Melinda got her start as a dancer for Siegfried & Roy's magic show at the Frontier Hotel in 1982. It was here that she began to learn the art of illusion. The first woman to perform magic in Las Vegas, Melinda Saxe starred in her first show at the age of 19 at the Bourbon Street Hotel in 1984. Billing herself as the "First Lady of Magic", she had a successful run at the Bourbon Street before moving to the Landmark in 1988 where she performed for two years. Her act included a 16-year old juggler named Anthony Gatto who would go on to perform worldwide, including a spot in Cirque du Soleil's "Kooza". Melinda would go on to perform at the Marina in 1990 and in 1992 she began a residency at the Lady Luck which would last several years. In 1998 the International Magicians Society named her "Magician of the Year" in its "Merlin" awards. She was romantically involved with comedian Rich Little very early in her career and was married to fellow magician Lance Burton for a year. She took a break in 2002 to raise children with her current husband, Mark Evensvold, and returned to performing in 2012.