’ve been watching television You never know
CoolKay: Yep You never know Ok David Thank you
Thank you so much Bye bye Ok Bye bye
