In 2017 Benjamin Kraatz watched Penn & Teller ' s Fool Us and got hooked on magic . Five years later he appeared on the hit TV show . For the first time he shares the work that went in to getting on the show and combining his talents as an actor and musician .

BY SYLVAIN SUZANNE

Being a lover of literature , sci-fi , and writer of short stories in my spare time , I was very happy when I was asked to interview Benjamin Kraatz for Vanish Magic Magazine . I met Benjamin Kraatz on the set of a video for Swiss television a few years ago , when I did not yet know that he was going to develop a career as a magician , rather impressive . It was a music video for his rock band Ciel A Vendre , in which he is an actor and singer . This is also the band that composed the music for the magic trick that Benjamin Kraatz presented on Penn & Teller : Fool Us .

Vanish- Was participating in P & TFU a consecration as a magician and a dream come true ? Tell us about this experience . How did you get selected ?

Benjamin - I showed a demo video of my trick to Wolfgang Riebe , in a basic version that I had filmed in my living room . Just to get his opinion because I wanted to send it to a show in Switzerland . Wolfgang remained silent for a moment and told me , “ It ’ s a winner act , send it to Penn & Teller : Fool Us , they will take you ." I had never considered playing on an American show , and even less this one ! It ’ s as if you were an actor and you came out of the conservatory , you do not think that you will perform in the next Star Wars film . And when the producers contact you , you go into a phase where you realize you ’ re going to Las Vegas ! It ’ s extremely exciting . I was proud , it felt good and there was the recognition of my work . Afterwards , there was the moment when I found myself in front of Penn and Teller with Alyson Hannigan . I thought to myself , fortunately it was filmed because it was like a dream . You end up on the set and it goes very fast . I prepared for four months and my time on stage lasted only 20 minutes . Everyone was professional and pleasant with me , they are real artists , and their production was of a very high level , with a special mention to the props guys who helped me . Alyson Hannigan , who was very professiona , checked with me make sure she pronounced my name right .

So , yes , it was like a consecration because the show is considered one of the best in terms of magic . But beware , just because you ’ re on this show doesn ’ t mean you ’ re one of the best magicians in the world . It must be said that if we are in this show , it is because of the proposed trick , as much from the magical point of view as from the point of view of show , is successful , and that is where the consecration resides . Paradoxically , the magician ’ s work is humble . It is necessary to be humble

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